“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.
40. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
When they first announced a sequel to Top Gun, I rolled my eyes and probably made a snarky comment or two. Yes, the original is a seminal action flick, but rewatching it before the sequel was released reminded me why I never revisited it: it’s dated, it’s macho to the point of parody, and it represents many of the reasons the action genre isn’t usually my thing.
But then the trailer dropped — a strong cast, Lady Gaga’s soaring ballad — and my interest piqued. The reviews rolled in and were glowing. I ran to the nearest IMAX to see what the fuss was about, and honestly? This film reminded me why we still go to the movies.
It’s a simple story about aging, mentorship, brotherhood, and letting go of the past — all sprinkled with jaw-dropping aerial sequences in between. The visuals and sound demand the biggest screen possible, but still make for solid Friday night viewing at home. It made a fortune, landed a Best Picture nomination, and, while it may not be “the greatest film ever made,” it was easily the most fun I had in a cinema that year.
–Thomas Riest
39. Star Wars (1977)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Those words still fill my head with space battles, droids, alien creatures, lightsabers, princesses, and an orphaned farm boy. It reminds me of running around our backyard with cardboard tubes, pretending to be Jedi. George Lucas mashed up space opera, classic movie serials, samurai films, and mythology to create a unique and improbable piece of movie history.
It could have been dry, or stupid, or dull – and those who tried to emulate the experience certainly managed all three of those – but it was a thrill ride, an epic fantasy with spaceships. I may have yelled out “yeah!” in the theater when Luke shot down his first tie fighter. And maybe muttered “yeah, don’t get cocky” after Han Solo chastised him. Every Star Wars movie – hell, every science fiction movie – after this tried to replicate that alchemy. Some failed, and some succeeded to a lesser degree, but nothing ever matched – for me at least – that first adventure, in that galaxy far, far away.
–Bob Cram
38. Léon: The Professional (1994)
Luc Besson gives a masterclass in balancing intense action with heartfelt emotion. The cinematography captures the gritty and raw nature of New York streets while you have Gary Oldman delivering one of his most unhinged and memorable performances as the crooked DEA agent Stansfield. But what sets this apart from other revenge action thrillers is the emotional depth that is below the surface. That comes from Jean Reno’s performance as the titular lead.
Reno plays Leon as a cold-blooded and disciplined killer, but also adds this childlike innocence and vulnerability to create a unique character. Reno’s chemistry with Portman is one of the film’s highlights. He navigates Leon gradually growing with nuance, allowing the character to open up in small, believable steps. The protective and tender relationship that develops between Leon and Mathilda feels authentic, and Reno’s portrayal ensures that it never becomes sentimental or melodramatic. This is just one of my all-time favorites, period.
–Vincent Kane
37. The Fugitive (1993)
The pacing of this script is magnificent. The intrigue, drama, and tension all build masterfully. Tommy Lee Jones’ delivery of the line “I don’t care” makes me giddy no matter how many times I’ve seen or heard it. The Fugitive might be more of a drama than an action movie, but when director Andrew Davis decides it’s time to thrill, he goes all out. It’ll certainly keep your heart pounding as the intensity picks up, which is probably the actual best barometer for what makes something a great action flick.
–Raf Stitt
36. Taken (2008)
This film launched an entire sub-genre of action films: leads with gravitas. The moment the iconic “I will find you, and I will kill you” monologue dropped in the trailer, it cemented Liam Neeson as an action star. This movie isn’t just compelling though, it has some incredible action scenes. The torture scenes in particular are brutal, and by the time Neeson’s character finds the man he spoke to on the phone, there’s no doubt that it’s about to go down. I truly believe Taken walked so that the Equalizer could run and John Wick could fly, so for that, I’m grateful to it.
–Valerie Morreale
35. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
First Blood 2 is one of the first examples of a sequel turning it up to eleven compared to the original. First Blood was more of a well-paced character-driven drama with some great action that felt like it was set in the real world with real people. First Blood Part II transforms Rambo into a full-fledged action hero, sent back to Vietnam on a high-stakes mission to rescue American POWs that turns everything into a caricature of itself compared to the original.
The absurdity of the action, blended with its brutal combat and practical effects, would be what made Rambo iconic. When people think about Rambo, the shirtless, black camo pants, bandana-wearing, shredded hero is what is pictured. Combining all of this with the unforgettable Jerry Goldsmith score cemented its place as a defining action film of the 1980s, influencing countless imitators and setting the standard for the “one-man army” archetype in cinema.
