The Best Action Movie From Every Decade Over The Last 100 Years

Choosing the best action movie from each of the last 100 years is tough, but there are a lot of great options. The most memorable action films aren’t just filled with explosions and stunts; they also have good stories and characters you care about.

Action movies have come a long way over the last hundred years, evolving from classic Westerns directed by filmmakers like Howard Hawks to modern blockbusters like Michael Bay’s Transformers. The most impactful action films often set trends for years to come, as seen recently with the unique gunplay style in John Wick.

1920s: The General

Though it’s classified as a comedy, The General is famous for its incredibly exciting action scenes. This silent film, co-directed by and starring Buster Keaton, tells the story of Keaton’s character, Johnnie, as he attempts to recover the train of the same name after it’s stolen by spies during the Civil War.

When it first came out, The General wasn’t a success for Buster Keaton, but over time it became recognized as his masterpiece. The incredible physical comedy and stunts Keaton performs are still amazing to watch, especially when you consider the film was made without any computer effects or modern trickery.

1930s: Stagecoach

Let’s be honest, action movies today are a different beast than they were back in the 1930s. Back then, Westerns were the big thing, but they weren’t just about non-stop action. Films like the classic Stagecoach, starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford, built up tension and focused on characters for most of the runtime, sprinkling in little bits of action before culminating in one truly spectacular climax. And that’s exactly what this film delivers – a slow burn leading to an unforgettable finale.

The attack sequence in The Apache is a brilliant example of action filmmaking. It features exciting stunts and cleverly uses rear-screen projection to enhance the visuals. The scene is expertly paced and edited, making it feel just as thrilling now as it did when it was first released in 1939.

1940s: The Mark Of Zorro

Full of action and excitement, The Mark of Zorro is a thrilling movie from beginning to end. It feels like a classic superhero origin story: Tyrone Power plays Diego, who cleverly disguises himself as a carefree man during the day, but transforms into the heroic Zorro at night to fight for justice.

The Mark of Zorro features a captivating performance by Tyrone Power and a memorable villain played by Basil Rathbone. Their sword fight is considered one of the best ever filmed, and the movie as a whole still delivers excitement and remains a classic example of the swashbuckling adventure genre.

1950s: The Wages Of Fear

This classic French thriller, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starts with a gripping premise: four drivers are hired to transport highly volatile dynamite across treacherous roads to extinguish a blazing oil well. Before the dangerous mission begins, the film carefully introduces us to these characters and hints at the tragic fate that awaits them.

Once the journey begins, The Wages of Fear becomes incredibly suspenseful, throwing one problem after another at the drivers. It’s a classic film for good reason, and despite many attempts to copy or remake it, the original’s raw intensity remains captivating.

1960s: Goldfinger

While Dr. No and From Russia with Love were successful, Goldfinger truly launched James Bond into superstardom. This film established the key elements that would define the series: a villain with a complex scheme, inventive gadgets, a stylish car, and imposing silent assistants – and much more that fans now expect.

In 1964, Goldfinger truly defined what was considered cool. The film is packed with memorable scenes, like a thrilling car chase featuring Sean Connery’s 007 and all the gadgets in his Aston Martin, and the dramatic climax at Fort Knox. More than any other James Bond movie, Goldfinger continues to influence the franchise even now.

1970s: Dirty Harry

The Dirty Harry films are among Clint Eastwood’s best-known works, and the first movie, released in 1971, made him a major star. In the film, Eastwood plays Harry Callahan, a San Francisco detective hunting a dangerous and clever serial killer. Harry faces not only the challenge of catching the killer, but also frustrating bureaucratic obstacles along the way.

Though the ‘renegade cop’ theme is common now, Dirty Harry remains a compelling and hard-edged action thriller. Director Don Siegel expertly crafts each action sequence – from Harry casually stopping a bank robbery on his lunch break to the climactic, Western-inspired shootout – giving them all distinct character while ensuring they feel essential to the plot.

1980s: Die Hard

1980s action movies were known for featuring very muscular stars like Stallone. But Die Hard changed everything, introducing Bruce Willis as John McClane, an ordinary police officer thrown into extraordinary circumstances. The film follows McClane as he tries to rescue hostages – including his soon-to-be ex-wife – from terrorists who have taken over a building on Christmas Eve.

John McTiernan’s Die Hard is a remarkably well-balanced action movie, seamlessly blending drama, comedy, and thrilling action in a way few films have matched. Bruce Willis delivers a captivating performance as the hero, portraying both charm and vulnerability, while Alan Rickman is unforgettable as the villain. It’s considered one of the best action blockbusters ever made, coming as close to perfection as the genre allows.

1990s: Hard Boiled

As a huge cinema fan, I honestly think John Woo might be the greatest action director ever, and Hard Boiled is where he truly shines. It stars Chow Yun-fat – Woo’s go-to leading man – as a Hong Kong detective nicknamed ‘Tequila.’ He ends up working with an undercover cop to bring down an arms dealer, and let me tell you, the movie is packed with absolutely amazing gun battles – dozens of them!

With Hard Boiled, director John Woo delivered a stunning finale to his Hong Kong film career before heading to Hollywood. The movie is packed with intense action, starting with a thrilling shootout in a tea house and culminating in a lengthy, gripping siege at a hospital. The incredible performances by Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat add even more to the film’s impact.

2000s: Kill Bill: Volume 1

Before Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino hadn’t directed a traditional action film, but he absolutely nailed it with this two-part series. Volume 1 is still a remarkably stylish and exciting revenge story, featuring Uma Thurman as The Bride, an assassin who wakes up from a coma determined to get payback on those who wronged her.

Kill Bill: Volume 1 immediately grabs your attention with a brutal knife fight, but the film truly shines during the epic battle at the House of Blue Leaves. The Bride expertly wields her sword, fighting through waves of enemies before a stunning and intense final showdown with Lucy Liu’s character, O-Ren Ishii.

2010s: Mad Max: Fury Road

Despite a troubled and expensive production, Fury Road, the latest installment in the Mad Max series after a 30-year gap, became a critical and popular success. It’s a non-stop action film set in a vividly realized, post-apocalyptic landscape.

Mad Max: Fury Road is basically one extended, high-speed pursuit, and the story and character backgrounds are revealed within the action sequences. It’s unusual for a film to immediately become a classic, but critics and viewers alike knew this was a masterpiece from the start. Charlize Theron’s character, Furiosa, has also become incredibly popular, almost as much as the title character, Max.

2026-03-16 02:23