Top 25 Action Thriller Movies Ever Made
25. John Wick (2014)
"He once killed three men...with a pencil...a pencil." These are words are enough to bring a whole crowd of Keanu Reeves and John Wick fans. The high-octane action and "gun-fu" choreography of the John Wick series was an instant hit in Hollywood. Keanu Reeves plays the character of a retired assassin who is back in the underworld in pursuit of vengeance.
24. Collateral (2004)
This nocturnal thriller is based on the adventures of an innocent cab driver, Max (Jamie Foxx) who gets caught up with a contract killer, Vincent (Tom Cruise). Max drives Vincent around the city throughout the movie as the assassin goes on a one-night killing spree across Los Angeles. It is a tale of dread and suspense in which the entire city becomes a character to the movie.
23. The Fugitive (1993)
When a man is unjustly convicted of his wife's murder, he escapes prison and starts the hunt for the real killer. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is relentlessly pursued by U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones in an Oscar-winning role). It is a film which delves on the premise of a grand reveal keeping the audience guessing until the very end. The set pieces of the movie are perfectly timed in this cat-and-mouse chase.
22. Taken (2008)
"I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." A highly experienced but retired CIA operative Bryan Mils, must track down his daughter and free her from her kidnappers. Liam Neeson becomes a modern action superstar as he tracks down the human trafficking group in Paris. The movie portrays brutal and no-nonsense action of a father going to any lengths in order to deliver righteous justice.
21. The Bourne Identity (2002)
The movie redefined spy genre for the entirety of 21st century. Directed by, Doug Liman strips away the glamorous spy fiction in favor of a dirty and realistic tone. Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is an amnesiac man pulled out of the Mediterranean Sea. He quickly discovers that he is being targeted by multiple assassins but possesses extraordinary combat skills. The intelligent plot and realistic hand-to-hand combat is the main selling point of the movie.
20. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) returns to action. This time he is trying to amend the issues created by a failed mission related to plutonium retrieval. Ethan and his IMF team have to race against time in order to prevent a global catastrophe. The stunt work in this film creates awe among the audience. The high altitude HALO jump, a brutal bathroom brawl and a high paced helicopter chase scene through the exquisite mountain views create a surreal experience for action thriller fans.
19. Léon: The Professional (1994)
A lonely hitman, Léon (Jean Reno), reluctantly takes a 12-year-old girl under his wing in this stylish and poignant story. Mathilda (a young Natalie Portman) finds herself orphaned after her father is killed by a corrupt DEA agent. Léon teaches her the tools she needs in order to be like him. The story is a thrilling yet emotional plot of two lost souls finding solace together.
18. First Blood (1982)
The movie Rambo: First Blood introduces one of the biggest and most famous heroes of action movies - Rambo. John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is a Vietnam veteran but he is brought to the brink by a cruel small-town sheriff. The story is a gritty tale of the treatment of war veterans and how John ensures his survival. It has a tense and emotional climax after an intense manhunt.
17. Point Break (1991)
Keanu Reeves, who plays the character of rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah, must infiltrate a gang of adrenaline junkies in order to investigate them for bank robbery. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow seamlessly blends the premise of extreme sports into a high-octane crime thriller. The allure of living life on the edge is masterfully portrayed by the skydiving and surfing scenes.
16. Sicario (2015)
Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario is a dark, morally ambiguous thriller full of tension. Emily Blun plays an idealistic FBI agent who must aid a suspicious government task force in order to escalate and win the war over on drugs at the U.S. - Mexico border. She finds herself in a spiral of right and wrong with no idea about the truth. The cinematography of the film portrays the dangerous and destructive reality of war filling the audience with dread.
15. The French Connection (1971)
Gene Hackman in his Oscar-winning role as the tough, obsessive NYPD detective "Popeye" Doyle stars as the protagonist of this film. Doyle and his partner must find a French heroin smuggler as they battle through the streets of New York City. The film's realism and dangerous car chases have garnered a lot of fame. It is a landmark of 1970s cinema.
14. Ronin (1998)
Once again, a spy thriller makes its way into the list. John Frankenheimer's Ronin is a story a team of former special operatives hired to steal a mysterious briefcase. The film masterfully tells a story of classic espionage. Robert De Niro and Jean Reno's casting in the film earned a lot of praise. The car chases through the streets of Paris and Nice brings forward one of the best automotive scenes in the history of action thrillers.
