Top 10 Action Movie Franchises Ranked: Explosive Thrills and Epic Storytelling
Action Movies: we live for the explosions, heart-stopping stunts, and characters that never fail to make our hearts race. The greatest action movies frequently launch a string of exhilarating experiences. It's impossible to resist being immersed in those adrenaline-fueled storylines.
The most successful action franchises take on an enduring, lucrative, and influencing character in this cinematic genre. There's something for every taste with each movie packed with thrills and jaw-dropping feats! What exactly are these epic films that give our hearts racing, leaving us craving for more? Dive in!
The Biggest Action Movie Franchises - It's a Blast from the Past (And The Future!)
The first film's magic isn't always retained when franchises try to carry it forward. You may not think a franchise will stand the test of time after seeing a couple of spectacular explosions and exciting chase scenes.
Those franchises that last for decades, making big money while retaining those enthralling action components and stories? Those are the franchises that change cinema. These action series push boundaries and establish benchmarks in cinema.
What Qualifies as a Truly Successful Action Franchise
The boundaries can be a little hazy, but we have some clear expectations for a top action franchise. Firstly, they are supposed to emphasize the excitement, adventure, and physical thrill that go along with the genre.
Secondly, a good action series makes good use of character development, offering an intriguing narrative with those cool chase sequences. They usually have a mix of cool heroes and daring villains!
Ranking the 10 Best Action Movie Franchises
It's all very subjective; this is just our selection! But get ready, we’re breaking down those exciting series. Don’t expect the most anticipated blockbusters. Our picks encompass classics, franchises that paved the way for how we see the genre, and those whose action keeps us glued to our seats.
10. Lethal Weapon: Buddies for Life
While Lethal Weapon doesn't claim to be the pioneer of buddy cop stories, it’s certainly a perfect blend of explosive action and wit, leaving the audience wanting more. Mel Gibson as Riggs and Danny Glover as Murtaugh created a duo with the perfect balance of humor and raw grit. We got the thrill of gunfights mixed with lighthearted banter - who wouldn’t want that combo?
Lethal Weapon may have seemed stuck in the 80s and 90s, but it bounced back, getting rebooted with a TV show (and what’s cooler than seeing them reunited in a Lethal Weapon 5)? We are left wondering – can they regain their magic in a new era of cinema, or is their era over? Either way, it’s clear the combination was more than a hit in the action movie genre!
9. Die Hard: A Legacy for Heroes
If Die Hard had only ever had one film, we’d still be talking about John McClane. But thankfully for action movie enthusiasts, we’re all for the sequel spree and its star power! It all started with John, a New York cop on the hunt to save hostages from the Nakatomi Plaza (we remember that scene), becoming one of the most awesome action heroes ever! The other films continued John's reign, but some would say that they ended up trying a bit too hard to be as big as the original. We’re not really fans of over-the-top and unnecessary drama.
In this franchise, Bruce Willis remains a key anchor and makes every film a little better just by being him. In spite of the movie becoming over-the-top, the legacy remains, especially considering that Die Hard redefined how the world looks at action heroes. They weren't all super-human, some were just ordinary heroes in exceptional situations.
8. John Wick: The Silent Assassin Who Can Really Kick Butt
It was such a surprise! John Wick was the first entry to this franchise, with none of those big expectations. However, with the direction from Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves portraying the quiet, focused assassin – well, this turned into one of the most explosive action films in history! Reeves had a lot to prove with his action-packed scenes; and let's face it – his portrayal was spot on! We’re all huge fans of Keanu Reeves too! The entire franchise is built with him, but he's surrounded by incredible stars that give this movie a really nice dynamic,
It's no surprise that the fourth installment in 2023 ended up being the action film that year! This movie is already on its way to making over $1 Billion. That’s insane! And as if that wasn't enough, the "John Wick" universe continues to expand. It has its own TV series – with that fantastic Ana de Armas star!– and an entire movie dedicated to Ballerina is set for a 2025 premiere. We're excited, yo!
7. The Matrix: Bending Time and Bending Reality
The Matrix's got a reputation as one of those Movies that will keep making those "what if?" thoughts spin, thanks to those out-of-this-world fight sequences. Remember when it seemed like all the moviemakers needed was a story to justify some wild and unique combat sequences? The Matrix's cyberpunk setting was everything. Combine it with the moves we learned from Hong Kong action movies and you have a super compelling, imaginative movie universe. Remember those mind-blowing moves Keanu Reeves made with those special effects and wire-fu? This man was an action superstar even before John Wick.
It’s no wonder that, even after some weaker installments, the franchise has made it all the way to The Matrix 5! Drew Goddard has to have a vision – one that doesn’t make the rest of us want to give Keanu Reeves a massive hug of appreciation after those last few films. That fourth movie made fans yearn for some better, less “what if we add more weird stuff?"-type films. And it seems like he might just deliver, which makes it super interesting to see what’s coming up for a big blockbuster action film!
