Although the 1980s and‘90s are often thought of as the peak of the genre,the 21st century has provided more than a few modern action classics.Advancing technologies, a growing appreciation for stunt performers, and more interest in reviving classical franchises have led to an era in which action can be considered “prestige.” Although not all of the blockbusters films that dominated the 21st century box office were necessarily of the highest quality, those that stood out as critical successes tended to be commercial hits as well.
There was a great diversity to thebest action films in recent memory, as there has certainly been a greater interest in international action cinema. Even some of the more popular English-language films have been unafraid to acknowledge their international influences. Here are the ten most thrilling action movies of the 21st century, ranked.
10‘Baby Driver’ (2017)
Directed by Edgar Wright
Baby Driverwas the culmination of Edgar Wright’s career, proving that he had far more to offer than just making parodies of popular genres. Although Wright has pulled off some impressive stunt sequences in his buddy cop comedyHot Fuzzand his adaptation ofScott Pilgrim vs. The World,Baby Driverbrought to life a thrilling love story between a charismatic getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) and the young waitress (Lily James) that wins over his heart.
Baby Driverwas made all the more thrilling due to the practical filmmaking,as Wright destroyed countless actual carson set filming the excellent chase scenes. This level of realism is what differentiates elevated cinema likeBaby Driverfrom the more forgettable entries inThe Fast and the FuriousorTransformersfranchises, which are far too reliant on computer generated imagery to do the hard work.
Baby Driver
Baby, a talented and music-obsessed getaway driver, works for a ruthless crime boss, using his incredible driving skills to execute flawless heists. Dreaming of a normal life, he falls for a charming waitress and decides to escape his criminal past. But his plans are jeopardized when a heist goes wrong, forcing him to fight for his freedom and the future he desires.
Watch on Netflix
9‘Oldboy’ (2003)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Oldboyis one of the most disturbing movies ever made, as directorPark Chan-wookcompletelyturned the revenge thrilleron its head with one of the most shocking endings in the history of cinema. Film fans have certainly been taught to think ahead about the potential twists that could occur within a story, but the twist inOldboyis so brutal, unexpected, and thoroughly upsetting that almost no one was able to see it coming.
Oldboyhas incredibly gritty action sequences,which emphasized the fact that the stars of the film were doing their own stunts. The infamous “hallway” fight was an incredibly innovative moment on Park’s part; it ended up inspiring many imitators that tried to recreate the unfiltered brutality of the scene, including theBob Odenkirkaction thrillerNobodyand a memorable episode of the Netflix seriesDaredevil.
Obsessed with vengeance, a man sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for twenty years without reason.
8‘Casino Royale’ (2006)
Directed by Martin Campbell
Casino Royalewas theboost of energy that the James Bond franchise needed, as the mixed reception to the last few films that had starredPierce Brosnanhas suggested that the 007 series was no longer as relevant as it once was.Casino Royalewent back to the origins of the character, as it served as an adaptation of the very first novel inIan Fleming’s spy series.
Daniel Craig instantly proved himself to be one of the best Bonds ever, as he was able to capture the mix of cynicism and heroism that made the character so complex. In addition to providing Bond with one of his best love interests ever thanks to the amazing performance byEva Green,Casino Royalealso featured the particularly intimidating villain Le Chiffre, who was played by the incredible Danish actorMads Mikkelsen.
Casino Royale
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7‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Top Gun: Maverickwas thelegacy sequel that no one knew that they needed, as the prospect ofTom Cruisereturning to the world of the 1986 classic fromTony Scottwas met with skepticism from the moment that it was announced. While it did have more than a few clever nods to the film that had preceded it,Top Gun: Maverickwas so engaging on a character level that it was able to become a multi-generational success.
The aerial combat scenes inTop Gun: Maverickare among the best ever filmed, and feel particularly impactful due to the actual flying that Cruise was willing to do. Although Cruise is just as charismatic as he has always been,Top Gun: Maverickput a spotlight on the next generation of movie stars thanks to the terrific roles forMiles TellerandGlen Powell.
Top Gun: Maverick
After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.
6‘Mission: Impossible- Fallout’ (2018)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Mission: Impossible- Falloutis perhaps the greatest achievement in theMission: Impossiblefranchise thus far, which is no small statement considering that the series is among the most consistently excellent ongoing sagas. It’s almost impossible to talk about the success of the entireMission: Impossiblefranchise withoutmentioning the amazing stunt work that Cruise put into it; his commitment to giving the audience the best experience possible makes the experience of watching the film even more entertaining.