–Vincent Kane
34. Face/Off (1997)
Face/Off is one of the most ludicrous movies I’ve ever seen; trust me when I say that I mean this as a compliment. Pairing an absurd face-swap concept with even more bizarre delivery of its ideas, John Woo’s 1997 action film is many things, but boring isn’t one of them. John Travolta and Nicholas Cage, two of the most unique actors out there, are prime candidates for roles like these, and they play them to perfection. The off-the-wall humour is so delightfully goofy that it’s easy to forget how nuanced these performances are, where Travolta and Cage are simultaneously able to let loose while grounding themselves in the particular details of each role.
This cat-and-mouse thriller is accompanied by killer action scenes that are always in sync with Face/Off’s over-the-top tone. Woo recognises he is toying with ridiculous concepts and leans into these qualities even further, with characters delivering their lines with such strong and unexpected explosions of emotion that it’s impossible not to burst out laughing at their delivery. The religious imagery and the film’s desperate need to make it as patently obvious as possible, along with a plot that one should not even dare to explain, but instead should simply experience, make this a movie that earns all of its ridiculousness.
–Cian McGrath
33. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi starred in many martial arts masterpieces in the 1990s and 2000s. And Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is probably the very best of the bunch. Largely thanks to having all three performing at the top of their game. It incorporates some insane old-school action choreography, with stunning cinematics, and the results have barely been bettered in the last 25 years. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and still looks astounding today.
–Lee McCutcheon
32. True Lies (1994)
One thing I love about True Lies is that, somehow, James Cameron managed to create a gleefully over-the-top action spy thriller with characters who actually feel like real people. In this genre, I often find that filmmakers prioritize explosions and bloody violence over character development, but True Lies is an exception.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is at his most charming as Harry Tasker, a deadly secret agent yet completely clueless husband. When his neglected wife, Helen, gets pulled into one of Harry’s missions, it adds a unique emotional core among the gunfire and witty one-liners. There’s something exhilarating about watching Helen’s transformation from bored housewife to accidental badass, and it’s played to comedic perfection by Jamie Lee Curtis. True Lies is just as much a domestic dramedy as it is an action movie. It’s a movie that winks at the genre while still delivering an entertaining spectacle.
–Romona Comet
31. The Rock (1996)
The Rock was the last Michael Bay movie I just unabashedly loved. I watched it so often that I kinda burnt myself out on it, and haven’t revisited the film since the 00s. Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, and Ed Harris just wrecked the screen with their performances, and Bay made everything feel epic with his trademark whirling camera and pulse-pounding soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.
I only vaguely remember the plot – something about disillusioned soldiers threatening to hit San Francisco with nerve gas unless they and their dead comrades’ families were compensated. It’s not high art, but it’s damn fun, and the quality of actors involved elevates everything. I mean, hey, there was a Criterion release of the film! Loud like most of Bay’s films, but never feeling quite as empty as most, due to the characters and those that played them, The Rock is high octane fun, and after a decade or more, it might be time for me to watch it again.
–Bob Cram
30. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
They should have just stopped making Bourne films after this one. It was the perfect cap to a trilogy of incredible action films. For most, this is the pinnacle of the series (I still prefer Supremacy). Tony Gilroy and Paul Greengrass return to weave a final, satisfying story of the assassin who lost his memory and found his humanity. There are plenty of signature Bourne chase scenes, shaky cam, visceral fight choreography, and twisted plot threads, all leading to Jason finally confronting his past. The best moment for me? When we realize that the end of the previous movie takes place about two-thirds of the way into this one. A masterpiece of action cinema.
–Bob Cram
29. Inception (2010)
Inception isn’t Nolan’s best film, that goes to The Prestige, but this is easily my favorite of his, and it is the one I have rewatched more than any of his other films. From the opening scene, I was hooked, and it still has a vice-like grip on a certain part of my movie brain. The world-building Nolan did on these different intricate levels is something few, if any, will ever touch. The score alone puts it ahead of most movies already. The rotating hallway fight scene is one of the best set pieces and action scenes ever recorded. It’s a movie that gets better with every single rewatch and one I will never get tired of revisiting.
–Vincent Kane
28. Heat (1995)
One of the greatest films with one of the greatest casts of all time. Michael Mann’s Heat influenced so many heists and crime movies after it came out that they still owe him royalty money because of the inspiration he gave. Don’t believe me? Watch Heat, then go watch The Dark Knight, and tell me there wasn’t heavy influence from Heat. Nolan has even stated as much.
For the first time, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino would share the screen with a stacked supporting cast of ’90s heavy hitters like Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ted Levine, Ashley Judd, and young Natalie Portman, just to name a few. Mann is so technically proficient in every aspect here. There are only a few action scenes in the film, but Mann builds the tension expertly, and when they hit, the action is so realistic and jarring that they leave a mark long after the credits roll. “For me, the action is the juice.”
