by VegamoviesTop 20 Action Movies of All Time
Top 20 Action Movies: Since 2000, there has been dramatic change in the world of action movies, including the many iconic films that have entertained the hold of the world. The effect of the action genre on the big screen has not ceased to evolve—be it from martial arts epics to high octane thrill rides, and everything in between.
So in this article, we will take a look amongst all that into the top 20 action movies since 2000, the special features of each, how they provided a positive impact on the genre and what really made them better than other action movies.
1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
This 2000 Ang Lee directed martial arts epic is an extremely well crafted film that helped usher the genre in to the new millennium. Though it’s only recently become a sensation, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a modern action cinema classic thanks to its depictions of superbly choreographed fight scenes and poignant storyline.
2. Kill Bill
It’s Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 masterpiece, a styrofoam dish, an adrenaline fuelled ride in tribute to Asian action flicks and spaghetti westerns. Kill Bill is a cult classic with its non linear narrative, great characters and groundbreaking fight sequences, which has put Uma Thurman in the action heroines corner of the big screen.
3. The Bourne Ultimatum
Top 20 Action Movies: Paul Greengrass’s high stakes, fast paced thriller starring Matt Damon, from the 2007 installment of the Bourne series really brings out Damon’s extraordinary physicality as well as his acting. This is the middle of the trilogy and it has intelligent plot, nice action scenes and social commentary, making it extremely high bar for modern action film.
4. Inception
A thought provoking, visually stunning film that explores concept of shared dreaming, Christopher Nolan’s 2010 mind boggling sci-fi actioner. Inception was an amazing modern classic, with a complex stakes rife with impressive action set pieces, from the brains behind The Dark Knight and Interstellar, Christopher Nolan.
5. Mad Max: Fury Road
Top 20 Action Movies: George Miller’s 2015 epic, an adrenaline charged, kinetic post apocalyptic ride, that fully recognises both Charlize Theron’s and Tom Hardy’s exceptional chemistry. With its stunning action sequences, impressive stunts, and feminist themes, Mad Max: However, Fury Road has established itself as a landmark film in an action genre that certainly needed one, and it became well received by everyone.
6. John Wick (film)
From a_FIXED ACTION HERO to a global moviestar spinning into action, from the mean streets of Thorpes to the killing fields of Hollywood, the 2014 film is a stylish, high octave, cat and mouse thriller. John Wick features formidably choreographed fights, gorgeous visual design, and tasteful narrative just to the extent that it has established itself as a great modern classic, spawning a successful franchise and blurring the line for what an action movie can be.
7. Casino Royale
Top 20 Action Movies: Daniel Craig plays the new 007 in a gritty, intense reboot of the iconic franchise, the 2006 Bond film is the first one after the ‘reboot’ so it’s a slower, darker take on a much beloved franchise. Casino Royale is a great example of well crafted action sequences, intelligent plot, and memorable character, while setting the tone for the modern Bond era and reinvigorate the franchise and gain critical applaud worldwide.
8. The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan’s 2008 superhero epic is a deep, stunning, thought provoking look at chaos and anarchy in a superhero epic. Resлужiąc się swymi pozbawionymi słowa nutnymi sekwencjami akcji, hsłami, jak i wystąpieniem Heatha Ledgera jako Jokera, The Dark Knight stał się kaleką współczesna, nowoczesna klasa filmu akcji i zarazem klasycznym dziełem, odziedzicząc sztukę w refrenie gatunk
9. Fast Five
Top 20 Action Movies: In Fast and Furious 6, Justin Lin brings you a high-octane, action packed film featuring the chemistry of Vin Diesel and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Fast Five delivers what it sets out to — impressive stunts, well crafted action sequences, and the simplest of effective narrative — to make the franchise what it is today, a fan favorite and a genre standout.
10. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Top 20 Action Movies: The 2011 Brad Bird directed high stakes, action packed thriller starring Tom Cruise in his finest physicality and acting roles. With its impressive action sequences, well-crafted plot, and memorable characters, Mission: Ghost Protocol is impossible — it became a modern classic, reinvigorating the franchise and receiving just about universally wide panegyric praise.
