Action movies are synonymous with over-the-top sequences and elaborate special effects that typically require a large budget, but there have been several low-budget films in the genre that are just as memorable. Such films prove that a lot can be done with limited money and resources, and that it takes more than a costly spectacle to impress and leave a mark on audiences.
- Will There Be a Season 2 of Marry My Husband? Marry My Husband Release Date, Cast and More
- Did Mia Khalifa And Jhay Cortez Break Up? Relationship and More
- Who is Rory McIlroy’s Wife? Know Everything About Rory McIlroy
- Who Is Jessica Silva? Jessica Silva Partner, Age, Bio, Wiki
- Who is Tony Modra’s Wife? Know Everything About Tony Modra
Compared to action films like John Wick and The Fall Guy, with budgets of approximately $20 million and $130 million, these low-budget action movies were made for significantly less. These movies find creative ways to navigate the cost of big-name actors and CGI, while still delivering the showy action sequences fans of the genre have come to expect. Movies like The Raid and Oldboy are celebrated for their larger-than-life thrills, but are also praised for their creative storytelling and dramatic performances.
You are watching: 9 Low-Budget Action Movies We’ll Remember Forever
9
Upgrade (2018)
Budget: $3 million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Upgrade
R
Horror
Sci-Fi
Action
8/10
8.0/10
Release Date
June 1, 2018
Runtime
100 minutes
Director
Leigh Whannell
Writers
Leigh Whannell
Cast
See All
-
Betty Gabriel
-
Logan Marshall-Green
Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a Sci-Fi, Action, and Cyberpunk film starring Betty Gabriel, Logan Marshall-Green, and Harrison Gilbertson. The plot sees a man suffering a tragic accident and becoming paralyzed as a result. He soon accepts a STEM implant that gives him back his body and much more.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Produced by Jason Blum under Blumhouse Productions, Upgrade is the most recent low-budget action release mentioned. Still, it has a comparable memorability to older releases, which can be credited to the clever choices made throughout the film to conceal its low budget. Upgrade fuses science fiction and action for its story centered around Logan Marshall-Green’s Grey Trace.
Upgrade is intense and gory at times, but doesn’t take itself too seriously, implementing a healthy amount of dark humor.
Following his wife’s death and an accident that leaves him paralyzed, Grey is implanted with a chip that gives him enhanced fighting skills, which aids him in his revenge mission. Upgrade is intense and gory at times, but doesn’t take itself too seriously, implementing a healthy amount of dark humor. The film’s relevant exploration of artificial intelligence and its energetic action sequences make it a film worth remembering for many years to come.
8
Mad Max (1979)
Budget: $350,000
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Mad Max
R
Action
Thriller
Sci-Fi
12
8.0/10
Release Date
March 21, 1980
Runtime
88 Minutes
Director
George Miller
Writers
George Miller, James McCausland, Byron Kennedy
Sequel(s)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Mad Max: Fury Road, Mad Max: The Wasteland
Cast
See All
-
Mel Gibson
-
Joanne Samuel
Mad Max is a 1979 sci-fi action film from director and writer George Miller. Mel Gibson stars as Max a police officer in the future who goes after a gang of vicious motorcycle thugs. The film led to a long-running franchise including The Road Warrior, Beyond Thunderdome, Fury Road, and Furiosa.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The success and quality of the Mad Max films have only grown as the franchise has expanded over the years. While the first installment in the series, 1979’s Mad Max, isn’t as beloved as later entries, it’s not a film action aficionados choose to ignore. Mad Max is set in a dystopian Australia and introduces audiences to its title character, an officer turned vigilante, for the first time.
Though the limited budget and resources of Mad Max result in a film that is much more character-focused than later entries in the franchise, there is still an undeniable thrill present. George Miller’s feature film debut isn’t perfect, but it struck a chord with audiences at the time. Setting the record for the most profitable film, Mad Max found success at the box office.
7
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
Budget: $1.1 Million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior
R
Action
Adventure
Thriller
Crime
9.1/10
Release Date
October 17, 2004
Runtime
106 minutes
Director
Prachya Pinkaew
Writers
Panna Rittikrai, Suphachai Sittiaumponpan
Sequel(s)
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, Ong Bak 3
Cast
See All
-
Petchtai Wongkamlao
George / Humlae
-
Tony Jaa
Ting
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior follows a young martial artist from a rural Thai village as he embarks on a perilous journey to retrieve the stolen head of their sacred Buddha statue, facing dangerous adversaries and showcasing remarkable Muay Thai skills.
