Action is easily one of cinema’s most entertaining genres. Adventure so often goes hand-in-hand with it. Action films have gone through a lot of changes over the years, but action has always captivated its audience’s hearts and minds around the world. Whether it’s through jaw-dropping fight choreography or massively epic explosions, action keeps people watching.

What defines a legendary film in these genres? A central character with almost inhuman skills, a villain worthy of the worst beatings, and an adventure that requires dangerous stunts like jumping out of planes and battles with small armies of foes. The very best action and adventure movies aren’t just great on their own terms — they helped define their genre. Every film in this list has one, the other, or both in spades, and each is essential viewing for fans.

Updated by David Giatras on March 13th, 2024: This list already included some of the best action movies of all time, but we’ve updated it with more information and several new titles.

60 National Treasure Is a Good Old-Fashioned Treasure Hunt

National Treasure stars Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Gates, a historian who races to find a legendary artifact hidden in the United States that was passed onto his ancestors. As he battles a former friend and his team of mercenaries, he teams up with his friend Riley and archivist Abigail to steal the Declaration of Independence, which contains a clue to the artifact’s whereabouts.

Many commended National Treasure for its callbacks to old adventure movies and its riveting story that carefully wove several elements of United States history into its plot. Its success led to a sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, in 2007 and a Disney+ series in 2022, National Treasure: Edge of History. Calls for Cage to return for a third film in the franchise have continued for almost 15 years but have not come to fruition.

59 King Kong Is One of Cinema’s Most Memorable Characters

One of cinema’s earliest adventure films, King Kong follows a film crew that travels to a tropical island and comes across a giant ape. The crew ends up capturing Kong and brings him back to New York City, where he escapes during a show revealing him to the world and wreaks havoc on the city. He forms a bond with Ann, a young actress on the crew, and strives to protect her.

King Kong is one of the most memorable adventure films ever made and contains the iconic scene of Kong climbing to the top of the Empire State Building and being shot down. King Kong has been remade several times and had a film series of its own, most recently crossing paths with Godzilla in the MonsterVerse. Kong continues to stand the test of time and will likely always be around in adventure films.

58 Top Gun: Maverick Brought Viewers Back to the Movie Theater

Top Gun: Maverick finds Tom Cruise returning to the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell after 36 years. This time, Maverick is recruited by his old friend Iceman to train a new generation of Top Gun graduates for a perilous mission. The film costars Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell and Val Kilmer.

Despite releasing nearly 40 years after the original, Top Gun: Maverick proved a smash hit upon release in 2022. Cruise advocated for a theatrical release, since original plans were for the film to release on streaming due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and it certainly paid off as it grossed $1.49 billion at the box office. The film was praised for its action sequences, many filmed with IMAX cameras, and was nominated for 6 Academy Awards.

57 Dune: Part Two Continues the Success of Villeneuve’s Adaptation

Dune: Part Two serves as the sequel to Dune, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and continues the story of Paul Atreides on the planet of Arrakis. In the film, Atreides unites with the Fremen people to wage war against House Harkonnen after they destroy the Atreides family. The film stars Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken.

Dune: Part Two had high expectations, especially after its predecessor won 6 Academy Awards, and it’s safe to say that the film exceeded those expectations. It was singled out for its fantastic visual effects and the cast as a whole, leading many to say the film continues a faithful adaptation of the book of the same name. A third film is rumored to be in development, albeit not formally announced just yet.

56 Back to the Future Is a Landmark of Movie History

Back to the Future follows Marty McFly, a teenager in 1985 who is friends with scientist Doc Brown. When Doc builds a Time Machine out of a DeLorean, Marty travels back to 1955 and inadvertently messes up his parents’ first meeting. Marty works to fix their relationship, so his existence continues while working to get back to 1985.

Back to the Future is one of the quintessential 1980s adventure films, which spawned two sequels continuing Marty and Doc’s time-traveling shenanigans. The film has etched itself into pop culture and is one of the most recognizable films ever made. Its rousing adventure makes it a timeless classic that will resonate with many generations to come.

55 Dune (2021) Is the Latest Adaptation of the Famous Book

Dune is based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. The story follows the family of House Atreides, who is thrust into war on the desolate planet of Arrakis. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film is part one of a two-part adaptation. The follow-up, Dune: Part Two, release in March 2024.

Villeneuve’s adaptation is the third adaptation of the source material, but arguably the strongest one. It received a whopping 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won 6 awards. Besides the action, it received praise for its faithfulness to the source material and its epic scope.

