Best Action Movies of All Time: My Totally Subjective, Awesome List
Hey movie buffs! Let's ditch the boring "Top 10" lists and chat about some seriously great action films to watch. Picking the best action movie of all time is practically impossible (everyone's tastes are different!), so I'm offering my completely biased, super-fun list of amazing best action movies of all time.
Forget those robotic, algorithm-generated lists—this is all from the heart. (And fueled by lots of popcorn.) I've tried to include diversity: a range of eras, styles, and budgets so this could work for everyone – from Hollywood blockbusters to slightly more offbeat stuff.
Now, the biggest challenge: How do you compare an 80's classic against modern filmmaking, high-budget blockbusters? They’re different beasts!
To give a more satisfying answer, I've also separated things by era:
This isn't a scientific ranking! These are just suggestions to get you started! Some will probably think these don't match their own perception; Others would think some might seem somewhat lacking and not enough for a list this great.
Best Action Movies of the 80s and 90s: The Classics
This was the Golden Age for many of us that watched and grew up with it. This also introduced so many new actors! A mix of legendary directors and a massive variety of stylistic decisions that influenced Action Movies for years afterwards!
- Die Hard (1988): Still the gold standard of action thrillers. Amazing premise!
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991): Groundbreaking effects and unforgettable characters.
- Lethal Weapon (1987): A perfect blend of action, comedy, and buddy-cop dynamics.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Adventurous, fun, and it started a gigantic franchise that was equally amazing
Many films and shows still refer and give homage to these. The amount of attention given even within recent years still shows the level of success that many found watching and rewatching.
Best Action Movies: The New Millennium (2000s-2010s)
These new productions really emphasized CGI. High budgets and increasingly impressive special effects! Some of them also broke box office records worldwide!
- The Matrix (1999): Revolutionary action sequences, stylish visuals; everything that made this a groundbreaking masterpiece!
- Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Breathtaking practical effects, visceral action; one of my top five action movies of all time! And for good reasons.
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007): Realistic fight choreography and suspense.
- John Wick (2014): Started a fantastic franchise based around action scenes that have gained amazing praise for several years. It truly changed everything.
Modern audiences already appreciate these films highly. This is even reflected on online votes. Their high quality means these easily rank among the most celebrated action films to date! The influence can clearly be seen by modern productions that attempt a similar approach and style, some have achieved high-levels of success and were very, very highly praised too.
Best Action Movies Last Five Years (and Beyond!)
This section might seem slightly less straightforward than prior ones because tastes have diverged more wildly lately; however, the quality produced has remained fairly amazing even though some individual movies might be harder to pin as top-picks than some older titles – and frankly many remain fiercely debated.
Finding titles to suit every person's taste might require deeper research; therefore I am avoiding offering explicit titles. This is due to the difficulty inherent in choosing the objectively better one.
It’s still early – these remain heavily impacted by tastes and personal preferences therefore the actual quality is really the best way to describe and distinguish.
Ultimately, the best action films are subjective! Explore these selections to find movies to add to your personal “best of” list!
