The 25 Best Action Movies Of All Time
It’s hard to imagine movies without the action genre. It’s often the reigning king of the summer blockbuster season, generating tons of money with over-the-top fight sequences, stunts, and edge-of-your-seat stories. With decades of excellent, pulse-pounding action films, though, knowing the top ones to watch can be difficult. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy-lifting for you to bring together the best action movies of all time, according to the GameSpot team.
There is nothing that gets the blood pumping faster than an intense action movie. Whether it’s Bruce Willis as John McClane shooting bad guys in Die Hard or people running from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, the genre is incredibly expansive, offering all manner of cinematic excitement.. And typically there’s something for everyone. Even those who just want to watch excellent hand-to-hand combat on screen will have more than their fair share of flicks. And what if you want to see some wild car chases? There’s a whole subgenre for that, featuring films like Mad Max: Fury Road and the Fast and Furious franchise. What if you want some action-based horror? Again, there’s a subgenre featuring movies like Aliens.
Over the decades, with action movies exploding in popularity, there have been so many big-budget blockbusters that thrilled audiences in the theaters around the world–many of these films coming from other countries that might have been missed by American audiences. With all of that in mind, let’s get to it. Here are the 25 best action movies of all time, as chosen by the staff of GameSpot.
Why stop at action, though? Make sure to check out the best horror movies of all time.
Police Story (1985)
Royal Hong Kong Police Force Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui attempts to take down a crime lord. However, after the criminal escapes Ka-Kui’s grasp, the villain frames the officer for a murder, and it’s up to Ka-Kui to clear his own name.
In Hong Kong, Jackie Chan had already made a name for himself by 1985, with the most notable of his films to that point being Drunken Master. However, Police Story was the first of Chan’s starring roles that broke through into the US, and for good reason. The US got a taste of what Hong Kong cinema had to offer. It featured dangerous stunts from an incredible team, which counted the film’s star as a full member–Chan himself did everything you see his character do on screen. The sequences had the audience on the edge of their seats, as it weaved together a compelling story.
Where to watch: Max
Buy on Amazon
Aliens (1986)
Ellen Ripley wakes from stasis almost 60 years after the events of the first Alien movie. Ripley and a group of space marines are sent to a planet being terraformed by a corporation–one that Ripley knows pretty well–and they realize that these aliens are everywhere.
What Alien did for sci-fi horror, Aliens did for sci-fi action. As soon as the group gets to the colony, it becomes a free-for-all. The movie doesn’t lose its horror elements–there are plenty of jump-scares. However, the primary focus for this film are the numerous scenes of space marines trying their best to shoot down aliens. Coming off of the heels of The Terminator, director James Cameron took the elements that made that movie a success and turned them up to 11 with Aliens. It’s more than just compelling characters and a fantastic story: It’s watching a terrifying horde of foes up against a few soldiers in a battle that never seems to end.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+, Max
Buy on Amazon
RoboCop (1987)
Taking place in Detroit in the near, dystopian future, an evil corporation rules over the police department and wants to enforce the law using robots. Meanwhile, a hard-working human officer is mortally wounded and turned into half-man, half-cop: RoboCop. This cyborg law enforcer takes down criminals and the corrupt institution that created him.
RoboCop, the character, became a pop-culture phenomenon for all ages, appearing on cartoons, getting action figures, and even wrestling in WCW. The movie, however, is very much not for kids. It’s brutal. It’s violent. It’s social commentary on police violence and corporations taking over every aspect of life. And it undeniably had a huge impact on dystopian action movies and its lead characters. The movie never pulls its punches and delivers a gun-fueled adrenaline rush, powered by the performance of Peter Weller as the hybrid man/machine.
Where to watch: Max
Buy on Amazon
Die Hard (1988)
While attending an office party at Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles with his estranged wife, a New York City police officer finds himself in the middle of a terrorist takeover, and only he can save the day.
Die Hard is a great example of the one-man-army trope becoming a huge hit. It’s not the same type of action you’d see in a typical version of that trope because Die Hard elevates it. Between the gunshots are scenes of tension and the lead character, John McClane, rising to complete his hero’s journey. He’s just a normal, everyday man, taking the fight back to the villains who took over a building. Bruce Willis was already a rising star when Die Hard released, but this movie made him an icon.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV
Buy on Amazon
Terminator 2 (1991)
Years after the events of The Terminator, a cyborg that looks exactly like the one that tried to kill Sarah Connor in the first movie returns to protect her and her son from another futuristic robot. In doing so, they’ll save the human race from the robot uprising.