54 Mission: Impossible – Fallout Is the Best Film In the Mission Impossible Series

Mission: Impossible – Fallout continues the adventures of IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his team. On this adventure, Hunt and his team are in a race against time in order to prevent nuclear weapon technology from falling into the wrong hands. It also is the franchise’s most action-packed entry yet.

Star Tom Cruise continued to raise the bar for the franchise, doing several nearly death-defying stunts. Critics hailed Mission: Impossible – Fallout as not only the best in the franchise but also as one of the best action movies ever made. A strong villain performance by Henry Cavill also steals the spotlight from Cruise.

53 The Great Escape Features a Famous Hollywood Stunt

Based on the novel of the same name, The Great Escape follows a group of Allied prisoners at a German POW camp during World War II. The group plots a daring escape with intricate planning to keep their captors off their tails. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Donald Pleasence, and Charles Bronson.

The Great Escape features one of film’s greatest stunts of all time, where McQueen’s character rides a motorcycle to evade his captors and jumps a fence. While he gets caught and the film ends on a rather dour note, it easily cemented itself in cinema history. Along with Bullitt, it is one of McQueen’s signature performances.

52 Hook Delivered a Fresh Spin on the Peter Pan Story

Hook was a new spin on the classic tale of Peter Pan. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams stars as an adult Peter Pan, who has forgotten his childhood adventures. When his old nemesis, Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman), kidnaps his children, Peter returns to Neverland and slowly regains his childhood memories. The film nabbed five Academy Award nominations in 1992.

Spielberg has a fantastic track record in the action/adventure genre, from Indiana Jones to The Goonies, and his fresh take on Peter Pan is no different. Anchored by strong performances from Williams and Hoffman, Hook remains one of the most memorable family adventure films to this day. Julia Roberts plays Tinkerbell in one of her earliest Hollywood roles to round out the cast.

51 Avengers Endgame Is Arguably the Most Epic Superhero Movie Ever Made

Avengers: Endgame follows the surviving Avengers in the wake of Thanos’ snap at the end of Avengers: Infinity War that eliminated half of the universe. They plan a daring mission, dubbed a “time heist,” involving the Quantum Tunnel in order to reverse the snap and bring everyone back.

Avengers: Endgame is widely considered one of the pinnacles of superhero cinema and effectively paid off 11 years’ worth of MCU films while planting seeds for the future. It features some of the greatest action sequences not only in superhero films but in all of cinema, which sent viewers into a frenzy and feeling all kinds of emotions.

50 Commando Has One of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Signature Action Roles

Arnold Schwarzenegger proves once again that there really is no upper limit to the amount of iconic roles one person can star in as he battles Russell Crowe for the crown. 1985’s Commando follows Colonel John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) as he finds himself on the wrong side of the equation after all of his former squad mates are killed.

Though its premise is admittedly generic, Arnie shows off all the charm that led to him being the most recognizable face in Hollywood for nearly a decade. Although not as good of a movie as some later on this list, Commando is still an immensely enjoyable watch, especially with Schwarzenegger causing all kinds of mayhem to make his daughter’s captors severely regret their decision.

49 Robin Hood Reunites Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott

It may not be one of Ridley Scott’s best efforts, but the story of Robin Hood is still a fairly timeless one. The action follows the famously charitable hero as the 12th century draws to a close. A soldier in the army of Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood deserts with his men after the King dies during a siege. From there, he becomes more reminiscent of the character so many will be familiar with.

The narrative does a decent job of subverting some of the expectations the audience may have, and Russell Crowe, as ever, does the grizzled but morally pure action hero very capably. Though Robin Hood could be accused of being a little forgettable, there is plenty within the more fast-paced scenes to make it worth a watch.

48 Highlander Has a Bizarre Story That Fades Into the Backdrop

Though it showcases far less accomplished filmmaking than many of the entries on this list, it’s difficult to deny how fun it is to watch Highlander for the first time. Christopher Lambert stars as the protagonist in a movie that chronicles a timeless war between immortal warriors that still rages in the present day.

Highlander‘s story is bizarrely the least important element, though, as it kind of just operates as a backdrop for the zany things the writers and director wanted to do. Some of the fight scenes are hugely memorable, if only for the bonkers things that the film considers acceptable. Plus, Sean Connery is a joy to watch.

