“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.
60. The Raid 2 (2014)
How do you make a sequel to something as breathtaking as The Raid? Gareth Evans’ answer was to dial everything up to 11. The prison riot scene is one of the most brutal and visceral action sequences you will ever see. The film moves from the condensed and claustrophobic feel of the original to a more widespread, sprawling story. But the action is still relentless. It comes so thick and fast it’s almost exhausting. Or at least it would be if it wasn’t so damn enjoyable.
–Lee McCutcheon
59. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Jack Burton might just be the greatest action hero of all time. He’s not the most athletic. Or coordinated. But what he lacks in traditional qualities, he sure as hell makes up for with confidence and charisma. There’s a lot more to Big Trouble in Little China than Jack, however. The whole movie feels like a comic book brought to life. Full of mystery, action and romance, it’s immense fun for all ages from start to finish. The action has that trademark ’80s feel to it, and will leave you breathless at points. A film I enjoy as much now as I did when I was a teenager.
–Lee McCutcheon
58. Cliffhanger (1993)
There’s really no reason Cliffhanger should work as well as it did, but it did. And it certainly has no business turning up on any list more than 30 years later, but it did. And the reason why it shouldn’t have done either of those things is I think the reason why it beat the odds. The premise is just wacky enough, and just different enough from all of the other action stuff Stallone and Schwarzenegger were doing back then that I think that is the draw. Stallone’s Gabe Walker is no ex-Seal or Green Beret. He’s not ex-CIA or even an ex-Marine. He’s a park ranger. I mean, he’s a mountain climbing rescue ranger, but still–he’s a park ranger. He has no proficiency in automatic weapons or knives. He’s no hand-to-hand combat expert. He’s just a guy with a strong will to live, to do the right thing, and to save his friends. And somehow, that everyman appeal is Cliffhanger’s appeal, and it’s why it works so well despite its silly premise.
–William Dhalgren
57. 300 (2006)
Zach Snyder is at his best with graphic novel adaptations, and 300 is no exception. Very loosely following the events of the battle of Thermopylae, 300 is an over-the-top, gory, testosterone-fueled mess, and I love it with all my heart. It is not high art, and its messaging ranges from general themes about glory and honor to some troubled, lightly fascist underpinnings. People don’t watch this movie for the story, though; they watch it for the wild slow-mo decapitations and bloody limbs splattering the battlefield as Gerard Butler shouts in triumph. It is an absolute blast from start to finish, and it’s a film I rewatch often.
–Valerie Morreale
56. Con Air (1997)
“Put the bunny back in the box.”
Con Air is more than just a plane taken over by the worst possible criminals, it’s a plane filled with amazing actors seemingly in a competition to see who can deliver the hammiest performance, leading to a truly absurd action-packed film that will have you rolling on the floor as often as on the edge of your seat.
Nicolas Cage looks and sounds ridiculous, and yet is somehow endearing as Cameron Poe, a guy who served his time and just wants to get back to his wife and daughter while on the worst possible flight. This might not be the very best of this list, but it might be one of the most easily rewatchable films here.
–Jacob Holmes
55. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
While nowhere near as good as Lethal Weapon, the follow-up to the 1987 action classic is still leagues above most sequels. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are back as LAPD officers Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, respectively, as they find themselves taking on a gang of South African drug dealers hiding behind diplomatic immunity. Joe Pesci makes his franchise debut as Leo Getz, an obnoxious schmuck who Riggs and Murtaugh are assigned to protect. With some great car chases and a fist fight scene that feels neither silly nor shoe-horned into the ending, you’ll never be too old to watch this shit.
–Marmaduke Karlston
54. Top Gun (1986)
The movie that made Tom Cruise the movie star we know him to be today. It also put Tony Scott fully on the map. Everything about this movie is awesome – the stars, the sunglasses, the songs, the sunsets, and the stunts. It feels like so much more than an action movie, but at its core, it’s undeniably just that – an awesome action film. Scott knows how to present exciting action as good as anyone to ever sit in a director’s chair. Top Gun was his first shot at showcasing his skill.
–Raf Stitt
53. Batman Begins (2005)
Most people know the backstory of Batman, and Batman Begins doesn’t make many changes. Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed, in front of him, and this is what sets him on his way. This film, though, was one of the first to set a much darker and more serious tone for superhero movies moving forward. The film has its flaws in hindsight, but this was a huge hit when it came out and it’s not hard to see why. Featuring a very strong cast (Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson and Gary Oldman to name a few) and an interesting story set in a much more grounded version of Gotham. It falls in line with the recent Iron Age of comics, but presents them for a new audience in cinema. The action in this movie is great overall, with a large focus on lethal yet bloodless violence. The scenes between Christian Bale and Liam Neeson as Bruce Wayne fights Ra’s al Guhl are among the film’s best, with tight fight choreography combined with a banging Hans Zimmer soundtrack. Yes, Katie Holmes is very bad in this movie, but she’s a pretty small part overall. Still worth watching, and provides a great set up for The Dark Knight.
