“Welcome to the party, pal.” Action movies have been thrilling audiences for decades with electrifying moments where the raw power of stunts, fights, and chases reigns supreme. This list of the 100 Greatest Action Movies of All Time is a tribute to the genre’s unrelenting intensity and jaw-dropping spectacle. From skyscraper showdowns to breakneck car pursuits to choreographed mayhem, these movies are built on adrenaline and one-liners to keep you glued to the edge of your seat with every heart-stopping second
What sets these films apart is their commitment to action as the main event. Whether it’s a lone hero defying impossible odds or a team tearing through a battlefield of explosions, these movies deliver the kind of high-energy excitement that defines the genre. Get ready for a countdown of the best action cinema has to offer, where action junkies live by only one motto and that is “Get to the Choppa!!!” No wait, here it is, “For me, the action is the juice.”
These are the 100 Greatest Action Movies of All Time.
100. Fast Five (2011)
It’s rare for a franchise to produce its best installments later in its run, but that’s exactly what the Fast & Furious franchise did. A year before Marvel Studios assembled Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Justin Lin put together his own team of fan favorites for the crowd-pleasing, realism-breaking action flick Fast Five. Fully ditching the street racing theme in favor of a heist action movie with cars, Fast Five revitalized the franchise with a newfound purpose and a renewed sense of family, perfecting the formula that the series would replicate over the next two sequels. No one has looked cooler dragging a vault with $100 million in cash through the streets of Rio than Dom and Brian, and I doubt anyone ever will.
–Marmaduke Karlston
99. Crank (2006)
I like Jason Statham, but he’s not exactly the cheeriest guy. Almost all of his characters have three levels: dour with a hint of a smile, just plain dour, and dour with a bit of breaking someone’s bones. Sure, Crank features all of these variations, but it also seems like Statham is having a bit of, dare I say it, fun? Crank‘s storyline involves Statham’s character, a hitman named Chev Chelios, being injected with a drug that will kill him if his adrenaline drops below 50 miles per hour. Or something like that. It’s just an excuse to have Chev doing crazy, dangerous and outrageous things to keep his adrenaline surging and the audience interested for an hour and a half. Crank is not deep, it’s not really even cathartic – like a lot of Statham’s recent films – but it is damn fun to watch. Maybe the most fun I’ve ever had watching a Jason Statham movie.
–Bob Cram
98. Under Siege (1992)
Steven Seagal gets a lot of shit these days for being a phony baloney douchebag, but back in the late 80s when he introduced Western audiences to his kinetic brand of aikido, people were blown away.
From 1988 to 1991, Seagal appeared in four action movies, each using the same three word title formula and each adhering to the same basic cops vs crooks plot. These were all fun action movies and of varying quality, but the 1992 Andrew Davis-helmed flick Under Siege took things up a notch. For the first time, Seagal’s impressive martial arts skills were matched by the acting chops of a pro like Tommy Lee Jones. Jones’s portrayal of the rogue CIA agent and Davis’s skillful direction elevated the material above B grade action, but it was Seagal’s chop socky skills that drove the movie’s many impressively choreographed scenes, and those fights are what I look forward to every time I rewatch it.
Seagal may or may not be a douche in real life, but his on screen aikido skills are no less impressive three decades later, and Under Siege remains his most impressive and accessible movie from that era.
–William Dhalgren
97. Highlander (1986)
If you were going to make a movie called Highlander, the obvious thing to do would be to cast a Frenchman as a Scottish Highlander and a Scot as a Spanish Egyptian. I mean, duh, right? I’m being honest, Highlander is a lot more impressive as a concept than it is in execution. It’s one of those ideas that’s so good, writers wish they’d come up with it. But Christopher Lambert isn’t much of an action star, and the sword choreography could use a tune up to really fit in the pantheon of great 80s action movies. But somehow, despite its many quirks, Highlander manages to elevate itself above the sum of its parts. A kick ass score by the likes of Queen doesn’t hurt. Casting the larger-than-life Clancy Brown as the Kurgan, an evil immortal hell-bent on winning “the prize”–dominion over all of the earth, certainly helps. And lending your film the gravitas of an actor like Sean Connery is a big upgrade for a movie like Highlander. And then you throw in the dirty, urban decay of New York City as a backdrop to all of the action and you’ve got a movie with some grit and charm. It’s not perfect, but I love it because of its warts–not despite them.