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11. The Avengers (2012 film)
While visually stunning and action packed, Joss Whedon’s 2012 superhero epic is a film that brought some of Marvel’s most iconic characters together. The Avengers holds up as a modern classic for its brilliant action scenes, its great performances and a well crafted story, it redefined the superhero genre and put the action canon on the level it stands today.
12. Skyfall
Top 20 Action Movies: A visually stunning, but action packed thriller, 2012 Bond film also explores the themes of mortality and legacy, acting as a replacement for what is supposed to be Skyfall. Playing with unabashed glee in the toniest mode of approachable swashbucklery, the exquisitely photographed action sequences, the splendid cast, and, most of all, the charmingly smartly written narrative all conspire to make Skyfall a modern classic. Yet the best thing about Skyfall is its action.
13. The Raid (2011 film)
Redemption: Featuring the martial arts skills of it’s cast, this 2011 film is a high octane, action packed thriller as directed by Gareth Evans. With its impressive fight choreography, stunning visuals, and simple yet effective narrative, The Raid: As a cult classic, redemption has shaped a whole new breed of action movies, it’s become one of those movies that will always stay in the genre.
14. Hero
Top 20 Action Movies: A beautifully made, martial arts epic in the tradition of the honor and loyalty explored in the 2002 film. Hero’s incredible cinematography, exciting fight choreography, and dramatic story made it a modern action cult movie classic and one of the foremost influences on a new batch of action filmmakers and action advocates.
15. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
An action packed high octane Martial arts thriller of the genre directed by Prachya Pinkaew in 2003 and starring Tony Jaa, the 2003 film is a true nail bite. With its impressive fight choreography, stunning visuals, and simple yet effective narrative, Ong-Bak: A cult classic, the Thai Warrior has influenced a new generation of action films, and helped to cement its place in the genre.
16. Kung Fu Hustle
Top 20 Action Movies: Visually stunning, action packed comedy, and featuring an amazing ensemble of martial arts performers, the 2004 Stephen Chow film is one to see. Kung Fu Hustle has emerged as a cult classic, due to its impressive fight choreography, stunning visuals, and tried and true narrative, that, even by today’s standards is a perfect action movie…or at least a good one.
17. Red Cliff
A beautifully crafted martial arts epic cine film that explores themes of honor and loyalty, the John woo directed 2008 film is a fabulous align masterpiece directed by John Woo. Red Cliff has an amazing cinematography, awesome fight choreography and a touching story and has become a classic contemporary action picture inspiring the following new generation of filmmakers and an action fan.
18. 13 Assassins
A visually stunning, action-packed thriller, Takashi Miike’s 2010 film is proof positive that the martial arts talent of its cast is extraordinary. This isn’t 13 Assassins’ fault. The visuals are simply stunning, the fight choreography amazingly complex and entertaining, the thought that there is anyone out there that can continue making movies with this much heart and artistry baffles me, and even the simpler narrative is effective and revealing.
19. Lone Survivor
Top 20 Action Movies: Visually stunning, action packed thriller, the Peter Berg directed 2013 film is about survival and sacrifice. The slick action sequences, fantastic performances, and tight storyline of Lone Survivor have ensured it is a modern classic, it has been critically applauded and won awards everywhere.
20. Drive
A visually stunning, action packed thriller center around isolation and redemption, the 2011 film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn is a film that examined specifically the opposite of who the average filmmaker usually is. As a narrative that crafts its ending with a future in mind and delivers on it, unbeatable action sequences punctuated with memorable performances, and an influence on a new generation of action films; Drive has become a cult classic.
Top 20 Action Movies: All in all, movies with action are more thrillworthy, which is a surprising fact that is being represented by past twenty action movies since the year 2000 and that is becoming a new definition of a genre. These films: from the martial arts epics to those high octane thrill rides that have consistently wowed audiences around the globe and added to the canon of action imagery and have fed the imagination and action inspirations for generations of filmmakers and fans passed down.
We’ll all surely get to see what the future holds for action cinema, especially with the recent advances in technology, new filmmakers and creative ways to tell stories with this genre.