- Indiana Jones kicks off this breakdown of the top 10 action movies of all-time.
- Speed and Terminator 2 are 1990s blockbuster flicks that stand the test of time.
- Mad Max: Fury Road is a newer film but arguably checks out as the #1 action film.
If you ask 100 people to rank the 10 best action movies, every single list will be completely different.
There are a few tried and true staples for fans of the genre, of course, and you’d fine the majority of them on most people’s lists.
Will I leave out your favorite action movie? It’s entirely possible. Everyone has different tastes, and it’s even arguable what truly makes an action flick.
However, for numerous reasons, these 10 movies cracked my action movie rankings.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The movie that started it all for the Indiana Jones franchise kicks off my top 10 action movie rankings at #10. It feels criminal to rank it so low, but finding itself inside the top 10 of the best action movies ever isn’t so bad.
Harrison Ford debuted as Indy, and his performance in this unique action comedy is one for the ages. It’s at least one of the reasons people will talk about who will play Indiana Jones next for years to come.
Tasked with finding the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can, Jones is in a race against time – and an old rival – in an effort to save all of humanity.
Filled with memorable scenes-quotable one-liners, and plenty of action, Raiders of the Lost Ark was a unique film that spawned a successful Hollywood franchise.
9. Speed (1994)
On a more serious note, we have Speed, which I can safely tell you has stood the test of time.
While certainly outdated a bit when it comes to logic and CGI, it’s realistic and blunt trappings actually make it an easily digested watch time and again.
Keanu Reeves is more known for mega blockbuster franchises like The Matrix or John Wick these days, but he started out as one of the biggest names in the mid-90s.
One reason for that is Speed, which scored a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating thanks to it’s interesting concept, non-stop energy, and raw action.
Reeves stars as police officer Jack, who hops aboard a speeding bus that will explode if it dips below 50 miles per hour.
He had to get on the bus first, of course, and naturally, that wasn’t so simple.
Dennis Hopper chimes in as the antagonist, while Sandra Bullock breaks out as a spunky scene-stealer.
Speed hooks us from the beginning and keeps us on the edge of our seats, despite mainly taking place in a bus. As long as you don’t think too much about the plot – or science – Speed promises one hell of a good time.
8. Gladiator (2000)
This Ridley Scott period piece stands in as one of the best action movies of all-time, simply because it has thrilling fight scenes and doubles as an elite drama.
Russell Crowe may have become a superstar regardless, but it’s pretty arguable Gladiator is what made him a household name.
His part of Maximus is played beautifully, as he experiences a torturous fall from glory as a once prominent Roman general, to a lowly gladiator fighting for his life.
Maximus clings to the elusive idea of revenge for his murdered family, setting up the mother of all endings.
Criminally underrated at Rotten Tomatoes (76%), Gladiator won Crowe an Oscar and gives movie-goers one of the more complete films they’ll ever see.
7. The Dark Knight (2008)
All of Christopher Nolan’s movies could be argued into my top 10 action movies list, but the best of the bunch was easily the second installment.
Here, we get introduced to a brilliantly played Joker (Heath Ledger) and Christian Bale continues his career as the under-appreciated Dark Knight.
The caped crusader has to make some tough choices and displays growth in his plight to put Gotham ahead of his own interests.
Nolan’s sequel to Batman Begins ups the ante in every way, appropriately earning a stout 94% grade on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is also more action-packed than the first, and earned Ledger an Oscar win after his death.
6. The Bourne Identity (2002)
Matt Damon is no stranger to a big blockbuster, but outside of Good Will Hunting or Rounders, he’s surely best known for playing Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise.
He first turned heads in The Bourne Identity, of course, where he plays an amnesia-riddled special agent who is being hunted and on the run.
Bourne has to adapt on the fly, fighting off trained assassins in foreign territory, as he slowly comes to grips with the man he truly is.
Along the way, the audience is graced with some next level fight scenes, as well as one of the best car chases ever filmed.
If you want an action flick that literally has it all – mystery, character development, hand to hand combat, and drama – The Bourne Identity checks all the boxes and then some.
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Sometimes the best action films avoid wasting time with CGI and explosions, and simply hit you with gut punch after gut punch.