–Valerie Morreale
52. Ip Man (2008)
The legend of one of China’s coolest kung-fu masters playing out on the big screen. Donnie Yen plays the kung-fu legend with such a cool and calm demeanor. His kicks and punches pack so much heat. There’s a righteous fury behind everything he does – whether fighting bandits from the South or big baddies from the Japanese army. Wilson Yip’s film is ultimately a celebration of Chinese excellence through the lens of one of the country’s coolest figures in the 20th Century, and the guy who trained the actual coolest figure of the 20th Century (Bruce Lee).
–Raf Stitt
51. Minority Report (2002)
Man, I really dig this movie. I like Phillip K. Dick’s story ideas, but sometimes I feel like they are hard to fully adapt on screen. But, along comes Spielberg and Cruise to prove me wrong. The whole concept of thoughtcrimes and being able to stop bad things from happening before they do is just a great idea for a film. But throw into the mix the possibility of someone being able to manipulate the system and set someone up for a crime they were never going to commit. Well, sign me up. All in all, it’s a solid flick, with great visuals and an awesome cast. Definitely worth the watch if you haven’t seen it.
–K. Alvarez
50. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Much like Furious 7 was the peak of the Fast & Furious franchise in terms of casual audience engagement and box office, Fallout seems destined to be the height of the Mission: Impossible series. Building off the groundwork laid in the previous three M:I movies, Fallout brings back both Ethan Hunt’s wife and Rogue Nation villain Soloman Lane for an action sequel that has more memorable moments than I can count. I mean, just off the top of my head, there’s the helicopter chase and crash, Alec Baldwin’s “I think this one’s loaded” quip (which in retrospect has aged extremely poorly), the HALO jump, and, of course, Henry Cavill reloading his arms. While not my personal favorite of the franchise, it’s safe to say that Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie’s partnership will go down as one for the cinema history books.
–Marmaduke Karlston
49. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
For my money, no actor was funnier than Eddie Murphy in the 1980s. And Beverly Hills Cop is peak Eddie Murphy. It doesn’t get any better than this. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen this, I laugh at every joke. And if Beverly Hills Cop was just funny, that would be enough to make it memorable, but somehow the movie manages to take a guy known for only for being funny and turn him into a believable action star. Murphy waltzes through this role, whether it’s in the funny scenes, the serious scenes, or the action scenes. He makes it all work. And it’s all helped along with a great supporting cast. I will never get tired of Beverly Hills Cop–no matter how many times I see it.
–William Dhalgren
48. Commando (1985)
Commando may not be one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies, but it’s definitely one of his most entertaining. The plot is silly. Potbellied, chainmail-wearing Vernon Wells as a match for Arnold’s muscleman elite soldier is pure ridiculousness. Nearly every action scene in the movie stretches the bounds of believability to the breaking point. And yet somehow it all works. The cast, the settings, the wall-to-wall action, the great score by James Horner–it’s all 100% cocaine-fueled, muscle-bound 80s action, and I love it.
–William Dhalgren
47. Bloodsport (1988)
I believed everything movies told me when I was a kid. If the movie told me it was based on a true story, I assumed every bit of what that movie showed me was true. Yeah, I was a naive country boy. But I think it was more than that. I wanted to believe.
I remember finding a book on ninjas in a Walden Bookstore in a mall when I was around 12 or 13. One section explained how ninjas were able to jump so high. You dig a shallow hole and jump out of it for some set amount of time. I don’t remember how long. Once you’d done that, you dig the hole a bit deeper and jump out of it again for some set amount of time. Rinse, repeat until you could jump 20’ in the air from a standing position. I remember showing my dad and him scoffing. But I’d seen it in a movie, I told him. He scoffed again. But I knew better.
And when Bloodsport (a true story!) came along, I knew I had my proof. And I knew I was gonna be a ninja and prove my dad wrong.
Unfortunately, I never learned how to jump 20’ in the air, and I never became a ninja. And neither, apparently, did Frank Dux. According to the internet, Dux is a fraud. A faux ninja.
But if Dux’s exploits were fake, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s martial arts moves were anything but. His high kicks and precise martial arts technique was self-evident. And his turn as the American Ninja Frank Dux not only made him a star, but it cemented Bloodsport into the pop culture of the 1980s forever.
–William Dhalgren
46. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
One of modern cinema’s best action sagas comes to a close with a nearly 3-hour action extravaganza. The set pieces are gratuitous in this one, bordering on pornographic, and I wouldn’t have it any other way when everyone behind and in front of the camera are leaving nothing in the gas tank. You want something specific out of an action piece, this movie more than likely has it: Sword fights? Got it. Car fights? Check. Not one but TWO video game pieces? Done. A James Bond-ian poker scene that might as well be action? Of course.