13. Casino Royale (2006)
James Bond comes back in the new era with Daniel Craig starring as the stylish and effective spy, 007. In his very first mission, a high-stakes poker game unfolds as Bond tries to defeat a private banker. Directed by Martin Campbell, the film is known for a tragic love story paired with an equally gripping and visceral plot. This film portrays Bond in a realistic manner stripping away his gadgets and technological advantages.
12. Speed (1994)
If the speed of the bus goes below 50 miles an hour, the bomb is going to explode. Does the plot ring any bells? Speed is a relentless and suspenseful action film. Keanu Reeves stars as the SWAT officer trying to save the passengers, with Sandra Bullock as the civilian forced to take the wheel. The film starts with an explosive premise and maintains it all the way until the end as the frantic chase reaches its final moments.
11. Predator (1987)
John McTiernan’s Predator starts off as a classic 80s commando film and the viewers can only watch in horror and shock as it reveals the sci-fi plot behind it. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) can't help but fend for his survival in the Central American jungle while his team is hunted one by one. The hunters become the hunted as the technologically advanced and far superior aliens makes moves against Dutch and his mates.
10. Die Hard (1988)
New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is the lone hero during Christmas Eve in a skyscraper taken over by terrorists. Die Hard gives the audience a rather vulnerable and relatable hero. John McTiernan uses a single location to create claustrophobic tension among the viewers in this masterpiece of tension, suspense and humor. In many ways it was the precedent for the films that followed.
9. The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan's magnum opus, the Dark Knight follows the tale of the gritty and hardcore superhero Batman, played by Christian Bale. As Batman, Bruce Wayne challenges and aims to change the organized crime syndicate of Gotham city. Heath Ledger in a legendary, Oscar-winning performance acts as his number one adversary in form of the Joker. The film is a perfect visual masterpiece of order vs chaos.
8. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller made the audience wait for three long decades before the release of the next Max Max title. The film is essentially a long chase sequence through the post-apocalyptic world. Tom Hardy plays Max, a drifter who helps a group female prisoners and a woman in search of her homeland against the tyrannical ruler. Fury Road is visually stunning and wildly imaginative masterpiece of practical effects and relentless action sequences.
7. No Country for Old Men (2007)
The Coen Brothers' Oscar-winning masterpiece is the perfect example of a suspenseful psychological thriller. Josh Brolin played a hunter who stumbles upon a failed drug deal and takes away the money. He is then pursued by Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), an enigmatic killer with a captive bolt pistol. The film builds tension through silence and suspense as it reflects on the dark fate, changes in world and violence.
6. Seven (1995)
In this dark and challenging thriller, two detectives, a weary veteran (Morgan Freeman) and a hot-headed newcomer (Brad Pitt) are on the hunt for a meticulous serial killer. The killer's murders are based on the seven deadly sins. The film dwells on a grim, rain-soaked atmosphere and builds a suffocating fear in the audience. The unforgettable climax exploring the darkness of human nature leaves everyone in utter shock.
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Directed by Steven Spielberg and created by George Lucas is one classic adventure thriller film. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) plays the archaeologist and adventurer hired by the U.S. government Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can. It is a fun homage to classic stories with a charismatic hero. The break taking action and set pieces make this movie a cult favorite.
4. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This masterfully created psychological thriller is one of the only few films to win all five major academy awards. FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) seeks the help of imprisoned cannibalistic killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in pursuit of another serial killer. The film uses the tension between Starling and Lecter to create an intense suspense of mental battle focusing less on physical action sequences.
3. Heat (1995)
Michael Mann’s epic crime saga is a character driven narrative about the detective (Al Pacino) and a brilliant master thief (Robert De Niro) who about to collide with each other. The films displays the parallels between two men completely opposite of each other on the spectrum. It is a tale of professionalism, loneliness with a famous shootout scene on the streets of Los Angeles.
2. Aliens (1986)
James Cameron’s sequel to the horror classic Alien is yet another tale of action and terrific suspense moulded together in a gritty and tense story with a sense of dread throughout the plot. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her squad of colonial marines return to the discovery site of the alien on the moon. The film makes no mistakes in switching between horror and combat-thriller elements throughout the story.
1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Once again, James Cameron delivers a sequel which sets a new benchmark for visual effects and action filmmaking. A reprogrammed terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time to protect John Connor from the more advanced liquid-metal T-1000. The story then follows a relentless high-stakes chase with visual effects that still hold up today. An iconic villain, the story about fate and humanity and spectacular action makes this into a near-perfect action thriller.
