Martin Campbellmay not be a household name, but he is a director who has given fans some incredibly memorable movies, including some of the best of their respective franchises. Getting his start with sex comedies in the 1970s, Campbell would break out with his critically acclaimed TV seriesEdge of Darknessbefore moving to theJames Bondfranchise.
With his new movie,Cleaner, starring Daisy Ridley, Campbell looks to get back on track to deliver the movies he is known for. His track record may be inconsistent, but he still has manywell-renowned films in the action and thriller genre.With a diverse range of action films, Campbell is a genuinely unique director, leaving fans unsure of what to expect from all of his movies. But they can at least go in knowing it will be a fun action thriller at the worst.
10’Green Lantern' (2011)
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Mark Strong
Green Lanternis known as an overall disasterandfollows the titular superhero in his first major live-action movie. Luckily, fans will get to see moreGreen Lanternin live-action with theupcomingLanternsseries in James Gunn’s DCU, set to premiere on HBO. After stumbling upon the ring, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), a cocky pilot, must prove the guardians wrong and show he is worthy of the power as he fights against Parallax in a classic battle of Will vs Fear.
While this doesn’t look like a good start, consideringGreen Lanternis one of the worst superhero movies ever,there are still some bright spots about the film. Many fans would argueGreen Lanternshouldn’t be on this list, and while that is valid, this movie does have some enjoyability to it, with it also being the only live-actionGreen Lanternmovie. It gave fanssome memorable references and decent CGIfor the time, but it is still an overall disappointing movie.
Green Lantern
9’The Protégé' (2021)
Actors: Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, and Robert Patrick
With her upcoming role in anewBoschspin-off, Maggie Qis the exact opposite inThe Protégé. Rescued by a hitman as a child, Anna Dutton (Q) is a natural assassin after learning everything from Moody Dutton (Samuel L. Jackson). However, after his murder, Anna goes on a revenge quest and exterminate whoever did this. Unfortunately, this brings up more trouble than she thought.
Despite garnering mixed reviews from critics,The Protégéis a fun and intense action movie, full of everything fans would want from a Campbell movie. Giving off a feeling ofJohn Wick, this movie delivers on thethrilling fights, shoot-outs, and chase scenes, making it a successful action movie in most people’s books. On top of that,The Protégéfeatures a great cast of Q, Jackson, andMichael Keaton.
The Protégé
8’The Legend of Zorro' (2005)
Actors: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Rufus Sewell
Serving as the second entry in the franchise,The Legend of Zorrohas the titular character trying to stop a secret society and their heinous intentions. However, Zorro has more problems than this secret society, with his wife filing for divorce because of his pursuit of heroics, ignoring her and his son. If fans can’t get enough of the series, then they should check out thequietly releasedZorroTV show on Prime Video.
WhileThe Legend of Zorrois nowhere near as good or recognized as its prequel, Campbell still produces anenjoyable and nostalgic action flick. Fans don’t need an excuse for wanting moreAntonio Banderasas Zorro, and while this film isn’t great, it at least gives fans what they want. With personal stakes, the movie still manages to be full offun dialog and witty action, delivering an entertaining movie no matter what the critics say.
The Legend of Zorro
7’No Escape' (1994)
Actors: Ray Liotta, Ernie Hudson, and Lance Henriksen
Based onRichard Herley’s 1987 novel,The Penal Colony, No Escapetakes place in a dystopian future where corporations run all the prisons. After a reconnaissance Marine, John Robbins (Ray Liotta) gets a life sentence on the prison island of Absolom, and he realizes his situation couldn’t be worse. With a war between two rival factions, the warden has a twisted solution, leaving Robbins’s only option to escape.
No Escapeis a unique twist on theprison-break movie genrewith its fascinating setting and inmate war. With each actor putting on an excellent performance,No Escapeis a surprisingly good action movie. Theincredible set design and costumes makethe prison island really immersive, adding a whole new level of entertainment as fans witness thedeath-defying action and stunts.
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6’Edge of Darkness' (2010)
Actors: Mel Gibson, Danny Huston, and Bojana Novakovic
Based on the critically acclaimed series by the same name, which gave Campbell his start in the industry,Edge of Darknessis the movie version of the same story. When a mysterious man shoots and kills the daughter of a hardened homicide detective, he goes on a mission to find and kill whoever did this. However, on his investigation, he discovers he wasn’t the initial target, uncovering his daughter’s dark history and secrets.
