These action flicks are well worth another viewing. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the action classics that we feel deserve a lil’ more love!
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00:00 I need your permission to operate independently.
00:02 Permission granted!
00:04 Thank you.
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the action classics that we feel deserve a little more love.
00:13 Save me a lot of paperwork if you just confess right now.
00:17 Number 20. The Northmen.
00:20 Director Robert Eggers has established himself as something of a visionary, developing evocative films with tons of personality.
00:26 It's the sword's nature, for it can only be unsheathed in the dark of night.
00:33 This was definitely the case with both The Witch and The Lighthouse, and Eggers' winning streak continued with 2022's The Northmen.
00:39 Strike, brother. Strike!
00:43 This hyper-violent revenge tale is steeped in Scandinavian mythology and contains some intense performances.
00:49 Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy kill it, pardon the pun, as leads,
00:54 while singer Bjork makes a memorable cameo early on in the film.
00:58 You cannot escape what fate the norms have spun. Now be gone!
01:05 The Northmen is visceral viewing and isn't for the faint of heart, but provides tons of action for those willing to take a ride.
01:11 Number 19. Rock 'n' Rolla.
01:13 Let me tell you how this works. You're going in to drink, and I'm going to have a cup of tea.
01:18 With classics like Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels under his belt, Guy Ritchie's bound to have at least one overlooked gem.
01:25 Like most of his movies, this action-crime comedy contains multiple storylines that all intertwine through happenstance.
01:31 Throw in charming English wit and a heavy dose of violence, and you've got a great action film.
01:35 Don't worry, he can't defend himself. He's got no head.
01:38 Albeit one that received mixed reviews from critics but was a hit with audiences.
01:42 Rock 'n' Rolla was number one at the box office in the UK when it was released and went on to gross over $25 million.
01:48 That may be a far cry from the $83 million for Snatch, but still, Ritchie's fifth film deserves more appreciation.
01:54 You are something special, Mr. Johnny Quid.
01:57 Number 18. The Long Kiss Goodnight.
01:59 There's a wealth of creative talent behind the scenes of 1996's The Long Kiss Goodnight.
02:04 I want a cigarette.
02:07 I don't smoke.
02:10 You used to.
02:12 Director Rennie Harlin has always been a reliable force for genre cinema,
02:16 but it's the script from Shane Black that truly steals the show.
02:19 Look at this!
02:21 Before we go, okay, okay, bye.
02:23 What?
02:24 The creator of Lethal Weapon proves his mettle once again with a story that mixes intrigue with action in a manner that never lets up.
02:31 Who sent you?
02:33 Why are you here?
02:35 I let you touch me, cowboy.
02:40 I think I need a bath.
02:42 Gina Davis is both sexy and powerful in the lead as a woman with a past that she can't recall.
02:47 Her eventual team-up with co-star Samuel L. Jackson is chock-full of chemistry, and the pair make a badass action couple.
02:53 The Long Kiss Goodnight is yet another Shane Black-scripted vehicle that's become a cult classic.
02:58 You're gonna die screaming.
03:02 And I'm gonna watch.
03:05 Number 17. Demolition Man.
03:07 Director Marco Brambilla comes from the world of modern art.
03:10 This actually makes a lot of sense given the magnificent visual style of 1993's Demolition Man.
03:15 Look, I don't need a history lesson. Come on, Hal! Where are the goddamn guns?
03:19 You are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality standard.
03:24 Brambilla didn't direct many films, but his creative stamp is all over the lived-in world from this action/science-fiction hybrid.
03:30 He's going for a gun.
03:32 Who cares what this primate thinks? Resonate some understanding.
03:36 The only place a person can even view a gun in this city is at a museum.
03:41 The dystopian future of a world without crime is turned on its head when a dangerous fugitive escapes from a cryogenic prison.
03:47 The script discusses the necessity of violence to combat violence, and doesn't shy away from asking interesting questions.
03:53 You live up top, you live cock-toe's way. What he wants, when he wants, how he wants.
03:57 Your other choice? Come down here, maybe starve to death.
04:01 At the same time, Demolition Man remembers to be profoundly entertaining and action-packed to a fault.
04:06 Say hello to my little friend!
04:08 Number 16. Upgrade
04:14 Logan Marshall-Green had a solid resume prior to his starring in the 2018 action flick Upgrade,
04:18 with supporting appearances in films like Prometheus and Spider-Man Homecoming.
04:22 However, Upgrade was a welcome surprise to many action fans, thanks to its intensity and palpable tension.
04:28 She was shot. That means he had a gun.
04:30 She was shot, but not with a gun he was holding in his hand.
