From 'Mad Max' to 'The Matrix' to 'Mission: Impossible,' These Are the 75 Best Action Movies of All Time

Dillon Dodson

June 28, 2023 at 4:26 AM·22 min read

Action movies have been around for as long as there have been films. They're as central to cinema as every other genre, and there are plenty to choose from if you're a fan. What's unique about the genre is that it crosses over into many others. That's also a factor that made it hard to narrow down this list.

There's no denying that superhero movies are almost always action movies; the same goes for spy movies and sometimes thrillers. If the main characters are thrust into a series of events that include high octane activity, with elements of special effects, fighting, physical conflict, stunts and/or chases, the film was considered for this list.

Get those endorphins flowing by watching one—or more—of these 75 action-packed flicks. Here’s our list of the best action movies ever made.

75 Best Action Movies of All Time

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Director Paul Thomas Anderson is known for complex character studies in films like The Master and Magnolia as well as his collaborations with the reclusive Daniel Day-Lewis. In perhaps Day-Lewis’ best performance, playing Daniel Plainview, an oilman in competition with aspiring preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), this explosive drama accelerates its intensity so well that it deserves its place on this list.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

There’s room for just about every Quentin Tarantino movie to be placed in this roundup, but maybe none higher than this twisting, non-linear plot of intertwining criminal characters. With John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and more traveling around Los Angeles looking for trouble, this classic is as action-filled as it gets.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Based on Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel, this Coen brothers’ crime thriller places Javier Bardem in the rankings as one of the most intimidating villains of all time, and all he needs is a quarter and a cattle gun. Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and Kelly Macdonald round out this modern-day Western.

Scarface (1983)

“Say hello to my little friend!” Is there any movie more quotable than this 1983 story of fame and fortune? Just be careful who you quote it around: At the time of its release, it set the record for its abundant use of the “f” word, with 207 uses.

Indiana Jones franchise (1981–2023)

There may not be a cooler movie series about an archaeologist than this classic Harrison Ford–starring series. Three were made in the '80s, a new movie with Shia LaBeouf came in 2008 and the fifth entry arrived in 2023. Another George Lucas creation to become a public phenomenon, Indiana Jones may be extracting artifacts for years to come.

Related: 25 Best Harrison Ford Movie Quotes

The Dark Knight series (2008–2013)

Is this the best Batman trilogy ever? Undeniably, Christopher Nolan directed the best portrayal of the Joker (Heath Ledger) in the second installment of this series, and the first and third provided wonderful performances from Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy. With Christian Bale at the helm, this three-part story is a comic book masterpiece.

Django Unchained (2012)

This Tarantino flick is as close to a modern-day spaghetti Western and as raucous of a Tarantino flick as there can be. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio and many, many more people (including a hilarious scene with Jonah Hill) turn a story of reacquainting love into a wild, bloody ride.

Baby Driver (2017)

Director Edgar Wright pieced together a musical masterpiece with this romp starring Ansel Elgort and Lily James. Every scene lines up perfectly with a piece of music, making for a delightful treat for the senses.

Star Wars franchise (1977–2019)

The franchise that made intergalactic travel imaginable. Multiple iterations have been and are still being made that have featured performances from Harrison Ford, Natalie Portman, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o and many, many more of our favorites. The series stands 11-strong so far (plus an animated 2008 feature), and we can’t wait for more.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The fourth installment in a now-revisited series, director George Miller (who directed the first Mad Max film in 1979) showcases Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy as post-apocalyptic heroes in a wild, automotive desert wasteland.

Goodfellas (1990)

This Oscar-nominated Scorsese flick earned Joe Pesci an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as he, Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro portray violent life in the mob. It’s based on a true tale, Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi.

Dunkirk (2017)

Though Christopher Nolan and Harry Styles may sound like an odd pairing, this action-packed movie about WWII Allied troops trapped in France showcases Styles, Cillian Murphy, Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy and more in masterful war drama roles. It won Oscars for Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Film Editing.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Why Quentin Tarantino intentionally misspelled the title of this movie we may never know, but we do know that this fictionalized alternate WWII history is as exciting as watching a country-colloquial Brad Pitt force an Italian accent. It’s such a fun, bloody watch that it earned a slew of Academy Award nominations, including a win for Christoph Waltz for Best Supporting Actor.

