Since the days of classics likeBullittandDirty Harry, theactiongenre has turned into a box office powerhouse, with the 2010’s boasting some big ones. The action genre has been a staple of cinema since the earlier days of film. It’s been a key to building up careers of Hollywood giants likeBruce Willis through franchises likeDie Hard. Often focusing on wronged heroes embarking on a quest for vengeance against criminals and terrorists, the genre is loved for its flashy fight sequences and tough protagonists.
From the late ’60s on, each decade of film has produced its share of classics, and the 2010s were no different. Although the decade did begin with a slew of lackluster action movies, the genre soon picked up steam as an array of new franchises were kicked off or taken to new heights. Fromremakes of classic action moviesto ground-breaking revenge thrillers, some of the greatest action movies of all time came out in this period.
The Expendables 2
Cast
The Expendables 2 reunites some of the most famous action stars in movie history in an explosive mission to stop Jean Claude Van Damme’s terrorist leader Jean Vilain. This time, Sylvester Stallone’s Barney Ross is accompanied not only by teammates such as Jason Statham’s Lee Christmas, Dolph Lundgren’s Gunner Jensen, and Terry Crews' Hale Caesar, but also by old friends like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Trench Mauser, Bruce Willis' Mr. Church, and Chuck Norris' Booker.
In 2010, Sylvester Stallone embarked on one of the most ambitious action projects in the genre’s history when he assembled a star-studdedcast of heroes forThe Expendables, butthe sequel is the real highlight of the series (and the era). After their small war against a rogue CIA agent, Barney Ross' team of elite mercenaries returned in 2012 to avenge one of their brothers against a ruthless arms dealer, Vilain. It’s a bombastic love-letter to the genre, and garnered more positive reception than the original.
The Expendables 2simultaneously made up for and lived up to the potential of its weaker predecessor, giving the heroes a more compelling mission and playing into the franchise’s cheesy side. From the simply-named villain, Vilain, to giving co-stars Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger more screen time,the sequel fixed the mistakes of the first movie. Delivering better jokes, more explosions, and even more cameos, the film is a celebration of ’80s machismo.
Fast Five
The fifth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, Fast Five continues the Fast Saga in a high-octane thrill ride. When Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner’s (Paul Walker) gang become international fugitives, they are hunted by Luke Hobbs, an agent of the DSS. They also fall foul of a Brazillian drug lord, deciding to perform a heigh-stakes heist in order to steal $100 million from him.
TheFast and the Furiousfranchise has become a powerhouse at the box office over the two decades since its debut. Initially focused on car culture and street racing, the series' direction took a sharp turn in the fifth movie, which firmly reoriented the focus towards high-octane action. With the heroes firmly removed from their comfort zone,Fast Fivegave Dom Toretto and his gang their toughest heist yet.
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If the chance of location to the Favelas of Brazil and hard-hitting fight scenes didn’t signal a change in direction, the inclusion of action star Dwayne Johnson here certainly did. There’s a great back-and-forth between Johnson’s heroic antagonist and the lovable rogues at the heart of the franchise. While the subsequent entries in the franchise were great,Fast Fivemanaged to find the perfect balance between the original’s love of cars and a new embrace of gritty action.
The Equalizer
The Equalizer is an action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a former intelligence operative who lives a quiet life in Boston. When he encounters a young girl named Teri, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, threatened by violent Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of retirement to use his skills to restore justice. The film reimagines the 1980s TV series of the same name.
Once an iconic TV series,The Equalizerwas rebootedfor a new generation in 2014. The new film cast Denzel Washington in the role of Robert McCall, a retired government operative who assumes the role of protector for those who can’t defend themselves. This eventually lands him at odds with the mob over the fate of a young girl. While inspiring those close to him, McCall prepares for all-out war with the gangsters.
The Equalizerfinds a great balance between exploring the moral code and the positive impact McCall has on those around him. Beyond this, the film also gives audiences plenty of thrilling fight sequences. Playing on the time-honored trope of the retired hero stepping up when no one else will, it gave Washington his best action role to date, and revived interest in a classic franchise.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Based on the comic book series of the same name, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of rebellious teen Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as he’s inducted into a top-secret spy agency by a man codenamed Galahad (Colin Firth). After learning that billionaire Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans to destroy the world, Eggsy and Galahad set out to avert international disaster and uncover widespread corruption that threatens to consume the Kingsman agency itself.
As big-screen adaptations of comic books soared to new heights thanks to movies likeIron ManandThe Dark Knight, few creators have benefited as much as Mark Millar.One of the best-received projects of his career proved to beKingsman: The Secret Service. Here, audiences were given a subversion of the classic spy genre through the eyes of a working-class Brit, Eggsy, as he joins a clandestine spy agency to save the world from a genocidal tech mogul.
Both a parody and celebration of classic spy thrillers like the Bond franchise,Kingsmanupdates the idea of espionage for 21st century viewers. Rather than leaning too hard into the comedic parody of movies likeAustin Powers, the 2014 movie instead gives audiences an explosive piece of escapism, one that gives them one of the genre’s most relatable heroes. From its unique gadgets to now-iconic fight sequences, the movie takes everything people love about Bond to the extreme.
Skyfall
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond film, featuring Daniel Craig as 007. Released in 2012, the film follows Bond as he investigates an attack on MI6, guided by M, portrayed by Judi Dench, while contending with internal pressures and a new authority figure, Gareth Mallory, played by Ralph Fiennes.
To say that James Bond has been a reliable source of action since the 1960s would undersell the cultural influence of the franchise on cinema. In 2012,audiences were given one of the best films in the franchise inSkyfall, which follows a semi-retired Bond coming back to MI6 after an attempt on M’s life. After the poor reception forQuantum of Solace, the movie’s move towards more grounded action and a darker tone was a welcome one, taking Bond to the brink of defeat.