04:34 The flick was directed by Saw franchise veteran Lee Winnell,
04:37 who took 1970s sci-fi tropes about body modification and gave them an updated coat of creative paint for the modern day.
04:44 Sam, he's got a knife! Sam!
04:47 I can see that. We can work together.
04:50 Green is great as a victim of violent crime who seeks revenge,
04:53 while Winnell's direction balances the more comedic moments with sequences of realistic violence
04:58 and outstandingly choreographed execution.
05:01 Number 15. Attack the Block
05:06 You know what that is? I'll tell you what that is. That's an alien, bruv. Believe it.
05:10 Must have come from outer space trying to take over the Earth, innit?
05:13 You don't want to mess with the kids on this block.
05:15 This campy sci-fi action movie is a fun twist on the alien invasion genre.
05:19 Steeped in youthful innocence, it follows a local gang of kids fighting off aliens with fireworks,
05:24 baseball bats, and a samurai sword.
05:26 But that doesn't mean it's not violent.
05:28 Director Joe Cornish conceived of the idea after he was mugged,
05:31 and he interviewed kids and youth groups to find out how they'd fight an army of aliens.
05:35 Plus, the acting's phenomenal for a cast of primarily teen actors.
05:38 John Boyega, better known for his role in Star Wars The Force Awakens,
05:42 receives high praise from critics as the main character, Moses.
05:45 We ain't killing each other fast enough, so they decided to speed up the process.
05:49 Number 14. Haywire
05:51 That's actually real? Oh, yeah. That makes sense.
05:54 A hero on the run storyline's always a good premise for an action thriller.
05:57 In this one, Mallory Kane has been stabbed in the back by her employer/ex-lover, but she can't figure out why.
06:03 You can tell me right now why you sold me out and what you're into with Studer,
06:07 or you can tell me in ten minutes when I have my hands around your throat.
06:10 Half of the movie's told through flashbacks, which makes for an interesting and unconventional viewing experience.
06:15 Actress Gina Carano, an MMA fighter in real life, performs all her own stunts, and the movie's all the better for it.
06:21 The hand-to-hand combat scenes are fantastic, and Carano's character kicks some major butt.
06:25 At certain points, viewers are just as lost as the main character is as to what's happening,
06:29 but all the pieces of the puzzle come together in the end.
06:32 I'll let you know.
06:34 When?
06:36 When I have him.
06:38 Number 13. The Rundown
06:40 I pick up guns, bad things happen to people. I don't like that.
06:42 It's a rumble in the jungle, and the Rock is kicking butt and taking names.
06:46 Dwayne Johnson plays Beck, a no-nonsense bounty hunter tasked with retrieving his boss's son from the Brazilian jungle.
06:52 Of course, it's not as straightforward as that.
06:54 Along the way, Beck ends up getting beaten up by a guy half his size and has an unfortunate encounter with a monkey.
06:59 Get out of here, monkey!
07:01 Johnson has undeniable chemistry with Sean William Scott, who plays the smart-mouthed bounty.
07:09 All in all, the movie brings a lot to the table with its delightful back-and-forth dialogue and over-the-top characters.
07:14 Plus, the final scene's pretty badass.
07:16 Whoa!
07:18 Number 12. To Live and Die in L.A.
07:21 I'd rather drink this shit-pink cement.
07:24 I want to get Rick Masters.
07:26 There's nothing U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance won't do to bring down the man who killed his partner.
07:30 Chance pulls every trick in the book and many off the book to bring down counterfeiter Rick Masters.
07:35 But if you can't come up with the front money, you're not for real.
07:39 The dialogue is sometimes clumsy and it may have received mixed reviews, but there's no denying the acting's good.
07:44 William Dafoe's portrayal of Masters as a cold criminal's chilling.
07:47 What a tragedy. I want my 600K.
07:51 The shootouts and car chases provide the excitement, but waiting to see how far Chance will go is where the suspense builds.
07:57 Altogether, the movie deserves a look from fans that may have once ignored it.
08:00 Going to an auto parts store to get a new window.
08:02 Number 11. Shoot 'Em Up.
08:06 A little in the way of subtlety or restraint when it comes to 2007's Shoot 'Em Up,
08:10 the film instead feels like a fleshy, gunpowder-flavored comic book, albeit in the best possible way.
08:15 The gun will only fire when it recognizes the thumbprint of the owner.
08:19 That makes firearms safer and it cuts down the crime.
08:21 Shoot 'Em Up plays in a creative sandbox that feels indebted to 1980s action movie cliches,
08:26 with a knowing wink and nod of self-awareness.
08:29 What's up, Doc?
08:32 Oh, you're a wascally wabbit.
08:35 Plot, character development, and especially physics are largely put on the back burner,
08:39 as Shoot 'Em Up instead creates over-the-top set pieces.