The story is as convoluted as it gets and, somehow, ties it all together by the end. We got our new antagonist in Bill Skarsgård, a solid one at that, and a pair of new quasi-antagonists in Donnie Yen and Shamier Anderson, both exceptional additions and both with some great payoffs—but, really, it’s always been Keanu. As bad an actor as he can be, one can’t help but like the guy. And, to be honest, he has put in good performances (A Scanner Darkly, The Gift, Parenthood), but it’s the man’s sheer determination to give life to John Wick that has put him over the top. And it’s that achievement, guided by Chad Stahelski’s expert action filmmaking, that has lifted this franchise, and this movie, toward the top of the heap.
–Nokoo
45. Skyfall (2012)
Any fan of the series will tell you that, since there are no “bad” James Bond films, the only way to properly judge one is through the set pieces, the villain, the Bond girl, and the theme. If graded on that metric, Skyfall might be the best sequel in the franchise. The theme was so good it was the first to win an Oscar; the action, while never topping the amazing parkour sequence at the beginning of Casino Royale, is still top-notch; Bérénice Marlohe is stunningly beautiful; and Javier Bardem is delightfully over-the-top as Silva, the ex-spy with a grudge to settle. And on top of that, it’s the best-looking film in the franchise with gorgeous cinematography and impeccable direction by Sam Mendes. If you’re new to Bond, this is the one to watch.
–Sailor Monsoon
44. Desperado (1995)
Delivering a relentless barrage of gunfights and explosive set pieces, Desperado felt both chaotic and balletic at the same time. The film’s kinetic pace is only exemplified by Antonio Banderas’ brooding charisma as El Mariachi. Combine that with the fiery charisma of the sultry Salma Hayek, and you have one of the best and sexiest action movies of all time.
Desperado was a pivotal moment for the action genre, injecting fresh energy into the mid-’90s landscape dominated by formulaic blockbusters. It pioneered the “heroic bloodshed” style in Hollywood, inspired by Hong Kong action cinema, with its stylized violence and larger-than-life protagonists. Rodriguez’s DIY approach proved that high-octane action didn’t require massive budgets, influencing a generation of independent filmmakers to prioritize creativity over resources.
–Vincent Kane
43. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
After two films of working (mostly) alone, the third installment of Die Hard decided to mix things up by giving McClane (Bruce Willis) a reluctant partner in the form of Samuel L. Jackson’s Zeus. The different personalities of the two clash immediately, and that alone is worth the price of watching. Vengeance may not be as beloved as the first Die Hard, but in my mind it’s definitely the best sequel in the series, with just as many tense thinking-man scenes (the water jug moment is an all-timer for me) as there are of McClane trying not to break every bone in his body with his action heroics. As far as I see it, McClane and Zeus are right up there with Lethal Weapon‘s Riggs and Murtaugh when it comes to buddy duos.
–Marmaduke Karlston
42. RRR (2022)
I’m still not sure why RRR gained so much traction stateside while so many other Indian movies failed to find footing here. Whatever the reason is, I’m quite thankful for it. This movie rocks so much. The three-hour epic about Indian independence from the Brits features the best musical numbers of 2022, some of the most bonkers action sequences of the last decade, and the best movie bromance of all time. If a movie were judged by the number of times it makes me say “Oh my god”, RRR would be near the top of the list of all-time greats.
–Raf Stitt
41. Escape from New York (1981)
“I thought you’d be taller.” Escape From New York is a wild and wonderful sci-fi action film from John Carpenter that somehow grows more entertaining and relevant the more you see it. A world wracked by conflict and crime in which the police force has been nationalized and the largest urban center turned into a blighted, city-wide prison? That’s obviously commentary on the 1970’s, but it’s something that echoes today as well. Don’t worry about heavy-handed speeches and symbolism, though, Carpenter is too good a storyteller to let the subtext become overt. Instead he gives us one of – if not THE – greatest antiheroes of all time in Snake Plissken. That Carpenter recognized the darkness in child-star Kurt Russell and let it loose in films like Escape and The Thing is probably one of his greatest contributions to cinema.
Escape From New York itself is a dark fantasy thrill ride, an apocalyptic combination of Omega Man, The Warriors and westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The bleak outlook on the future that permeates other late 70s/early 80s sci-fi films like Mad Max and The Terminator is leavened in Escape by a black sense of humor – the President (Donald Pleasance) has a British accent for crying out loud – and a great supporting cast, including Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton and Adrienne Barbeau. The result is an entertaining dystopia, one you’re happy to visit, and just as happy you get to leave behind. For now, at least.
–Bob Cram
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What are some of your favorite action movies? Maybe they will show up later in the list!