6. Mad Max: Post-Apocalyptic Mayhem on Four Wheels
It all started back in 1979, when the first movie dropped into the movie universe! And while we’ve all moved through many "end of the world" films since then, the "Mad Max" series stands the test of time and delivers a story that feels more relevant than ever. It was George Miller's brilliant vision. Remember Mad Max: Fury Road? The action in those scenes was unlike any we’ve seen since. Then Furiosa hit the screen with just as much impact! And it gets even better - Mad Max: The Wasteland is on the horizon, proving how much this film universe continues to expand.
Mad Max was the inspiration for those futuristic wasteland stories we’ve grown to love - from style, landscapes, characters who really go through some serious trials and tribulations – Mad Max did it all! The fact that George Miller kept the standard incredibly high - and that nobody's managed to top his work - after he paused production for nearly 30 years – speaks for itself. It proves that the magic never dies! Oh, and did we mention those stunningly practical effects? We are in a time when those CGI special effects are so frequent – those practical effects truly pop! And they give it an edge that we can really feel!
5. Indiana Jones: A Hero With a Bullwhip, in a World of Adventure
Ever wanted a cool hero that makes a comeback from the world's greatest mysteries? Yeah, that’s Indy – Indiana Jones. Remember that first scene? Indy with a bullwhip - that’s just magic. He's the archetypal adventurer and one of the biggest stars! This retro hero blended so many themes into the franchise - from the 30s and 40s era, action, adventure, mystery, it all fit together seamlessly, showing that Steven Spielberg's vision had created a character who didn’t age.
That was before those five movies - it took a whole lot of daring and ingenuity for Spielberg to really create some of those truly mind-blowing sequences – who could forget those mine cart chases or when he had a faceoff with a German Tank in The Last Crusade? The latest film didn’t really hit the same mark as those earlier movies. Still, we've got those spectacular moments. That legacy might have gotten a little worse with the last couple of movies but the magic is still there!
4. Jason Bourne: On the Run From a Shady Government
This Jason Bourne series isn’t about breaking records, but it had a HUGE impact on the direction of action. The Bourne Identity arrived in 2002 and took those super intense action movies, and made them real and gritty. The film franchise was about what was happening with espionage in the post-9/11 world. They found a hero who was at war with his own government, with that kind of distrust that had become a big part of those years. It redefined action cinema, it didn’t need explosions. It didn’t need massive stunts; we just had an incredible hero!
This franchise was a massive source of inspiration – James Bond films and Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible are two of the big ones that have learned from those Bourne Identity techniques – along with several action-movie hits! Those gritty fight sequences, the shakey-cam shots, those close-quarters moments – it was all so authentic, we felt it, and the global political angle that gave audiences a bigger picture of just how dangerous this world really is.
3. Fast & Furious: Racing For Glory (And Big Box Office Bucks!)
No matter your taste for fast cars and adrenaline rushes, the Fast & Furious saga has a whole lot going for it. The premise started with racing, then fast cars and action grew. They threw in espionage and some amazing global schemes, creating the quintessential ensemble action movie franchise!
Even though some call the franchise absurd and crazy - with some unbelievable twists – we love the humor, the “over-the-top” vibe. The Fast & Furious series doesn't overthink; it simply delivers exciting stuff to those fans who are looking for it.
2. Mission: Impossible: Tom Cruise's Ultimate Action Platform
The Mission: Impossible franchise, it’s pretty classic. It started back with that thrilling TV series back in the 60s. It started as something kind of small and unique, but became a huge production with Tom Cruise who made this the action genre of the 21st century. He took each movie, raised the bar a little more, and pushed those big-budget production values to their limit, just like how everyone started expecting bigger, better, more insane stunts with Cruise!
It’s one of those action films where the thrill is the ultimate goal but don't sleep on the characters and stories. We've got some great villains, and a lot of really great technology and espionage. That's why we are all expecting great things, as we head toward that eighth film which is slated for 2025! Get ready for even more action with Tom Cruise and the team!
1. James Bond: 007, The First Big-Screen Spy
There is a history in action films - James Bond 007. The franchise is super long-lived, we’re talking a whole 60 years! It’s crazy how iconic James Bond has become in our pop culture. And let's not forget all the different actors! It takes those crazy and action-packed scenes and makes us think, wow this was a long time ago, but it’s still so amazing!
Action movies as we know them are really different, if not for those early James Bond films! They revolutionized stunt-work and made their way to iconic status. There's a lot that's happened with this franchise. With six actors now starring in 25 films, some fans feel the movies have been up and down. However, it’s never been too low! What’s the future? The big question for now! Especially after the news that Daniel Craig is gone. Will there be a new 007?
Action Movie Franchises are Just Getting Started!
The action genre’s got tons more exciting stories out there and these franchises are only a sliver of all the action! It’s cool how action keeps on changing, growing, and transforming itself. We’re in for a bunch more action-movie madness in 2023 – some fresh, brand new films, plus those comeback classics. Let's not forget that a lot of franchises like these have made way for so many movies - from James Bond, Die Hard, Mission: Impossible – it's clear that the action scene has changed the world, one high-octane stunt at a time!
