I have watched a lot of action movies in my time, and only a few have kept me on the edge of my seat for their entire runtime. Action movies often have the difficult job of bringing genres together in a way that feels both fluid and action-packed. Because of this, some action movies just don’t click with viewers, showing just how hard it is for films to strike this exciting chord.
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There are many things that can help an action movie to find this balance, turning these films from general adventure films to heart-pumping quests. Sometimes, this comes in the way of over-the-top violent action movie scenes intended to gross out viewers. However, an action movie needs more than this if it is to truly be exhilarating, something that can be seen in some of the best action movies of 2024.
You are watching: These Intense 10 Action Movies Kept My Heart Racing Well After The Credits Stopped Rolling
10
Mandy (2018)
Horror & Action Come Together In This Film
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Mandy
r
Horror
Thriller
Action
8.7/10
Release Date
September 14, 2018
Runtime
121 Minutes
Director
Panos Cosmatos
Writers
Aaron Stewart-Ahn, Panos Cosmatos
Cast
See All
-
Andrea Riseborough
-
Bill Duke
2018’s Mandy is a Horror and Action film starring Nicholas Cage. Written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, Cage plays a recovering alcoholic that lives a solitary life with his girlfriend who ends up kidnapped by a mysterious cult. The remainder of the film sees Cage embarking on a bloody quest for revenge.
Main Genre
Horror
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There are a lot of action movies that center around revenge, and at first Mandy is no different. Things really begin to kick off when the titular Mandy is murdered, prompting her boyfriend, a lumberjack named Red Miller, to go on a bloody quest to kill the people responsible. What follows is an LSD-fueled nightmare trip of epic proportions, one that involves cults and otherworldly imagery.
While the action itself in Mandy is compelling enough, the cinematography of the film only adds to the tension. I was often surprised by how frightening the imagery became, twisting the world around Red into a bloody spectacle that toes the line between delusion and reality. If that wasn’t enough, the movie is anchored by Nicolas Cage’s acting performance, one that really exhibits the gravity of Red’s anger.
9
Aliens (1986)
The Sequel To The Alien Horror Classic Is Full Of Action
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Aliens
R
Action
Adventure
Horror
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Release Date
July 18, 1986
Runtime
137 minutes
Director
James Cameron
Writers
James Cameron
Cast
-
Sigourney Weaver
-
Carrie Henn
-
Michael Biehn
-
Lance Henriksen
Main Genre
Action
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More action-packed than the original film, Aliens follows the iconic Ellen Ripley as she is once again beset upon by the terrifying Xenomorph threat. Instead of the slow, creeping horror of the original film, Aliens takes a focus that, while still lingering in horror, allows Ripley to fight back a little more than she did previously. This all culminates in the iconic exosuit fight, which features Ripley donning a massive metal exosuit to fight against the Xenomorph’s queen.
The artist who initially designed the Xenomorphs, H. R. Giger, is well-known across the world for his biomechanical art style.
The horror really helps to add another layer of excitement to the action in the film, and bringing both of those genres together really pays off by the end of the film. This is only elevated by the fact that Ripley is tasked with keeping a young girl safe throughout the course of the film, making the stakes even higher. The danger feels real from beginning to end, and the horror element keeps things from becoming too silly.
8
Dredd (2012)
This Film Is Based On A Comic Book Series
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Dredd
R
Action
Crime
Sci-Fi
7/10
28
8.2/10
Release Date
September 21, 2012
Runtime
95 minutes
Director
Pete Travis
Writers
Alex Garland
Cast
See All
-
Karl Urban
-
Rachel Wood
Based on the comic character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, Dredd is a sci-fi action movie that stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcement officer who can commute sentences as quickly as he issues them. Set in a dystopian New York-like city called Mega-City One, Dredd is tasked with hunting down a drug lord who controls a massive 200-story apartment complex named Ma-Ma, pushing a new addictive drug called “Slo-Mo” that has become widely used in the slums.
Studio(s)
Lionsgate
Distributor(s)
Lionsgate
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Set in a future where the world has become an unrecognizable wasteland, Dredd takes a look at what society could become if the world falls apart as a result of nuclear war. The story revolves around this idea of Judges, or rather, individuals who take the law into their own hands, operating as judge, jury, and executioner for those they deem unworthy. This comes to a head when a Judge named Dredd is forced to confront a drug lord named Ma-Ma.
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Dredd is a constant influx of well-choreographed fight scenes, with explosive back-to-back villains and more bombastic fight scenes than the average action film. The grittiness of the film itself is a fun flashback to movies of the time, and though it definitely feels like a movie produced in the 2010s, this does not detract from the fun whatsoever. In fact, it allows Dredd to focus in on the glorious action.
