50 Best Action Movies of All Time (original) (raw)
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Action movies that will keep you on the edge of your seat
If you feel the need for speed, explosions, and nonstop action, you’re in the right place. Our favorite action movies run the gamut from mind-bending and thought-provoking to implausible and completely absurd (yet still super fun). But regardless of their specific style, they all have one thing in common: They take us away from it all. Our problems seem a little less intense while we watch innocent fugitives on the run or martial-arts experts taking on a slew of ne’er-do-wells. Action movies also happen to be some of the best movies around.
Whether you love your action movies with a side of comedy, drama, or romance, or you’re looking for a thriller or a family-friendly movie, we’ve got loads of choices for you. How did we formulate this list? We based our choices on box office performance, Oscar buzz, and all-around entertainment value. One caveat: We didn’t include any Star Wars movies, but that’s only because they belong in a category of their own. So without further ado, grab some popcorn and get ready to get your pulse racing and your adrenaline pumping with the best action movies of all time.
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Die Hard
Released: 1988
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Yippee-ki-yay.”
There’s a lot of talk about cowboys and John Wayne in this action movie starring Bruce Willis—hence, the memorable quote above, which has a colorful ending we can’t print here. It’s the story of a New York cop who finds himself trying to rescue hostages taken by German terrorists during a lavish Christmas party in Los Angeles (leading some fans to insist that this is actually a Christmas movie). And it’s personal for our hero: One of the hostages is his wife. We love Die H ard because there’s action in nearly every single scene, and both Willis and the main baddie (played by Alan Rickman) are a ton of fun to watch.
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Patriot Games
Released: 1992
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “I’m not after your job, Marty. I’m after the man who tried to kill my family.”
It’s one of Harrison Ford’s many turns as CIA agent Jack Ryan, and P at riot Games doesn’t disappoint. This time, his family is in danger after he gets in the way of an IRA assassination. Ford really puts his stamp on the genre with Patriot Games, and while the story explodes with action, there are also a few heart-wrenching moments. In case you didn’t know, the Jack Ryan movies were based on best-selling books by Tom Clancy, and John Krasinski has now taken up the mantle in a new Amazon Prime series.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
Released: 1981
Rated: PG
Memorable quote: “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?”
The year is 1936, and Indiana Jones, an adventure-seeking archaeologist, is tasked with finding the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can get their hands on it. Arguably the best movie of the Indiana Jones franchise and one of the best ’80s movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark has absolutely everything you could ever want in an action movie—heroes, villains, romance, and of course, the roguishly lovable Harrison Ford in another franchise that solidified him as a bona fide action star.
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Taken
Released: 2009
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills—skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.”
If you want to see Liam Neeson kick some serious butt, then this is the movie for you. There’s never a dull moment in this fast-paced flick about a retired CIA operative determined to rescue his estranged 17-year-old daughter after she’s kidnapped in France. You’ll love the twists and turns and the never knowing what will happen next. With only a brief conversation with his daughter’s kidnappers to go on, Neeson’s Bryan Mills has his work cut out for him. If you love this genre, check out these thriller books that will also keep you completely riveted.
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The Fast and the Furious
Released: 2001
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Ask any racer. Any real racer. It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.”
There’s a reason The Fast and the Furious franchise continues to dominate at the box office all these years later: The adrenaline-pumping action is top-notch. In the first film in the series, an undercover cop tries to take down an illegal street-racing game. Between the cars, the racing, the high stakes, and stars like Vin Diesel, Ja Rule, and the late Paul Walker, it’s a winner. Bonus: After you watch the first movie, there are eight more (so far!) to enjoy. Are you a movie buff? See how many of these pop-culture trivia questions you can answer.
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Transformers
Released: 2007
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?”
Some might question this film’s placement on a list of the best action movies of all time, but hear us out. First of all, you can’t underestimate the power of nostalgia. If you grew up playing with Transformers and watching the ’80s cartoon, you’re definitely going to want to see the Autobots and Decepticons duke it out on the big screen, bringing their otherworldly tensions to Earth. Explosions, special effects, and a small love story on the side make it a fun watch even if you seriously doubt that a teenage boy can really bring peace to this whole debacle. (Our advice: Don’t think about it too much!)
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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Released: 2017
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “It’s a lot easier to be brave when you’ve got lives to spare. It’s a lot harder when you only have one life.”