Black Panther (2018)

This Marvel movie was 2018’s cultural phenomenon, nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and winner of three Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther and Michael B. Jordan, who also starred in director Ryan Coogler’s first feature-length film Fruitvale Station as well as his next project, Creed.

Foxy Brown (1974)

Pam Grier in her heyday was the most notable star of Blaxploitation films, and maybe none were more famous or exciting than her performance in Foxy Brown. Posing as a prostitute and joining with fellow female vigilantes, Grier surely strikes a chord as one of the most famous action heroes of the era.

Lethal Weapon franchise (1987–1998)

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star as detective-duo Riggs and Murtaugh who uncover drug trafficking and fight crime. Though faced with many sticky situations, the two were able to make their way through four movies.

Lord of the Rings franchise (2001–2003)

Frodo, Samwise, Legolas, Bilbo, Gandalf...these are classic characters from the epic wizardry trilogy. The J.R.R. Tolkien–authored series directed by Peter Jackson has become a lasting pop-culture staple that stands the test of time.

Jaws (1975)

People’s fear of sharks was either amplified or started by this Steven Spielberg classic. Its haunting minimalist soundtrack has stayed relevant, and it's created countless catchphrases, like, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

This classic tells the story of English officer T.E. Lawrence, who traversed the Arabian desert and organized a guerrilla army to successfully unite Arab tribes in WWI and help destroy the reigning Ottoman Empire. Based on Lawrence’s own writings, it won seven Oscars and stars screen legends Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, José Ferrer and Anthony Quinn.

The African Queen (1951)

This World War I movie finds Katharine Hepburn as a British missionary taking up ship with a swilling supply boat captain, played by Humphrey Bogart. Adapted from the C.S. Forester novel of the same name, the movie was directed by John Huston and garnered Bogart his only Oscar for Best Actor.

Hanna (2011)

A young Saoirse Ronan took center stage alongside Eric Bana in this flick about an assassin sent on a mission by her father. The film was nominated for Best Action Movie at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Master action-director Quentin Tarantino began his professional filmmaking career with this independent crisscrossing film about six criminals, a bungled robbery and the quest to discover who’s the undercover cop. A classic whodunit with a gruesome scene involving an ear (and the song “Stuck in the Middle with You”), it puts you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Harry Potter franchise (2001–2011)

Maybe the only more popular wizard series to top Lord of the Rings is this decade-long Daniel Radcliffe-starring collection. Its books propelled the career of its author J. K. Rowling as well as the young acting careers of Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Its fanfare exists to this day with spinoff stories and relevance in pop culture, so there’s no way it could be left off this list.

Snowpiercer (2013)

On a claustrophobic apocalyptic train-ride, Parasite director Bong Joon Ho creates a visceral class-warfare story with all of humanity on one moving vehicle. With the richest at the front and the poorest at the back, a lowly Chris Evans decides to upset the system and fight his way toward the pilot. Also adapted as a TNT series starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs, this film makes its message clear with stunning visuals and storyline.

The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorsese brings together an all-star cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and more for the ultimate Boston crime flick. The movies took home four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

Avengers franchise (2012–2019)

Built on the success of multiple Marvel superhero films, the ever-continuing run of films set in this comic book universe has proven to be one of the biggest pop-culture phenomena of the 2010s. The final film of this series, Avengers: Endgame, is the second highest-grossing film of all time, and Avengers: Infinity War and The Avengers both made the top ten. Though the Avengers series has officially ended, there are still plenty of movies to spin out of its world.

Gangs of New York (2002)

Master-director Martin Scorsese teams up with master-actor Daniel Day-Lewis for this immigrant revenge story. Leonardo DiCaprio, an Irish immigrant, sets off on a quest to avenge the death of his father (Liam Neeson) who was murdered at the hands of William Cutting (Day-Lewis). The film also stars Cameron Diaz and John C. Reilly and is an old-timey New York thrill ride.

