Action movies are usually great for multiple rewatches, but some hold up better than others. The action genre trades in fights, chases, and big stunts. If they are done well, none of these should lose their appeal after the first watch, so outstanding action movies can be enjoyed over and over again. However, even if a movie has great fight choreography and thrilling stunts, it also needs a compelling story to create a sense of jeopardy.
If a movie is able to combine an interesting plot with flawless action sequences, it can be enjoyed for endless rewatches. Big-name action stars and a good sense of humor can always help, but an action movie lives and dies by its ability to deliver high-stakes thrills. The best action movies retain most of their allure even after the surprises of the plot have all been revealed, and this means that some classics are enjoyed over and over again, even decades after they were made.
![15 Action Movies With The Most Rewatch Value](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/action-movies-on-netflix.jpg)
Best Action Movies On Netflix Right Now
From the rambunctious RRR to the big and bold Bad Boys II, there are plenty of exciting action movies available to stream on Netflix right now.
15 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
A send-up of spy tropes that still has tons of originality
- Release Date
- February 13, 2015
- Director
- Matthew Vaughn
- Cast
- Michael Caine , Taron Egerton , Colin Firth , Mark Hamill , Samuel L. Jackson , Mark Strong
Matthew Vaughn’s stylish spy movie pokes fun at the sci-fi gadgets and bizarre villains of the James Bond franchise, but it doesn’t fail to deliver on some incredible action sequences. While Kingsman is proudly derivative in some ways, it has plenty of action set pieces which are wholly original. The first Kingsman movie features a car chase in reverse, a villain with sharpened blades instead of feet, and a rainbow-colored head-popping climax. It’s no wonder that such a fun and creative action comedy kick-started a franchise.
![Split image of Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool and Colin Firth in Kingsman](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Split-image-of-Ryan-Reynolds-in-Deadpool-and-Colin-Firth-in-Kingsman.jpg)
10 Best Action Comedies From The 2010s
From The Nice Guys to The Other Guys to 21 Jump Street to Guardians of the Galaxy, the 2010s provided some of the greatest action comedies ever made.
14 Taken (2008)
Liam Neeson helps elevate a simple premise to a high-octane thrill-ride
![Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills talking on the phone in Taken](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/liam-neeson-taken-1.jpg)
- Release Date
- January 30, 2009
- Director
- Pierre Morel
- Cast
- Liam Neeson , Katie Cassidy , Famke Janssen , Leland Orser , Maggie Grace
Taken works with the simplest of premises. A former CIA operative uses his skills to rescue his daughter and her friends from a human trafficking ring. After the chilling phone call which remains the film’s most famous moment, Liam Neeson runs around Paris with fury in his eyes, using any weapon he can get his hands on to make good on his promise. Taken works within the conventions of the action genre, but Neeson’s fights seem like they genuinely hurt, which raises the stakes even higher.
13 Oldboy (2003)
A South Korean action masterpiece with mystery elements
![Choi Min-sik in Oldboy](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/choi-min-sik-in-oldboy-3.jpg)
- Release Date
- November 21, 2003
- Director
- Park Chan-wook
- Cast
- Choi Min-sik , Yoo Ji-tae , Kang Hye-jung , Kim Byeong-Ok , Oh Tae-kyung , Yoon Jin-seo , Woo Il-han , Ji Dae-Han
After being held captive for 15 years, Oh Dae-su seeks revenge on those who imprisoned him. Rather than strafing through his enemies with a machine gun, Oh Dae-su often uses a hammer, which gives Oldboy a completely unique visual style. Although it’s a classic of South Korean cinema, Oldboy has taken a while to reach an international audience. It’s still relatively underrated in the West, but Spike Lee’s underwhelming remake shows just how brilliant the original is.
12 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
A superb sci-fi sequel that revolutionized visual effects
![The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) cutting himself with a knife in Terminator 2 Judgment Day](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-terminator-arnold-schwarzenegger-cutting-himself-with-a-knife-in-terminator-2-judgment-day.jpg)
- Release Date
- July 3, 1991
- Director
- James Cameron
- Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger , Linda Hamilton , Robert Patrick , Edward Furlong
Terminator 2 is a rare example of a sequel to an action classic that manages to surpass the original. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick play two very different Terminators from the future who fight through the streets of 1990s Los Angeles over a young boy who leads the human resistance in the future. Terminator 2 pioneered the use of CGI for the T-1000, but its most impressive stunts are all achieved with practical effects. Director James Cameron ensures there is no shortage of tense action sequences.
