These 10 Action Movies Are Too Much (in the Best Possible Way)
Action cinema is often an art of fine-tuned balance, carefully orchestrated storytelling that picks its moments for explosive excitement with a mind towards intricate character development, efficient plot progression, and sometimes even thematic resonance. On other occasions, it is a spectacle of pulse-pumping, propane-laden bombast, bombarding viewers with one divine sequence of maniacal, mind-blowing mayhem after another.
Exhilarating, exuberant, and effective, the most excessive action movies offer non-stop thrills. They are propulsive, momentous, intoxicating sensations of cinematic aggression that leave viewers grinning ear to ear as they wonder, “Is this not just a little over-the-top?”. The answer is almost always “yes,” but that’s why it works. From Hollywood heavyweight hits to highlights of international cinema, these action movies are entirely too much, and any true lover of the genre couldn’t be more grateful for it.
10
‘Sisu’ (2022)
The genre-meshing of war and action can be difficult to balance. The exciting allure of action can often disrupt the more dramatic aspirations of war cinema, which, typically, wants to harrow audiences with its depiction of battlefield violence. A modern sensation, Sisu overcomes this quandary with a rousing tale of revenge, extreme conviction in its treatment of the Nazis as despicable villains, a sense of sadistic silliness, and a healthy appetite for explosive and extremely gory action sequences.
Set towards the end of WWII, it follows Finnish commando-turned-prospector Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) as his discovery of gold is met with hostility by an SS platoon and its infamously cruel leader, forcing Korpi into a vicious fight for survival. At just 91 minutes long, Sisu is a lean and mean bonanza of bloodthirsty brutality that permits viewers to relish the satisfying simplicity of watching a legion of Nazi thugs die in increasingly graphic ways. A work of outlandish madness and nonsensical beauty, Sisu is one of the defining action films of the 2020s so far. It is set to get a sequel in the near future.
9
‘Big Trouble in Little China’ (1986)
If there are two things the 1980s loved, then they were action and excess, often at the same time. Big Trouble in Little China is a prime example of this love for big action set pieces, one that also features plenty of comedic brilliance and a healthy dose of fantasy fun as well. It follows truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) as his efforts to help his friend rescue his fiancé from bandits in San Francisco’s Chinatown embroil him in a feud against an ancient sorcerer.
A masterpiece of inspired bizarreness, Big Trouble in Little China joyfully careens from one bewildering brawl to another at breakneck speed, seldom stopping for breath as it conjures a chaotic viewing experience of energized excess. Presenting non-stop entertainment, the film has become a defining cult classic of ’80s cinema, an endlessly rewatchable dose of action comedy, and a beloved entry in the filmography of legendary director John Carpenter.
8
‘Dredd’ (2012)
Another cult classic that offers carnage and chaos aplenty, Dredd has overcome its underwhelming release to stand as an action-packed, adrenaline-pumping highlight of modern-day action excess. Based on John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s comic book series Judge Dredd, it follows a police officer in a dystopian future who is given the right to work as judge, jury, and executioner in the field. Paired with a psychic rookie, Dredd (Karl Urban) finds himself trapped in a fight for survival and justice in a 200-storey apartment block ruled by the ruthless drug lord, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey).
A blitzing bonanza of sci-fi-infused destruction that features some brilliant visual effects and a healthy dollop of self-aware comedy, Dredd presents the often-maligned “mindless action violence” at its absolute best. It is 96 minutes of non-stop crowd-pleasing shoot-em-up splendor, a thrilling indulgence in gun-toting, fist-fighting glory that all action fans can appreciate for its purity and its punch.
7
‘Oldboy’ (2003)
A mixture of action intensity, mystery intrigue, and disturbing, mind-bending thrills, Oldboy is a true classic of international cinema that goes above and beyond the call of duty in more ways than one. The South Korean flick follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a drunken businessman who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years. When he is randomly set free, he sets out to find his captor to learn why he was abducted and take his revenge, all while being helped by a young sushi chef he becomes sexually intimate with.
Oldboy prides itself on stunning audiences, be it with the extremity of its premise, the confronting darkness of its themes, or with the shocking nature of its twist ending. However, the South Korean picture is most memorable to many for its action, a triumph defined by its astonishing one-take hallway fight scene that sees Dae-su take on dozens of combatants in a glorious sequence of technical divinity and performative commitment.
6
‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)
No filmmaker pushes the boundaries of cinema quite like Quentin Tarantino, and, with his talent for mounting suspense, impactful characters, and heavily stylized ultra-violence, it is no great surprise that his foray into action stands as one of the most captivating and committed pictures the genre has seen. Uma Thurman stars as “The Bride,” a retired assassin who embarks on a quest for revenge against her former team of mercenaries after she is attacked and left for dead on her wedding day.