The Fugitive (1993)

This remake of the 60s TV show finds Harrison Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble unjustly accused of murdering his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones as the U.S. marshal in hot pursuit. Ford’s character chases the real killer, Jones nabs the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and the movie goes down as one of the classic cat-and-mouse stories of this generation.

Point Break (1991)

Surfer dudes dress-up as ex-presidents and rob banks to support their lifestyle, while an FBI agent goes undercover to expose them. This teen-heartthrob movie, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey and Lori Petty and contains beautiful shots of the Southern California surf and coast.

Alien franchise (1979–2017)

Officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) serves as the protagonist in Ridley Scott’s second film as a feature film director. It came on the rise of Star Wars as science-fiction took over cinema and became a staple for its scary interpretations of the unknown. Fun fact: Its original title was “Star Beast.”

Die Hard (1988)

Is it a Christmas movie? That’s the age-old debate about this Bruce Willis film as he faces off against German terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). No matter which side of the debate you choose, you should agree that this is one of the most exciting and quotable action movies of all time. “Shoot the glass!”

Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (2003–2017)

A drunken pirate navigates islands alongside a man on a quest to save his lover in this series of popular films inspired by the Walt Disney theme park attraction. It’s one of Johnny Depp’s most notable roles to date and serves up a steamy romance between Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

V for Vendetta (2005)

Based on the 1980s graphic series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd, this dystopian political thriller about V, a terrorist (Hugo Weaving) attempting to upend a totalitarian regime, has stayed in the public consciousness since its release as a symbol of modern oppression and resistance. (You may see people still wearing Guy Fawkes masks, which were heavily popularized by this film.) Natalie Portman serves as the viewers’ eye, playing a working-class woman riding along with V’s plans.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

A remake of the 2009 Swedish film (which also deserves its place on this list), Rooney Mara stars as the brooding detective solving the cold case of a missing woman alongside Daniel Craig. The dark scenery is intensified by its director, David Fincher, who’s known for this aesthetic.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Dinosaurs on the loose in a futuristic theme park? What could be more action-packed than that? A movie that’s inspired countless followups, Jurassic Park easily is one of the most iconic films to grace the screen.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Angelina Jolie stars as the crime-fighting, artifact-hunting adventurer who must save the universe with her skills. This popular movie, which inspired two followups, is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name.

La Femme Nikita (1990)

A convicted felon escapes the death penalty and is given a second chance at life by the government when they train her to become an assassin. This French action thriller was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and had an American remake in Point of No Return starring Bridget Fonda in 1993.

Related: 58 Best Spy Movies of All Time

Salt (2010)

Angelina Jolie reportedly did most of her own stunts in this mystery action thriller as a CIA agent on the run after she is accused of being a Russian spy. The script was originally written with a male lead but was rewritten for a female when Tom Cruise backed out.

The Matrix (1999)

Red pill or blue pill? Whichever you would choose, this mind-bending film is seared into our culture as a beacon of the strange and mysterious and serves as one of Keanu Reeves’ most memorable roles.

James Bond franchise (1962–2021)

There is no movie spy more notable than that of 007. He’s been embodied by Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and most recently Daniel Craig. We're now waiting to see who will be the next individual to ask for a martini, shaken not stirred.

Gladiator (2000)

A general forced into a life of slavery and finds his comeback through gladiator fighting…this Ridley Scott film starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix puts the Roman Empire on the big screen.

John Wick (2014–2023)

With four chapters under its belt, this franchise, set off by the killing of a hitman’s (Keanu Reeves) dog, packs so much heat that it’s become the action movie sensation of the late 2010s.

300 (2006)

“This…is…Sparta!!!” Is there a line from a 2000s action movie that’s been quoted more times than this one? Gerard Butler leads the charge in this bloody film about a Greek versus Persian battle.

Independence Day (1996)

Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman pull together to save the world against aliens in this heroic science-fiction thriller. It’s such a classic that 20 years later, a followup starring Liam Hemsworth and Maika Monroe was made.

