Last updated March 2024
On the hunt for acclaimed Best Action Movies worth watching now? We assembled 30 incredible Best Action Movies praised by both IMDB reviewers and our own discerning user community. Dive right into these top-tier Best Action Movies picked especially for quality and broad appeal. Cast your vote to help surface other viewers' next great find. We're grateful when members take the time to highlight stellar Best Action Movies!
The Dark Knight (2008)
Plot Summary:
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker
Duration: 152 min
IMDB Rating: 9.0/10
IMDB Votes: 28000000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: superhero, batman, heroes, secret identity, tragic hero, psychopath, moral dilemma, corruption, organized crime, villain, comic book, joker, double life, good versus evil, vigilante, rivalry, clown, gotham city, revenge, evil clown, insanity, dark hero, super villain, psychological manipulation, billionaire
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Plot Summary:
Aragorn is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf and the other members of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron's forces. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam bring the ring closer to the heart of Mordor, the dark lord's realm
Duration: 201 min
IMDB Rating: 9.0/10
IMDB Votes: 19000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand, USA
Plot tags: sword fight, wizard, magic, magical, battles, creature, courage, monster, friendship, sword and sorcery, good versus evil, medieval, sorcerer, ancient, middle earth, heroic mission, race against time, hobbit, imaginary kingdom, imaginary, journey, army, warrior, elf, save the world
The Message (1976)
Plot Summary:
The story of prophet "Muhammad" and the delivery of the message of God "Allah"
Duration: 207 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Thriller, War
Country: Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Plot tags: camel, arabic history, prophet, muslim, islam, muslim woman, medieval, religion, ancient, arab, horse, historical event, historical character, dancing, travel, spy, combat, revenge, women, army, desert, hunter, water, death, torture
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc (2021)
Plot Summary:
Tanjiro ventures to the south-southeast where he encounters a cowardly young man named Zenitsu Agatsuma. He is a fellow survivor from Final Selection and his sparrow asks Tanjiro to help keep him in line
Duration: 87 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: supernatural, martial arts, supernatural ability, demonic possession, teamwork, supernatural power, demon, fight, warrior, battles, young, adventure
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Mt. Natagumo Arc (2020)
Plot Summary:
Tanjiro, now a registered Demon Slayer, teams up with fellow slayers Zenitsu and Inosuke to investigate missing person cases on the mountain Natagumo. After the group is split up during a fight with possessed swordfighters, they slowly begin to realize the entire mountain is being controlled by a family of Demon spider creatures. A recap film of Kimetsu no Yaiba, covering episodes 15-21 with some new footage and special ending credits
Duration: 138 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Animation, Action, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Plot tags: demon, supernatural, teamwork, disappearance, mysterious disappearance, supernatural power, good versus evil, fight, mysticism, investigation, battles, supernatural ability, showdown, family relations, demon hunter
Inception (2010)
Plot Summary:
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious
Duration: 148 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 25000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: dream, virtual reality, memory, alternate reality, twists and turns, imagination, subconscious, philosophy, existentialism, fictional reality, heist, architecture, mind control, lucid dream, puzzle, teamwork, parallel world, fantasy world, kidnapping, trippy, sleeping, time, psychological manipulation, manipulation, redemption
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Plot Summary:
Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fellowship members at the Orthanc Tower in Isengard
Duration: 179 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 17000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand, USA
Plot tags: sword fight, wizard, magic, fantasy world, creature, friendship, magical, monster, mission, sword and sorcery, mythology, good versus evil, middle earth, elf, siege, hobbit, imaginary kingdom, army, lord of the rings, warrior, imaginary, heroic mission, swords and armor, medieval, save the world
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Plot Summary:
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed
Duration: 178 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 20000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: New Zealand, USA
Plot tags: sword fight, friendship, fantasy world, wizard, sword and sorcery, magic, good versus evil, monster, mythology, middle earth, magical, river, hobbit, medieval, lord of the rings, journey, magical ring, heroic mission, creature, imaginary kingdom, imaginary, sorcerer, save the world, castle, ancient
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Plot Summary:
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Spider-Verse saga, an epic adventure that will transport Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man across the Multiverse to join forces with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-People to face off with a villain more powerful than anything they have ever encountered
Duration: 140 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 312000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, peter parker character, african american, villain, alternate universe, teen superhero, alternate dimension, fight, police, laboratory, father son relationship, superheroine, death of friend, teenager, superhero team, superpower, spider man, child, anthropomorphism, loss of son, parallel universe, secret identity, multiverse, revenge, escape
The Legend Of Maula Jatt (2022)
Plot Summary:
Maula Jatt 2 is an upcoming Pakistani action drama film directed and written by Bilal Lashari, co-produced by Faisal Rafi and Bilal Lashari under production banner of Crew Motion Pictures. It is a sequel to 1979 cult-classic Maula Jatt. The revealed cast includes Fawad Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi playing the lead roles along with Mahira Khan, Adnan Jaffar, Shamoon Abbasi and Humaima Malik
Duration: 153 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, History, Thriller
Country: Pakistan
Plot tags: heroes, gang, murder, gangster, violence, death, battles, brutality, chase, vengeance, rivalry, society, danger, criminal underworld, gang war, criminal's revenge, martial arts, punjabi, deadly, crimes
The Matrix (1999)
Plot Summary:
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth
Duration: 136 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 20000000
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Australia
Plot tags: artificial intelligence, philosophy, virtual reality, dystopia, distopia, martial arts, existentialism, cyberpunk, alternate reality, gunfight, fight, visceral, hacker, post apocalypse, simulated reality, robot, man versus machine, mentor, freedom, technology, post apocalyptic, destiny, trippy, save the world, consciousness