08:42 Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, and Paul Giamatti are clearly having a blast with the material,
08:47 and Shoot 'Em Up is made all the better for its audaciousness.
08:50 Number 10. Edge of Tomorrow.
08:57 You're going the wrong way. You're gonna miss your moment.
09:00 There's nothing quite like good old-fashioned word of mouth.
09:03 2014's Edge of Tomorrow initially struggled at the box office,
09:06 and at first it seemed as if the film would be a flop for star Tom Cruise.
09:10 Yet this adaptation of a 2004 Japanese novel managed to eventually come out the other side and gain a following.
09:21 When you killed that alpha, you inadvertently entered the enemy's nervous system.
09:24 Kate, you've seized control of the Omega's ability to reset the day.
09:29 How's that even possible?
09:32 Fans defended the film's well-actualized action,
09:35 as well as the gimmicky plot device of Cruise dying over and over again while caught in a time loop.
09:39 It's sometimes titled as "Live, Die, Repeat, Edge of Tomorrow," which actually makes a bit of sense.
09:44 That said, it doesn't really matter which title you see it under.
09:47 Edge of Tomorrow deserves your time.
09:49 Punch it! Punch it!
09:51 Number 9. Strange Days.
09:58 This is your life! Right here, right now!
10:02 Imagine a world where you could have any experience in life from the comfort of your own home.
10:06 In this science fiction thriller, Lenny Nero deals in "squid disks,"
10:10 recordings that allow the user to experience someone else's memories and physical sensations.
10:15 Let's get you wired up.
10:16 I hope this axle grease you got on your hair doesn't screw up the squid receptors.
10:20 What is all this squid shit, anyway?
10:22 The James Cameron-written story pulls you in from the start
10:25 and keeps you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns
10:28 as Nero tries to track down a sex worker's killer.
10:30 They never make it in time, anyway.
10:32 Even though it was a commercial failure, it's hard to see why.
10:34 Whether it's Lenny's expertly crafted dialogue as he waxes poetic about being the Santa Claus of the subconscious
10:40 or the heart-pumping action, Strange Days holds its own as a top-tier film.
10:44 I'm the magic man. Santa Claus of the subconscious.
10:48 Number 8. Thief.
10:49 Is there any director that combines style and substance better than Michael Mann?
10:53 We're not sure, but we do know that this creator of Miami Vice
10:56 certainly knows how to make banger after banger.
10:58 You found my money on gags.
11:00 Let us pretend that you don't know whose money it is.
11:04 That's right, for Christ's sakes. I don't know who you are.
11:06 1981's Thief may be Mann's magnum opus,
11:09 despite utilizing the well-worn trope of one last big score.
11:13 Your rent covers the risk.
11:14 $830,000. Four million at wholesale and unmanned stones.
11:18 The film's neon-soaked vision and synthesized score from Tangerine Dream
11:23 underlines the desperation at hand, as does Thief's seedy criminal underworld.
11:27 James Caan is simply magnetic in the lead,
11:36 and Mann's direction combines bursts of sudden violence with suspense and complex characterization.
11:41 We're not for a second suggesting that you only watch one Michael Mann film,
11:45 but if you do, make it this one.
11:47 Working directly for me?
11:49 I am self-employed. I am doing fine. I don't deal with egos.
11:54 Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt.
11:58 That's the first thing they teach you.
12:00 Any action movie worth its salt has at least one good car chase scene,
12:03 and thanks to director John Frankenheimer, Ronin has several.
12:06 According to the DVD director commentary, the movie used 300 stunt drivers,
12:10 and in many of the scenes, the actors were actually in the cars when they were shot.
12:14 When not in a high-speed chase, Robert De Niro plays a tough ex-special ops agent
12:18 trying to steal a briefcase, although no one will tell him what's inside it.
12:21 Throw in shootouts and De Niro blowing up a car with a bazooka,
12:31 and you've got a great but under-seen action movie.
12:33 You ever kill anybody?
12:35 I hurt somebody's feelings once.
12:37 I've been expecting you.
12:44 Mob movie meets samurai on the big screen in this Jim Jarmusch film.
12:49 Forrest Whitaker plays a mysterious soft-spoken hitman following the ways of the ancient Japanese warriors,
12:54 and he soon finds himself the target of the man he once worked for.
12:57 No meaning in no disrespect. Besides, I don't want to put too many holes in you.
13:01 This isn't your classic hard-hitting, guns-blazing action movie.
13:04 Shootouts are kept to a minimum, and there isn't much dialogue,
13:07 but the story and its main character make for a compelling film.