Part action, part fantasy, this remake follows a group of high schoolers who must navigate the inner workings of a video game to return to their normal teenage lives. There’s really just one word for this movie: joyful. Each scene presents a new challenge for the characters, and the way they face their real-life fears is just nice to watch. Plus, there’s dance-fighting!
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Speed
Released: 1994
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Pop quiz, hotshot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?”
It’s hard to look at a public bus the same way ever again after watching Speed. This movie really changed how we saw action movies and what they could be as we watched Keanu Reeves do what he does best—kick butt and save the day. Here, Reeves’ cop goes head-to-head with a deranged bomber who’s put an explosive on a bus filled with innocent passengers. It’s a pop-culture touchstone, and it helped Sandra Bullock become a household name. Talk a walk down memory lane with these other famous movie quotes.
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Beverly Hills Cop
Released: 1984
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “You know, this is the cleanest and nicest police car I’ve ever been in in my life. This thing’s nicer than my apartment.”
Typically, we think of Eddie Murphy as someone who belongs in the funniest movies of all time, but with Beverly Hills Cop, he also earns a well-deserved spot on our list of the best action movies. (Though he does have plenty of hilarious moments in here.) He plays a Detroit cop who travels to Los Angeles to find out who murdered his childhood friend. You’ll love how quintessentially ’80s this flick is, from the music to the wardrobe to the high-speed chases.
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Independence Day
Released: 1996
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Let’s kick the tires and light the fires, big daddy!”
All of humanity’s squabbles seem pretty insignificant when you’re suddenly under attack by aliens. Yes, the storyline is pretty straightforward as you watch said aliens take out city after city, but you’ll adore the camaraderie between the characters and the funny one-liners from the likes of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. And the action scenes and disaster sequences aren’t too shabby either—Independence Day won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1997. Make sure to check out our disaster movie picks if you’re looking for more gripping action packed stories like Independence Day.
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John Wick
Released: 2014
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “When Helen died, I lost everything. Until that dog arrived on my doorstep—a final gift from my wife. In that moment, I received some semblance of hope, an opportunity to grieve unalone. And your son took that from me.”
Is there anything Keanu Reeves can’t do? In this movie, he plays—you guessed it—John Wick, a former hitman who uses the skills from his old life to take down the gangsters who took everything from him, including his dog. It’s aggressive and explosive (literally), and you won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen. If you love dogs as much as John Wick does, these dog movies might be right up your alley.
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The Italian Job
Released: 2003
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I trust everyone. It’s the devil inside them I don’t trust.”
Warning: You’re really going to want a zippy new car after watching The Italian Job. We love anything that involves a heist, and here, a group of madcap characters led by Mark Wahlberg attempt to pull one off after their leader is not only betrayed by people he thought were allies, but also left for dead. Despite the grim premise, the movie is lively and highly entertaining.
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Enemy of the State
Released: 1998
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “In the old days, we actually had to tap a wire into your phone line. Now with calls bouncing off satellites, they snatch ’em right out of the air.”
If you’re already worried about Big Brother watching, this may or may not be the movie for you. Delve into the world of government surveillance and corrupt politicians along with labor lawyer and family man Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), who finds himself in the middle of a massive cover-up and is framed for murder. The unexpected ending will have you screaming, “Plot twist!”
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The Fugitive
Released: 1993
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I didn’t kill my wife!” (Followed by the response: “I don’t care!”)
Once again, Harrison Ford is fighting off the bad guys in a movie based on a best-selling book—this time, a mystery by John Grisham. His character, Richard Kimble, is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. It’s fascinating to watch how this seemingly everyday guy manages to outwit and outrun the authorities as he works to clear his name and also try to find the one-armed man who killed his wife. Plus, the pairing of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones can’t be beat.
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The Rock
Released: 1996
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Listen, I think we got started off on the wrong foot. Stan Goodspeed, FBl. Let’s talk music. Do you like the Elton John song, ‘Rocket Man’?”
After infiltrating Alcatraz, a villainous group threatens to launch a nerve-gas attack on San Francisco from the former prison. What could be written off as an action movie with all of the typical bells and whistles is so much more with Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, and Ed Harris at the helm. The acting is smart and quick, and there’s a ton of humor woven into the dialogue that will have you chuckling even as the action has you jumping out of your seat.
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The Matrix
Released: 1999
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
The perfect mixture of action and sci-fi, The Matrix takes us into a world where we don’t know what to believe. It was visually groundbreaking when it came out, setting the bar incredibly high for every action movie that came after it, and it won four Oscars for things like editing and effects. But it also lands on this list for pure originality as Neo and Morpheus join forces against secret agents trying to take them down.