–William Dhalgren
96. The Fifth Element (1997)
When I think of my favorite 90s action movies, The Fifth Element is easily in the top 5. It’s got everything you could possibly want. A giant flaming evil ball barreling towards Earth, bent on its destruction. Bruce Willis, in all his sarcastic, jaded, always-seems-hungover glory, who must help the ultimate weapon defeat this Great Evil. That weapon, of course, is Milla Jovovich, who kicks ass and somehow makes the word “Multipass” infinitely quotable. Chris Tucker brings his signature brand of charisma, comedy and chaos. And there’s Gary Oldman’s Zorg, a creepy, power-hungry rich businessman who is helping The Great Evil … because why not? The entire movie is ridiculous yet also amazing. It doesn’t take itself seriously but still manages to tell a heartwarming story about redemption, hope and — you guessed it — the power of love.
–R.J. Mathews
95. Hero (2002)
The wuxia sub-genre is a great and expressive one. Hero is a dope entry into it that celebrates both the history of the genre and of Chinese history. The action in wuxia films is beautifully balletic but simultaneously intense. The use of color is informative and aesthetically satisfying. The sound design and music feel both epic and intimate. Jet Li is one of the great action stars of the late 90’s/early 2000’s and his masterful ability to play a captivatingly badass hero is on full display here. Plus, Tony Leung is in this. That’s always a good thing.
–Raf Stitt
94. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
This is actually my favorite of the original three Bourne films, so it pains me a little to see it so low on the list. While the whole “kill the love interest to generate a reason for the character to go on a rampage” is a cliché, at least Supremacy gave us some time with Marie to remind us why she was so important to Jason. Screenwriter Tony Gilroy returns and weaves a complicated tapestry involving Bourne’s past with Treadstone, a frame job, a CIA task force, and a Russian assassin. It was great to see Brian Cox brought back and given some more scenery to chew. Joan Allen was a fantastic addition as CIA Deputy Director Pam Landy, and she manages to dominate every scene she’s in. Easily my favorite new character in the film.
I know the shaky cam gets a ton of crap now, but at the time it was cutting edge and the fight scenes remain visceral and impactful. I generally dislike digging deeper into a character’s backstory in a sequel, but the bits and pieces we get of Jason’s past and his need to confront/atone for it is handled with deftness. We even get to learn Bourne’s real name, in a closing scene whose music (by Moby) I can immediately hear in my head when I think of it. A perfect balance of character, intrigue, and all-out action, this is the Bourne series firing on all cylinders.
–Bob Cram
93. Police Story 2 (1988)
One of the greatest action sequels ever, Police Story 2 builds on the high-octane action and intricate stunt work of the original, while exploring the personal costs of being a righteous cop in a corrupt and violent world. It’s a tighter, more mature entry in the series, offering both thrilling spectacle and emotional weight. Following the chaos and destruction of the first film, Chan Ka-Kui (Jackie Chan) finds himself demoted to a low-profile beat patrol job after his unorthodox methods and reckless pursuit of justice embarrass the police department. As he tries to settle into a quieter life with his girlfriend May (Maggie Cheung), Ka-Kui is once again drawn into danger. The vengeful villain from the first film, Chu Tao, is released from prison on medical grounds and begins to threaten Ka-Kui and his loved ones.
Sequels can either expand the scope of their universe, introducing new ideas and obstacles for the protagonist to deal with, or can just double down on what made the previous work, and while this one definitely does the latter, it is one of the best examples of upping the ante. Though less explosive than the original, it still delivers some of Jackie Chan’s most technically impressive and innovative stunt work. Highlights include a prolonged playground fight scene with acrobatic choreography, a tense warehouse battle, and a climactic showdown involving pyrotechnics, factory equipment, and dangerous environments. Police Story 2 is a thoughtful, character-driven sequel that tempers the raw adrenaline of the original with emotional gravity and sharper storytelling. It retains Chan’s signature blend of martial arts, stunts, and heart, while maturing the franchise in tone and style. It stands as a compelling example of how a sequel can evolve without losing the spirit that made its predecessor a classic.
–Sailor Monsoon
92. Fist of Legend (1994)
A remake of Bruce Lee’s 1972 film Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend is set at the beginning of the Second World War as the Imperial Japanese Army are stationed in Shanghai, China. Neither side are portrayed as the good guys or the bad guys in a refreshing change for the genre. Something that is a lot more familiar are the fantastic set pieces and bone crunching action featured throughout. One of Jet Li’s lesser heralded films, but it without doubt features some of the best action in his entire filmography.