With Tarantino taking inspiration from samurai cinema, martial arts movies, blaxploitation pictures, and even spaghetti Western films, Kill Bill Vol. 1 excels as an action extravaganza of effortless swagger, enrapturing drama, and blood-spurting brutality. Complemented by its genre-bending brilliance and striking visual flair—as well as Tarantino staples like the distinct use of music, electrifying dialogue, and propulsive, non-linear story—Kill Bill Vol. 1 is one of the most exhilarating and satisfying action flicks of all time, offering several astonishing fight sequences in its snappy runtime of 111 minutes.
5
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Throughout his illustrious career both in Hong Kong and in Hollywood, Jackie Chan has established himself as an auspicious action icon with his death-defying stunt work, penchant for physical comedy, and knack for fluidity and rhythm in his combat sequences. While there is no shortage of great films that exemplify this, Chan is at his blistering best in Police Story. The 1985 action-comedy sees him star as a Hong Kong policeman framed for murder who sets out to clear his name while fighting to bring down a notorious drug lord.
From car chases that feature Chan hanging off a speeding bus to fight sequences of grueling physicality and parkour-like acrobatics, and even to a particularly memorable stunt that sees Chan slide down a pole of exploding lights in a shopping mall, Police Story is 100 minutes of mind-boggling mayhem that exhibits one of cinema’s most daring stuntman stars at his best. The film also kick-started a series of action-comedies starring Chan, with the two immediate sequels particularly good as marriages of manic action and hysterical comedy.
4
‘Hard Boiled’ (1992)
Another hard-hitting highlight of Hong Kong action cinema, Hard Boiled is a blitzing bonanza of carnage revolving around a performance of surprising depth from Chow Yun Fat. The John Woo masterpiece sees Chow star as Tequila Yeun, a vicious and vengeful policeman who teams up with an undercover cop posing as a gangland hitman to hunt down the gun smugglers responsible for murdering his partner.
Relentless and rousing, Hard Boiled is a cacophony of chaos realized with an elegant, almost balletic grace. Woo operates with a mind for artistic brilliance and emotional depth and an eye for the enthralling glory of scorched-earth revenge. It’s all extravagant in the best possible way, with Woo indulging in his love of cinema to take inspiration from a myriad of memorable movies and assembling it all into two hours of gallivanting, gun-toting glamour. It is a wonderfully wild gem of Hong Kong cinema that stands tall among the best action flicks the region has to offer.
3
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
The cheesy magnificence of ’80s cinema brought to life with all the bells and whistles of modern filmmaking, Top Gun: Maverick is a high-flying blast from the past that hits all the right notes while presenting one of the most enthralling action spectacles of all time. Tom Cruise reprises the role of Maverick, a brilliant though roguish pilot in the U.S. Navy who is called back to TOPGUN to mentor a new generation of fighter pilots ahead of the deadliest mission ever flown. With the son of his former wingman among the recruits, Maverick is confronted by his past as his future becomes increasingly less certain.
Top Gun: Maverick isn’t necessarily wall-to-wall action, but when it’s in the air, the filmmaking is relentless in its pursuit to make every jolt and spin felt by the audience. Using practical effects and utilizing specialized IMAX cameras that recorded the actors in the cockpit over the course of hundreds of hours, Top Gun: Maverick goes above and beyond in its endeavor to present a visceral viewing experience of pulsating action. It is a blazing success in this regard, with the film standing as one of the most exciting action pictures from modern times and a captivating callback to a long-gone era of action filmmaking.
2
‘The Raid 2’ (2014)
Released in 2011, The Raid was the most manic and incredibly choreographed martial arts movie to have ever come from Asian cinema. That changed in 2014 with its spectacular sequel, The Raid 2. A masterpiece without fault in the eyes of action aficionados, the insane Indonesian hit unfolds as Rama (Iko Uwais) goes undercover in prison in order to get close to key members of the criminal empire that is threatening his family and weed out the corrupt cops who are helping them.
Bruising, bombastic, and brutal, The Raid 2 is a spectacle of action mayhem from start to finish, but it isn’t merely a showcase of bone-crunching brawls and martial arts moves. Its stylized presentation marries with elaborate and confident choreography to present an energized work of performative perfection that demands extreme commitment and skill from all involved, both in front of and behind the camera. The result is one of the most ambitious and awesome movies ever made.
1
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
A masterclass in maddening, manic divinity, Mad Max: Fury Road is an exhilarating thrillfest from beginning to end, excelling with its rich sense of style, its web of characters, and its moments of unexpected nuance. With George Miller rebooting his own iconic franchise from the ’70s and ’80s, the film follows Max (Tom Hardy) as his efforts to escape the Citadel see him join forces with Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a warrior fleeing the tyranny of the region and taking the despot’s five slave wives with her.
This tight story of escape and pursuit leads to plenty of unforgettable moments, heart-racing sequences of operatic intensity and awe-inspiring spectacle that thrive through Miller’s emphasis on practical effects and razor-sharp filmmaking. Few films have utilized the delirious delight of action excess as effectively and expertly as Mad Max: Fury Road. Now, it stands triumphant, not only as an astonishing feat of action filmmaking but as an instant classic of 21st-century cinema at large for its indulgence in over-the-top fun that reverberated around the world.