11 Skyfall (2012)
A James Bond movie that delivers on everything fans could hope for
- Release Date
- November 9, 2012
- Director
- Sam Mendes
- Cast
- judi dench , Ralph Fiennes , Naomie Harris , Helen McCrory , Javier Bardem , Daniel Craig , Ben Whishaw
There are plenty of James Bond movies which can be enjoyed over and over again. Casino Royale, Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me are all excellent, depending on one’s particular taste in Bond, but Skyfall still stands out. Skyfall pits the typically suave and detached 007 against a uniquely personal foe, as he must protect M from a rogue agent who has come seeking revenge. Daniel Craig gives a brilliant performance as Bond, and Javier Bardem is equal to him as one of the franchise’s best villains.
10 Hot Fuzz (2007)
Edgar Wright’s action spoof is both hilarious and thrilling
![Hot Fuzz Sergeant Angel and Danny chasing a swan on a field](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hot-fuzz-angel-danny-swan-1.jpg)
- Release Date
- February 14, 2007
- Director
- Edgar Wright
- Cast
- Simon Pegg , Martin Freeman , Bill Nighy , Robert Popper , Joe Cornish , Chris Waitt
Hot Fuzz is a hilarious genre parody of action thrillers, placing an all-action hero-cop in a sleepy English village. However, while Hot Fuzz lampoons shoot-em-ups like Bad Boys and Lethal Weapon, it also matches up to them in terms of explosive, thrilling action. Director Edgar Wright uses Hot Fuzz to poke fun at a genre he loves, and the result is a chaotic but hilarious ride to uncover a shadowy conspiracy hiding beneath the quaint bucolic pleasures of the English countryside.
9 Rush Hour (1998)
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker form an unlikely duo with boundless charm
![Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour image](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Jackie-Chan-and-Chris-Tucker-in-Rush-Hour-image.jpg)
- Release Date
- September 18, 1998
- Director
- Brett Ratner
- Cast
- Ken Leung , Chris Tucker , Tzi Ma , Tom Wilkinson , Jackie Chan , Mark Rolston , Rex Linn , Elizabeth Peña
In many ways, Jackie Chan’s dynamic with Chris Tucker represents his transition to Hollywood movies. Lee is highly-skilled and incredibly well-respected, but when he arrives in America he is forced to work with people a lot less talented and a lot louder than him, and he has to work within the confines of their system. Rush Hour has hilarious moments to accompany Chan’s jaw-dropping stunt work. His ability to combine physical comedy with impressive fight scenes is what makes Rush Hour stand out from other action comedies.
8 Enter The Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee’s martial arts magnum opus influenced the genre long after his death
![Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bruce-lee.jpg)
Enter the Dragon shows Bruce Lee at his brilliant best, shortly before his tragic death at the age of 32. As one of the first movies to combine martial arts with elements of espionage, Enter the Dragon helped shape the future of the genre. Lee plays a martial artist who goes undercover to spy on a drug kingpin, fighting his way through legions of enemies and eventually leading to the unforgettable hall of mirrors scene.
![Ong Bank, Ip Man, and Only the Strong](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/definitiveactionmovies_fordifferent_martialartsstyles.jpg)
The Definitive Action Movie For 10 Iconic Martial Arts Styles
While almost everyone knows about Kung Fu from Bruce Lee, there are many other martial arts styles with great, lesser-known cinematic showcases.
7 Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Massive stunts, beautiful locations, and a powerful plot
![Ethan Hunt preparing for his HALO jump in Mission: Impossible - Fallout](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tom-Cruise-in-Mission-Impossible-Fallout-Cropped.jpg)
- Release Date
- July 25, 2018
- Director
- Christopher McQuarrie
- Cast
- Tom Cruise , Rebecca Ferguson , Henry Cavill , Vanessa Kirby
Although it’s the sixth movie in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Fallout can be enjoyed by newcomers as an outstanding action thriller with high stakes and a compelling plot. Ethan Hunt and his team race against the clock to prevent a nuclear disaster, and Tom Cruise once again takes Mission: Impossible‘s unbelievable stunts to new heights. Fallout develops Ethan’s character much more than previous movies in the franchise, but the main draw is and always will be the extravagant set pieces in some beautiful locations.
6 John Wick (2014)
Chad Stahelski’s stylized revenge thriller has no shortage of imitators
- Release Date
- October 24, 2014
- Director
- Chad Stahelski
- Cast
- Michael Nyqvist , Willem Dafoe , Jason Isaacs , Keanu Reeves , Bridget Moynahan , Adrianne Palicki , Alfie Allen , John Leguizamo
The John Wick franchise has since developed the complex world around its protagonist a lot more, but the movie that started it all keeps things simple. John Wick is a retired assassin who seeks revenge on Russian gangsters after they kill his new puppy. This is all the set-up that’s necessary for a neon-soaked revenge rampage featuring some revolutionary fight choreography. John Wick was such a shot of adrenaline to the action genre when it first came out that it has essentially inspired a subgenre of John Wick copycats, but the original is hard to beat.