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Mission: Impossible
Released: 1996
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “My team is dead. They knew we were coming, man. They knew we were coming, and the disk is gone.”
The Mission: Im possible franchise takes the idea of “MacGyvering” to a new level with all sorts of crazy ways to get out of sticky situations. And we only need to hear the first few notes of the theme song to get in the mood for spy games and close calls. So what’s the actual premise? Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is a talented secret agent who finds himself on the wrong side of the law when he’s falsely accused of being disloyal to the American government.
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The Mummy
Released: 1999
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Know this: This creature is the bringer of death. He will never eat, he will never sleep, and he will never stop.”
It isn’t often that we get an action movie where the villain is a mummy with ancient spiritual superpowers who wreaks havoc on the world as he tries to bring his true love back to life. That in itself puts it on the best action movies map, but an incredibly watchable Brendan Fraser puts it over top, along with the perfect amount of romance, humor, and kitsch. Who would have thought that a remake of the classic 1930s horror movie starring Boris Karloff would be this much fun?
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Baby Driver
Released: 2017
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Don’t feed me any more lines from Monsters Inc. It pisses me off.”
Critics and audiences loved this crime drama, which had more action than you ever thought could fit into one hour and 53 minutes. But we love a good heist and all of the chaos it brings, so when a young getaway driver finds himself in a major pickle after getting involved in a caper that has zero chance of success, we can’t wait to see what happens next.
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Clear and Present Danger
Released: 1994
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “You took an oath, if you recall, when you first came to work for me. And I don’t mean to the National Security Advisor of the United States. I mean to his boss…and I don’t mean the President. You gave your word to his boss: You gave your word to the people of the United States. Your word is who you are.”
Come for the acting, stay for the stunts. Harrison Ford is back as CIA analyst Jack Ryan, who finds himself in the middle of an illegal war between the United States and a Colombia-based drug cartel, and he’s not messing around. Of course, you’ll be rooting for Ford all the way through, but there’s a twist—you never really know who the bad guys are.
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Romeo Must Die
Released: 2000
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “For you, killing your son was like running over a dog in the street. Just something in your way.”
Determined to avenge the death of his brother, a cop takes matters into his own hands but falls in love with the daughter of a corrupt businessman. We love this movie because it stars the talented Jet Li and the late singer Aaliyah, whose performance leaves us wondering about the heights she could have risen to if her life hadn’t been cut short. Plus, the fight choreography is exceptional, with martial arts taking center stage in a spectacular visual display that will make you want to learn a move or two. The soundtrack, which is filled with hip-hop and R&B, is also pretty amazing.
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The Meg
Released: 2018
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”
Sometimes you want to watch a movie that is so absolutely ridiculous, it’s incredible. That’s what you get with the shark movie The Meg, which features action star Jason Statham. Surely the dreaded megalodon (the biggest marine predator ever to lurk in the oceans) has a special place in movie-villain history. He’s at the center of this flick about a team of scientists who are surprised to encounter the monster while exploring the Pacific.
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Tomb Raider
Released: 2001
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I woke up this morning and I just hated everything.”
The Tomb Raider video game came to life in the early aughts with Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. Follow along as she recovers ancient artifacts, tries to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance, and kicks butt along the way to keep the powerful items from falling into the wrong hands. With this film, Jolie proved that women could front an action movie and draw tons of box-office attention (and dollars).
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Top Gun
Released: 1986
Rated: PG
Memorable quote: “I feel the need…the need for speed.”
Brimming with drama, romance, and, yes, action, Top Gun is about so much more than fighter pilots in an elite weapons school. It also has a little humor, like when the guys start crooning “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” and some gut-wrenching moments that will make you wonder if you’re actually watching a sad movie. It’s a true classic, featuring Tom Cruise at his absolute best, and it will leave you breathless.
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Released: 2005
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Your aim’s as bad as your cooking, sweetheart…and that’s saying something.”
Their personal relationship may not have worked out, but there was no denying the on-screen chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The banter alone is entertaining, but the action as these two try to hide the fact that they are both assassins assigned to kill the other is unmatched.
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The Terminator
Released: 1984
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “I’ll be back.”