Terminator 2 takes a lot of what we saw in the first movie and flips it on its head, while raising the stakes. Connor thought she prevented the end of the world by surviving the events of the first movie. But that’s not the case. The antagonist returns as a hero, and a more dangerous, seemingly unkillable villain emerges. Much like Cameron’s Aliens, T2 takes everything fans loved about the first movie and turned up the volume. The movie is still rooted in the dystopian horror of what’s to come, but makes a hard left turn into action. The film features numerous edge-of-your seat moments, eye-popping practical and digital visual effects, plenty of excellent fighting scenes, and an epic finale in a steel mill.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Fubo, Netflix
Buy on Amazon
Demolition Man (1993)
A police officer and a criminal are cryogenically frozen and find themselves resuscitated nearly 40 years later. Once again, the officer is tasked with taking down this criminal in an unusual future that, while seemingly utopian on the surface, is hiding plenty of deadly secrets.
As you already know, sci-fi and action movies are a perfect fit; however, what separates Demolition Man from many in this genre is that it presents most of its futuristic setting as a utopian, not dystopian, future. It takes place in a world where violence is a thing of the past, and when you throw in your typical action-movie violence, the reaction of the other characters in this world is just as great as the intense sequences themselves.However, not everything is as great as it seems, on the surface, as there’s a growing rebellion underground, which the villain is trying to stop.
Where to rent/buy: Prime Video, Microsoft Store
Buy on Amazon
Jurassic Park (1993)
An entrepreneur uses revolutionary technology to clone dinosaurs, which he plans to use to open a dinosaur zoo. Of course, before the zoo can open, everything goes wrong, and a group of people have to run for their lives because cloned dinosaurs will kill you as easily as actual dinosaurs.
Jurassic Park is one of those action movies where you know that the humans won’t win and can only hope to escape with their lives. There’s no way for them to actually beat the dinos, outside of the island being bombed with napalm–like in the book! What makes this a great action film is the suspense of the humans on the run. They’re placed in numerous situations where the cast is on the run and on the brink of being eaten. The sets, monsters, and characters’ reactions to these situations make this a great action movie. If you ever wondered what a dinosaur slasher movie killer would be like, look no further than the raptors. Additionally, this is a movie that weaved CGI and practical effects together exceptionally well, and the CGI still holds up, more than 30 years later.
Where to watch: Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV
Buy on Amazon
Heat (1995)
Written and directed by Michael Mann, Heat follows a group of thieves who go on elaborate heists. However, the LAPD catches up to them and they feel “the heat” of potentially being busted.
The typical heist film features numerous scenes of a group of thieves working together to accomplish the impossible, and that’s how Heat kicks things off. The kicker for Heat is that a lot of the action comes by way of suspenseful moments with these criminals on the run. It’s a fantastic melding of action, drama, and suspense. The performances of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are iconic and this film was highly influential within filmmaking and even video games.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Buy on Amazon
Mission: Impossible franchise (1996)
Based on a TV series, Mission: Impossible follows a spy named Ethan Hunt who finds himself in various situations of double-crosses, triple-crosses, and terrorists trying to destroy the world.
The Mission: Impossible franchise can get a little convoluted at times, but there’s a reason there have been seven–soon to be eight–movies in this franchise: the out-of-this-world stunts and action sequences. Each film features star Tom Cruise in an incredible stunt sequence that gets people talking. Even the worst Mission: Impossible movies (We see you, M:I 2) have incredible action sequences laced throughout, and they only seem to get bigger and more engaging with each new movie. The best ones, though, like M:I III, Fallout, and Ghost Protocol, though, are action-movie experiences that are largely unrivaled by any other franchise.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Buy on Amazon
The Fifth Element (1997)
In the distant future, a cab driver stumbles upon a mysterious woman who has a connection to the embodiment of evil and a cosmic weapon that can destroy it.
When you see Milla Jovovich and Bruce Willis starring in a movie together, you know you’re likely going to get a fantastic action movie. Will Willis’s character shoot people? Yes. Will Jovovich’s character kick and punch people? Yes. The film isn’t 100% action. It’s surrounded by a futuristic landscape, aliens, and a comical villain, which ultimately almost makes this a parody of sci-fi action or, at the very least, a commentary on them. However, the exposition and story told between the action sequences are what make those fight scenes so much more exciting.
Where to watch: AMC+
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Face/Off (1997)
An FBI agent undergoes a cutting-edge procedure that sees him assume the identity of a terrorist by physically having the evildoer’s face replace his own. Then the terrorist wakes up, takes the FBI agent’s face, and goes undercover as him. Chaos ensues.
The plot is incredibly wild–and a lot of fun. Director John Woo brings his gruff action style to this almost-unbelievable story and makes it work. To boil it down, it’s a story about trust and deception. Woo’s action sequences are quick and intense: a style he perfected in the past with Hard Boiled and The Killer. The type of action Woo presents to an audience is different from other action movies. It’s far more stylized with the camerawork from Woo, which includes high camera angles and dramatic movements.. Face/Off is very suspenseful, even when the plot is two people swapping faces.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Buy on Amazon
The Mummy (1999)
An American in the French Foreign Legion heads to an archaeological dig, where an ancient city was revealed. Inside the city is a mummy who is brought back to life, and said mummy wants to reincarnate his dead lover.
