Bullets, bombs, and bravery – such as the things that define heroism in action cinema. But which of them actually deserve recognition as the greatest of all time?

Whether they’re heroes or villains, the characters who appear in action movies are easily some of the most iconic in popular culture. Even if they aren’t the most complex characters ever written, to be an influential action movie character means pushing the absolute limits of what it means to be a reasonable human being in the name of a greater cause.

As action movies continue to beckon audiences to movie theaters, it’s high time to collect and name some of the greatest action movie characters of all time. A toast to the men and women whose knuckles are bloodied and eyes are bruised. This is a salute to the greatest of them all.