Long before he became the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Terminator in this sensationally ’80s sci-fi flick. As a cyborg from the future—2029, to be exact, which isn’t all that far away anymore!—he’s on a mission to kill a woman whose future child is believed to be integral to humanity’s salvation. This movie makes the list partly for nostalgia, but also because it was a pretty fierce action flick for its time—and still is.
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The Bourne Identity
Released: 2002
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs 215 pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab or the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now, why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?”
What makes The Bourne Identity so intriguing is that it’s not only full of action sequences, but it also plays as a mystery and a thriller. What else would you call a movie about a man with amnesia who has to outrun assassins, all while trying to get his memory back?
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The Equalizer
Released: 2014
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud, too.”
Denzel Washington is a masterful actor, and he brings his skills to The Equalizer, leveling up the entire action-movie genre in the process. He plays Robert McCall, a man who tried to put his mysterious past behind him by faking his own death. But he gets pulled back into the fray when he attempts to save a young girl who has been captured by Russian gangsters.
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National Treasure
Released: 2004
Rated: PG
Memorable quote: “A souvenir. I thought it’d be a good idea to have a duplicate. Turns out I was right. I actually had to pay for the souvenir and the real one, so you owe me $35, plus tax.”
Action movies are often violent or heavy on adult language, meaning they aren’t family-friendly. National Treasure is just the opposite. Nicolas Cage plays a historian desperate to find the Knights Templar treasure before a group of nefarious mercenaries grabs it for themselves. Along the way, Cage’s Benjamin Franklin Gates is joined by an unexpected team of helpers as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding the Declaration of Independence. It’s an all-ages affair that’s also rich with history and U.S. trivia—including some that you definitely never learned in school.
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300
Released: 2007
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty. For tonight, we dine in hell!”
Not your average period piece, 300 pits the Spartans against the Persians at Thermopylae in the year 480 B.C. (The title refers to the number of Spartans who fought in the battle.) Filled with epic battle scenes, as well as a lot of bloodshed and shirtless men, the film did incredibly well at the box office, grossing more than $456 million worldwide.
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Mad Max: Fury Road
Released: 2015
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “My name is Max. My world is fire and blood. Once, I was a cop. A road warrior searching for a righteous cause. As the world fell, each of us in our own way was broken. It was hard to know who was more crazy: me…or everyone else.”
This story in the Mad Max franchise is really its best, winning six Academy Awards in various categories including film editing and costume design. Charlize Theron stars as Imperator Furiosa, a woman determined to find her way home, despite a villainous ruler, in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Though many would consider this a reboot of the original, which starred Mel Gibson, the movie’s director calls it a “revisiting” of that story. The same character is at the core of the film, but the acting, the stunts, and the special effects far exceed what they were able to achieve in the 1979 movie.
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Atomic Blonde
Released: 2017
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Ironic. The news will tell them there will be no more secrets. But you and I, we both know that’s not true. This world is run on secrets.”
In this movie, based on a series of graphic novels called The Coldest City, Charlize Theron plays the role of action star to a T. The physical training she endured for the part is apparent in the fluid fight scenes and impeccably timed stunts. The story revolves around Theron’s Lorraine Broughton, who is sent to Berlin on assignment during the Cold War to get to the bottom of a fellow agent’s murder and retrieve several double agents that have gone missing.
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Seven Samurai
Released: 1954
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think of yourself, you’ll only destroy yourself.”
If you aren’t familiar with famed writer and director Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai is an excellent introduction to his work. In this martial-arts movie, a village being pillaged by bandits bands together to fight them off with the help of seven samurai. When it was released, it gave American moviegoers their first taste of Japanese cinema, offering a glimpse of a different culture and a different kind of action. At the time, action was generally relegated to Westerns and war movies, and this film helped to expand that narrow scope.
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Released: 2000
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I’ve already wasted my whole life. I want to tell you with my last breath that I have always loved you. I would rather be a ghost, drifting by your side as a condemned soul, than enter heaven without you. Because of your love, I will never be a lonely spirit.”
When a young female warrior holds an infamous sword that once belonged to an iconic hero, she finds herself in the midst of a world she never imagined…and entangled in a romance with a mystery man. While it isn’t uncommon for the best action movies to win Oscars for editing, costume design, and special effects, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is so stunning that in addition to those awards, the film took home the statue for Best Foreign Language Film.
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Snowpiercer
Released: 2014
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Order is the barrier that holds back the flood of death. We must all of us on this train of life remain in our allotted station. We must each of us occupy our preordained particular position.”