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Plot Summary:
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair
Duration: 124 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 14000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: star wars, space opera, outer space, alien, sword fight, space travel, space and aliens, creature, space battle, good versus evil, training, jedi, heroic mission, spacecraft, androids, space wars, spaceship, rebellion, swamp, snow, space, intergalactic, robot, rescue, duel
Soorarai Pottru (2020)
Plot Summary:
Nedumaaran Rajangam "Maara" sets out to make the common man fly and in the process takes on the world's most capital intensive industry and several enemies who stand in his way
Duration: 153 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 122000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: India
Plot tags: plane crash, airplane, one against many, frustration, struggle, coping, fighting the system, direction and purpose, ambition, aspiration, blind ambition, travel, woman, innovation, scuffle, running, destruction, anger, bicycle, emergency, loan, rejection, emotional breakdown, bike, airplane crash
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2006)
Plot Summary:
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is a complete edit of the two-part martial arts action films Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Kill Bill: Vol. 2. The film was originally scheduled to be released as one part. However, due to the film's over 4 hour running time, it was split into two parts
Duration: 247 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: revenge, sword, girl fight, wedding, martial arts, violence, brutality, twists and turns, death, murder, justice, fight scenes, serial killer, dark humor, betrayal, heroine, pregnant bride, kung fu, gang, assassin, tough guy, femme fatale, gore, badass female lead, katana
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Plot Summary:
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire
Duration: 121 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 14000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: space opera, star wars, outer space, rebellion, robot, spaceship, intergalactic, space wars, wilhelm scream, sword fight, space, space travel, rebel, princess, heroic mission, planet, evil empire, space station, good versus evil, space and aliens, jedi, lightsaber, spacecraft, weapon of mass destruction, alien
Harakiri (1962)
Plot Summary:
Peace in 17th-century Japan causes the Shogunate's breakup of warrior clans, throwing thousands of samurai out of work and into poverty. An honorable end to such fate under the samurai code is ritual suicide, or hara-kiri
Duration: 133 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Action, Drama, Mystery
Country: Japan
Plot tags: samurai, suicide, poverty, revenge, seppuku, medieval, tragedy, courage, life & death, sword fight, life is a bitch, rivalry, society, death, feudal japan, hara kiri, ninja, japanese culture, tokugawa shogunate, showdown, ronin, loss of daughter, martial arts, ancient, japanese history
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Plot Summary:
Nearly 10 years have passed since Sarah Connor was targeted for termination by a cyborg from the future. Now her son, John, the future leader of the resistance, is the target for a newer, more deadly terminator. Once again, the resistance has managed to send a protector back to attempt to save John and his mother Sarah
Duration: 137 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: artificial intelligence, time travel, terminator, robot, cyborgs, man versus machine, apocalypse, androids and robots, end of the world, violence, alternate timeline, child in peril, time traveler, time, robot vs. robot, dystopia, strong female character, battlefield, violent, post apocalypse, cyberpunk, fictional war, weapons, motorcycle, villain
Sita Ramam (2022)
Plot Summary:
Afreen, a rebellious Pakistani student sets ablaze the car of an Indian in London. Angered Afreen returns to Pakistan to ask for money from her grandfather that she has to pay in a month's time as damages. However, she gets to know that he is no more and the only thing he has left for her is a letter-delivering task, written by Ram to Sita. As Afreen sets out to find Ram, there begins her journey of discovering the secret behind the 20-year-old letter
Duration: 163 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 65000
Genere: Action, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Country: India
Plot tags: love, orphan, soldier, inheritance, girl, young love, jail, military service, love letter, star crossed lovers, telugu, bollywood
Gladiator (2000)
Plot Summary:
In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences
Duration: 155 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 16000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama
Country: USA, UK, Malta, Morocco
Plot tags: revenge, ancient rome, roman empire, vengeance, sword fight, ancient history, gladiator, freedom, slavery, courage, warrior, ancient world, battlefield, pride and honor, emperor, lone hero, roman, tragic hero, violence, knight, peplum, death of protagonist, combat, master warrior, swords and armor
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Plot Summary:
Leon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Leon's footsteps
Duration: 110 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Plot tags: hitman, mentor, organized crime, friendship, revenge, loneliness, sniper, murder, loner, killings, redemption, life philosophy, corruption, shooting, dark hero, gunfight, assassin, killer child, fight scenes, nymphet, orphan, police corruption, lone wolves, mafia, older man younger woman relationship
Sarpatta Parambarai (2021)
Plot Summary:
When Sarpatta Parambarai is challenged to a do-or-die match, Kabilan, a young labourer, must choose whether to put on the gloves himself and lead his clan to victory, or be dissuaded by his disapproving mother and dangerous politics
Duration: 173 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: India
Plot tags: boxing, fight, politics, gang war, crime family, bandit, gang, boxer, battles, athlete and trainer, organized crime, political intrigue, power struggle, political unrest, showdown, criminal gang, prizefighter, fight for supremacy, mission, mother, coach, cheating, clan, training, tamil
Commander (1991)
Plot Summary:
Surya is an orphan raised in a slum. He finds a friend in the local Godfather. They rule the town and forms a parallel government. Things are well until new district collect, step -brother of Surya takes charge. Surya finds his mom and decides to surrender
Duration: 157 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: India, Philippines
Plot tags: orphan, friendship, gangster, tragic love, innovation, asian gangster, abandoned baby, prison, criminal, rain, organized crime, slum, widow, police station, hugging, guilt, love interest, teenage mother, bail, birth mother, unwed mother, gang, gratitude, mother son relationship, tamil
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Plot Summary:
In postwar Japan, a new terror rises. Will the devastated people be able to survive... let alone fight back?
