Action is easily one of cinema's most entertaining genres. Adventure so often goes hand-in-hand with it. Action films have gone through a lot of changes over the years, but action has always captivated its audience's hearts and minds around the world. Whether it's through jaw-dropping fight choreography or massively epic explosions, action keeps people watching.
What defines a legendary film in these genres? A central character with almost inhuman skills, a villain worthy of the worst beatings, and an adventure that requires dangerous stunts like jumping out of planes and battles with small armies of foes. The very best action and adventure movies aren't just great on their own terms, they helped define their genre. Every film in this list has either one or the other or both in spades and each is essential viewing for fans.
55 Commando
Arnold Schwarzenegger proves once again that there really is no upper limit to the amount of iconic roles one person can star in, as he battles Russell Crowe for the crown. 1985s Commando follows Colonel John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) as he finds himself on the wrong side of the equation after all of his former squadmates are killed.
Though its premise is admittedly generic, Arnie shows off all the charm that led to him being the most recognizable face in Hollywood for nearly a decade. Not as good a movie as some later on this list, it’s still an immensely enjoyable watch.
54 Robin Hood
It may not be one of Ridley Scott’s best efforts but the story of Robin Hood is still a fairly timeless one. The action follows the famously charitable hero as the 12th century draws to a close. A soldier in the army of Richard the Lionheart, he deserts with his men after the King is killed during a siege. From there, he goes on to become more reminiscent of the character so many will be familiar with.
The narrative does a decent job subverting some of the expectations the audience may have and Russell Crowe, as ever, does the grizzled but morally pure action hero very capably. Though it could be accused of being a little forgettable, there is plenty within the more fast-paced scenes to make it worth a watch.
53 Highlander
Though it showcases far less accomplished filmmaking than many of the entries on this list, it's difficult to deny how fun it is to watch Highlander for the first time. Christopher Lambert stars as the protagonist in a movie that chronicles a timeless war between immortal warriors that still rages in the present day.
The story is bizarrely the least important element though as it kind of just operates as a backdrop for the zany things the writers and director wanted to do. Some of the fight scenes are hugely memorable, if only for the bonkers things that the film considers acceptable. Oh, and Sean Connery is in it, so there’s that.
52 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
One of the most recent entries on this list is also the one that combines the twin spheres of action and adventure the most equitably. Fans of the game will, for the most part, find that this outing is an exciting and accurate enough rendition of the most recent version of the tabletop game. But even for those outside of that particular world, there is more than enough to get into.
With an effective performance from Chris Pine in the lead role, backed up admirably by big names like Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant, this heist flick has charm in spades. Though the slightly silly nature of the whole thing might put off the more discerning and irascible audience member, suspending disbelief opens the door to a world that simply aims to provide a good time to the viewer.
51 Apocalypto
Mel Gibson is a controversial and divisive figure in Hollywood, with his directorial approach attracting far more ire than his acting ever did. That said, Apocalypto is undeniably well done and an unflinching look at a civilization that is often left by the wayside in favor of European nations like Rome or Greece. The movie follows Jaguar Paw, a Mayan who becomes disillusioned and combative with his fellow countrymen.
If it’s possible to not find the violence too disturbing, the movie is brilliantly directed and the bleak artistic approach flies in the face of what renditions of historical South America have done previously. The stark and sudden ending is also something to look out for and worth the significant wait to get there.
50 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The weakest of the Indiana Jones movies is still a classic in its own right. The first thing to acknowledge is that, as with many films of the time, its interpretation and depiction of indigenous populations worldwide hasn’t aged well. Individual characters within the movie are also riddled with stereotypes that reflect poorly on the movie industry at the time.
That enormous caveat aside, the film has everything that makes an Indiana Jones movie such an enjoyable watch. An iconic Harrison Ford continues his quest to be the world’s most rugged archaeologist and has to deal with all of the threats that go along with that. Bad guys, boulders and buried treasure aplenty, it remains a fun entry into the genre.