You may always think of him as Captain America, but Chris Evans has tackled many action roles, including as Curtis, the leader of a lower-class group of citizens fighting for equality and their lives, in Snowpiercer. This futuristic sci-fi thriller is fast-paced—and not just because it’s set on a high-speed train that traverses the globe after Earth has frozen over due to the climate crisis. Ultimately, it’s a story about the inequity of class systems and those rebelling against it.
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Kill Bill: Volume 1
Released: 2003
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Revenge is never a straight line. It’s a forest, and like a forest, it’s easy to lose your way…to get lost…to forget where you came in.”
Known for its violence, this Quentin Tarantino flick is not for young audiences (or the faint of heart), but it will definitely draw in anyone who watches it. Uma Thurman plays a former assassin seeking revenge on the colleagues who betrayed her, and let’s just say that the word mercy is not in her vocabulary. The fight sequences are flawless, and Kill Bill: Volume 2, released in 2004, is a perfect follow-up to the initial film because it gives us the closure we need while sending Thurman’s Beatrix Kiddo on more butt-kicking missions.
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Aliens
Released: 1986
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away?”
This ’80s sequel to the original A lie n, which was directed by Ridley Scott in 1979, gets us caught up with Ripley, the sole survivor of a starfreighter attacked by a parasitic alien intent on killing everyone in its path. This time, there are more aliens—lots more—and Ripley teams up with a new crew to make sure these creatures meet their end. With more modern special effects and loads of firepower, this cult classic takes you for a wild ride through the depths of space.
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Hero
Released: 2004
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Your Majesty, my task is completed now. My decision will cause the deaths of many, and Your Majesty will live on. A dead man begs you to remember: A warrior’s ultimate act is to lay down his sword.”
Though it didn’t take home an Oscar, Hero was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004. Jet Li is our hero as Nameless, a defense officer who has piqued the interest of the king of Qin after taking down three warriors. Once in front of the king, he must explain how he managed to off the villains, but the royal comes to realize Nameless isn’t exactly the heroic person he presents himself to be. In addition to the action and adventure, there’s plenty of drama and excellent storytelling—all of which help to make it a well-rounded, must-watch movie.
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Logan
Released: 2017
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Nature made me a freak. Man made me a weapon. And God made it last too long.”
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where some of your favorite characters end up, you’ll love Logan. It’s 2029, mutants are almost extinct, and Logan is in a very different place than he was in his X-Men days. But when he comes across a child very much like himself, he’ll do whatever it takes to get her away from the scientists pursuing her. The pursuit is where the action is, of course, but there’s also so much heart in Logan’s intentions that the movie also plays like a drama.
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Escape from New York
Released: 1981
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “You touch me…he dies. If you’re not in the air in 30 seconds…he dies. You come back in…he dies.”
Another quirky cult classic from the ’80s, this John Carpenter film also has elements of horror, sci-fi (it takes place in the “future”—1997), and drama, as well as a lot of fighting. Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken kicks butt and will also make you chuckle. Snake is sent in to help rescue the president of the United States when POTUS’ plane is taken down by a group of convicts in Manhattan. Oh, and one other thing you need to know: The city has been turned into a maximum-security prison after an astronomical escalation in crime.
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Black Hawk Down
Released: 2002
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “When I go home, people’ll ask me, ‘Hey, Hoot, why do you do it, man? What, you some kinda war junkie?’ You know what I’ll say? I won’t say a goddamn word. Why? They won’t understand. They won’t understand why we do it. They won’t understand that it’s about the men next to you, and that’s it. That’s all it is.”
With two Oscar wins for Film Editing and Sound, Black Hawk Down is a sweeping look at a group of elite soldiers who dropped into Mogadishu in the early ’90s only to find themselves face-to-face with a fierce group of armed Somali soldiers. The story explores the emotional toll of the experience on these military men and women with as much intensity as it depicts the fight. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film will stay with you long after the credits roll.
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Point Break
Released: 1991
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.”
The dynamic duo of Keanu Reeves and the late Patrick Swayze is what made Point Break a spectacular action movie. Swayze’s Bodhi and his band of presidential-mask-wearing bank robbers lead an undercover cop, Johnny Utah (Reeves), on a dangerous path. Johnny is determined to crack the case on the bank heists but is also enamored by Bodhi’s aspirational lifestyle. Viewers (and Johnny) realize that things aren’t always what they seem. The surfing scenes aren’t bad either.