–Vincent Kane
27. Gladiator (2000)
This is a nearly perfect film, and it redefined what a historical epic could look like. The action is immaculate, both in the major battle scenes and the intimate duels. I’ve seen this movie many times, but I’m always holding my breath for the whole final fight in the area. Combined with a memorable and iconic Hans Zimmer score, it reaches a level that many films (including those by the same director) have tried and failed to reach. It’s honestly wild that we almost got a completely different film, and that about 70% of the script was rewritten last-minute. Despite the setbacks, what we got can’t be topped.
–Valerie Morreale
26. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Duke be damned… calling the front yard fight “silly”. Insanity. Anyway, I saw this in the theater when it came out. And to this day, I love everything about the movie. It’s got humor, drama, action, and boobs. What more can you ask for? It is a quintessential buddy cop movie and has built a solid franchise based on the characters. Sure, each film is subpar to the OG, but they are fun nonetheless. And it’s great to watch Mel Gibson in a role he was made for (even if he’s mostly a pariah these days). He plays Riggs, the former Green Beret with a suicide complex, perfectly. And when he’s teamed up with Danny Glover’s vet cop, Murtaugh, the two are unstoppable.
–K. Alvarez
25. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Probably the most well-known of the Shaw Brothers Hong Kong kung-fu classics. And for good reason. It’s got everything a good kung-fu action movie needs – a revenge plot, training with badass monks, and killer sound effects. It’s also the movie that made Gordon Liu a star. Liu would go on to star in countless other Shaw-produced kung-fu flicks, including a few sequels to 36th Chamber. However, if you’re looking for a starting place to get into the kung-fu sub-genre, there’s no better place to start.
–Raf Stitt
24. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Adventures of Robin Hood is an amazing action movie — and not just for a movie from the ‘30s. There’s just something enthralling about watching Errol Flynn play one of the most legendary heroes of all time. He overflows with that impish roguery that we’ve come to associate with Robin Hood. That’s not to say that he carries the movie solely on his back. The fight scenes are thrillingly choreographed, and the film’s score sets just the right tone. Robin’s men are all perfectly merry. And Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Sir Guy are bumbling evil fools that you love to see bested.
–R.J. Mathews
23. The Killer (1989)
Blending melodrama and murder in high style, The Killer is still my favorite John Woo film. Chow Yun-fat plays Ah Jong, the killer with a conscience, who tries to atone for causing an innocent singer, Jennie (Sally Yeh), to lose her sight. He finds a kindred soul in the policeman assigned to bring him in, Li Yin (Danny Lee,) but their friendship is just as doomed as Ah Jong’s burgeoning relationship with Jennie.
I’d never really seen an action film as a Shakespearean tragedy before, and I was hooked. So many of John Woo’s trademark style was perfected in this, the balletic shootouts (jumping sideways in slow-mo while shooting with both hands!), the use of white doves, and the antagonist and protagonist as reflections of each other. This is the film that most people think of when talking about Woo’s influence on cinema. It’s too over the top for some, but the ending sequence with Jennie and Ah Jong crawling past each other in the flames, both rendered blind, just wrecked me. Still does.
–Bob Cram
22. John Wick (2014)
Heartbroken and recently widowed, former hitman John Wick just wants to grieve in peace. When the son of a Russian crime lord robs him of that peace, John is shoved back into a life he once thought he’d left for good, and this time, he may not be able to get out. I’m not going to lie, I think this movie is the GOAT. Everything about it works: the acting, the story, and the ACTION.
My god, every scene in this film is like a work of art. The fight choreography is some of the best I’ve ever seen. And of course, Keanu Reeves gives one of the best performances of his career as John Wick, from the badass monologues to the tender moments of grief at the loss of his spouse. This one is worth watching, then watching again.
–Valerie Morreale
21. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
Marvel’s The Avengers is the film that changed modern Hollywood. I remember seeing this opening weekend in my hometown and not having to wait in line for tickets. No one quite knew just how big of a payoff Marvel was about to receive from its risky crossover. More than a decade later, Hollywood is still learning the wrong lessons from Marvel’s The Avengers, failing to see that the 2012 blockbuster only worked because of its returning cast, solid story, and the director in the chair, Joss Whedon, who knew how to blend dramatic standoffs with thrilling action setpieces and lighthearted quips. Much like how Jaws gave birth to the blockbuster, Avengers was the dawn of the “blockbuster universe,” and we’re still reeling from its effect on cinema, for better and for worse.
–Marmaduke Karlston
60-41 | 20-1
What are some of your favorite action movies? Maybe they will show up later in the list!