Duration: 124 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Plot tags: godzilla, kaiju, monster, giant monster, airplane, post war japan, world war two, ocean, giant, island, escape, water, death, running, hospital, orphan, mine, post war, boat, baby, photograph, city, kamikaze, disappearance, little girl
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Plot Summary:
Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle and the villainous Bane, a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy
Duration: 164 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 18000000
Genere: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: superhero, batman, heroes, good versus evil, secret identity, double life, chaos and mayhem, terrorism, villainess, motorcycle, self sacrifice, terrorist plot, revenge, anger, comic book, plot twist, criminal underworld, disguise, femme fatale, twists and turns, captain, hallucination, bravery, waterfall, motorcycle chase
Aliens (1986)
Plot Summary:
When Ripley's lifepod is found by a salvage crew over 50 years later, she finds that terra-formers are on the very planet they found the alien species. When the company sends a family of colonists out to investigate her story, all contact is lost with the planet and colonists. They enlist Ripley and the colonial marines to return and search for answers
Duration: 137 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 750000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: alien, space travel, strong female character, survival, outer space, female warrior, space, space and aliens, creature, human versus alien, monster, deadly creature, alien invasion, evil alien, spacecraft, spaceship, female hero, female protagonist, space colony, soldier, trapped, heroine, mysterious planet, strong female lead, alien monster
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Plot Summary:
In the "classic Spider-Man mold", Miles Morales must juggle his high school life with his status as a superhero. Until he learns by Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, that there is a multiverse, called the "Spider-Verse", in each reality has their own Spider theme hero
Duration: 117 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 645000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: superhero, multiverse, teenager, alternate universe, peter parker character, school, superheroine, teenage life, teenage superhero, super powers, father son relationship, love, physics, secret identity, comic book, superpower, african american, spider man, martial arts, giant monster, robot, giant, good versus evil, teacher, police
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Plot Summary:
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store
Duration: 181 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 12000000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, time travel, heroes, alternate timeline, invasion, superhero team, alien, outer space, tony stark character, revenge, fight scenes, epic battle, humanity in peril, final battle, army, battlefield, time machine, good versus evil, supernatural power, superheroine, spacecraft, super villain, father daughter relationship, super powers, mission
Oldboy (2003)
Plot Summary:
With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate businessman seeks revenge on his captors
Duration: 120 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 619000
Genere: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: revenge, incest, vengeance, older man younger woman relationship, psychopath, plot twist, hypnosis, mind game, psychological torture, kidnapping, confined, torture, loneliness, great ending, brother sister relationship, imprisonment, brother sister incest, sin, captive, father daughter incest, notebook, incestuous relationship, violence, humiliation, mysterious villain
Thani Oruvan (2015)
Plot Summary:
An idealistic cop and an ambitious scientist-businessman indulge in a high-stake battle of wits
Duration: 160 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: India
Plot tags: police officer, good versus evil, police, revenge, heroes, violence, scientist, death, murder, crime boss, brutality, chase, vengeance, rivalry, society, mob boss, gang war, mad scientist, arch villain, crime family, criminal heroes, gangster, genius, secret service, cop
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Plot Summary:
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime
Duration: 115 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 10000000
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: USA
Plot tags: treasure hunt, archaeologist, indiana jones, treasure, adventurer, archaeology, nazi, artifact, chase, villain, desert, escapades, jungle, shootout, secret place, good versus evil, ancient, journey, supernatural, adventure hero, courage, archeological dig, peril, damsel in distress, expedition