10 Action Movie Scenes That Gave Us Goosebumps

Action movies have the potential to connect with audiences on a visceral level, leading to some moments which can give an entire movie theater goosebumps. While hard-hitting action can excite people, it takes something a little different to give them chills. The best action movies focus on character and storytelling before constructing their fight scenes, meaning that each burst of action is loaded with meaning.

Intelligent action movies can create awe-inspiring moments with or without fights, chases and explosions. Often, the most powerful moments are those which come in the quiet lulls between action scenes, when the character development takes center stage. From low-budget thrillers to gargantuan blockbusters, all great action movies need intelligent scripts if they want to give their audiences chills.

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Captain America Wields Mjölnir

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame came with an immense amount of hype, but it managed to deliver a satisfying payoff to many years of the sprawling MCU. Of course, it’s a big draw to see all the franchise’s most popular heroes together, but Endgame also features plenty of nice moments which call back to storylines and character arcs that were set up years earlier. The scene in which Captain America lifts Thor’s iconic hammer is one of the best moments in a movie packed with highlights.

The weight of the MCU’s context makes it an unforgettable moment.

It’s established early on in the MCU that Thor is the only hero capable of lifting Mjölnir. Even the Hulk is unable to move it an inch when throwing his entire body weight into it. Captain America succeeds where others fail because the hammer’s enchantment deems him to be worthy, thus paying off a long journey for him and the entire MCU. The weight of this context makes it an unforgettable moment.

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John Kills Iosef Tarasov

John Wick (2014)

The first John Wick wasn’t built to start a franchise, and it wraps up its story in style. John’s vengeful crusade leads him through the entire Russian mob in New York until he reaches Iosef Tarasov, the true target of his mission. Once he gets the chance to kill Iosef, John doesn’t hesitate to take in the moment or offer his target the chance for any last words. He simply dispatches him with the cold detachment of the elite assassin that he is.

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John Wick and its sequels tend to keep up a frantic pace, so it’s powerful when things slow down for a moment. John’s slow walk over to Iosef is one such moment, as his echoed footsteps synch up with Iosef’s fading heartbeat. It’s another reminder of John’s singular drive that sets him apart from most people. In this moment, he’s a cold-blooded killing machine, but the audience are aware of the emotion behind the scene.

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The Charge Of The Rohirrim

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003)

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Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is filled with scenes that can give anyone chills, but the director always seems to find an extra gear when staging his epic battle scenes. He combines a rare sense of scale and violence with some deeply emotional storytelling, constantly tying the journeys of his characters to the broad strokes of the conflict raging in Middle Earth, and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields is a great example of this.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is filled with scenes that can give anyone chills.

Before the riders of Rohan charge into battle outside the fortified walls of Minas Tirith, King Theoden gives a speech to rouse the hearts of his men, ending with a battle cry that banishes the fear of death that Sauron has worked to instill in them. For him, Eowyn, Merry and the whole of Middle Earth, it’s a deeply meaningful moment. The iconic Lord of the Rings soundtrack does the rest of the work to ensure that the scene lives long in the memory.

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Richard Meets Samuel Gerard At The Dam

The Fugitive (1993)

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The Fugitive stars Harrison Ford as a wrongly imprisoned man who seizes the chance to escape so that he can pursue his wife’s real killer. What elevates the story beyond an ordinary game of cat-and-mouse is the fascinating dynamic between Dr. Richard Kimble and the hard-nosed U.S. Marshal tasked with tracking him down. Tommy Lee Jones delivers a superb performance as Samuel Gerard, and he and Ford make the most of the limited time they share together on screen.

It’s succinct but powerful, underlining that Richard’s innocence has nothing to do with his incarceration.

There are several close calls in Gerard’s chase of Kimble, but their first meeting is the most interesting. As the two men come face-to-face at the top of a dam, Richard states plainly that he didn’t kill his wife, and Samuel delivers the chill-inducing line, “I don’t care.” It’s succinct but powerful, underlining that Richard’s innocence has nothing to do with his incarceration, and setting up a thrilling cross-country chase in which neither man is willing to compromise on their principles.

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Max Heads Back Out Into The Wasteland

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road brought the franchise back after 30 years of dormancy, and it’s arguably the pinnacle of George Miller’s dystopian action series. Although Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max Rockatansky from Mel Gibson, he delivers a captivating performance without too much dialogue, and he makes the character his own. Some moments, like the final scene in which he walks away from the crowd, prove that he’s the same character as ever.

