Pick Or Pass On These Movies And We'll Guess Your Favorite Action Flick
- by Colin Leggett
- – on
- in Movies and TV
There really is nothing like a good, solid action film to get your adrenaline pumping and provide some pure entertainment. For decades, action films have provided an escape to audiences all over the world, and there is just no end to what kind of stories these films can tell. The action can take place anywhere, from far-flung countries to right in someone's backyard, to the farthest reaches of space. There's no stopping action films, and the truth is that everyone has a favorite.
Whether it's something from the past or one of the more recent big-screen offerings, everyone loves the thrills, chills, and charm of action movies. They just manage to do something that not many other genres of movie manage to do. They keep people on the edge of their seat, they fill them up with hope, only to dash their expectations in fun and exciting ways. They can even subvert certain story tropes in order to deliver something that is fresh and entirely unfamiliar.
Take a look at some of the action movies below. Pick your favorites and pass on the ones you don't like that much, and we'll try to guess your favorite action movie of all time!
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road is the long-awaited sequel to the Mad Max series of films. Starring Tom Hardy as the titular character, the film finds the wandering hero taken by a band of vehicular obsessed madmen, whose leader, Immortan Joe, keeps the population in check by controlling the water supply. The film also stars Charlize Theron as a one-armed driver who hatches a plan to escape from Immortan Joe and head to a lush oasis hidden somewhere in the desert.
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four is another adaptation of the famous superhero family directed by Josh Trank. This time, the four heroes, Reed Richards, Sue and Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, enter an interdimensional portal, and are given their famous superpowers. They then must face off against their arch nemesis, Doctor Doom. The film was widely panned by critics, and was seen as a complete mess on all fronts. It did, however, feature another actor in the role of the Human Torch who would go on to appear in the MCU.
Gladiator
Gladiator is an Oscar-winning film directed by Ridley Scott. This historical epic tells the real-life tale of Marcus Aurelius Maximus, a soldier who is betrayed by the very people for whom he fought. Afterward, he is taken by a different group of people and made to fight in the Coliseum as a gladiator. His many victories against his opponents make him famous, and eventually, he reveals his true identity to the emperor. The film stars Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.
National Treasure
National Treasure is a fun-filled adventurous Disney movie starring Nicholas Cage as a seasoned historian, codebreaker, and treasure-hunter. After he is betrayed by one of his colleagues, the codebreaker must embark on a mission to discover a treasure that is deeply tied to the founding of the United States. This is the film that famously introduced the phrase "we're going to steal the Declaration of Independence," which eventually became a meme. IT was followed by a sequel, and fans are still awaiting a third.
Taken
Liam Neeson stars in Taken as a man with a very specific set of skills. After his daughter is, well, taken by a group of bad guys during a vacation in France, Neeson must travel overseas to try and find her. The only thing he has to go on is the brief snippet of audio from the last conversation he had with his daughter. Using that, Neeson manages to find the men who took her, track her down, and eventually rescue her.
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz is a hilarious, action-packed, satirical film starring Simon Pegg as a police officer from London who is so good at his job, that he makes all of the other cops look bad. Because of this, he is transferred to a small village far outside the city, where things are a lot less exciting. At least, that's how it seems at first. Soon, the cop discovers a massive conspiracy lurking just beneath the veneer of the kind, small town.
The Matrix
The Matrix is a groundbreaking action film starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving. Reeves stars as Neo, a hacker who is brought into the real world by Morpheus, played by Fishburne. This is where Neo learns that his whole life has just been a simulation created by machines. In the far future, groups of humans fight back against the machines in an attempt to free people from the Matrix. However, they are pursued by Agents, who try to stop them at every turn.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is an action-packed superhero film. Gal Gadot stars as Diana of Themyscira, an Amazon warrior who is brought into the world of humans after Steve Trevor, a soldier fighting in World War I crashes his plane on her island. She decides that she must help the humans and that this war is the result of meddling by Ares, the God of War himself. The movie was a massive success. So what do we think about this film? Pick or pass?
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Kingsman: The Secret Service is a film based on a comic book series by Mark Millar. The film follows the journey of a young man named Eggsy, as he is brought into the fold of the Secret Service by Agent Galahad. The group fights against worldwide threats using a number of gadgets, as well as their highly specialized spy training. Samuel L. Jackson stars as the villain, who wishes to bring down the entire world by using a special signal on cell phones.
Ready Player One
Ready Player One is a massive science fiction action film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel by Ernest Cline. In the future, citizens are living in small, storage container like bins, but they all escape into a huge, virtual environment known as the Oasis. There, they can be anyone they want, look however they want, and take part in all sorts of amazing challenges. When one player finds out the founder of the Oasis hid a treasure, he embarks on a quest to find it.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, is a post-apocalyptic story about life in the United States after a cataclysmic event has changed society forever. There is a severe shortage of food throughout the country, which has been divided into districts. Every year, though, each district sends a child to take place in a lethal game against other children, with the last surviving member winning a massive amount of food for their district. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, takes part in the contest.