47 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Is a Fun Watch For Old and New Fans Alike

One of the most recent entries on this list is also the one that combines the twin spheres of action and adventure the most equitably. Fans of D&D will, for the most part, find that this outing is an exciting and accurate enough rendition of the most recent version of the tabletop game. But even for those outside of that particular world, there is more than enough to get into with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

With an effective performance from Chris Pine in the lead role, backed up admirably by big names like Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant, this heist flick has charm in spades. Though the slightly silly nature of the whole thing might put off the more discerning and irascible audience member, suspending disbelief opens the door to a world that simply aims to provide a good time for the viewer.

46 Apocalypto Was One of Mel Gibson’s Best Directorial Efforts

Mel Gibson is a controversial and divisive figure in Hollywood, and his directorial approach has attracted far more ire than his acting ever did. That said, Apocalypto is undeniably well done and an unflinching look at a civilization that is often left by the wayside in favor of European nations like Rome or Greece. The movie follows Jaguar Paw, a Mayan who becomes disillusioned and combative with his fellow countrymen.

If it’s possible not to find the violence too disturbing, Apocalypto is brilliantly directed, and the bleak artistic approach flies in the face of what renditions of historical South America have done previously. The stark and sudden ending is also something to look out for and worth the significant wait to get there.

45 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Is Nonetheless a Fun Entry In the Franchise

The weakest of the Indiana Jones movies is still a classic in its own right. The first thing to acknowledge is that, as with many films of the time, its interpretation and depiction of indigenous populations worldwide hasn’t aged well. Individual characters within the movie are also riddled with stereotypes that reflected poorly on the movie industry at the time.

That enormous caveat aside, The Temple of Doom has everything that makes an Indiana Jones movie such an enjoyable watch. An iconic Harrison Ford continues his quest to be the world’s most rugged archaeologist and has to deal with all the threats that go along with that. With bad guys, boulders, and buried treasure aplenty, it remains a fun entry into the genre.

44 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is the Epic Conclusion of This Version of The Guardians

Despite being one of the latest movies in arguably the most saturated subgenre of all (superheroes), Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is not only the strongest in the trilogy but the best Marvel feature release in years. An action-adventure in every sense of the term, it concludes the story of the original gang following the final defeat of the Mad Titan Thanos.

Marvel’s epic conclusion to the Thanos saga in Endgame had a ripple effect throughout many of the major franchises that continue to this day. The Guardians felt this more than most, and the final movie offers a window into the humanity of characters who had otherwise seemed cold and distant. With some well-delivered commentary on some of the real world’s more regrettable practices, GotG 3 is a worthy watch for both adults and younger audiences.

43 Guns Akimbo Is One of Daniel Radcliffe’s Best Post- Harry Potter Performances

When Daniel Radcliffe finished his stint as boy wizard Harry Potter, it was difficult to see how he would ever move past the huge shadow it cast over his career. Despite those odds, Daniel Radcliffe’s remarkable approach to reinventing his career is most clearly demonstrated by his star turn in Guns Akimbo. Set in an alternative future, Radcliffe’s character, Miles, wakes up to find two handguns drilled into his hands.

A criminal organization known as Skizm is responsible for this involuntary surgery, and they want to livestream an event where Miles has to stay alive while being hunted by a uniquely deadly killer. Despite that description, there is some solid humor and an art style that feels remarkably fresh. A bit of a sleeper hit, Guns Akimbo is one of Radcliffe’s best post-Potter performances to date.

42 Romancing the Stone Is a Foray Into a Magical World

If someone asked ChatGPT what an adventure film looks like, it would probably come up with something vaguely similar to Romancing the Stone. With an impressive cast of Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito, the story follows a romance writer who needs to travel to Colombia to rescue her sister from criminals in search of a mystical treasure.

The jungle setting and deliberately over-the-top heroic acting from Douglas are a pleasure to watch. Romancing the Stone is an easy foray into a magical world without leaving the comfort of the couch/chair.

41 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Should Have Won More Academy Awards

Russell Crowe makes one of many appearances in this list as the go-to star for historical action flicks. Though Master and Commander isn’t based on one individual Patrick O’Brian novel, the influence of the author’s work is masterfully interwoven throughout the film’s epic 138-minute runtime.

Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World charts the story of Crowe’s Captain Jack Aubrey of the ship HMS Surprise during the Napoleonic Wars. It has some of the most well-realized naval battles ever put to film and would have been a shoo-in for a bunch more Academy Awards than the two it won had it not run in the same year as category-sweeping The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.