The action movie genre has countless movies with filmmakers using different methods to make something that you will love. Some of the best action movies are classics that were made years ago without the use of modern equipment.
That’s not to say that modern action movies aren’t good. Some of the best movies are ones where the actors play their roles to perfection and the action scenes are filmed beautifully. This is why classics such as Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon and the newer John Wick can be considered some of the best action movies ever.
8Die Hard
Yippee Ki‐Yay
The classic ‘Christmas’ movie, Die Hard, has nothing to do with the sentiment of the holiday but has a massive following of fans who watch it during that time of the year. The story is very straightforward with your hero, John McClane played by Bruce Willis, saving a building from terrorists who have taken everyone hostage.
Alan Rickman plays the antagonist and the acting of both the leads made the movie an instant hit. The one-liners by Willis and the iconic Nakatomi Plaza influenced many movies thatcame after Die Hard. This action classic had a unique premise at the time, and it proved to be something that viewers fell in love with.
7Speed
Don’t Slow Down
Speed has a unique premise as most of the movie takes place on a bus that can’t be slowed down or stopped because of a bomb on it. LAPD SWAT officers Jack Traven and Harry Temple are on the case, with the former getting onto the bus and his partner attempting to find the culprit.
The movie’s location and premise make it, so there aren’t too many fight scenes in it, but who knew a bus could be used in an action movie? Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock play their parts to perfection, and that’s why Speed is a memorable movie.
6Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Hasta La Vista, Baby
Terminator2: Judgment Day is one of the best sequels to ever be made. The movie shakes things up from the first as the original Terminator, T-800, joins forces with John and Sarah. A more advanced Terminator with shapeshifting abilities, the T-1000, is the villain in the movie. The basic premise is the same as the original: Sarah and John need to prevent Skynet’s future, and this time they need to destroy a revolutionary microprocessor.
The movie shows the Terminator arriving at a bar and humiliating its occupants to get someone’s clothes, boots, and bike. There’s the scene where John and the Terminator break out Sarah from the hospital and the first shootout between the two Terminators. This entry in the Terminator franchise has everything to be the best action movie in the series.
5Exit Wounds
You See How Happy I Make Others
Exit Wounds tells the story of a Detroit police detective, Orin Boyd, who has an issue with the authorities. He disobeys an order from his captain and even though he saved the Vice President of the United States, he’s transferred to the city’s worst precinct. There he unveils a conspiracy with the department related to drug trafficking.
Steven Seagal and Michael Jai White are some of the best action stars and their scenes in the movie make it one of the best. From Seagal taking on a bunch of carjackers on the street to White showing off his sword-fighting skills, Exit Wounds is a must-watch for action buffs.
4Shaft
Tiger Wooo, Tiger Wooo, I Like him
Shaft is the story of NYPD detective John Shaft, who resigns from the police force after a racist killer, Walter Wade Jr., is bailed using his wealth. Shaft decides to bring him down on his own and goes out to find the witness, Diane Palmieri, who can help him prove Wade is the killer. The movie hasa strong cast with Samuel L. Jacksonand Christian Bale playing their parts to perfection.
However, the best surprise out of everyone may be Jeffrey Wright, who plays the role of Dominican drug kingpin Peoples Hernandez. He aces his role and the Dominican accent and is one of the most memorable parts of the movie. That’s a huge accomplishment considering Jackson and Bale are part of the star cast.
3Taken
I Will Find You
Liam Neeson plays the role of Bryan Mills, a former Green Beret and retired CIA officer who is trying to rebuild a relationship with his daughter after missing years of her life because of his work. Bryan is pulled back into his old life when his daughter is kidnapped while in Paris, and the father will do anything to get her back.
Liam Neeson performs his action scenes amazingly and the scene when he talks to the kidnapper on the phone while his daughter is being kidnapped has a fanbase of its own. Bryan tells him he’ll look for him, he’ll find him, and he’ll kill him. What kind of hero would he be if he broke his promise? So Bryan turns Paris upside down and, after a beautifully captured car chase, finds his daughter and destroys the kidnapping operation.
2John Wick
Baba Yaga
A grieving widow namedJohn Wickis attacked at his house, his dog is killed, and his car is stolen. These events lead the protagonist, who is part of a secret society of assassins with the nickname Baba Yaga, to come out of retirement for blood. Keanu Reeves’sportrayal of Baba Yagaand the breathtaking action scenes make the movie one of the best in the genre.
The assassin’s world is also depicted amazingly, with the criminals following a strong code of honor and being governed by an organization known as the High Table. John’s impossible exploits are mentioned in the movie and even his enemies respect him. This shows how powerful the character is, and John Wick started a successful franchise that revamped and influenced future shooter movies.
1Enter The Dragon
Boards Don’t Hit Back
Enter the Dragon is arguablythe best Bruce Leemovie and one of the greatest martial arts movies to have ever been made. The movie significantly popularized martial arts and Asian culture in the West and led to the creation of a plethora of martial arts movies. While Lee’s fight scenes are the heart and soul of the movie, the villain, Han, has an impactful presence.
The story of Enter the Dragon is straightforward and fast-paced but still has hints of a revenge aspect that was normal in the day. The movie showcases a fight between John Saxon and Bolo Yeung, which is one of the most loved action scenes in martial arts history.