I Am Legend
I Am Legend is a science fiction action film starring Will Smith as the last man on Earth. The film is based on the novel of the same name, in which a man who is the last surviving member of humanity must fight against a new breed of vampiric monsters. However, the man eventually discovers that these monsters, in fact, have a society of their own, and they are actually intimidated by him. The film received middling reviews, but did predict the Batman v. Superman film.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is the fourth film in the Mission Impossible series of films. Directed by animation veteran Brad Bird, the film finds the members of the IMF being totally disavowed and having to work outside of the system. The film features some truly inventive sequences, and one breathtaking stunt involving Tom Cruise climbing up the side of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The movie was one of the best of the series and brought it into the modern era.
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is a comedy-action film starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as two police officers who just can't seem to get anything right. Though they were enemies in high school, they quickly became friends in the police academy. They are sent to take part in an undercover mission where they will pose as high school students in order to stop a new drug from hitting the streets. The film was based on a classic TV series, and continually poked fun at the idea of remakes.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Smith is an action film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a married couple. Each one is actually a highly-trained assassin, but neither of them knows the other's secret. After they are assigned to take out the same target, and then each other, the truth comes out, and the husband and wife are soon forced to work together in order to bring down a more dangerous enemy. The film was known more for how it sparked the lead actors' relationship in real life.
Avatar
Avatar is a famous, science fiction action film directed by James Cameron. It was seen as a groundbreaking film for its achievements in special effects and 3D filmmaking. The film received several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The story of the film concerns humans mining a precious element from a moon that is populated by a native species called that Navi. One of the mercenaries working for the mining company is sent to infiltrate the tribe using a process that places his mind in one of the creature's bodies.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is a groundbreaking superhero action film starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. Bale returns in his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and this time he is facing an enemy that is far different from any of the criminals he has gone up against. Calling himself the Joker, this villain relishes chaos, and wishes to take down Gotham and make Batman break his one rule. The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, was widely praised, and Ledger's performance won him a posthumous Oscar.
Django Unchained
Django Unchained is the seventh film directed by Quentin Tarantino. It follows the journey of a freed slave named Django, who is taken under the wing of a bounty hunter. The two embark on a mission to free Django's wife and take out a wealthy slave owner. The film is filled to the brim with violence and action, but it is also a sharply written revisionist Western. It took its inspiration from classic Spaghetti Westerns, and is technically part of a series of older films starring a cowboy named Django.
Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express is a hilarious action comedy film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. Rogen plays a process server who loves to partake in certain recreational activities, which often means he has to interact with Franco's character. After Rogen witnesses a crime being committed, he makes a run for it and he and Franco must avoid criminals, a crooked cop, and even the people they trust the most. All the while, their paranoid ideas of what might happen to them end up being entirely accurate.
Men In Black
Men In Black is a science fiction action film that is also packed with a lot of comedic moments. After a New York cop witnesses something otherworldly and comes into contact with a specialized government agency, he is asked to join them as a new agent. However, that means that he has to give up his entire life and identity. H and his new partner, a more seasoned agent, end up tracking down an alien who is planning a massive invasion.
The Fate of the Furious
The Fate of the Furious is the eight film in the Fast and Furious franchise, and it saw the return of the main cast as they embarked on yet another world-saving adventure. This time around, the past comes back to haunt Dom, as a woman calling herself Cipher (played by Charlize Theron) gives him an ultimatum which forces him to betray the rest of the team. Once again, this results in some wild car chases and big action sequences. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham also returned.
Skyfall
Skyfall is another entry in the James Bond series of films. This time, Bond is on a mission when things go entirely wrong. This results in all of MI6's undercover agents having their identities revealed. The headquarters is then attacked by a mysterious foe, and Bond and M must work together to find out who is trying to take them out. The film is a much darker and more personal Bond story than some of the other films, culminating in a fight at the Bond family estate.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is a solo entry in the MCU about a superhero who must overcome his own hubris in order to save the world from a threat that is bigger than any of the heroes have ever faced in the past. After a car accident leaves him unable to do his job, surgeon Stephen Strange travels to Tibet in order to meet the Ancient One, who can supposedly heal him by teaching him to channel mystical energy. Strange becomes powerful and adept at using magic, using it to stop a group of bad guys.