Mission: Impossible- Falloutis easily the most emotional installment within the franchise, as it shows how Ethan Hunt is forced to reckon with wanting to save his friends and the world at the same time. While he never got a fair shot at playing Superman in the DCEU,Henry Cavilldelivered a terrific performance inMission: Impossible- Falloutas the villain Walker, who actually poses a serious threat to Ethan.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
5‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (2007)
Directed by Paul Greengrass
The Bourne Ultimatumwas the culmination ofone of the greatest action trilogies of all-time, and added some surprisingly emotional qualities to the series. While the originalThe Bourne Identityhad revolutionized the modern spy thriller andThe Bourne Supremacyachieved an incredibly relentless pace,The Bourne Ultimatumserved as a satisfying conclusion because it finally provided the titular character (Matt Damon) with the elusive secrets about his past that he had been searching for. Damon certainly is able to show Bourne’s arc over time, but he is at enough distance from the audience that the shocking ending still lands with the most impact possible.
The Bourne Ultimatumis an excellent conspiracy thrillerthat is able to delve deeply into the government conspiracies. While it was followed by the spinoffThe Bourne Legacyand the sequelJason Bourne,The Bourne Ultimatumremains the most impressive achievement within the series.
The Bourne Ultimatum
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4‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)
Directed by Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonalmost single-handedly revivedinterest in the martial arts genre, asAng Leecrafted a classical epic about love, revenge, betrayal, and honor. Although the themes thatCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonharked back to the most primal era of mythological storytelling, the film was shot with such gorgeous cinematography that it felt like a complete revelation.
Lee does an excellent job at crafting stylized action, as the film provides many sequences in which the characters appear to levitate in the midst of battle. However,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonis certainly not intended to be complete escapism; it offers a very emotional hero’s journey story arc, which is made even more powerful thanks to the breakout performance byMichelle Yeoh. Yeoh’s performance turned her into an icon of the genre, and certainly led to her groundbreaking win for Best Actress at the Academy Awards forEverything Everywhere All At Once.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
A young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.
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3‘Gladiator’ (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Gladiatoris one of the few action movies that actuallywon the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the accolade certainly could not have been more deserving.Ridley Scottcrafted one of the greatest revenge thrillers ever, as the film centered on the former Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), who is forced to fight in the Gladiatorial arenas to get revenge on the Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who murdered his entire family.
Scott weaves in real aspects of history with tremendous action scenes, and succeeds in giving Maximus an inspiring character arc about the importance of retaining democratic institutions. While Crowe’s performance is certainly one of the greatest “movie star” roles in recent memory, Phoenix deserves just as much credit for creating a villain that the viewers could genuinely love to hate because of how evil he was.
In ancient Rome, after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, loyal general Maximus is betrayed and sentenced to death by the new emperor, Commodus. Escaping execution, Maximus is enslaved and forced to fight as a gladiator, where his skills and honor lead him toward a path of vengeance and redemption.
2‘John Wick’ (2014)
John Wickwas a complete shock thattook the entire industry by surprise, as the film had received almost no marketing, and at one point was almost sent to be a direct-to-DVD style. It was a good thing that it opted to go into theaters, becauseJohn Wickproved to be an inventive blend of neo-noir, martial arts, gunplay, and comic book world building that felt like a breath of fresh air.
The stylized action inJohn Wickwas crafted to perfection, which is mostly due to directorChad Stahelski’s actual experience as a stunt performer.Keanu Reeveshad been an action icon due toSpeed, Point Break,andThe Matrixamong others, but he gives arguably his best performance inJohn Wick, as the character is meant to embody his signature characteristics. The film ended up being the beginning of one of the best franchises of the past few years.
An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car.
Directed by George Miller
Mad Max: Fury Roadwas an astounding success on every levelthat instantly proved to beone of the greatest sequels of all-time.While the originalMad Maxtrilogy thatGeorge Millerhad directed certainly set precedents for post-apocalyptic Australian westerns,Mad Max: Fury Roadwas a nonstop chase thriller that barely gave the viewers a chance to breathe.
Enough good things cannot be said about the practical craftsmanship inMad Max: Fury Road, as Miller poured his heart and soul into making everything as real as it possibly could have been.Tom Hardydid a great job at playing the title role, and in many ways surpassed the performance thatMel Gibsonhad given in the original trilogy; however, it was the debut ofCharlize Theronas Imperator Furiosa that became the true action icon of a new generation.