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Avengers: Infinity War
Released: 2018
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I know what it’s like to lose. To feel so desperately that you’re right, yet to fail nonetheless. It’s frightening, turns the legs to jelly. I ask you to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now it’s here. Or should I say, I am.”
You’ll notice that this is the only Marvel film on the list—not because there aren’t more that qualify as excellent action movies, but because this one is truly the best of the best. By incorporating so many members of the Marvel universe into this superhero movie, the talent pool here is top-notch, and viewers are incredibly invested in the interpersonal relationships between the main characters. In this movie, villain Thanos tries to acquire the remaining Infinity Stones, which would give him unthinkable powers. As the Avengers try to prevent that from happening, there’s a particularly poignant moment between Thanos and his adopted daughter Gamora that is absolutely heart-wrenching.
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Dirty Harry
Released: 1971
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “You’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
It’s old-school Clint Eastwood at his finest. As a San Francisco police inspector, Harry Callahan will stop at nothing to take down the Scorpio Killer. Dirty Harry offers all of the thrills and chills you would expect from a 1970s crime drama, from the terrifying antics of a madman to the truly dirty depths Callahan will go to put him behind bars.
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Casino Royale
Released: 2006
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “I won’t consider myself to be in trouble until I start weeping blood.”
Why is Casino Royale the best of the many, many Bond movies? Quite simply, Daniel Craig is our favorite 007 thus far, and his first movie in the franchise really delivers a fresh look at the iconic character. This installment has all of the glamour and action we want from a Bond film and more. Here, the infamous agent must win a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale…and a private banker secretly funding terrorists is his corrupt opponent.
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Bad Boys
Released: 1995
Rated: R
Memorable quote: “Now back up, put the gun down, and get me a pack of Tropical Fruit Bubblicious.”
Sure, it’s packed with action, but what makes Bad Boys stand out is really the camaraderie between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two detectives protecting a murder witness. With Michael Bay as director, there are plenty of explosions (literal and figurative ones) as the dynamic duo also try to figure out who stole a massive amount of heroin from their precinct’s evidence room.
Via Merchant
Edge of Tomorrow
Released: 2014
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Battle is the Great Redeemer. It is the fiery crucible in which true heroes are forged. The one place where all men truly share the same rank, regardless of what kind of parasitic scum they were going in.”
It’s really the worst kind of Groundhog Day situation for Tom Cruise’s character, Cage, in this action/sci-fi flick. Involved in a war against aliens, Cage finds the day restarting every time he dies. We love the way this film turns into a mystery that audiences get to piece together, with Cage and his colleagues inching closer to success each time he comes back to life to relive the battle with a new piece of information to work with.
Via Merchant
The Day After Tomorrow
Released: 2004
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Mankind survived the last ice age. We’re certainly capable of surviving this one. All depends on whether or not we’re able to learn from our mistakes.”
Climate-change doubters might have cause for concern after watching The Day After Tomorrow when they see a tidal wave rushing over the Statue of Liberty and tornadoes taking out Los Angeles. Manhattan becomes a frozen tundra, trapping schoolkids on an ill-fated field trip, and things get really dramatic when we watch Dennis Quaid trekking through the extreme weather conditions to rescue his teenage son (played by a young Jake Gyllenhaal).
Via Merchant
Mulan
Released: 2020
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “Do you know why the phoenix sits on the right hand of the emperor? She is his guardian, his protector. And she is both beautiful and strong. Your job is to bring honor to the family. Do you think you can do that?”
The live-action version of Mulan, the story of a girl who disguises herself as a male warrior to help her father and protect their family name, is both visually stunning and packed with incredible stunts and effects. Get ready for extremely well-executed fight scenes (so well done, they’re actually beautiful) woven into a riveting coming-of-age story. While it didn’t enjoy a huge big-screen rollout due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a spectacular distraction to watch while staying safe at home. If you love all things Disney, check out these memorable Disney quotes from more of your favorite movies.
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Men in Black
Released: 1997
Rated: PG-13
Memorable quote: “You’re no longer part of the System. You’re above the System. Over it. Beyond it. We’re ‘them.’ We’re ‘they.’ We are the Men in Black.”
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are partners monitoring alien presence and activity on Earth in this movie that spawned three sequels. The duo’s biggest enemy? Edgar, a farmer whose body has been taken over by a bug-like alien out to steal a super-powered energy source. When you’ve had your fill of action movies (if that’s even possible), check out these romantic comedies and movie musicals for something completely different.