Top Gun
This is a classic action film directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise. The film is about an elite group of pilots who fly jets for the US Navy. Tom Cruise, playing a pilot nicknamed Maverick, is constantly getting on the nerves of the other pilots, due to his brash behavior and wily ways. Eventually he begins to earn their respect, due to his inherent skill and talent for flying. He also begins a relationship with his flight instructor.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first film to feature Harrison Ford as the intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones. The film finds the hero looking for the ark of the covenant before the wrong people get their hands on it. Dr. Jones has to travel to many different locales in order to find the artifacts that will help him find the ark before it is too late. The film was a huge hit and spawned an entire series of films.
Get Smart
Get Smart is an action comedy film based on the comedic TV series of the same name. The film finds analyst Maxwell Smart, a member of the spy agency Control, promoted to field agent after a plan hatched by the villainous group KAOS dismantles the agency. He must work with Agent 99 to figure out how KAOS was able to get inside the agency and figure out their secrets. The film starred Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin, and Dwayne Johnson.
Sicario
Sicario is a tense, dark, and realistic action thriller. Emily Blunt stars as an FBI agent who is forced to work with two secretive government officials (played by Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro) to flush out a criminal who is sneaking things across the border. As she gets deeper and deeper into her assignment, the FBI agent discovers that there is a lot of information that her bosses are not telling her, and not everything they are doing is on the level.
Independence Day
Independence Day is a science fiction action film starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum. After aliens begin a wide-scale invasion of Earth, everyone on the planet must work together in order to take down the extra-terrestrial threat. The film is notable for its giant cast of characters and numerous storylines about how many different people are dealing with the invasion. It's also notable for the fact that the entire alien race is brought down by the transfer of a computer virus.
Atomic Blonde
Atomic blonde is an action film starring Charlize Theron as a secret agent who is able to hold her own in a fight against numerous bad guys. The film finds her facing off against spies from all over as she tries to recover a secret file during the fall of the Berlin Wall. The film was based on a graphic novel of the same name, and it featured some truly impressive stunt work and fight choreography, all performed by Theron.
Inception
Inception is a science fiction action film directed by Christopher Nolan. The film finds a specialized group of thieves who enter people's dreams using special technology to steal their ideas and other information. They are soon hired by a wealthy businessman who wants them to do the opposite: he wants them to plant an idea in a business rival's mind in order to have him sell the company. The group must face off against subconscious defenses, as well as the memory of one member's wife interfering in the mission.
King Kong
King Kong is a remake of the classic film directed by Peter Jackson and starring Naomi Watts and Jack Black. The film finds a woman accompanying a group of explorers to a supposedly lost island where there is any number of undiscovered species. Among them, ruling over all of them is a giant gorilla named Kong. The explorers are able to capture Kong and bring him back to New York. Unfortunately, he gets loose and goes on a rampage through the city.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a vivid action comedy film based on a series of comic books. Directed by Edgar Wright, the film finds Scott Pilgrim, a young Toronto native, embarking on a quest to slay the seven exes of his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers. Scott's band is also trying to make it in the music scene, and both stories come together in unexpected ways. The film is notable for its blend of live-action and cartoonish visuals which lend it a real comic book vibe.
The Predator
The Predator is a long-awaited sequel to the Predator series of films. Directed by Shane Black, the film finds a group of specialized soldiers facing off against an alien that Earth scientists have been studying for years. What the humans don't realize though, is that an even bigger and stronger Predator has made its way to Earth in order to find the smaller Predator and take it out. The humans then must fight against this new threat in order to ensure the safety of the planet.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The long-awaited sequel to the Star Wars films, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was a major hit with fans. The film carried on the story that ended in the Return of the Jedi. Now, the galaxy has been thrown into turmoil once again by a new villainous group known as the First Order, which is taking on the work started by the Empire. Luke Skywalker has disappeared, and it is up to a new generation of heroes, orphan Rey, and former Storm Trooper Finn, to save the day.
Speed
Speed is a seminal action film starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in one of her first major film roles. The film is about a bad guy who has been planting explosive devices across the city, and the determined cops who go after him. One of the devices has been wired to a city bus, which must keep its speed above 55 miles an hour or the device will explode. It's up to Keanu and Sandra to keep the bus moving and figure out a way to save the passengers.
Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok is the third Thor film in the MCU, and it went in a completely different direction from the other two. This time around, Thor and Loki must face their long lost sister, Hela, who is poised to take over the kingdom of Asgard. Unfortunately, the brothers are marooned on a far off junk planet called Sakaar, where Thor is forced to compete in gladiatorial combat. Luckily, he faces off against a familiar friend: Hulk. Together, and with the help of new ally Valkyrie, Thor must escape Sakaar and defeat Hela.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade finds Dr. Jones once again embarking on a journey, this time to find the holy grail itself before it falls into the wrong hands. The only difference in this journey is that Jones is actually joined by his father, played by none other than Sean Connery. The film is full of great set pieces, action, and a truly thrilling conclusion. The film was far better than its predecessor but was really the last good Indiana Jones film.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is a thrilling action-adventure film that is based, oddly enough, on a theme park ride. The film finds a crew of pirates, led by Captain Jack Sparrow, embarking on a journey to find the Black Pearl, a long lost ship filled with ghost pirates. The film started a huge franchise for Disney, and each successive film dipped in quality. Nevertheless, they continued to make money, so they kept getting made. Hopefully, there won't be any more of these.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is less of an action film and more of an espionage thriller, but it is still filled with some great action sequences and some amazing performances. Gary Oldman plays a retired spy who is tasked with finding a mole in his organization. However, this proves harder than it appears, as everyone on the inside appears to be suspicious. The film is a masterfully constructed story, based on the novel of the same name by author John Le Carre.