–Lee McCutcheon
91. Tango & Cash (1989)
This movie is an all time classic and the funny part is it’s not even that great. Overall it’s an average late 80s action movie, but it’s got some great one liners and cool action sequences. Stallone and Russell just look like they had a blast making this movie. The premise is simple, Tango & Cash are two of L.A.’s best narcotics detectives, they get set up and sent to jail. So of course they need to break out and clear their names. That’s where the fun begins. These two odd couple cops have to learn to work together. It’s a silly buddy cop movie, but it’s a fun to watch. Plus, Teri Hatcher plays Stallone’s younger, smokin’ hot sister. The dynamic between her, Kurt Russell and Sly is great.
–K. Alvarez
90. Rambo (2008)
First Blood II cranked the action and killing up to 11 compared to the original, but what it lacked in gore and brutality, 2008’s Rambo more than made up for it. Playing the grizzled John Rambo once again, Stallone, who also directed, takes the character back to his roots as a haunted, battle-hardened loner, this time dragged into a blood-soaked rescue mission in war-torn Burma. The film doesn’t mess around by showing real-world atrocities down to the climactic massacre where Rambo unleashes hell with a .50-caliber machine gun.
What elevates Rambo is its gut-punching violence with a surprising emotional core. The cartoonishness of earlier sequels is stripped away, being replaced by the grim reality where a war’s toll is shown both in the mutilated villages of Burma and in Rambo’s weary eyes. There is a high body count that would make an OnlyFans model jealous while limbs fly and heads explode in a symphony of chaos, but somehow still feels grounded. Rambo is a brutal, action-packed classic.
–Vincent Kane
89. The Running Man (1987)
It’s still weird to me that this film was directed by the original Starsky, of Starsky and Hutch (David Glazier). Anyway. The Running Man is crazy, just pure 1980s action/sci-fi cheese. Loosely (and I mean INCREDIBLY loosely) adapted from a Stephen King novel (one of his Bachman books), the film centers on a ‘bread and circuses’ type game show in a dystopian future. Criminals are pitted against “stalkers” in life-or-death scenarios to attempt to win their freedom. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Captain Ben Richards, an innocent man framed and forced to play in the games by a corrupt government. While the satire and allegory are pretty weak, and play second fiddle to fairly low-budget action set pieces, they’re still there and give a little edge to the proceedings. Richard Dawson is great as the host of the Running Man TV show, a role he was perfectly cast in, as he was the host of Family Feud at the time. While The Running Man is not that deep, and a bit cheap looking, it’s also a blast to watch and something you could only have gotten greenlit in the ’80s. What’s that? There’s a new version coming from Edgar Wright? Well, Richards did say he’d be back.
–Bob Cram
88. Bullitt (1968)
My favorite Steve McQueen movie is The Blob (1958), by the way, but Bullitt comes a close second. A gritty, fairly realistic neo-noir crime movie, Bullitt paved the way for more bombastic cop-centric films like Dirty Harry (both films being based around a real-life San Francisco police detective named Dave Toschi). While it’s a decent enough crime film, with plenty of violence and even occasional detective work, Bullitt is primarily famous for one 11-minute car chase through the streets of San Francisco. CGI and other technical achievements have made outrageous and impossible car chases a staple of filmmaking – you can’t have 10 minutes go by in your standard Fast and the Furious movie without somebody doing something incredible in a car – but nobody in 1968 had seen anything like the chase scene in Bullitt. If you pay close attention, there are a ton of continuity issues with that chase, mostly due to it being shot over several days, but you don’t notice them at all during the scene. It’s still as intense, exciting, and riveting as it was in 1968. And it’s still worth the price of admission. As my wife said at the end of her first viewing, “Okay, that was pretty cool.”
–Bob Cram
87. Bad Boys (1995)
“Bad boys, bad boys! Whatcha gonna do?! Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?!” It felt inevitable that Will Smith would break out as a movie star once everyone watched him on the ultra-popular Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. What we didn’t expect was for him to become an action star, but a team-up with Martin Lawrence and unknown director Michael Bay would launch all three into movie stardom. The action buddy comedy would deliver the laughs as Will and Martin would go back and forth with insults and one-liners, as we learn of Michael Bay’s bombastic directing style, where everything feels turned up to 11. Plenty of laughs and action make for a fun ride as we witness a star being launched.