7
Oldboy (2003)
This Action Film Is Spurred On By Its Tragedy
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Oldboy
R
Mystery
Drama
7.5/10
Release Date
November 21, 2003
Runtime
120 Minutes
Director
Park Chan-wook
Writers
Park Chan-wook, Hwang Jo-yun, Lim Jun-hyung
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Prequel(s)
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Cast
See All
-
Choi Min-sik
-
Yoo Ji-tae
After 15 years of solitary confinement, Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) hunts down his captors and falls in love with chef Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), but soon realizes all the messed up reasons that led him to such a distressing predicament. The 2003 South Korean mystery thriller is the second installment in director Park Chan-wook’s The Vengeance Trilogy and the original South Korean movie that inspired Spike Lee’s eponymous 2013 American remake.
Studio(s)
Egg Film, CJ Entertainment
Distributor(s)
Show East, DreamWorks Distribution
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Originally based on a Japanese manga, Oldboy is a South Korean action film that starts with a kidnapping. Oh Dae-su is stolen away from his family and his life as a businessman and imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years. After his surprise release, he debates his next steps, but ultimately goes on a quest for revenge that ultimately ends in the greatest tragedy.
Oldboy has been remade several times in several languages, including a poorly received American remake directed by Spike Lee.
I am a big fan of one-shot action sequences, and Oldboy features an excellent hallway action sequence that was all done in one shot. The action sequences in this film are executed with precision, something that shows the dedication of everyone involved in working on the film. These action sequences, coupled with a storyline that is constantly laying the heart of its main character bare, make for an action film that is sure to tug on viewers’ heartstrings.
6
Sicario (2015)
Benicio Del Toro Gives One Of His Most Frightening Performances
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Sicario
R
Action
Crime
Thriller
9/10
19
8.6/10
Release Date
September 17, 2015
Runtime
122 minutes
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Writers
Taylor Sheridan
Producers
Basil Iwanyk, Edward McDonnell, Ellen H. Schwartz, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Stacy Perskie
Cast
See All
-
Benicio Del Toro
Alejandro Gillick
-
Emily Blunt
Kate Macer
Sicario is a crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, featuring Emily Blunt as an idealistic FBI agent. The film explores the intense and morally complex war on drugs at the U.S.-Mexico border, with key performances by Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin.
Main Genre
Action
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Sony, Lionsgate
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Though not explicitly action-heavy, Sicario begins with a brutal opening set piece and continues to deliver on its unsettling plot points throughout the entire film. The film follows FBI agent Kate Macer as she volunteers for a special task force created to take down a dangerous cartel, detailing her fated meeting with a Sicario, or hitman, named Alejandro. The brutality of the cartel is depicted in broad strokes, but perhaps more important is the brutality of the police force that chases after them.
What makes Sicario so immediately compelling is the point of view the film takes. It is clear from the beginning that Kate doesn’t know what she is getting into and that everyone around her has their own secrets, willing to go to extreme lengths if it means taking down the cartel, and this makes the viewer feel just as isolated and new to the scenario as she is. The mystery surrounding the character of Alejandro only makes this more apparent, the truth of his character only revealed as his morality is questioned further.
5
Monkey Man (2024)
Dev Patel Writes, Directs, And Stars In This Revenge Film
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Monkey Man
R
Action
Thriller
8/10
7.2/10
Release Date
April 5, 2024
Runtime
121 Minutes
Director
Dev Patel
Writers
Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, John Collee
Cast
See All
-
Dev Patel
-
Sharlto Copely
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
Main Genre
Action
Studio(s)
Thunder Road Films, Bron Studios, Monkey Paw Productions
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures
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Often criticized as no more than a John Wick clone, Monkey Man is much more than it may initially seem. It tells the story of a man only known as Kid throughout the film, showing his slow progression as he works his way into the best spot to pull off his revenge on the man who killed his mother. Though he does not succeed in his mission at first, this only adds to the overall tension of the film, cementing him in place as the underdog.
Monkey Man is a powerful tale of the marginalized and the downtrodden, offering a surprisingly uplifting narrative while refusing to sacrifice the visceral action at the movie’s core.
Monkey Man is a powerful tale of the marginalized and the downtrodden, offering a surprisingly uplifting narrative while refusing to sacrifice the visceral action at the movie’s core. Dev Patel is especially excellent in the leading role, showing an incredible range of acting skill as he goes from the emotional heart of the film to an avenger for all the people that have been taken advantage of. This works in tandem with Monkey Man‘s bombastic action scenes to make one of 2024’s most exciting films.
4
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
The Third John Wick Film Is Non-Stop Visceral Action
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John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
R
Action
Thriller
7/10
8/10
Release Date
May 17, 2019
Runtime
131 minutes
Director
Chad Stahelski
Writers
Derek Kolstad
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Prequel(s)
John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick
Cast
See All
-
Halle Berry
-
Mark Dacascos
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the third film in the John Wick franchise. After having taken down a High Table crime lord in the second movie, John has a bounty placed on him and is now excommunicated from the guild. With a $14 million price tag on his head and danger at every turn, John will fight his way worldwide to stay alive and find a way out of the situation, which is spiraling out of control.
