Any given year has provided audiences with a seeming abundance ofactionfilms, most of which hit the new release DVD shelf at department stores before swiftly making their way to $5 bins in either single editions or, more often, as part of a collection. But then there are the ones that stick in the viewer’s memory, the ones that are more than flying bullets and exploding eighteen-wheelers.
These are the action films that fans just can’t shake. These actioners stand above others thanks to memorable set pieces and well-drawn characters, and more often than not film fans find themselves revisiting them.
Updated on August 24th, 2023 by Darren Gigool:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
25Blade Runner (1982)
In the futuristicBlade Runnerrealm, science fiction fuses with action, crafting a film that feels timeless and is fun to watch even decades later.Set in a dystopian future, the combination of advanced technology and ceaseless action crafts an arresting spectacle.
The complex is Harrison Ford’s interpretation of Rick Deckard in the movie. His detailed performance depicts a character both compassionate and resolute, traversing an unclear and uncertain world. Ford’s acting skills make Deckard’s struggles seem both human and pressing. Themes such as identity, humanity, and existence echo throughout, leaving a lasting legacy that shapes contemporary cinema.
24Total Recall (1990)
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Douglas Quaid is magnetic and vigorous, sustaining the movie’s dynamic tempo. Melding physical strength and unexpected vulnerability is Schwarzenegger’s performance throughout the film. Groundbreaking was the film’s special effects and imaginative settings for its time.
From the Martian terrains to the elaborate futuristic technology,Total Recall’svisuals captivate the audience with a surreal experience. Complex and inventive is the movie’s plot. The storyline twists and winds, maintaining the viewers' attention. Is it reality or a memory implant? forms the film’s core question. It adds a touch of mystery, this unique layer, transcends the movie beyond a mere action spectacle.
23Heat (1995)
Masterful is Michael Mann’s direction ofHeat, an expansive urban epic that encapsulates the extensive Los Angeles scenery with accuracy. Mann’s precise direction, along with wide shots of the city, builds a raw and enveloping universe where crime and law mingle.
Central toHeatis the thrilling face-off between Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Their performances, brimming with fierceness and subtlety, shape an unforgettable movie encounter. Going beyond crime drama,Heat; it’s a heart-racing action flick that doesn’t forfeit depth for excitement. Combining intense action and rich narrative seamlessly, the carefully planned heist scenes and character-driven plot, ensure thatHeatremains an undying classic.
22Gladiator (2000)
This movie brings the ancient world of Rome alive with brutal realism. Ridley Scott’s interpretation plunges the audience into the chaos of the gladiatorial arena, political schemes, and battlefield turmoil.
With breathtaking visuals, the blend of cutting-edge technology and practical effects, combined with intricate fight choreography, the film showcases ferocity and barbarism that have been leaving audiences in awe since its release. All of these themes come alive with visceral excitement, the Colosseum’s roar of the crowd, the clashing of weapons, and the sheer intensity of gladiatorial warfare make it a spectacle that never gets old.
21Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
The movie manifests and showcases theancient martial arts tradition of Wuxia. The ethereal settings, the effortless swordplay, and the dance-like choreography constitute a visual masterpiece. Directed by Ang Lee this film blends storytelling and cinematography, it’s art in motion essentially.
Haunting and visually stunning, the film’s score leaves a lasting impression. Although embedded in Chinese culture, the film overcame geographical limitations.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonbecame a global sensation, for its themes of love, honor, and freedom.
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20First Blood (1982)
The original Rambo film,First Blood, may not be the bombastic action flick its successors are, but it’s both equally fun and a better film (almost as much as the rest combined). The plot is legendary: Aveteran returns from Vietnamto find a country, one he just fought for, that hates him.
Walking through a small, fog-coated mountain town, he’s harassed by local law enforcement. A timid man with no axes to grind at this point in his life, John Rambo deserves no harassment, but the cops won’t stop, and before long it’s one man against an army. First, in the woods. Then, in the very fog-coated mountain town he initially just hoped to pass through.
19Red Dawn (1984)
While the acting can be a little hit or miss, 1984’sRed Dawnis nonetheless aniconic bit of Cold War paranoia. It’s a great concept: A small American mountain town suddenly finds itself consumed by Russian troops.
The hometown vibe isRed Dawn’s ace in the hole. The viewer isn’t spending time with nameless soldier after nameless soldier, they’re spending time with a group of friends who have been put in a precarious, violent situation.
18Commando (1985)
If there’s a non-TerminatorArnold Schwarzenegger movie that pops into most people’s minds, cinephile or layperson, it’s probablyCommando. Riddled with absurdly quotable dialogue and utterly unbelievable action sequences, it’s arguably the ultimate one-man-against-an-army movie.
As John Matrix, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel, Schwarzenegger is fully in his element. He’s brought back into action via the kidnapping of his daughter (played by Alyssa Milano), which is the ultimate macho-man action movie plot if ever there was one.
17Lethal Weapon (1987)
WithSuperman’s Richard Donner directing and an early script fromChristmas action moviemaster Shane Black,Lethal Weaponhad all the right people behind it to make it a hit. Toss in sublime chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in the lead roles andLethal Weapon’s quality manages to match its box office potential (and reception).
It even managed to spawn a franchise, though only the second one (which successfully adds an admittedly occasionally too much Joe Pesci to the mix) is a film worth watching more than once. But the third and fourth installments had some fine additions of their own, with Rene Russo being a particular highlight.
16Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
John Carpenter is primarily known as a master of horror, primarily thanks toHalloween,The Fog,The Thing, andThey Live. But he also directed some action movies back in his heyday, most notablyEscape from New York. However, there’s also the more comedic and fantasticalBig Trouble in Little China, which ultimately has more rewatch value than the grimEscape from New YorkandL.A.films.
Either way, the audience gets Kurt Russell having the time of his life.ButBig Trouble in Little Chinais the more inventive of the two films (both of which qualify for the adjective), with phenomenal practical effects that rival Rob Bottin’s work inThe Thing.
