Action movies have changed a lot over the decades, and that is reflected in the stars that rose to the top and became the most popular action heroes of their era. The action genre is a lot more than just fights, explosions, and guns, and it has been responsible for highlighting some incredible talent in Hollywood. With each new decade, there has been a shift in who becomes the biggest star in action movies, defining that generation’s idea of action stars and the movies they appear in.
Action is also a genre often blended with other film categories, such as war, crime, and science fiction. As a result, the stars who are cast in these movies are some of the most versatile athletes and performers, who undergo extensive training and coaching to deliver a convincing performance that will resonate with audiences and impress the experts who are highly informed when it comes to war, martial arts, and other areas. As a result, the biggest action stars of each decade are some of the most impressive actors in the industry.
8 1950s – Kirk Douglas
Man Without A Star (1955), Paths Of Glory (1957), The Vikings (1958)
Kirk Douglas first appeared in films in 1946, when he appeared in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, where he had a prominent role. He quickly became a well-regarded leading man, appearing in many more films across a variety of genres. However, he was most well known for his roles in Westerns, Drama, and War films which frequently featured intense action scenes. Douglas collaborated with legendary director Stanley Kubrick in the very early stages of his career and went on to become successful both in front and behind the cameras.
7 1960s – Sean Connery
Dr. No (1962), Goldfinger (1964), The Hill (1965)
In the 1960s, action movies moved from largely Western and war films into the intriguing world of espionage. With that change, came the rise in popularity of Sean Connery’s James Bond. Connery made the role of James Bond popular and became the first face of a franchise that would continue to this day, decades later. While Connery appeared in no less than five Bond movies in the 60s, he also starred in other action films where he continued to embody a suave, sophisticated man of action, who frequently got the girl and saved the day.
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6 1970s – Charles Bronson
The Mechanic (1972), Death Wish (1974), The Streetfighter (1975)
Charles Bronson steadily grew in popularity through the 50s and 60s, but it wasn’t until the 70s that he really came into his own and started to dominate the action scene in Hollywood. In addition to being the top-selling actor at the box office in the 70s, Bronson changed what action movies looked like as he leaned more into the combat, brutality, and gritty side of action. Bronson frequently played vigilante characters who fought to deliver their own brand of justice. His broad and strong physique also inspired how action stars would look for many decades after.
5 1980s – Sylvester Stallone
Rocky III (1982), First Blood (1982), Cobra (1986)
In response to the shift from war hero, to spy, to vigilante, Stallone rose to prominence for his performance in several different action franchises with elements of each of these incorporated. Stallone played a veteran war hero in First Blood as John Rambo, before going on to play vigilante cops in movies like Cobra, but Stallone also helped to make action heroes inspirational with characters like Rocky Balboa. A fighter who never gave up, pushed himself to achieve bigger and better things, and strived to put family first.
4 1990s – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Conan The Barbarian (1982), The Terminator (1984), Red Sonja (1985)
With the 90s, came the rise of CGI and sci-fi movies, and with the hulking figure that is Arnold Schwarzenegger reaching the height of his stardom in this era, many of his films benefitted from new technology and ideas. Schwarzenegger is an imposingly large man and easily appears as a macho action man. With movies like Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator, and more, Schwarzenegger quickly stood out as the face of action movies in the 90s. These were heroes that were much more similar to the superheroes found in the pages of comics, brought to life on the big screen.
3 2000s – Keanu Reeves
The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Constantine (2005), The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
This idea of superheroes as action heroes continued into the 2000s, but superhero movies began to branch off into their own categories while action remained apart. Sci-fi action stories continued to be popular, and with that came a new leading star in action movies, Keanu Reeves. Reeves delivered outstanding performances in roles where martial arts, stunts, and impressive stories played out, and he rose to meet these versatile demands. An action star needed to be more than just a large, muscular man, they also had to be agile and intriguing, and Reeves delivered all of that.
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2 2010s – Dwayne Johnson
Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Central Intelligence (2016), Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)
The 2010s largely fell into a pattern of reviving older stories, finding popular projects from before, and bringing them to a modern audience. With that, Dwayne Johnson, a champion wrestler-turned-actor, broke the mold and moved from the world of competitive sport to acting, where he was able to land a wide range of roles. From historical fiction to sci-fi, to crime and comedy, Johnson starred in a wide range of action movies where his impressive stature made him stand out among a cast of more average men and allowed him to become the next major action hero.
1 2020s – Jason Statham
Fast X (2023), Expend4bles (2023), The Beekeeper (2024)
The 2020s are in the middle of the decade, but already, a pattern is emerging with talented actors like Jason Statham dominating modern action films. Statham has been a popular action star since the early 2000s, but many of his films have been firmly rooted in the action category, focusing on a high-octane adventure and a rugged hero. Statham continues to appear in these types of films, and the times are catching up with him, and the rise of pure action stories that elevate these types of roles is here. Movies that are packed with adrenaline-fuelled action, fights, and explosions.