–Vincent Kane
86. The Great Escape (1963)
Loosely based on a true story, The Great Escape tells the story of a group of Allied prisoners of war in World War II who stage an elaborate escape from a German camp. The POWs plan to dig 3 tunnels under the prison wall with the goal of allowing 250 prisoners to escape — and hopefully distracting the Germans from the war front. With an all-star cast, including Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn and Charles Bronson, The Great Escape is a thrilling tale of ingenuity and determination. In the end, only 76 men escape and all but 3 are killed or captured in a series of action-packed scenes, including McQueen’s famous motorcycle chase. Of the escapees who were recaptured, 50 are brought to a field and gunned down. It’s an incredibly dark conclusion, but while the details are dramatized, the numbers reflect the true story.
–R.J. Mathews
85. Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
Rumble in the Bronx marked a pivotal moment in Jackie Chan’s career: his explosive breakthrough into the North American mainstream. The film was designed specifically to showcase Chan’s unique blend of martial arts, acrobatics, slapstick comedy, and daredevil stunts to Western audiences. Chan plays Keung, a Hong Kong cop who travels to New York to attend his uncle’s wedding and help with the family supermarket. What should be a simple visit spirals into chaos when Keung finds himself at odds with a local biker gang and inadvertently entangled in a conflict involving stolen diamonds, street thugs, and a ruthless crime syndicate. As tensions escalate, Keung becomes a one-man army defending his new friends and community using his fists, wit, and anything he can find in his environment.
What sets Rumble in the Bronx apart is Jackie Chan himself. His action scenes are not just thrilling but inventive, using shopping carts, refrigerators, skis, and even pinball machines as weapons. The film is a masterclass in prop-based choreography, blending martial arts precision with physical comedy reminiscent of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Chan’s everyman persona (charming, humble, and reluctant to fight unless pushed) makes him immediately likable to Western audiences unfamiliar with his earlier Hong Kong hits. Though not his first American release, Rumble in the Bronx was the one that finally clicked with U.S. audiences. This is what made Jackie Chan a star, and action cinema was changed forever.
–Sailor Monsoon
84. GoldenEye (1995)
Though Skyfall remains my favourite James Bond film, GoldenEye was the one that got me hooked on the world’s smoothest spy. It’s been years since I last saw it, but so many moments are etched in my memory: Alan Cumming’s “Yes! I am a genius! I am invincible!”; Famke Janssen’s villainess crushed in a tree; and, of course, Tina Turner’s sultry, powerhouse theme song — one of the best in the sixty-three-year-old franchise.
To be honest, I don’t even remember what GoldenEye actually refers to (a computer program, maybe?) — but that’s never really the point of a Bond film, is it? You know he’s saving the world; what matters is how he does it — with charm, swagger, and a martini in hand.
Before Daniel Craig brought grit and bruises to the role, Pierce Brosnan played Bond with such effortless cool, you almost forgot he was just an actor. If you’re unsure where to start with the Bond action (which to date includes 25 full-length films), GoldenEye is a pretty safe — and thoroughly stylish — bet.
–Thomas Riest
83. The Legend (1993)
If you’re familiar with Jet Li’s martial arts films from the 90s, you’ll be familiar with the goofy comedy that is interlaced in between the action. No other film exemplifies this blend better than The Legend. The chemistry between Josephine Siao (playing Li’s mother) and Jet Li is constantly laugh-out-loud funny. But it’s really the action that you come to see, and The Legend has some amazing choreography. The jaw-dropping fight scene taking place on a bamboo frame is worth the price of admission alone.
–Lee McCutcheon
82. True Romance (1993)
It’s probably the least action oriented of any of Tony Scott’s flicks, but it’s a great movie, nonetheless. There’s a good deal more in the way of romance (hence the title) than action packed sequences, but that’s alright. When the action does come, it’s as exhilarating as it gets. Between Quentin Tarantino the writer’s ability to beautifully build tension and have it explode before you know what hit you, and Tony Scott’s graceful fervor for capturing the action-packed images on film, you’re in extremely qualified hands watching True Romance.
–Raf Stitt
81. Quantum of Solace (2008)
Still feeling the rage and grief of loss, James Bond chases a new lead after an attempt on M’s life: a shadow organization with people everywhere (and no, it’s not Spectre). This movie often features on lists as one of the lower-ranking James Bond movies (particularly when compared to the other Daniel Craig movies), but what this movie lacks in story, it makes up for in action. The opening chase is an absolute banger and throws the viewer right into the action. Though honestly, as a former music major, I’m obsessed with the shootout scene right at the climax of Puccini’s Tosca. The choice to include the first few seconds of the scene in silence really subverts expectations and grabs your attention. Upon rewatching, I really enjoyed this movie, and I think a lot of the hate it gets is wildly overblown.
–Valerie Morreale
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What are some of your favorite action movies? Maybe they will show up later in the list!