Where would movies be without action? It’s practically written into the DNA of the medium. And wherever you find action, you’ll almost always find heroes fighting to save the day. But while there have been several versions of the Hollywood action hero over the decades, a select few have left indelible marks on the pop culture. Val Kilmer’s Doc Holiday made such an impression that he’s been cited as the reason people became real life cowboys. Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude Van Damme inspired multiple generations of men and women to dedicate their lives to the study of martial arts. The military and police department’s ranks have swelled because of wannabe heroes hoping to follow the likes of Axel Foley and John Matrix into service.
But that’s enough talk. Let’s get to the action.
These are the 50 Greatest Action Movie Heroes of All Time*.
*not including superheroes
40. Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne & Jeff Bridges) | True Grit (1969 & 2010)
Whether he’s played by the iconic John Wayne, or the immersive Jeff Bridges, you can’t help but like Rooster Cogburn. A rare action hero who may be past his physical prime (actors’ ages in most roles notwithstanding), he’s nevertheless someone who has toughness to spare.
Gruff, maybe a touch lazy, and possessed of a murky past, he’s one of the West’s most hardscrabble Marshals. When we first meet him, it’s in a scene that revolves around how Cogburn may or may not be a little loose with dispensing lethal force. This lets us all know that he’s not a man to be trifled with. It’s not long after that we learn he also has a problem with booze. Yin and Yang, as it were.
It’s after he accepts a job from young Mattie Ross to avenge the murder of her father that we see the depth of Rooster’s character. He’s rough, sure, but he also has a tender heart in regard to Mattie. We see him draw a gun on the Ranger LaBoeuf for spanking the girl, after all. We also see he’s more than a bit of a drunk, and again, that laziness causes some problems.
In the end, despite wanting to quit on Mattie, he remains true, taking on four gun-hands solo, while LaBoeuf works to rescue Mattie. In the ruckus, the girl falls into a snake pit and is bitten on the arm by a rattlesnake. In order to save the girl, Rooster rides his horse to the point of breaking. After putting the beast down, he then carries Mattie miles through the snowy night to save her life. It’s an admirable display of the titular “true grit”, and proves that Mattie was right in choosing him in her quest for vengeance.
–Jeff Cram
39. William Wallace (Mel Gibson) | Braveheart (1995)
Bad accent aside, I will always have a soft spot for Mel Gibson’s William Wallace. Lots of people on this list have tragic backstories, but Wallace’s feels particularly brutal and cruel. The right of Prima Nocta (the first night of a couple’s marriage being owed to the local feudal lord) is a horrific tradition, one that motivates Wallace to marry his love in secret. Despite this choice, she is ultimately raped and killed, which spurs his call to action against England. His journey is such a satisfying one to watch, as he’s fueled as much by love for his country as revenge for his murdered bride. He’s witty, passionate, and overall a good time to watch despite his vengeful lust for blood. The movie’s end is certainly bittersweet, but it feels more hopeful than not, and we feel Wallace’s victories far outweigh his failures. Full disclosure, I love this movie. Despite its admitted cheese and historical inaccuracies, it always makes me cry, and I used the ending score for my wedding music. Give it a watch if you’ve never seen it; it’s certainly worth the journey.
–Valerie Morreale
38. Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) | The Mummy (Franchise)
The character of Rick O’Connell was originally offered to Tom Cruise (who would eventually be cast in another Mummy film), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. While I can imagine all of those actors in the role, I don’t think I’d have liked them anywhere near as much as I like Brendan Fraser. Fraser plays the 30’s adventurer with a sense of humor, something I think would have been missing with any of those other actors. He’s believable as a hero, capable of derring-do and able to win (or survive) a fight, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. It’s this likeability and sense of humor that really makes Rick memorable, and anchors the action when the special effects threaten to take over.
–Bob Cram
37. Harry Hart / Galahad (Colin Firth) | Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Kingsman: The Secret Service may have given Taron Egerton his breakout role, but it was Colin Firth who stole every scene he was in as Kingsman spy Harry Hart, codename Galahad. Like Liam Neeson before him with Taken, Firth was primarily known for his dramatic work, with Kingsman offering him a chance to highlight just how great of an action star he could be. With his “Manners Maketh Man” introduction to the bloodfest fight scene at the radical church, Harry Hart instantly won over the hearts of viewers, making his death all the more shocking. Luckily, Hollywood has never met a death it couldn’t retcon away, with the character being so beloved that the next Kingsman found a slightly convoluted way to bring him back to life. A resurrection that I have never been more grateful to see on the big screen.
–Marmaduke Karlston
36. Jack Ryan (Various) | Jack Ryan (Franchise)
–Jeff Cram
35. Paul Kersey / The Vigilante (Charles Bronson) | Death Wish (Franchise)
Helping pioneer the everyman turned vigilante archetype, Paul Kersey sought revenge after his wife and daughter were viciously attacked by a gang of thugs in the original Death Wish. Kersey would set out on a personal crusade against the urban crime and societal decay he witnessed around him. Audiences would cheer as he would blast the bad guys with his handy revolver and stoic intensity. The flawed and relatable antihero would spawn a gritty and raw franchise while cementing Paul Kersey as an urban avenger icon.