Mel Gibsonplays the role of a grieving father who will stop at nothing to find the answers he craves excellently, as he embodies everything about the role to deliver a standout performance.The gritty nature of the film helps build up the suspense and mystery, both some of the best aspects of the film. Despite the thrills taking over the intriguing nature of Gibson’s character, ultimately lessening the impact of his grief,Edge of Darknessis still a tremendous and underrated action thriller.
Edge of Darkness
5’Vertical Limit' (2000)
Actors: Chris O’Donnell, Robin Tunney, and Bill Paxton
Vertical Limitwas the face of mountain climbing movies in the 2000s, as it embodies the very essence of a survival thriller. When his sister and others get trapped on K2 because of lousy weather, Peter puts together a rescue team to climb the mountain and save them. However, the climb proves to be treacherous, as multiple members lose their lives, slowly inching closer to death with each step.
Before the genre became popular with other climbing movies,Vertical Limitwas the best mountain climbing filmand is still one of the best today. If fans are looking for a realistic movie about mountain climbing, this is not the one, as it includes many over-the-top and exaggerated scenes that need fans to suspend their disbelief. However, that is precisely what makesVertical Limitso thrilling.The push into absurdity helps make it incredibly suspenseful,with large stakes as more and more members die, ultimately creating a very enjoyable film.
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4’The Foreigner' (2017)
Actors: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, and Katie Leung
Based onStephen Leather’s 1992 novel,The Chinaman,The Foreignersees a local businessman lose the last shred of love he had. When terrorists kill his daughter in a pointless display of political violence, Quan Ngoc Minh goes on a vengeance-fueled adventure to find the ones responsible. This leads him to a government official who may have the answers Minh is searching for.
TakingJackie Chanout of his goofy yet entertaining action movies seemed like a weird decision. However,The Foreignerproves that they should have made it happen sooner, as it isone of Chan’s best movies. Chan is undoubtedly the best part of this movie, as he does incredibly well acting in a serious manner. Thefast-paced action never fails to amaze, as Chan delivers his elite combat talent in this captivating story.
The Foreigner
3’The Mask of Zorro' (1998)
Actors: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Anthony Hopkins
Perhaps the most iconic Western swashbuckling action film,The Mask of Zorro, brings back the titular character with a new face. Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) suddenly learns that his rival has escaped from prison. Eager to put a stop to the criminal’s plan and throw him back in jail, Don Diego trains a random drunkard to take his place and defeat his rival, becoming Zorro.
Campbell was the perfect choice to breathe life back into this franchise, creatingthe best iteration of the character. With his usual focus on dark action thrillers,The Mask of Zorroproves Campbell’s range, as he delivers one of thebest action romance movies ever. The film capitalizes on Banderas' andCatherine Zeta-Jones' perfect chemistry, creating a wonderful dynamic and aspect to the film.
The Mask of Zorro
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2’GoldenEye' (1995)
Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Famke Janssen, and Sean Bean
After six years without aBondfilm,Pierce Brosnanand Campbell finally teamed up to deliver one of the franchise’s most iconic movies.GoldenEyefollows Bond trying to stop 006, a former ally who has turned evil after obtaining a powerful satellite with the power to destroy the world. However, Bond must face multiple adversaries to get to the weapon and 006, making his mission no easy one.
Spawning the iconic video game of the same name,GoldenEyeis thebestBondmovie of the 1990sby leaning into the campiness and absurdity the originals are known for while still delivering on the action and thrills. Leaning into some serious scenes like torture,GoldenEyedials it up a notch, also making this Bond more lethal, allowing for some of thebest action fans have seen in the franchise.
1’Casino Royale' (2006)
Actors: Daniel Craig, Mads Mikkelsen, and Eva Green
After decades of campy crime movies,Casino Royaleflipped the script, makingJames Bondmore palatable for the modern audience with its gritty and thrilling nature. Remaking an originalBondfilm with the same name, this movie hasDaniel Craigas the newest face of the franchise investigating a man who finances terrorist organizations at a casino. However, the rookie Bond must improvise a deal as he gets himself in a tricky situation.
It’s crazy how much extreme content Campbellpushed intoCasino Royale, considering its PG-13 rating. Either way, it made the film ten times better, giving fans a much more serious Bond in a much more thrilling and suspenseful environment.Casino Royaleis undoubtedly Campbell’s best movie, as heincorporates the dark, gritty action thriller style he is known for into one of the most famous movie franchises, ultimately creating a thrilling masterpiece.