The Incredibles
The Incredibles is an animated action film from Pixar. The film is about a world where superheroes were once abundant and beloved. however, after a series of lawsuits, superheroes were outlawed, and all of the heroes disappeared. One of the most famous heroes, Mr. Incredible, got married and had a family, but misses the good old days. When he gets the opportunity to use his superpowers again, he takes it without telling his family. Unfortunately, he is taken by a new super-villain, and his superpowered family must rescue him.
300
300, directed by Zack Snyder and based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, re-tells the story of the Spartan army that was able to repel an invasion from Persia. The film stars Gerard Butler, in one of his first major film roles, as Leonidas, the leader of the Spartan army, which is made up of soldiers who are trained from birth to be the most elite, strongest, and bravest soldiers in the world. The film stretches the bounds of imagination and weaves in some mythology as well.
Black Panther
Black Panther is yet another film entry in the MCU. This movie follows the story of T'Challa, the rightful king of Wakanda. It takes place after his introduction in the film Captain America: Civil War. Upon returning to his home country, T'Challa sees that his country could be doing more, and yet he is torn about revealing its existence to the world. The peace in Wakanda is shattered when a long-lost family member of T'Challa's returns to try and claim the throne.
Justice League
Justice League was the DCEU's answer to the Avengers. The film found the famous superhero team finally being formed in order to take on an enemy that has come to reclaim items that he will use to take over Earth. Batman must gather up all of the other superheroes on Earth, including Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg. They must also find a way to bring Superman back in order to aid them in their journey to save the world.
John Wick
John Wick is an incredibly imaginative and action-packed thriller starring Keanu Reeves as the titular hitman. After he retires for good, John Wick settles down with a wife who unfortunately passes away due to brain cancer. However, he receives a puppy that she had planned to give him as a gift. After an encounter with the wrong people at a gas station, John's puppy is unfortunately taken out, sending him on a mission of revenge, which intimidates the criminal community.
Sin City
Sin City is a film by Robert Rodriguez based on the comic series of the same name by Frank Miller. The film, shot in black and white, strikes an incredibly close resemblance to the comics, using the frames from each book as storyboards in order to get the look just right. The film had an all-star cast of actors all playing characters that appeared in their own standalone stories. There was even one scene that was guest-directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Date Night
Date Night is an action-comedy film starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey as a married couple who are looking for some excitement in their lives. When they decide to go out for a date night, they end up claiming they are two people that they are not in order to get a table at a fancy restaurant. Unfortunately, this means that they are mistaken for the couple by some criminals who are looking for a stolen flash drive, sending the couple on the run.
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is an absolute classic. This science fiction action thriller finds a group of experts, plus two kids, taken to an island theme park where scientists have found a way to clone dinosaurs and bring them to life right in front of the guests' eyes. Unfortunately, though, a member of the staff disables the power to steal dinosaur embryos, and inadvertently allows many of the dangerous creatures to escape from their pens. The humans must survive attacks from dinosaurs and escape.
The Fugitive
The Fugitive is a famous action film based on a classic TV series. The action thriller stars Harrison Ford as a doctor who is framed for a crime he did not commit. After he escapes from the bus that is taking him to jail, he goes on the run and attempts to find a way to prove his innocence. He is pursued by a determined US Marshall and his team. The film is notable for its well-plotted story and non-stop thrills.
Robocop
Robocop is a classic science fiction action film that is also a social satire. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven, stars Peter Weller as a cop in futuristic Detroit. After he is gravely injured in the line of duty, the officer is given a second chance at life by being turned into a robotic law enforcement hero. He is still part man, but his machine parts have mostly taken over his personality. He embarks on a mission to put an end to crime, no matter what.
Baby Driver
Baby Driver is an incredibly well-edited and shot film that centers around a group of bank robbers and their trusty getaway driver, known only as Baby. Baby is a master driver, who constantly listens to music while he is doing his job. He begins a relationship with a waitress, and realizes that he needs to get out of his life of crime, which is easier said than done. The film is notable for its amazing chase sequences which are edited to a variety of classic songs.