Main Genre
Action
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
One of the greatest non-American action movies filled with thrilling martial arts sequences also happens to have a low budget. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is an exciting martial arts film starring Tony Jaa in what is recognized as his breakout role. The film follows Jaa as Ting, a villager and Muay Thai expert, who goes on a mission to retrieve a stolen statue.
The limited budget of Ong-Bak does not diminish the excitement and larger-than-life quality of the film’s action. Ong-Bak and its sequel films are beloved for their risky stunts that Jaa makes look effortless. The overall hero’s journey Ting embarks on isn’t anything unlike the martial arts films that came before it, but Jaa’s athleticism and Panna Rittikrai’s action choreography help turn Ong-Bak into something audiences will always remember.
6
Escape From New York (1981)
Budget: $6 Million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Escape From New York
R
Sci-Fi
Action
Adventure
9/10
21
9.2/10
Release Date
July 10, 1981
Runtime
99 minutes
Director
John Carpenter
Writers
Nick Castle, John Carpenter
Sequel(s)
Escape from LA
Cast
See All
-
Isaac Hayes
-
Donald Pleasance
John Carpenter takes on the role of writer, composer, and director in Escape from New York, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film where a large portion of New York City is converted into the biggest prison in the world, with all criminals in the United States sentenced there. When the President is kidnapped and taken abruptly into the heart of the prison, the government will turn to former soldier turned convict Snake Plissken to rescue him within twenty-four hours in exchange for a full pardon of his crimes.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
One of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s best movies together, Escape from New York had a budget of approximately $6 million. The ’80s action film is tons of fun to revisit and features an innovative display of world-building by Carpenter. The gritty, low-budget aesthetics of the movie, paired with thrilling action set pieces, make it thoroughly unforgettable.
Escape from New York takes place in the near future where Manhattan has become a high-security, futuristic prison. The film sees Russell’s Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier, given the opportunity to save the President of the United States from the city. Despite its low budget, Carpenter’s film was a box-office success. Escape from New York is a strong piece of escapist entertainment that is seen today as a cult classic.
5
Duel (1971)
Budget: $450,000
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Duel
PG
Action
Thriller
5.0/10
Release Date
November 13, 1971
Runtime
74 minutes
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Richard Matheson
Cast
See All
-
Dennis Weaver
-
Eddie Firestone
The Duel (1971), Steven Spielberg’s gripping tale of road terror, stands as a seminal work in thriller cinema. Unravel the story of David Mann’s survival against a faceless trucker. Dive into behind-the-scenes insights, cast performances, and where to catch this classic.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Steven Spielberg has made several big-budget movies throughout the years, with the cost of the film being apparent in its scale and quality. However, in terms of what Spielberg can accomplish with a lower budget, one of the first films that comes to mind is the made-for-TV road thriller, Duel. With a budget of approximately $450,000, the director effectively crafts an action-horror hybrid that sticks with audiences for a long time.
Duel, which initially premiered on ABC before earning a theatrical release, follows Dennis Weaver’s character David, whose only constant companion on his long drive is a malicious semi-truck driver. Though the identity of Duel‘s antagonist is never revealed, the suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic between them and David is enough to get the audience’s hearts racing.
4
The Raid (2011)
Budget: $1.1 million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
The Raid: Redemption
R
Action
Thriller
Crime
10/10
8.5/10
Release Date
March 22, 2012
Runtime
101 minutes
Director
Gareth Evans
Writers
Gareth Evans
Producers
Todd Brown, Aram Tertzakian, Ario Sagantoro, Nick Spicer, Rangga Maya Barack-Evans, Irwan D. Musry
Cast
See All
-
Iko Uwais
Rama
-
Joe Taslim
Jaka
The Raid, released in 2012, follows an elite SWAT team as they attempt to infiltrate a fortified apartment block in Jakarta to apprehend a notorious drug lord. Led by martial arts star Iko Uwais, the team faces relentless adversaries in a battle for survival after their cover is blown.
Franchise(s)
The Raid
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption revitalized the action genre in the early 2010s with its simple set-up and incomparable martial arts sequences. The film stars Indonesian actors and martial artists Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim as members of a police squad tasked with raiding the apartment building that’s home to a dangerous drug lord. Praise for The Raid over the years is a result of the film’s well-crafted tension and shocking violence.