It helps that the sequel to The Terminator had the always impactful Arnold Schwarzenegger, and followed up one of the better action movies ever made.
Terminator 2 was inarguably the best and more complete film, however. The sequel made Arnold the good guy the second time around, allowing him to display his charm with endless iconic one-liners.
The story was allowed to evolve to unravel a deeper, more engrossing universe, and we were introduced to more compelling characters like the unstoppable T-1000.
It still stands tall with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and is one of the few early 90s action flicks that stands the test of time.
4. Inception (2010)
Another Christopher Nolan movie makes the cut in my breakdown of the top 10 action movies ever, and this one really raised the bar as far as what can be accomplished on screen.
Inception follows Leonardo DiCaprio’s Dom Cobb, a professional mind infiltrator that worms into the dreams of others to convince them to do what he wants.
It’s also a haunting film that leaves you with an ambigious ending.
A vehicle for Tom Hardy’s breakout performance, Inception also pushes the limits for what we think is real, while marrying intense action sequences with raw emotion and mystery.
Inception has a strong 87% Rotten Tomatoes score, but should rank even higher due to Nolan’s gentle, emotional hand and effortless direction.
3. Die Hard (1988)
While Inception is one of the best action movies due to impressive stunts, CGI, and elite direction, Die Hard is a top 5 flick based on sheer guts.
Bruce Willis ignites an undying flame of baddass-ery, as he takes on the role of John McClane with unmatched charm and grit.
McClane is supposed to be an innocent bystander at his estranged wife’s office party, but instead the seasoned cop is thrust into a dramatic hostage situation.
Playing cat and mouse with an all-time great villain played by the late Alan Rickman, McClane crawls through vents, walks on glass, and makes us laugh in a thrilling shoot-em up that has impressive emotional depth for a late 80’s action flick.
The debate rages on over whether or not Die Hard can be classified as one of the best Christmas movies of all-time, but there’s no denying it’s place on this list.
2. The Matrix (1999)
I wanted to make sure I included some legit classic action movies in this list, but it’s hard to rank them much higher when you have an industry-changing product like The Matrix.
Keanu Reeves stars as the dumbfounded Neo, who quickly discovers there is more to reality than meets the eye.
Eventually introduced to the “real” world, the man known as The One teams up with Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) to take down the endlessly multiplying secret agents that wish them dead.
A classic hero story is flipped on it’s side with some first-of-it’s-kind action sequences, as well as an engrossing story that pulls you deeper into the rabbit hole with each passing minute.
Perfectly cast with top shelf action and a dash of impeccable drama, The Matrix is 100% in the running to be the greatest action movie ever made.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Okay, here we are; the best action movie you can watch. Seriously, if you haven’t seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet, stop what you’re doing and go see it now.
George Miller returns to his iconic character, and we’re out in the desert filled with hopelessness.
Tom Hardy plays the titular role and is extremely commanding and impactful despite rarely saying a word.
He’s joined by Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult in an edge-of-your seat action thriller that literally never allows you to stop and catch your breath.
Mad Max: Fury Road earned a stellar 97% Rotten Tomatoes grade thanks to unrelenting action sequences, brilliant casting, an engaging story, and awesome special effects.
There are maybe more iconic action movies or more impressive acting performances, but from start to finish, nothing revs the action-needy engine quite like Mad Max: Fury Road.
Finding the Right Action Movie for You
There you have it; my top 10 action movies of all-time. Admittedly, some of these are borderline dramas or could be viewed more as sci-fi than strictly action.
However, if you’re looking for the best action-packed films, I think you’d struggle to find many better options.
You could re-order my favorite action films a bit, and I wouldn’t be too upset. Die Hard is probably my favorite old school action flick, after all.
That said, there is not a more adrenaline-pumping film than Mad Max: Fury Road, and when you start factoring things like stunts, story, acting, and directing, it quickly takes the cake.
Action movies inherently are not hard to produce. But a truly great action movie that has the goods to safely crack a top 10? That’s rarer and more difficult to generate that people seem to think.
Love my top action movie rankings? Want to share your own or tell me where I went wrong? Let me hear it in the comments!
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