49 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Despite being the latest movie in arguably the most saturated subgenre of all (superheroes), Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is not only the strongest in the trilogy but the best Marvel feature release in years. An action-adventure in every sense of the term, it concludes the story of the original gang following the final defeat of the Mad Titan Thanos.
Marvel’s epic conclusion to the Thanos saga in Endgame had a ripple effect throughout many of the major franchises that continue to this day. The Guardians felt this more than most and the final movie offers a window into the humanity of characters that had otherwise seemed cold and distant. With some well-delivered commentary on some of the real world’s more regrettable practices, it’s a worthy watch for both adults and younger audiences.
48 Guns Akimbo
When Daniel Radcliffe finished his stint as boy wizard Harry Potter, it was difficult to see how he would ever move past the huge shadow it cast over his career. In spite of those odds, his remarkable approach to reinventing his career is most clearly demonstrated by his star turn in Guns Akimbo. Set in an alternative future, Radcliffe’s character Miles wakes up to find two handguns drilled into his hands.
A criminal organization known as Skizm is responsible for this involuntary surgery, and they want to livestream an event where Miles has to stay alive while being hunted by a uniquely deadly killer. In spite of that description, there is some solid humor and an art style that feels remarkably fresh. A bit of a sleeper hit, it’s one of Radcliffe’s best post-Potter performances to date.
47 Romancing the Stone
If someone asked ChatGPT what an adventure film looks like, it would probably come up with something vaguely similar to Romancing the Stone. With an impressive cast of Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito, the story follows a romance writer who needs to travel to Colombia to rescue her sister from criminals in search of a mystical treasure.
The jungle setting and deliberately over-the-top heroic acting from Douglas are a pleasure to watch. An easy foray into a magical world without leaving the comfort of the couch/chair.
46 Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World
Russell Crowe makes one of many appearances in this list as the go-to star for historical action flicks. Though Master and Commander isn’t based on one individual Patrick O’Brian novel, the influence of the author’s work is masterfully interwoven throughout the film’s epic 138-minute runtime.
It charts the story of Crowe’s Captain Jack Aubrey of the ship HMS Surprise during the Napoleonic Wars. It has some of the most well-realized naval battles ever put to film and would have been a shoo-in for a bunch more Academy Awards than the two it won, had it not run in the same year as category-sweeping The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
45 Terminator
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic and eternal role sees him take to arguably a very suitable role as a robot like a duck to water. Though he would go on to reach his peak as the character in later films (see further down the list) the first Terminator film is where it all began.
In what hindsight may have proven to be an early warning of James Cameron’s prowess in the director’s chair, the film takes wonderful advantage of its relatively limited budget. With a particularly gritty style and some of the more memorable scenes in cinema history, the T-800 has rightly secured its place among the very best in the genre.
44 Ong Bak
Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior is the most relentless martial arts movie ever made. Where The Raid puts its directorial energy towards a heady mix of bloody violence and the gritty underworld, Ong Bak is much more a tribute to the art form of Muay Thai itself. It certainly doesn’t shy away from portraying extreme violence, but it prioritizes its depiction of the beauty of highly trained combat.
The title refers to a Buddha statue in the film that is desecrated and beheaded by thieves. The village it was in then falls into disrepair and a villager named Ting connects the dots and decides to go on a quest to recover the stolen head. On the way, of course, he will have to fight many, many “bad guys” in a way that is as extravagant as it is savage. The whole thing is, to the very closest definition, a spectacle.
43 300
Movies don’t come much more historically inaccurate than 300, but that’s only disappointing for those who go into it expecting a feature like All Quiet on the Western Front. In actuality, 300 is based on the graphic novel created by Frank Miller in the late 1990s and seeks to render the infamous ancient Greek Battle of Thermopylae in the goriest and most stylized way possible.
It features an 8ft Persian Emperor, battle rhinos and a cast of impossibly ripped actors including Gerard Butler, Michael Fassbender and Vincent Regan. It won’t be worth it for everyone but for those who enjoy a more stylized approach to filmmaking, it’s a very cool watch.