5 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Tarantino’s tribute to action classics is a patchwork of eye-catching fight scenes
![Uma Thurman in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 1 with samurai sword](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Uma-Thurman-in-Kill-Bill-Volume-1.jpg)
- Release Date
- October 10, 2003
- Director
- Quentin Tarantino
- Cast
- David Carradine , Michael Madsen , Uma Thurman , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu , Vivica A. Fox
The two Kill Bill movies add up to an exciting double feature, but they can also be appreciated separately. Volume 1 introduces the Bride and sets her on her path toward bloody revenge, and it takes her through the Crazy 88, O-Ren and more villains. Quentin Tarantino’s revenge thriller sacrifices any hint of realism for stylized, cinematic violence. It’s a tribute to the pulp hits that he would watch in his youth, but Kill Bill surpasses many of the movies it pays homage to.
4 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
A triumphant return for one of the great action franchises
- Release Date
- May 14, 2015
- Director
- George Miller
- Cast
- Tom Hardy , Charlize Theron , Nicholas Hoult , Zoe Kravitz , Hugh Keays-Byrne , Riley Keough , Courtney Eaton , Abbey Lee , Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Mad Max: Fury Road shows that practical effects are alive and well in the age of CGI-heavy blockbusters. Essentially one exhausting car chase through the desert, Fury Road constantly comes up with new ways to reinvent car stunts and post-apocalyptic action. The subtle worldbuilding sets the scene expertly, with some oddities seen but never explained, providing an immersive tale. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are both excellent, but the movie puts hair-raising action in focus, with the characters desperately clinging on for survival. The upcoming Mad Max prequel, Furiosa, has a lot to live up to.
3 Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Spielberg and Ford whisk their audience away on a globe-trotting treasure hunt
- Release Date
- June 12, 1981
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Cast
- Harrison Ford , Karen Allen , Alfred Molina , Paul Freeman , Ronald Lacey , John Rhys-Davies , Denholm Elliott
Steven Spielberg’s original Indiana Jones trilogy is always good for a rewatch, and the first movie is a perfect action-adventure, with plenty of danger and an exciting mystery. From Indy’s introduction as he tries to steal a golden idol right up to Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s incredible face-melting scene, Spielberg delivers a non-stop thrill ride. With a rollicking score by John Williams and a charming performance from Harrison Ford, Raider of the Lost Ark is a relentless crowd-pleaser.
![Steven Spielberg holding his Oscars.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Steven-Spielberg-holding-his-Oscars.jpg)
Every Steven Spielberg Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
From industry-defining blockbusters to heartfelt prestige films, here are all 34 movies from director Steven Spielberg, ranked from worst to best.
2 The Dark Knight (2008)
A superhero classic which probes at the nature of human morality
![The Joker hanging out of a car in The Dark Knight](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-joker-hanging-out-of-a-car-in-the-dark-knight.jpg)
- Release Date
- July 18, 2008
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
- Cast
- Nestor Carbonell , Morgan Freeman , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Christian Bale , David Dastmalchian , Michael Caine , Anthony Michael Hall , Heath Ledger
Over 15 years after its release, The Dark Knight is still the gold-standard for superhero movies. In a stellar trilogy, Heath Ledger’s unforgettable performance as the Joker puts The Dark Knight over the top. The Joker’s war with Batman is a fascinating battle over the heart of Gotham. It’s not just Bruce Wayne’s life which is at stake, but the moral fortitude which underpins all human society. In the Joker’s vision of the future, humanity becomes indistinguishable from animals, and chaos reigns.
1 Die Hard (1988)
A high-intensity thriller from start to finish
![Bruce Willis as John McClane shouts down from the window in Die Hard](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mcclane-shouts-down-from-the-window-in-die-hard.jpg)
- Release Date
- July 15, 1988
- Director
- John McTiernan
- Cast
- Bruce Willis , Bonnie Bedelia , Reginald VelJohnson , Paul Gleason , William Atherton , Hart Bochner
Die Hard has every element that makes action movies great for multiple rewatches: a sympathetic hero, clearly defined stakes, and a villain who is just as compelling. The fact that Die Hard executes all of these basics so adeptly, and with such confidence, is what makes it an action classic. John McClane is just a regular cop in an impossible situation, and this tension pulses throughout the entire movie. When he gets glass stuck in his feet or bullets fly past his head, there is an authentic sense of danger.