New Delhi: Action films are a cultural phenomenon that trascend language, cultural and even socio-political barriers. State vs individual, states vs states, wars, strife, romantic action and comic action, the action film genre is a universal film genre that speaks to many people, across demographics, age and generational barriers. A ‘Terminator’ may have equally influened an average American movie watcher in the 90s as it did an urban-middle class Indian boy or girl.
Here is a list of some top rated action movies of all time in no particular order.
Top Rated Action Movie List
10. El Mariachi (1992)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gómez, Reinol Martinez, and Peter Marquardt, this action film was made on a shoestring budget. With a rating of 91% on Rotten Tomaties and a 76% audience score, ‘El Maraichi’ is a go-to-actioner for any hard-core action film out there.
9. Rush Hour ( 1998)
Any top rated action film list cannot not have the Jackie Chan and Chris Turner starrer ‘Rush Hour’. This 1998 comedy action film may not be the most original actioners out there, but the screen defining chemistry between Chan and Tucker is one of the most memorable comic pairings on screen till date.
Rush Hour has a 62% rating on the Tomatometer and 78% audience score.
8. Drive (2011)
Ryan Gosling in full blown action avatar and a sizzling chemistry with Carey Mulligan in this Nicolas Winding Refn starrer film, ‘Drive’ is known for its stylist violence, music and stark imagery that brings a fusion of arthouse cinema with action. With a 93% rating on the Tomatometer, and a 79% audience score, ‘Drive’ is a must-watch for every hard-core action film fan out there.
7. Bullit (1968)
Steve McQueen in the alleged ‘greated movie car chase ever’ and a prototype for many actions afterwards, ‘Bullit’ is Peter Yates’ impressive top rated action film with the classic cop-chase plot. This 70s cop flick is a must-watch for everyone looking for some suave action, cool as iceberg swag, all embodied in the one and only Steve McQueen. With a tomatometer rating of 98% and 85% audience score, ‘Bullit’ is a must-watch.
6. Goldfinger( 1964)
A top rated action film listicle cannot be complete without a James Bond film. A Sean Connery Bond film which gave the world one of 007’s most famous lines ‘A martini, Shaken, not stirred’, ‘Goldfinger’ is an action film with a 99% rating of the tomatometer and 89% as the audience score, this Bond film is often called one of the best in the lot with a great plot.
5. The Terminator( 1984)
Without any doubt, Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer ‘The Terminator’ is an actioner that never gets old or influential on sci-fi and action flicks. With impressive action sequences, a relentless pace and a cinematic experience that has stood the test of time, ‘The Terminator’ has a tomatormeter rating of 100% and an audience rating of 89%.
4. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon( 2000)
Ang Lee’s action film that scafooled his career and made him a formidable director force in Hollywood, ‘Crouching Tiger’ is a stellar mix of drama, imagery and martial art battles that can never get old. Set in the 19th centure Qing Dynasty China, ‘Crouching Tiger’ has a rating of 98% on Tomatometer and 86% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. The Matrix( 1999)
A top rated action film, ‘The Matrix’, the first films from the trilogy set a benchmark for quality material, groundbreaking action and Keanu Reeves ( like never before),this Wachowski sisters directorial has a tomatometer has a rating of 83% by critics and 85% by audience.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road(2015)
George Miller’s post-apocalyptic film starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron which brought back the franchise to life is a great action film with a top-notch narrative and screenplay. With a tomatometer rating of 97% and an audience rating of 86%, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ cannot go without a mention in any top rated actioner list.
1. Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)
Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt and the IMF team’s action, performance and a swagger no other action frachise has been able to recreate, this action film is a stellar star in Cruise’ franchise. With a tomatometer rating of 97% and an audience rating of 88%, ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’ is a great action to start your action-movies watchlist with.
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