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The ending of Mad Max: Fury Road sees Max leaving Furiosa with a nod of acknowledgment. The two characters form a fierce mutual respect, but Max’s fate in life draws him back out into the wasteland. It’s the perfect way to end an explosive entry in the franchise, promising that Max’s adventures will continue on, even if his future remains uncertain. It also acts as another reminder that Max refuses to choose a life of safety.

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The Kid Becomes Hanuman

Monkey Man (2024)

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Dev Patel’s directorial debut shows off his skills as a martial arts star, and it also pays tribute to his heritage. The story of Monkey Man is tied to the legend of the Hindu deity Hanuman, a warrior who is often seen as a symbol of defiance in the face of oppression. After being brought back from the brink of death, the Kid finds his new identity as a champion of the people, bleaching his monkey mask white to evoke Hanuman.

By dying his mask white, he accepts his role as a symbol of something bigger.

Monkey Man‘s allusions to Hanuman are more than skin-deep, as the Kid takes the fight to the ruling class, gaining a number of supporters in the process. By dying his mask white, he accepts his role as a symbol of something bigger. He also takes on this persona with as much dedication as his wrestling persona, showing that he has transcended his previous form. This is ultimately what gives him the power to take on those who wronged him in the past, and those who continue to thrive off of corruption.

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The Prisoner Tosses The Switch Out Of The Ferry

The Dark Knight (2008)

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Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy has plenty of moments that can give audiences goosebumps. In The Dark Knight alone, there’s Gordon’s final speech, Batman’s interrogation of the Joker and some nail-biting stunts. One moment that stands out comes during Batman’s final showdown with the Joker, as two ferries in Gotham Harbor are rigged with explosives, and each has a switch to detonate the other ship and save themselves.

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy has plenty of moments that can give audiences goosebumps.

The Joker’s ferry gambit is designed to push people to their breaking point, underlining his twisted philosophy that the thin veneer of polite society is a flimsy construct that will snap to reveal humanity’s true nature at the earliest sign of stress. On the prison ferry, a large, muscular prisoner towers over the guard and demands the switch. According to the Joker’s idea and the audience’s expectations, this means that he’s going to use it, but he elects to dispose of it instead. This noble moral choice is enough to give anyone chills.

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Maximus Reveals His Identity

Gladiator (2000)

Gladiator combines Ridley Scott’s eye for spectacle with a deeply moving personal story, and it all comes together in one perfect scene that has the power to echo throughout the entire movie. Maximus’ quest for revenge brings him face-to-face with Commodus, and he is implored to remove his mask and introduce himself. Commodus is unaware that the gladiator before him is seeking revenge until this moment.

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The scene has been made famous thanks to Maximus’ spine-chilling speech, but it wouldn’t be quite so popular without two fantastic performances from Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Crowe’s even-handed delivery takes center stage, while Phoenix’s reactions are just as important. Commodus understands the enormity of the moment, looking as if a vengeful ghost has returned to wreak havoc on his life of luxury.

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Neo Stops Bullets

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix offers a unique blend of sci-fi and action that creates some jaw-dropping fight scenes that wouldn’t be possible in other action movies. The scene in which Neo wakes from the dead to realize his true potential as “The One” is a moment of victory, accompanied by a suitably epic orchestral swell. It’s the culmination of his story, as well as representing a breakthrough in the broader conflict of The Matrix.

This is the moment Neo completes his path to becoming a true hero, and it’s as awe-inspiring as it should be.

Although Neo’s ability to stop bullets in midair returns in the sequels, it’s never as impactful as it is the first time. The Wachowski sisters also add in a few touches of humor to highlight the triumph of the scene, such as Neo’s inquisitive decision to pluck a bullet from the air and his nonchalance when fending off blows from Agent Smith. This is the moment Neo completes his path to becoming a true hero, and it’s as awe-inspiring as it should be.

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Maverick Makes The Canyon Run

Top Gun: Maverick (2023)

Top Gun: Maverick succeeds where most other legacy sequels fall flat. This is partly owing to Tom Cruise’s evergreen appeal as an action star, but it also strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and innovation. Maverick is a treat for fans of the original, but it has enough substance for newcomers to enjoy. Just like with the first movie, the flying scenes provide a steady stream of highlights.

The synthesis of this important context and the sheer excitement of the action makes it an unforgettable scene.

Of all Top Gun: Maverick‘s breathtaking flying scenes, Maverick’s successful attempt at the canyon run is one that stands out. It comes at a pivotal moment in the story, when the mission seems impossible and Maverick looks destined for the scrap heap. Instead, he proves his doubters wrong by achieving the impossible. The synthesis of this important context and the sheer excitement of the action makes it an unforgettable scene. Top Gun 3 now has a hard act to follow.

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