With the invading police squad members trapped by the drug lord, The Raid takes place mostly within the confines of the apartment building where the men must fight to make it out alive. The Raid‘s characters are fascinating, and there is an appreciated amount of growth, especially for Uwais’ Rama, but the film’s strongest and most memorable component is its non-stop action.
3
El Mariachi (1992)
Budget: $7,225
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
El Mariachi
Action
Crime
Thriller
Western
8.0/10
Release Date
February 22, 1993
Runtime
81 minutes
Director
Robert Rodriguez
Producers
Carlos Gallardo
Cast
See All
-
Carlos Gallardo
El Mariachi
-
Consuelo Gómez
Domino
El Mariachi is an action film directed by Robert Rodriguez, following a traveling musician who is mistaken for a hitman by a local drug lord. Released in 1993, the narrative explores themes of identity and survival as the musician becomes entangled in a deadly chase across town.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The start of Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy, El Mariachi began with a budget of $7,225 before a larger sum was spent by Columbia Pictures for post-production work and marketing. The film is made up of mostly amateur actors, including Carlos Gallardo, a frequent collaborator of Rodriguez, who plays the film’s title character. El Mariachi follows Gallardo’s character as he makes his way into a small Mexican town with dreams of becoming a mariachi.
However, following a misunderstanding, El Mariachi finds himself caught up in a drug lord’s heated pursuit of a dangerous criminal. Many of Rodriguez’s signature filmmaking techniques are on full display in El Mariachi, elevating the film’s familiar premise and giving it a needed boost in energy. Rodriguez’s innovation and his ability to work around such a low budget make El Mariachi a considerably impressive and memorable movie.
2
Train To Busan (2016)
Budget: $8.5 Million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Train to Busan
t
Horror
Action
29
9.5/10
Release Date
July 1, 2016
Runtime
118minutes
Director
Yeon Sang-ho
Writers
Yeon Sang-ho
Sequel(s)
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula
Cast
See All
-
Gong Yoo
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Su-an, Ahn So-hee, Choi Woo-shik, and Kim Eui-sung, the 2016 South Korean zombie movie Train To Busan revolves around a father’s quest to protect his daughter aboard a high-speed train filled with zombies. Its success launched a franchise composed of the animated prequel movie Seoul Station, the heist-themed sequel Peninsula, and the English-language adaptation The Last Train to New York.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The action in Train to Busan is just as memorable as the emotional story at its center. Being one of the best non-American zombie movies, Yeon Sang-ho’s action horror film takes place on a train traveling from Seoul to Busan, where Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) and his daughter find themselves in the middle of a sudden zombie outbreak. Train to Busan combines smart social commentary with action-packed thrills and gore, all with a budget of roughly $8.5 million.
The confined setting in Train to Busan, where its characters must fight for survival, adds a great deal of suspense to the already frightening scenarios unfolding on screen. While the action throughout the film is certainly worthy of praise, it’s the growth of Seok-woo as a character that sticks with audiences the most —luckily, a large budget isn’t necessary for such emotional resonance.
1
Oldboy (2003)
Budget: $3 Million
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Like
Follow
Followed
Oldboy
R
Drama
Thriller
Mystery
Action
7.5/10
Release Date
November 21, 2003
Runtime
120 minutes
Director
Park Chan-wook
Writers
Park Chan-wook, Hwang Jo-yoon, Lim Joon-hyung
Producers
Syd Lim
Cast
See All
-
Choi Min-sik
Oh Dae-su
-
Yoo Ji-tae
Lee Woo-jin
Oldboy follows the story of a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without explanation. Upon his release, he embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of his captors and understand the motivations behind their actions. This gripping tale navigates through themes of vengeance and discovery.
See more : Jeremy Clarkson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Lisa Hogan?
See more : Oxenfree Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, Recap, Reviews and Wiki
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Both an electrifying action film and a psychological thriller that messes with the audience’s heads, Oldboy is an unforgettable movie about one’s need for revenge. The film is among Park Chan-wook’s best works and sees Choi Min-sik lead the film with a stirring performance as Oh Dae-su. Throughout the film, Dae-su seeks vengeance against the mysterious figure who held him captive in a cell for 15 years.
Oldboy is brutal with its action and depicted violence, but the film doesn’t solely rely on such scenes to make an impact on audiences. Not only does Oldboy satisfy thriller fans’ desire for heart-pounding action set pieces, but the film also presents a twisted narrative that makes one think deeply about Dae-su’s circumstance and course of action.
Source: The Numbers
Source: https://truongnguyenbinhkhiem.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment