10 most intense action movies ever, ranked

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Sylvester Stallone wears a bandana successful Rambo.

Action movies are each astir adrenaline, pinch galore entries successful nan genre often uncovering caller ways to crank nan hostility to 11. Blockbusters and lesser-known action flicks are filled pinch legendary heroes and their stories told pinch nan backdrop of unforgettable group pieces that immerse fans successful nan chaotic chaos. Sometimes, it’s nan sheer standard of nan demolition that makes these action films truthful intense; different times, it’s nan precision of a one-on-one conflict that tin support audiences glued to their screens.

From nan revenge communicative successful nan Kill Bill duology to nan gruesome conflict for endurance successful First Blood, nan astir aggravated action movies ever push their protagonists — and viewers — to nan brink. Whether it’s heart-pounding chases, monolithic explosions, aliases sadistic hand-to-hand combat, there’s thing for each benignant of action instrumentality successful these gripping films.

10. The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix took nan world by large wind erstwhile it premiered successful 1999, pinch nan sci-fi action movie introducing Thomas Anderson, aka Neo (Keanu Reeves), a machine hacker who discovers that his reality is an elaborate simulation by intelligent machines utilizing humans arsenic a powerfulness source. Neo is recruited by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), nan leader of a group of rebels, to conflict against these sentient machines that person enslaved humanity. In nan process, he learns that he whitethorn beryllium “The One” destined to free mankind.

The Wachowskis’ The Matrix is simply a revolutionary work full of mind-bending action, astir notably nan unprecedented slow-motion “bullet time” scenes. The hand-to-hand combat sequences, influenced by Asian cinema, showcase flawless conflict choreography mixed pinch physics-defying stunts. Neo and Morpheus’ dojo duel and their galore jumps betwixt skyscrapers proved really CGI and typical effects could create strength successful an otherworldly setting.

9. Enter nan Dragon (1973)

Bruce Lee punches a reflector successful Enter nan Dragon.

The quintessential martial arts movie and action icon Bruce Lee’s last completed movie quality earlier his tragic death, Enter nan Dragon is simply a must-see classic. Directed by Robert Clouse, nan movie follows Lee (Bruce Lee), a Shaolin martial creator recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate nan land wall of Han (Shih Kien), a criminal mastermind moving a deadly martial arts tournament. Lee’s ngo is not only to stitchery grounds but to avenge his sister’s death, who was murdered by 1 of Han’s henchmen.

Enter nan Dragon played a important domiciled successful bringing martial arts to mainstream Western audiences, pinch Lee’s lightning-fast fighting style and surface beingness attracting caller fans. It focused connected realistic, high-impact combat that emphasized nan star’s talents, arsenic underscored successful tourney fights wherever he dispatches opponents 1 aft nan other. Over 50 years later and nan movie is still considered a rewatchable masterpiece and nan pinnacle of nan martial arts subgenre.

8. The Raid: Redemption (2011)

The Raid: Redemption is pure, unfiltered action from commencement to finish, revolving astir an elite squad of commandos astir to return down a crime lord. Set successful nan slums of Jakarta, nan squad is tasked is astir to large wind a high-rise building controlled by nan ruthless Tama (Ray Sahetapy). The building houses immoderate of nan city’s astir vulnerable criminals, and nan team’s ngo quickly turns into a conflict for endurance erstwhile they’re ambushed and trapped connected nan sixth floor. The rookie bull Rama (Iko Uwais), who was near behind, is now told to lead his squad to protect his comrades and complete nan mission.

Directed by Gareth Evans, The Raid: Redemption makes usage of its claustrophobic mounting to ramp up nan tension. The 2011 movie showcases nan accepted Indonesian martial creation of pencak silat successful astir of its close-quarters brawls, pinch these conflict scenes turning into lethal dances that are mesmerizing to watch. Fans who bask this convulsive action film will beryllium gladsome to cognize its sequel, The Raid 2, is conscionable arsenic intense.

7. Aliens (1986)

Ripley holds a weapon successful Aliens.

Following nan occurrence of 1979’s Alien, Sigourney Weaver reprised her domiciled arsenic Ellen Ripley successful 1986’s Aliens. After she’s recovered stiff successful her vessel by a deep-space salvage team, she’s reluctantly roped into a ngo connected nan satellite LV-426, wherever she first encountered nan deadly Xenomorphs. This time, she’s accompanied by a squad of heavy equipped Colonial Marines sent to analyse a colony that’s mysteriously gone silent. What they find forces Ripley to look her worst nightmares erstwhile again, but this time, she’s equipped and fresh for battle.

Aliens greatly benefits from James Cameron‘s direction, who takes conscionable nan correct magnitude of suspense from Ridley Scott’s original and amps up nan action. The movie features unthinkable group pieces that complement nan full-throttle action that comes pinch nan maturation of nan Xenomorph threat. Of course, Weaver’s capacity arsenic nan badass Ripley took nan movie to caller heights and cemented her characteristic arsenic 1 of nan astir iconic action heroes successful cinematic history.

6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

John Conner and nan Terminator thrust connected a motorcycle successful Terminator 2.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day dominated popular civilization and cinemas successful nan 1990s, pinch fans excited to spot Arnold Schwarzenegger arsenic nan reprogrammed T-800. Directed by James Cameron, nan movie sees a T-800 nary longer retired to termination Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and is alternatively protecting her and her son, John Connor (Edward Furlong). As nan early leader of nan quality resistance, John is targeted by machines from nan future, peculiarly nan shape-shifting, liquid metallic assassin called nan T-1000 (Robert Patrick). The trio activity together to outrun nan seemingly unstoppable villain, pinch their destiny inevitably deciding nan people of humanity’s future.

An fantabulous illustration of a sequel done right, Terminator 2 ups nan ante successful beautiful overmuch each aspect, particularly erstwhile it comes to nan action. Its $100 million fund meant location was nary holding backmost pinch nan spectacular sequences, pinch its monolithic group pieces serving arsenic nan cleanable shape for unthinkable stunts. Scenes for illustration nan motortruck pursuit done Los Angeles and nan confrontation astatine nan alloy mill guarantee that it’s an action-packed epic that hardly lets up, pinch nan 1991 movie becoming nan blueprint for galore much awesome entries successful nan genre.

5. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Director George Miller revives nan Mad Max saga and brings it to modern audiences successful 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Set successful a postapocalyptic godforsaken wasteland wherever petrol and h2o dictate who holds power, it tells nan communicative of nan lone wanderer Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) who is captured by nan warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). He soon joins forces pinch Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who seeks to free Joe’s enslaved wives. Their flight won’t beryllium elemental and they’re soon chased crossed nan godforsaken by Joe’s warfare rig and his fanatical service of War Boys.

Mad Max: Fury Road promises an adrenaline unreserved that relies connected cutting-edge applicable effects and impeccable stunt work, and it delivers astatine each turn. The movie is packed pinch jaw-dropping car chases that sees dieselpunk-themed cars flipping, exploding, and smashing into each other. This meticulously choreographed mayhem draws viewers into nan chaos, which is further explored successful its acclaimed prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

4. Die Hard (1988)

Bruce Willis crawling nether thing successful a vessel apical pinch a lighter successful a segment from Die Hard.

Die Hard group a caller modular for nan action genre erstwhile it first premiered successful 1988, pinch Bruce Willis’ capacity arsenic New York City bull John McClane becoming instantly iconic. Directed by John McTiernan, nan movie follows McClane arsenic he visits Los Angeles connected Christmas Eve to reconcile pinch his estranged wife. However, McClane’s plans are derailed erstwhile a group of terrorists takes complete nan Nakatomi Plaza building, holding nan labor hostage. Trapped inside, McClane becomes nan sole dream of stopping nan criminals and redeeming nan hostages, including his wife, going against nan villainous Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) who is wished to break into nan building’s vault.

Die Hard soars acknowledgment to Bruce Willis’ memorable performance arsenic nan progressively bold McClane, who ends up becoming nan hostages’ existent dream for rescue. The full business makes nan viewing acquisition consciousness for illustration a ticking clip bomb, particularly erstwhile nan protagonist finds himself successful claustrophobic spaces while trying to summation an advantage against nan enemies. This is each perfectly paced and headed toward an explosive climax, pinch this cleanable level of strength making nan movie nan perfect prime for an unconventional Christmas movie.

3. Dredd (2012)

In Mega-City One rule enforcement is handled by “Judges,” who enactment arsenic judge, jury, and executioner. One peculiar enforcer, Dredd (Karl Urban), is known for his no-nonsense attack and years of acquisition cleaning up nan city’s astir convulsive streets. He’s yet paired pinch rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) to analyse a triple homicide successful a monolithic 200-story slum building controlled by supplier lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey). She won’t spell easily, and nan duo becomes trapped inside, forced to conflict done activity aft activity of heavy equipped criminals to get to Ma-Ma.

Dredd is unflinchingly sadistic and wastes nary time, diving headfirst into nan messy and chaotic slum artifact wherever Lena Headey’s Ma-Ma proves to beryllium a menacing and cunning enemy. Directed by Pete Travis, nan movie is particularly unforgettable acknowledgment to its usage of slow mobility to stress its ultraviolent moments, arsenic its characters usage nan supplier “Slo-Mo,” which makes clip look to move astatine a fraction of its normal speed.

2. First Blood (1982)

Sylvester Stallone holds a weapon successful First Blood.

First Blood is a Sylvester Stallone movie that needs nary introduction. Stallone stars arsenic John Rambo, a troubled Vietnam War seasoned who drifts into nan mini municipality of Hope, Washington. After a run-in pinch nan section sheriff, Rambo is harassed and arrested. His PTSD triggers a convulsive escape, starring to a manhunt that drives him toward nan chaotic mountains. As Rambo uses his endurance skills to outsmart nan rule enforcement chasing him, nan once-contained business spirals into an all-out warfare betwixt a azygous man and an full town’s constabulary force.

Rambo’s guerrilla-style strategies — from laying traps successful nan wood to utilizing his bare hands for endurance — heighten nan strength of nan gritty action movie while besides making it much grounded and realistic. The action feels personal, brutal, and raw, particularly arsenic audiences inevitably guidelines for Stallone’s legendary action leader who is simply a amazingly layered protagonist. First Blood would consequence successful nan admittedly uneven Rambo franchise, pinch nan first introduction still being nan instrumentality favorite.

1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 (2003 and 2004)

A blood-soaked masterpiece from head Quentin Tarantino, nan Kill Bill duology is a revenge-fueled saga centered connected The Bride (Uma Thurman). A erstwhile assassin, The Bride is 1 time near for dormant by her ex-lover and boss, Bill (David Carradine), and her chap assassins successful nan Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. After waking from a four-year coma, she hunts down her ex-colleagues and trains to hole to termination Bill successful nan astir fitting and melodramatic measurement possible.

With its operation of martial arts, stylish swordplay, and hyperviolent injuries, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 were contiguous hits for nan filmmaker’s fans. Tarantino’s tribute to samurai films and grindhouse cinema shines successful each frame, perfectly complemented by his signature witty dialogue. With its unpredictable, larger-than-life characters and over-the-top conflict scenes, Kill Bill is simply a one-of-a-kind and incredibly aggravated action movie that finds caller ways to astonishment viewers pinch each riveting act.