13:10 Plus, hip-hop fans are sure to like the soundtrack produced by the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA,
13:15 who also makes a cameo appearance.
13:17 Ghost or power in quality.
13:19 I will see everything about it.
13:21 We like to think that we live in a world where fans of this comic book character
13:26 can enjoy both the Sylvester Stallone and Carl Urban iterations of Judge Dredd.
13:30 I am the law!
13:33 That said, this 2012 version presented the character in a much grittier
13:38 and more violent light than its '90s predecessor.
13:41 2012's Dredd may not have performed well enough financially to warrant a franchise,
13:52 but fans largely approved of Urban's believable tough-guy persona.
13:58 Choke on it.
14:00 The world of Mega City One feels lived in here,
14:02 where danger, along with excessive slow-mo and dodgy CGI, unfortunately,
14:06 is always lurking around the corner.
14:08 Who knows? Maybe with the success of The Boys,
14:10 Urban's Dredd will be given the green light to defend the law once more.
14:14 Think a bullet might interfere with some more.
14:17 Almost everyone deserves a second chance,
14:26 but does that extend to gangsters responsible for their own father's death?
14:29 This Hong Kong blockbuster directed by John Woo struggles to answer that question,
14:33 with a healthy dose of action on the side.
14:35 This movie may not be considered a classic in North America,
14:40 but it was a smash hit in Asia, breaking Hong Kong's box office records.
14:43 Plus, co-star Chow Yun-fat just looks so cool chewing on a matchstick,
14:47 wearing a trench coat, and mowing down gangsters with a machine gun.
14:52 [Shouting in Chinese]
14:54 Woo would go on to use Yun-fat in his influential 1992 action flick Hard Boiled,
15:03 so even if reading subtitles isn't your thing, you won't be disappointed.
15:06 [Shouting in Chinese]
15:08 And the wind favors us this time.
15:17 Now don't count your eggs before they're in the pudding, Mr. Calame.
15:19 Oscar season can be a funny thing.
15:21 Some films that are lavished with awards or nominations go on to become rewatchable classics,
15:25 while still others fall into the fog of history.
15:27 Close with him and midships!
15:29 Midship station!
15:30 Master and Commander The Far Side of the World was well regarded back when it was released in 2003,
15:36 well, at least by critics and the Academy.
15:38 The film underperformed at the box office,
15:40 however, leading it to be a somewhat underrated entry in lead Russell Crowe's filmography.
15:44 This was an era of big-budgeted, high-adventure epics like the Lord of the Rings franchise,
15:48 as well as another naval franchise you may have heard of called Pirates of the Caribbean.
15:52 That said, we think that this Master and Commander is more than worthy of another look.
15:56 Number 2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
16:04 Shane Black proved that he was more than just a screenwriter back in 2005 when he helmed his first full-length feature,
16:10 Wow. Sorry.
16:12 Hey, good luck.
16:15 titled Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
16:16 The film brought together all of Black's trademark wit with a stacked cast.
16:20 You don't freak out.
16:21 Shut up. You change your tune every five minutes.
16:23 Kiss me.
16:25 What?
16:26 No, no, no.
16:27 Leads Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer possess a great rapport,
16:30 while Black's adaptation of the 1941 novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them
16:34 updates classic mystery tropes for the modern day.
16:36 Yeah, what happened? He had to kill her, huh?
16:38 Harry, will you put a sock in it?
16:39 I'm just asking a question.
16:40 No, I'm serious, Black.
16:41 Yeah, if you ask questions, then it seems like we don't know anything, like we're fishing.
16:44 Okay, okay.
16:45 This is a movie where the city of Los Angeles features heavily as a character all its own,
16:49 and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang relishes in digging deep into the muck of moviemaking.
16:53 It's a movie that just seems to know how cool it is, and we're 100% in for the ride.
16:57 Oh, yeah!
17:00 Homophobes never check their...
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17:20 More action movies should take place on trains.
17:30 This sci-fi thriller is set on the never-ending rattling arc built to save humanity from a new ice age
17:35 induced as an effort to combat global warming.
17:38 And now you have the sacred responsibility to lead all of humanity.
17:43 Without you, Curtis, humanity will cease to exist.
17:47 The premise for the movie, based on a French graphic novel, is unique, and the action scenes are epic,
17:51 and we guarantee that you've never seen an axe fight scene as brutal as in this one.
17:55 The Czech-Korean movie did phenomenally abroad, but barely made money when it was released in the US,
18:05 despite rave reviews.
18:07 Considering the movie grapples with larger themes of class warfare, population control, and climate change,
18:12 Snowpiercer is much better than its North American box office numbers indicate.
18:16 Want to shout out your favorite action flick? Let us know in the comments.
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18:34 [Snoring]