The Terminator franchise (1984–2019)

Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and director James Cameron brought the story of a time-traveling cyborg assassin front and center in 1984, and the story stayed so popular that a new iteration was made last year. The Terminator was preserved in 2008 by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

National Treasure (2004)

Nicolas Cage, known for his over-the-top intensity and characters who are always on the hunt, stars in maybe his most memorable role to date as the treasure hunter Benjamin Gates alongside his treasure-hunting companions Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha. In what other movie are people searching for invisible clues in the Declaration of Independence?

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Acclaimed director Ang Lee’s action-adventure follows a young Chinese warrior who steals a sword and escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in 19th century Qing Dynasty China. This magical movie garnered four Oscar wins and featured the wuxia movie-making tradition.

Inception (2010)

Is this a dream? One may never know if they get too lost in this Christopher Nolan thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Elliot Page. Next time you watch, spin a top next to you and see if it falls; that way you’ll know for sure.

1917 (2019)

This Sam Mendes-directed World War I-epic follows—quite literally—two young British soldiers as they attempt to warn another troop of an impending ambush. The point of view never shifts and the film appears to only be one long, extended scene, gripping your attention as if you’re really there. It’s quite an experience that won the year’s Academy Award for Best Cinematography and Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.

Avatar franchise (2009-2022)

This blue science fiction alien extravaganza movie was 2009’s shining achievement, winning the Critics' Choice Award for Best Action Movie, Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Drama and more. (It lost the Best Picture Oscar to Slumdog Millionaire.) Avatar 2 wowed the world in 2022 with its underwater graphics and a third installment is on the way.

The Revenant (2015)

The movie that awarded Leonardo DiCaprio his long-awaited Oscar is Alejandro González I?árritu’s followup film after his Best Picture-winning Birdman. About an abandoned explorer on a quest through the wilderness (fighting bears and aggrieved Native Americans along the way) to avenge the death of his son, it also earned I?árritu a Best Director Oscar.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Charlize Theron stars as an elite MI6 spy attempting to retrieve a dossier as the Berlin Wall collapses. The makers of John Wick put together this story with co-stars John Goodman, James McAvoy and Sofia Boutella.

Charlie’s Angels (2000–2019)

The Angels from the famed 1970s TV show are back in three more stories of fierce female detectives with a mysterious boss out to get the bad guys. Using martial arts, tech savvy and their own intuition, they take on crimes of identity theft, computer espionage and even murder.

District 9 (2009)

A cast of lesser-known actors stars in this sci-fi thriller about an alien race forced to live in horrid conditions on Earth who makes friends with a government agent. The sleeper hit was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture.

Drive (2011)

The neon-loving director Nicolas Winding Refn put together a sharp, quiet, brutal film starring Ryan Gosling about a Hollywood stuntman and getaway driver who protects his neighbors against the threat of robbers. It boasts a star-studded cast including Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Cranston and Ron Perlman. Rotten Tomatoes calls it a “fully realized vision of arthouse action,” but more than anything, it’s pure excitement to watch. It won Refn the Cannes Best Director Award.

Blade Runner (1982)

This 1982 Ridley Scott sci-fi thriller pits police units (“blade runners”) against androids. Harrison Ford is a former blade runner called out of retirement to track down and destroy these “replicants” who have rebelled on off-world colonies and now find themselves illegal back on planet Earth.

Lone Survivor (2013)

Based on the harrowing true story of a group of Navy SEALs fighting for their lives, Mark Wahlberg and Emile Hirsch bring the story to life in a fashion that won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Action Movie.

Sin City (2005)

Adapted from Frank Miller’s graphic novel so realistically that it plays out like a violent cartoon, there is no other neo-noir crime film that looks or feels quite like this one. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rogriguez and Miller himself, it boasts the all-star cast of Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis and the late Brittany Murphy.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Is there a boxing movie with a sadder ending than this Clint Eastwood classic? And who better than Hilary Swank to star as the unlikely up-and-comer and crowd favorite? It was so good in fact that it swept the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Actress (Swank), Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman).

Gran Torino (2008)

Though Clint Eastwood is a star in his own right, this movie was an underdog when it opened against Slumdog Millionaire and Milk. But audiences fell in love with its story of a cranky widower and his Hmong neighbors he at first detests, then defends. Eastwood was 78 at the time this came out, but it didn’t stop this movie from becoming an unexpected classic.