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Since the days of Timothy Dalton, modern Bond struggled to find new and interesting villains.Reversing this unfortunate trend with Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva helped audiences fall in love with the 2012 masterpiece, which stripped away Bond’s reliance on high-tech gadgets for a return to basics. While the movie did lose some of the franchise’s roots in spycraft, exploring the hero’s backstory gave audiences something they’d been wanting for a long time.
Dredd
Based on the comic character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, Dredd is a sci-fi action movie that stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcement officer who can commute sentences as quickly as he issues them. Set in a dystopian New York-like city called Mega-City One, Dredd is tasked with hunting down a drug lord who controls a massive 200-story apartment complex named Ma-Ma, pushing a new addictive drug called “Slo-Mo” that has become widely used in the slums.
In 1977, comic book legends John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra introduced readers to what would soon become one of the most enduring British characters in print: Judge Dredd. Following a poorly received Sylvester Stallone movie of the same name, theseasoned street cop of Mega-City One was finally done justice byKarl Urban in 2012’sDredd. Here, director Pete Travis moved away from the scale of the Stallone movie, instead opting for a grounded and simplified story.
Taking its cues directly from the previous year’s hit movieThe Raid,Dreddfollows its heroes trapped inside a mega block, forced to shoot their way through an army of ruthless criminals. Not only did the movie deliver one of the best female villains of modern cinema in Ma-Ma, but its excellent use of slow motion coupled with its depiction of Mega-City One made for a captivating work of immersion.Dreddremains an underrated highlight of the sci-fi action genre.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Mission: Impossible - Fallout: Released in 2018, the film continues the saga of Ethan Hunt as he grapples with the fallout of a mission gone awry. With the IMF’s integrity in question, Hunt and his team must navigate treachery within their ranks while facing a looming global threat.
Since Brian de Palma’s masterful reboot of the franchise in 1996,Mission: Impossiblehas earned its reputation as one of the greatest spy thriller series of all time. Despite an excellent first and third movie, that reputation wasn’t made permanent until the sixth movie,Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Focusing on Ethan Hunt and his team in a mission to recover lost plutonium, the film provided more twists and turns than prior entries, selling viewers on the idea that this was his toughest outing yet.
Mission: Impossible Falloutwent to a level of depth and scale that even most James Bond movies fail to achieve, delivering a great new villain and building on the work done by the previous film.The film does all this while also delivering some of the best action scenes of the 21st century. Not only did the film build up the Syndicate to be a bigger threat than ever before, it also gave audiences some of the best stunts and action in the franchise.
John Wick
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller featuring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman. The film follows John Wick as he emerges from retirement to avenge the loss inflicted by a group of gangsters, setting the stage for a relentless pursuit and exploration of a shadowy underworld.
Having established himself as one of the best action stars of the 1990s thanks to movies likeSpeedandThe Matrix,Keanu Reeves returned to what he did best in 2014’sJohn Wick. Focusing on the vengeance of a retired assassin against the mobster’s son who killed his dog, the movie had audiences invested from the first act onwards. The movie soon proved that a good action film doesn’t have to choose between style and substance through its unique visuals and intriguing characters.
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John Wickgave audiences a stylish approach to the action genre, leading them through one of the best neo-Noir experiences of the 21st century. From the film’s captivating use of color and neon lighting to Reeves' performance as the grieving, vengeful assassin, Lionsgate had an instant classic on its hands. This explains why it so quickly developed into a multimedia powerhouse of a franchise. However, the first film in the series remains a highlight of the genre for its effective and straightforward execution.
The Raid: Redemption
The Raid, released in 2012, follows an elite SWAT team as they attempt to infiltrate a fortified apartment block in Jakarta to apprehend a notorious drug lord. Led by martial arts star Iko Uwais, the team faces relentless adversaries in a battle for survival after their cover is blown.
The influence of Asian cinema on Hollywood goes back decades, to the days when Akira Kurosawa’s Samurai movies directly influenced classic Westerns. In 2011, the phenomenon was repeated in a new genre thanks to howThe Raidgarnered international praise for its then-unrivaled fight choreography and intensity.Following a raid on a city tower block run by a ruthless crime boss, the film is a great case of story compression, trading scale for intensity.
The success of this Indonesian shoot-em-up hit inspired a decade of movies to invest more in engaging choreography.
The Raidinstantly raised the bar for action at a time when Hollywood had seen a slump in the genre, churning out low-effort sequels and generic stories.The success of this Indonesian shoot-em-up hit inspired a decade of movies to invest more in engaging choreography. WithoutThe Raid, it’s hard to imagine films likeDreddbeing as good as they became.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic film set in a desolate desert landscape where society has collapsed. Released in 2015, the story follows two rebels, Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa, as they attempt to survive and bring balance to a world torn by chaos and strife.
In 1979, director George Miller single-handedly reinvented cinema’s vision of dystopia away from high-tech science fiction and toward fast-moving action inMad Max. After three outings of Mel Gibson’s road warrior hero, Max Rockatansky was given his finest hour in 2015’sFury Road. Essentially one feature-length chase scene, the movie follows the hero joining the escape of a group of women from the ruthless warlord Immortan Joe.
Mad Max: Fury Roadis as visually stunning as it is action-packed, crafting one of the most engaging movies of the 21st century. In Tom Hardy, audiences had a brilliant take on Max, and the movie’s world-building through characters like Immortan Joe left audiences craving more from Miller’s universe. While plenty of great movies have delved into the apocalypse, nothing has come close to the thrilling experience of Max’s battle across the wastelands of Australia, which makes it the bestactionmovie of the 2010s.