Studio(s)
Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Films, 87Eleven Productions
Distributor(s)
Lionsgate
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All the John Wick movies are heavy on action with picture-perfect choreography, but John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is where that action is pushed to the extreme. Picking up where the previous film left off, John Wick is immediately on the run from a legion of assassins, as he had previously killed on the grounds of The Continental, a place considered equal, safe ground for all. This leads the film into several stunning action sequences, continuing at a breakneck pace.
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The opening of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is my favorite in the entire series, offering some of the most impactful action in such a short amount of time. Keanu Reeves is continually flawless throughout the entire film, at the top of his game in such an action-packed entry in the franchise. Despite the odds being against him, John Wick doesn’t feel in over his head, and half of the fun is finding out how he will get himself out of this mess.
3
Kill Bill (2003)
Both Of Tarantino’s Volumes Are Incredible Action Adventures
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Kill Bill
R
Thriller
Crime
Action
9/10
43
9.1/10
Release Date
October 10, 2003
Runtime
111 minutes
Director
Quentin Tarantino
Writers
Quentin Tarantino
Sequel(s)
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Cast
See All
-
David Carradine
-
Michael Madsen
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a classic tale of betrayal and revenge. When the Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma, she sets out to settle the score with the team of assassins that betrayed her at the behest of her former boss, Bill (David Carradine). Tracking and killing the world-class assassins isn’t easy, but the Bride uses all the tools at her disposal in her relentless pursuit of revenge.
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Split into two separate movies, Kill Bill takes place over volume one and volume two of one continuous story. Once a member of a deadly team of assassins, the main character, only known as “The Bride,” is left for dead after her would-be husband and the father of her unborn child shot her in the head at their own wedding. After waking up from a coma, she swears her revenge, taking out the team that played a part in the affair one by one.
Across both parts, the film is jaw-droppingly dramatic in perhaps the best way possible. Not only is the cinematography colorful and evocative of a comic book, but the action sequences are larger than life in a way that keeps the viewer wondering what could possibly come next. Quentin Tarantino continues to outdo what came before in each progressing scene, making Kill Bill one of the finest action thrillers ever made.
2
Speed (1994)
The Action Is Always Moving Forward, Literally, And Figuratively
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Speed
R
Thriller
Action
Adventure
10/10
8.7/10
Release Date
June 10, 1994
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
Jan de bont
Writers
Graham Yost
Sequel(s)
Speed 2: Cruise Control
Cast
See All
-
Dennis Hopper
-
Sandra Bullock
In Jan de Bont’s 1994 action thriller Speed, LAPD officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) works alongside passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock) to safely stop a bus that will explode if it goes below 50 mph.
Main Genre
Thriller
Studio(s)
20th Century
Distributor(s)
20th Century
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As it stands, I am a massive fan of Keanu Reeves’ acting and have seen most of his films. This includes Keanu Reeves’ under-appreciated titles, which, despite poor reviews or lack of interest from audiences, deserve a second chance from viewers and critics alike. While Speed is certainly not overlooked by any means, this non-stop action film is still one of Reeves’ best.
Speed has inspired several other projects, including an episode of Mythbusters that tested whether the film’s famous bus jump was possible.
When the film centers around a bus that cannot stop, or else it will explode, there is a constant sense of panic and danger. The thread of energy throughout the film never breaks, allowing for a unique action film that might have failed with any other creative team behind it. Speed is constantly moving forward, both in its pacing and with the bus’ constant plot-driven movement.
1
Crank (2006)
It Is An Anxiety-Inducing & Continuously Driven Action Film
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Crank
R
Action
Crime
Thriller
7/10
8/10
Release Date
August 31, 2006
Runtime
88 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Amy Smart
-
Keone Young
Chev Chelios, a hitman, is injected with a lethal poison that threatens to stop his heart if he doesn’t keep his adrenaline levels high. To stay alive, Chev embarks on a relentless and chaotic rampage through the city, engaging in extreme stunts and violent confrontations to maintain his heart rate. As he hunts down those responsible for his imminent death, Chev’s quest for survival becomes a nonstop thrill ride, filled with explosive action and desperate measures.
Director
Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Writers
Brian Taylor, Mark Neveldine
Main Genre
Action
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An action movie cannot only be made up of action scenes, but Crank tries its best to pack as much action into one runtime as possible. Focusing in on an assassin that has been dosed with a dangerous synthetic drug, Chev Chelios must continue to keep adrenaline pumping through his body or face a slow and agonizing death. This, coupled with the throughline of his quest for revenge against those who seek to kill him, make Crank an interesting and high-octane entry into a genre full of revenge fiction.
When I watched Crank for the first time, I was blown away by the non-stop action the movie managed to pull off. Since then, the movie has only grown on me, quickly becoming a favorite of mine for its constant influx of action. It overloads the senses and arrests the viewer’s attention with jarring action, leaving their heart pumping just as hard as Chev’s must so that he can survive.
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