Best Action Movies of All Time

The best action movies by audience rating and number of votes. Each movie links to a list of similar ones. Still can't decide? Swipe to find yours.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
★ 8.5 · 36,970 votes · Action, Thriller, Crime
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Movies like The Dark Knight →
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
★ 8.5 · 27,576 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King →
3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
★ 8.5 · 5,470 votes · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter Parker he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.
Movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day →
4. Seven Samurai (1954)
★ 8.5 · 4,410 votes · Action, Drama
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
Movies like Seven Samurai →
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
★ 8.4 · 28,588 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring →
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
★ 8.4 · 24,752 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers →
7. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
★ 8.4 · 18,977 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
Movies like The Empire Strikes Back →
8. Inception (2010)
★ 8.4 · 40,429 votes · Action, Sci-Fi, Crime
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
Movies like Inception →
9. The Shadow's Edge (2025)
★ 8.3 · 1,532 votes · Action, Crime, Drama
Macau Police brings the tracking expert police officer out of retirement to help catch a dangerous group of professional thieves.
Movies like The Shadow's Edge →
10. Léon: The Professional (1994)
★ 8.3 · 16,656 votes · Crime, Drama, Action
Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.
Movies like Léon: The Professional →
11. The Matrix (1999)
★ 8.3 · 28,961 votes · Action, Sci-Fi
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Movies like The Matrix →
12. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
★ 8.2 · 29,006 votes · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Movies like Avengers: Endgame →
13. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
★ 8.2 · 33,149 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
Movies like Avengers: Infinity War →
14. Gladiator (2000)
★ 8.2 · 21,662 votes · Action, Drama, Adventure
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
Movies like Gladiator →
15. Star Wars (1977)
★ 8.2 · 23,010 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Movies like Star Wars →
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
★ 8.2 · 15,022 votes · Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
Movies like Terminator 2: Judgment Day →
17. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
★ 8.2 · 11,714 votes · Action, Drama
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.
Movies like Top Gun: Maverick →
18. Scarface (1983)
★ 8.2 · 13,552 votes · Action, Crime, Drama
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
Movies like Scarface →
19. The Avengers (2012)
★ 8.1 · 40,033 votes · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
Movies like The Avengers →
20. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
★ 8.1 · 11,214 votes · Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.
Movies like Zack Snyder's Justice League →

Best Action Movies of All Time

The best action movies by audience rating and number of votes. Each movie links to a list of similar ones. Still can't decide? Swipe to find yours.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
★ 8.5 · 36,970 votes · Action, Thriller, Crime
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Movies like The Dark Knight →
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
★ 8.5 · 27,576 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King →
3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
★ 8.5 · 5,470 votes · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter Parker he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.
Movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day →
4. Seven Samurai (1954)
★ 8.5 · 4,410 votes · Action, Drama
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
Movies like Seven Samurai →
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
★ 8.4 · 28,588 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowship is formed to protect the ringbearer and make sure that the ring arrives at its final destination: Mt. Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring →
6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
★ 8.4 · 24,752 votes · Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Frodo Baggins and the other members of the Fellowship continue on their sacred quest to destroy the One Ring--but on separate paths. Their destinies lie at two towers--Orthanc Tower in Isengard, where the corrupt wizard Saruman awaits, and Sauron's fortress at Barad-dur, deep within the dark lands of Mordor.
Movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers →
7. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
★ 8.4 · 18,977 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
Movies like The Empire Strikes Back →
8. Inception (2010)
★ 8.4 · 40,429 votes · Action, Sci-Fi, Crime
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
Movies like Inception →
9. The Shadow's Edge (2025)
★ 8.3 · 1,532 votes · Action, Crime, Drama
Macau Police brings the tracking expert police officer out of retirement to help catch a dangerous group of professional thieves.
Movies like The Shadow's Edge →
10. Léon: The Professional (1994)
★ 8.3 · 16,656 votes · Crime, Drama, Action
Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.
Movies like Léon: The Professional →
11. The Matrix (1999)
★ 8.3 · 28,961 votes · Action, Sci-Fi
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Movies like The Matrix →
12. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
★ 8.2 · 29,006 votes · Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Movies like Avengers: Endgame →
13. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
★ 8.2 · 33,149 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
Movies like Avengers: Infinity War →
14. Gladiator (2000)
★ 8.2 · 21,662 votes · Action, Drama, Adventure
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
Movies like Gladiator →
15. Star Wars (1977)
★ 8.2 · 23,010 votes · Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Movies like Star Wars →
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
★ 8.2 · 15,022 votes · Action, Thriller, Sci-Fi
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
Movies like Terminator 2: Judgment Day →
17. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
★ 8.2 · 11,714 votes · Action, Drama
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.
Movies like Top Gun: Maverick →
18. Scarface (1983)
★ 8.2 · 13,552 votes · Action, Crime, Drama
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
Movies like Scarface →
19. The Avengers (2012)
★ 8.1 · 40,033 votes · Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
Movies like The Avengers →
20. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
★ 8.1 · 11,214 votes · Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.
Movies like Zack Snyder's Justice League →

1. The Dark Knight (2008)

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

4. Seven Samurai (1954)

5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

6. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

7. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

8. Inception (2010)

9. The Shadow's Edge (2025)

10. Léon: The Professional (1994)

11. The Matrix (1999)

12. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

13. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

14. Gladiator (2000)

15. Star Wars (1977)

16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

17. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

18. Scarface (1983)

19. The Avengers (2012)

20. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

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