The 21 best action movies of the 21st century (so far)

There are numerous movies up for Best Martial Arts Flick, but this one is ahead of 'em all. The movie elevates the genre by throwing in more actors, colors, and set pieces into the frame than anyone had ever seen. The story of a samurai who kills dozens of warriors doesn't have the emotional depth of some other titles, but it makes up for it with action.

Want to watch a bunch of cars exploding in the desert? Stream Mad Max: Fury Road. The 2015 action film, which follows a group of prisoners as they rebel against a tyrannical ruler, is one of the most epic road movies ever made. Actually, scratch that. It's the most epic road movie ever made. No one has been able to top what George Miller does here. 

Ang Lee's masterpiece not only won him an Oscar in 2000 but also made him a household name in America. It's not often movies like this win over American audiences, mainly because the culture feels so different. But this one did, thanks to the action sequences that saw people floating on air, walking on water, and fighting on land. 

Never mess with another man's dog. That's the lesson of John Wick , which sees an assassin take revenge on the mob that killed his puppy. There are a ton of great action sequences — director David Leitch is a stuntman himself — and the plot takes the premise of video games and ups the ante for bigger screens. Keanu Reeves does his best FP impression as he punches, kicks, and shoots through hundreds of bad guys. 

Two words: Christopher Nolan. Okay, fine, we'll say a few more. The director of blockbusters like Inception and Batman Begins made his most complete film when he took the story of Dunkirk, added his time-bending schtick, and then showed enough restraint to allow for moments of silence. The best moments of this film are between the air raids and the long silences when the soldiers are lost at sea.

One of the best comedies of the past 20 years, Dead proved Simon Pegg could lead a movie on his own. As a loser who sleepwalks through the apocalypse, Pegg turned an everyman into a memorable character and showed some action chops. He's got more bite than you'd expect from a comedic actor. 

American blockbusters are like homes on a suburban street: They all look the same. So it was a breath of fresh air when director S.S. Rajamouli came into town and gave the place a renovation. In the blockbuster RRR, two best friends take down the government, punch a tiger, and help each other fall in love. There's never been anything quite like it, making it the perfect antidote for anyone tired of watching the same movie repeatedly.

If you wanna laugh while on the edge of your seat, follow these superheroes into battle. Teenagers, babysitters, and eating "vegitibals" are some of the biggest obstacles here. But when this movie does kick into gear, the action kicks butt. 

Not all superhero films are action films, but The Dark Knight, with its bank robbery, car chase, and bag of weapons, certainly qualifies. The movie even turns a pencil into a weapon, which makes for one of the most eye-opening action scenes on our list. 

While The Bourne Identity was a great start, the franchise took its ideal form when director Paul Greengrass stepped behind the camera. The director's herky-jerky camerawork is often imitated, but no one has been able to pull off what he does here. In the third installment, he puts us in the shoes of Matt Damon by making us feel every punch, kick, and disorienting twist that comes his way. 

Oldboy is a Greek tragedy disguised as a gritty action flick. That sounds like a formula that shouldn't work, but it totally does, thanks to Park Chan-wook's ability to juggle genres. On the surface, this is the story of a man who is released from prison and decides to get revenge on the people who put him there. Dig a little deeper, however, and you'll find a journey on par with Homer's Odyssey.

It's fitting that this movie has "drive" in the title because this action vehicle is stuck at 100 mph. You'll be on the edge of your seat watching this gang of criminals on the run. When their car drifts around a dumpster, then drifts around another dumpster in slow motion, you will have to scoop your jaw off the floor. 

The script must have read something like, "Oomph...AH...Ahhhhh!" Because this movie is literally just a bunch of people fighting each other. There are not a lot of words being spoken in The Raid. The real reason we're here is for the choreography of the fights, which see a group of cops take on an entire gang in their lair.

The first Bond film starring Daniel Craig made it clear the franchise was going in a new direction. The car chases were still there, and the dice were still rolled, but the tone was a lot darker than normal. Craig's Bond runs through walls and gets his butt kicked, a far cry from the old Sean Connery movies.

Though released in two volumes, Quentin Tarantino's martial arts masterwork is best viewed in one sitting. The first chapter follows a bride who takes revenge on the gang who left her and her daughter behind, while the second chapter takes a more laconic approach as she closes in on the gang. The House of Leaves sequence stands out as our heroine slices up dozens of henchmen in a yellow suit. And the finale packs quite a punch. Make sure to stick around through the credits to let the whole thing sink in. 

Another movie about a female avenger. Wonder Woman is that rare superhero flick with a personality of its own. Patty Jenkins brought some much-needed life to the DC Universe and set all sorts of records at the box office. 

This movie teams one of the O.G. action heroes with a bunch of newbies at Top Gun. Tom Cruise has never been cooler. Despite his role as a flight instructor, he's really just here to take his shirt off, show off those muscles, and be more charismatic than everyone on screen.  

This has been a banner year for action movies. There have been more titles from 2022 than any other year on our list. And if that weren't enough, the best movie of the year (so far) also happens to be a wuxia flick about a woman crossing multiple dimensions to save the planet. The fight scenes alone are worth the price of admission, but there's more going on here than just kung-fu. So much more... 

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Tropic Thunder is the funniest movie to come out since its release. It's got tons of jokes, tons of action, and tons of quotable lines. Make sure you watch it with a ton of friends. 

Tom Cruise runs on top of buildings, attaches himself to planes, and jumps out of cars. What more do you want from an action flick? 

If you're wondering what movie to watch on our list with the kids, Spirited Away is your best option. This fantasy adventure has plenty of action scenes that are suitable for children and some of the best world-building in movie history.