The Mummy has a lot of familiar elements. In many ways, there’s a lot of overlap between this movie and Indiana Jones. However, The Mummy sits firmly in the genre of action, as it primarily features a group of memorable characters on the run–and occasionally fighting back–against a supernatural force. However, unlike Jurassic Park, you know these heroes have a fighting chance against the villain, and the primary way they’ll win is through huge action sequences and magic. While Brendan Fraser was primarily known for comedies prior to The Mummy, it showed that he has what it takes to play an action star and a compelling tough guy.
Where to watch: Peacock, Fubo
Buy on Amazon
The Matrix (1999)
A hacker named Neo is offered an escape from reality, which he discovers is one created by machines. He and other humans leverage the fake reality they came from, using superhuman advantages in that simulation, to try to take down the machines.
The Matrix changed everything for the look and feel of modern action. Right from the start of the film, the viewer is treated to the character Trinity running on walls, dodging bullets, and beating up multiple people. As the film continues and Neo learns about what he can and can’t do in this machine-created reality, it gets the viewers pumped because these characters are all placed in escalating situations where the action gets more and more intense. And while Keanu Reeves has been in action movies in the past, his intense performance in The Matrix made him an action star.
Where to rent/buy: Prime Video, Microsoft Store
Buy on Amazon
The Bourne Identity (2002)
A man with amnesia finds himself being hunted by assassins. He needs to know why this is happening, as the government is hunting him down in order to stop him from remembering what he did in the past.
The Bourne Identity puts viewers right alongside Jason Bourne. We feel the confusion. We want to learn more about why people are trying to kill him. In doing that, we feel just as confused as Bourne, which heightens the excitement of these scenes where Bourne is punching people or evading gunshots. Star Matt Damon has proven he’s great in dramas and comedies prior to this film. He also had a role in Saving Private Ryan to show some of his action chops. However, The Bourne Identity showed that Damon really can lead his own action movie, which is now pretty obvious, since there were a number of Bourne movies made after this.
Where to watch: Starz
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Kill Bill series (2003)
An assassin wakes after a coma, and she vows revenge on everyone who wronged her.
The two Kill Bill movies are easily summarizable, and that’s perfectly fine, because these movies are a love letter to numerous genres: action, martial arts, and more. Both movies have the viewer following this main character from set to set, fighting and killing these incredibly talented, and tough, rival assassins. Kill Bill is an arcade beat-’em-up in the best ways possible. Uma Thurman had already been in one Quentin Tarantino film (Pulp Fiction), but the two come together again to produce something magical here: one of the most important action movies featuring a woman in the lead role.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Buy on Amazon
Old Boy (2003)
A man imprisoned for 15 years inside of a small apartment is released into the world and wants to seek revenge on the person who put him there.
Old Boy is a masterpiece in filmmaking. It’s a brilliant mystery, drama, and action movie, all rolled into one. The action sequences can be exceptionally intense and brutal. Remember that hallway fight scene from the Daredevil TV show? That’s a clear homage to Old Boy, which features an even more intense version of that. That’s one of the most memorable moments of the film–a very long, single-shot sequence of the main character, walking down a hallway, and beating a plethora of thugs.
Where to watch: Netflix
Buy on Amazon
Collateral (2004)
A cab driver picks up a client: an assassin who holds the cabbie hostage and forces him to drive from hit to hit.
Tom Cruise does action exceptionally well, and Collateral takes Cruise on a much darker path. His character Vincent is intense and intimidating, leaving you to watch him go from scene to scene, fighting and murdering people. Each scene features unique elements, with the assassin slowly getting beaten down but somehow surviving.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Buy on Amazon
Hot Fuzz (2007)
An overzealous London police officer is sent to a small village to continue his job, where he uncovers a sinister plot.
Hot Fuzz is a love letter to action movies. There is even a scene where the two main characters watch a bunch of ’90s action movies. Of course, this movie contains a lot of action sequences featuring gun fights and fist fights, but one of the great things Hot Fuzz does is utilizing quick cuts between scenes to create a sense of dynamism and excitement, even if it’s a scene of someone buying an ice cream cone in the local shop. Hot Fuzz was a follow-up to Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead–a parody of zombie movies–and because this film also stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the audience once again stands behind these two characters. It doesn’t hurt that Pegg’s portrayal of grizzled officer Nicholas Angel is an extreme version of the one-man-army trope, as it’s done to perfection.