42 The Bourne Ultimatum
Matt Damon’s first foray into the world of super-secret, extra-special agent Jason Bourne is by far his best. The fact that the character has gone on to be the basis for an increasingly enormous franchise is a testament to the strength of its first outing. What could, at first glance, appear to be a very run-of-the-mill action flick in the same vein as James Bond, actually turned out to be far more ingenious.
Bourne is the best agent in the shadiest governmental organization in the world and, when he wakes up with amnesia, he finds himself very quickly on the other side of the coin, hunted by his former masters. A standout performance from Damon backed ably by a more than capable supporting cast all combine to create a movie that sent shockwaves through the genre and continues to influence new releases to this day.
41 Once Upon a Time in the West
Sergio Leone almost never misses and Once Upon a Time in the West is still one of his very finest efforts. Though it is a spaghetti Western by definition, it feels a lot more impressive in scale and is absolutely at home among the best action and adventure films of the time and since.
Starring Charles Bronson (after Clint Eastwood thankfully turned down the role), he is brilliantly supported by true greats of the era including Claudia Cardinale and Henry Fonda. The opening sequence is absolutely dripping in cool and sets the tone for a film that has incredible action sequences and gunfights for days.
40 Man on Fire
Though it might be slightly lacking in the adventure department, Man on Fire is a divisive but occasionally brilliant action film that showcases exactly how much talent Denzel Washington has to play around with. The movie stars Washington as an ex-CIA agent who goes to extreme lengths to recover a kidnapped girl he was tasked with protecting.
In spite of Tony Scott’s occasionally bizarre editing and musical choices, this is a film that refuses to let up even for the briefest of moments after the action starts in earnest. Though it can appear a little heavy on the tropes when watching for the first time today, it’s important to remember that this film is responsible for starting a lot of them within the genre.
39 The Raid
Welsh director Gareth Evans’ left-field martial arts epic blew the genre wide open when it was released back in 2011. The story follows an elite police unit as they attempt to storm a block of flats and arrest the drug-dealing kingpin who lives at the top.
Between them and that goal lies a horde of bad guys, all of whom seem to be enormously skilled in the art of spectacular murder. The cast performs stunts that genuinely boggle the mind with the entire experience a breathless and unrelenting journey in the criminal underworld of Indonesia. Arguably the most visceral action film of the 2010s.
38 Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
The first movie in the now extensive franchise of films inspired by the Disneyland ride is actually a very good lesson in what can be done with an effective story and brilliant casting. Johnny Depp’s turn as Captain Jack Sparrow is so inspired that it has become the character he is most associated with, despite his extensive and high-quality back catalog.
The layered mysteries within the film are as intriguing to an audience of adults as they are to the younger crowd the film was aimed at and the sense of adventure is all the more noticeable because of it. There is something quite captivating about the age of piracy that seemingly never dulls in any form of media and the fantastical elements that go alongside the historical setting set the movie apart from efforts before or since.
37 Logan
Logan may owe some of its success to how unexpected a departure it was from the usual superhero-adjacent fare. Perhaps audiences should have guessed that it would become much more of an analysis of the man behind the adamantium claws than a Wolverine movie from the name, but its appeal goes far beyond that.
Though it perhaps could have done more with the narrative across its runtime, Logan is a movie that gets the fundamentals entirely right. A textbook performance in anguish and loss from a resurgent Hugh Jackman and cinematography techniques that defy belief combine to create an action film for the ages.
36 Predator
Though it has since become inextricably linked with the Alien franchise, the original Predator film is a spectacular action movie in its own right. Despite his occasional limitations, there is something significant to be said about the sheer number of all-time great action films that Arnold Schwarzenegger has not only appeared but starred in.
In this, he heads up a crack team of special forces operatives who are traditionally only called in to deal with the very worst “no hope” military scenarios. They are misled about the mission by an always excellent Carl Weathers who has failed to entirely disclose why they are headed deep into the jungle. Anyway, there is a Predator and as one of the most difficult-to-kill and overpowered antagonists in history, the events that follow can only lead to the production of an action classic.