–Vincent Kane
34. Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan) | Drunken Master (1978) & Drunken Master II (1994)
Despite the fact that multiple heavy hitters of martial arts cinema have played Wong Fei-hung over the years (including but not limited to Gordon Liu, Kwan Tak-hing, Jet Li, Vincent Zhao, and Sammo Hung), the role will forever be associated with Jackie Chan. He owns that role so completely, most don’t even realize the character is based on a real-life person. He was a Chinese martial artist and physician who was specialized in acupuncture and lived such an extraordinary life that he eventually became a folk hero. While still incredible, his life was a far cry from the action-packed films he inspired, with the Drunken Master series being some of the most egregious examples of taking liberties with the real-life source material. As biographies, they’re awful (you’re totally going to fail your book report if you use them as your only source), but as action films, they’re unparalleled.
Chan reimagined Wong Fei-hung as a mischievous, impulsive, and ultimately endearing underdog. Departing from the stoic, dignified portrayals that came before, Chan’s version is a youthful rebel — more prankster than paragon — whose journey from arrogance to discipline becomes one of the most iconic martial arts transformations in cinema history. What separates this version of the character from all other depictions, is the Eight Drunken Immortals-style of kung fu. A fictionalized version of traditional Zui Quan, Wong Initially dismisses it as silly and humiliating but as the story progresses, the style becomes a metaphor for his growth. Drunken Boxing requires unpredictability, rhythm, and internal control (qualities Wong lacks at first) but once he gets a handle on it, he becomes the most formidable drunken fighter not lurking outside of a bar parking lot at 3 am. That insane fighting style, as well as Chan’s revolutionary decision to inject humor into the action scenes, makes Wong Fei-hung not just one of the best action characters of the era but one of the most important characters in all of cinema.
–Sailor Monsoon
33. Foxy Brown (Pam Grier) | Foxy Brown (1974)
Foxy Brown would become an action hero staple of the 70s blaxploitation era. She would break down barriers as not only one of the first female action heroes but one of the first black action stars as well. Her character’s blend of street smarts, physical prowess, and emotional depth made her a compelling figure who didn’t need no man to save her.
Foxy’s iconic style, from her bold fashion to her no-nonsense attitude, cemented her as a cultural touchstone, inspiring future generations of action heroes by proving that black and female characters could command the screen with authority and charisma.
–Vincent Kane
32. Sergeant “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui (Jackie Chan) | Police Story (Franchise)
It’s tough being a good cop in a corrupt and violent world, but having crazy martial arts skills helps. Jackie Chan brings his trademark nice guy persona and out-of-this-world stunt choreography to a role that could have been a standard, Hong Kong cinema tough guy. Instead, “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui is a lovable everyman, constantly on the back foot and in trouble with his superiors and his girlfriend. He has a temper that sometimes gets him in trouble, but generally he’s doing his best to de-escalate, defend and defeat the bad guys without, say, a mall exploding. He doesn’t always succeed, but the important thing is that he’s always going to try and do the right thing. Usually while using everything not nailed down to protect himself and those around him.
–Bob Cram
31. John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) | Shaft (Franchise)
The Blaxploitation era of cinema does not get enough credit for keeping the action genre alive while also providing a platform for the best black actors to shine. So many badass films came out during that period whose influence is still being felt today. The film that arguably had the biggest impact was one of the first — Shaft. The film helped kickstart the genre, and the titular character, as portrayed by Richard Roundtree, is a defining figure in American cinema. He’s the original Black action hero who redefined masculinity, coolness, and power in a turbulent era.
Roundtree’s Shaft isn’t just a private detective; he’s a cultural symbol, a revolution in a leather coat. From the moment Roundtree struts through Harlem in Shaft’s opening scene (backed by Isaac Hayes’ iconic Oscar-winning theme) John Shaft radiates confidence. He’s impeccably stylish, sharp-tongued, and unflappable. Whether facing down mobsters, corrupt cops, or Harlem kingpins, Shaft remains composed, in control, and always two steps ahead. Black audiences had never seen a character like this before. They were used to seeing themselves portrayed as pimps or drug dealers, so seeing a black man in authority not take any jive from no white man was revolutionary.
Shaft represented a radical shift in representation. During an era dominated by white action heroes, John Shaft was a Black man who commanded respect in every space he entered. He wasn’t a sidekick, a caricature, or comic relief — he was the lead, and the story revolved around his decisions, his intelligence, and his power. His influence is immeasurable. Shaft helped launch the Blaxploitation era, but he stood apart from its excesses. He inspired generations of characters from Axel Foley to Blade and redefined what a hero could look and sound like.
–Sailor Monsoon
50-41 | 30-21
Who are some of your favorite action heroes? Maybe they will show up later on this list!