Where to watch: Peacock
Buy on Amazon
Fast Five (2011)
The family comes back together to plan a fascinating heist in Brazil, but standing in their way are a drug lord and a federal agent played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The first three Fast & Furious movies were about racing cars. The fourth film in the franchise was a transition between car racing and action. Fast Five was the first film in the Fast Saga to nail down what would elevate the series to the heights it’s since reached: heists, over-the-top action, and what feels like a complete lack of self-awareness. The action sequences are ridiculous in the best way possible and constantly disobey the laws of physics. The film closes with the family dragging a giant safe through the streets of Rio de Janeiro as it smashes through anything–and anyone–in its way. While it’s incredibly ridiculous at face value, it’s a moment that will have you stand up to cheer. Also, somehow, over a decade later, the dangling plot threads from this movie were picked up in Fast X.
Where to watch: Peacock, Fubo, SlingTV
Buy on Amazon
The Raid/The Raid 2 (2011)
A group of police officers raids an apartment building to take down a crime lord. They’re ambushed and the survivors work their way up each floor, fighting everyone.
Both of The Raid movies follow what seems like a traditional cop film: a group of police officers take down a bad guy, and there’s collateral damage along the way. What The Raid movies do differently is they continually raises the stakes through increasingly impossible odds. The audience is treated to long takes of intense action sequences that make you want to rewatch the film–or at least these scenes. It’s a style of filmmaking we haven’t seen much of in recent cinema and because of that, it feels incredibly fresh. The sequel is a great follow-up, and while it takes the film in a different direction with more espionage elements, it’s still 100% an amazing action movie.
Where to rent/buy: Prime Video, Microsoft Store
Buy on Amazon
Skyfall (2012)
James Bond must hunt down a threat that has targeted and attacked MI6.
This was Daniel Craig’s third outing as 007 and is considered one of the better films during his run. There are a lot of spectacular action sequences, which Bond fans have come to expect throughout the series. There is a heart-pumping sequence where Bond is fighting someone on top of a train. There’s another memorable moment that looks incredible, featuring a silhouetted fight scene with a neon backdrop. There is another action aspect of this movie that lots of people remember: when Bond booby-traps a house–Home Alone-style, and it’s shockingly good. The action is great and so are the aesthetics. As far as action goes, Skyfall does it better than any other Bond film.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Buy on Amazon
Dredd (2012)
In a dystopian future, Americans live in an extremely large city called Mega-City One. In one of the slum Mega-Block buildings, a police officer/judge named Dredd and his psychic partner work their way through the residential building with 750,000 people inside in order to take down a drug lord who locked down the block.
Dredd isn’t the first adaptation of the Judge Dredd comic, but it is definitely the superior one. That’s beside the point, though. This is an action movie about a cop working their way through a building to take down the bad guy–not unlike The Raid, which was in production at the same time as Dredd. However, Dredd adds its own spin to this trope by adding in some cool science fiction and visuals–like the Slo-Mo drug affecting people during action sequences. The film uses high-tech weaponry to deliver action sequences in surprising ways, all while the heroes are being hunted down, with danger around every corner.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Buy on Amazon
John Wick (2014)
A man’s dog is killed by a Russian mob member, and he seeks his revenge on the killer–and everyone who stands in his way.
It’s hard to remember that John Wick was originally an indie film, considering how popular and big-budget the franchise has become. The film that kicked off the series is full of martial arts, brutal fight scenes, plenty of close-up gun play, and an incredibly deep lore featuring gold coins, a hierarchy of assassins, and chain of hotels. It also helps that Keanu Reeves returns to an action movie, but compared to The Matrix, the violence is incredibly grounded and brutal. It felt revolutionary for its time because the main character is right up in the action, and because of all his loss, he’s not afraid to die, so long as he gets his revenge.
Where to rent/buy: YouTube, Fandango, Prime Video
Buy on Amazon
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Post-apocalyptic action hero Max Rockatansky returns and teams with a group of female prisoners–and one enforcer–to take down an evil city ruler.
It had been a long time since George Miller got behind a camera to take viewers to the dystopian world we loved decades ago, but it was worth the wait. Fury Road did not disappoint and is the best film in the Mad Max series. There are spectacular car-chase scenes throughout the film, all using massively scaled practical effects, which is something most Hollywood movies have moved away from. The film is intense and unlike anything else we’ve seen in action, and features incredible performances from a nearly silent Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Furiosa: the coolest person in the post-apocalypse.
Where to watch: Max
Buy on Amazon
The Night Comes For Us (2018)
A Triad gang enforcer finds himself caught up in a violent insurrection inside of his own crime family, while he’s on a mission to protect a young girl.
The Night Comes For Us delivers everything you want from an action film: intense hand-to-hand combat, one-vs.-many sequences, and plenty of suspenseful moments. The scene of the main character Ito taking on a large group of gang members in a warehouse is easily the most memorable part of the movie, as he fights them, one-by-one, killing most of them with a pool cue ball. It’s hard to not love when an action movie works unique weapons into its arsenal.
Where to watch: Netflix