Dirty Harry (1971)

Clint Eastwood made San Francisco Police Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan a household moniker in this action crime thriller. Tracking down a psychopath known as the “Scorpio Killer,” Callahan uses some questionable legal methods and ensures an exciting cat and mouse game between hunter and hunted. Dirty Harry reappeared in four more movies between 1973 and 1988.

Sicario (2015)

Emily Blunt stars as an FBI agent sent to aid in the war on drugs at the American-Mexican border. Using her tactical skills gained from years on a kidnap response unit, she is recruited to eradicate a drug cartel responsible for the death of her team members.

Hunger Games franchise (2012–2015)

Based on the young adult dystopian novels by Suzanne Collins, the franchise sparked the careers of Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel novel, was released in 2020 and a movie adaptation comes out in 2023.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

Three bounty-hunters plot together to find buried gold in this 1966 Western set during the American Civil War. Starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef, the tale unites unlikely partners on a common quest and is oft-considered an improbable masterpiece and one of the greatest of the great in Western filmmaking.

The Italian Job (1969 and 2003)

One of the most fun and action-packed heist films, originally starring Michael Caine and Margaret Blye and its remake starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron and Mos Def, it’s as bright and tight as the Mini Coopers they drive around in.

Rambo franchise (1982–2019)

This series starts in 1982 with another great action movie character for Sylvester Stallone. Now a rogue military veteran, he’s chased into the mountains by a hometown sheriff and wages war against him as his time in Vietnam continues to haunt him. First Blood was the first in a series of five.

Predator (1987–2022)

A technologically advanced alien makes his debut in this science fiction action horror film that finds a leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team on a mission to save hostages in Central America. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and directed by John McTiernan, it spawned four sequels (Predator 2, Predators, The Predator and Prey).

Captain Marvel (2019)

This is the first comic adaptation to be both directed by and star a woman. Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel), one of the most powerful heroes of the universe, caught up in a raging war on Earth between two alien races.

Wonder Woman franchise (2017-2020)

Gal Gadot shines as the DC Comics hero and princess of the Amazons alongside Chris Pine and, in the sequel Wonder Woman 1984, against Kristen Wiig as her nemesis, Cheetah.

Fast & Furious franchise (2001–2023)

Fast cars, big explosions and undercover street racing—it’s a sonic and visual overload starring the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and the late Paul Walker.

***Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse* and Across the Spider-Verse (2018-2023)**

This inter-dimensional Spider-Man saga follows the Miles Morales incarnation as Spider-Man as well as multiple other Spider-Mans from parallel universes. The 2018 movie won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first non-Disney or Pixar film to do so since Rango (2011).

Kill Bill Vol. 1 **and Vol. 2 (2003–2004)**

Bloody revenge stories fall right into Quentin Tarantino’s wheelhouse, but none so far have made it to a sequel except this two-film series. With rousing performances from its star Uma Thurman and the accompanying Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah and Vivica A. Fox, these films are as fierce as the martial arts within them.

Mission Impossible franchise (1996–2023)

Beginning as a TV series in the 1960s, the story of spy Ethan Hunt developed into a series of movies starring Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames. Though the films and his others haven’t rewarded Cruise an Oscar, the first movie did earn him the 1997 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor.

Planet of the Apes (1968–2024)

Based on French author Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel La Planète des singes, this longstanding series about apes ruling over humans began with a movie adaptation that won an Academy Honorary Award for John Chambers’ outstanding makeup achievement. It also provided one of the most iconic 1960s images in film, showing a decimated Statue of Liberty. Four more films were made through 1973, then the series was picked up again in a Tim Burton-directed 2001 adaption, followed by three more in the 2010s.

The Town (2010)

This film that’s both directed by Ben Affleck and stars himself is true to his Boston roots, though this one is much darker and more intense as he and fellow bank robbers rob Fenway park, among other spots. It also features Blake Lively, Jeremy Renner and Rebecca Hall in dazzling roles.

Looking for Something Lighter? Try the Best Comedies of All Time

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