Welcome to my ever-expanding list of the best action hero movies in English. I intend to make this site the ultimate resource for English-speaking action hero movie junkies & connoisseurs.

If you generally agree with my reviews & ratings, consider bookmarking this site for inspiration on what to watch whenever you’re bored. That’s what I use it for myself. I built this site first & foremost for my own reference, not for commercial gain.

Movies rated EXCELLENT 🥇

The BEST action hero movies available

These are the very best action hero movies I have found thus far, to my taste.

Movies rated VERY GOOD 🥈

These movies are all epic classics, but also lacking something compared to the very best movies of all time (featured above). So when you’re short of something to watch, and haven’t seen these in the last few years, they provide solid entertainment value. Boring bits are few and far between. First-time viewers will probably rate them even higher, but they may get over-cheesy or other flaws may appear for many-time re-watchers. Enjoy!

Note: I’m constantly developing the ratings system and shuffling movies around, so don’t pay too much attention to exact rating scores – they’re always liable to change a bit, but should be roughly in the right ballpark already.

Movies rated PRETTY GOOD 🥉

We’re getting much further down the list now, but these are still legendary movies! The only reason they’re ranked so low is because they’re beaten by those ranked higher. These movies are still quite entertaining for the most part, and can be very enjoyable for first time viewers. If you’ve never seen them before, you definitely need to check them out – every single one of them. They are all very noteworthy contributions to the action movie archives, well worth rewatching every few years.

Movies rated DECENT

These movies are still thoroughly entertaining for first time viewers and people who haven’t seen them in many years. They’re slightly weaker than those above, but are still quite strong action hero movies.

MOVIE STARS RATING
Blue Beetle (2023) Xolo Maridueña,
Bruna Marquezine 		7.5
The Equalizer 3 (2023) Denzel Washington 7.5
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) Tenoch Huerta,
Letitia Wright 		7.5
Bloodshot (2020) Vin Diesel 7.5
Hobbs & Shaw (2019) Dwayne Johnson,
Jason Statham 		7.5
The Equalizer 2 (2018) Denzel Washington 7.5
Hotel Artemis (2018) Dave Bautista 7.5
Black Panther (2018) Chadwick Boseman,
Michael B Jordan 		7.5
Venom (2018) Tom Hardy 7.5
Doctor Strange (2016) Benedict Cumberbatch 7.5
Jupiter Ascending (2015) Channing Tatum 7.5
Hercules (2014) Dwayne Johnson 7.5
47 Ronin (2013) Keanu Reeves 7.5
Limitless (2011) Bradley Cooper 7.5
Jumper (2008) Hayden Christensen,
Samuel L Jackson 		7.5
Transporter 3 (2008) Jason Statham 7.5
Transporter 2 (2005) Jason Statham 7.5
Catwoman (2004) Halle Berry 7.5
Daredevil (2003) Ben Affleck,
Jennifer Garner 		7.5
Inferno (1999) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7.5
The Glimmer Man (1996) Steven Seagal 7.5
The Hunted (1995) Christopher Lambert 7.5
First Knight (1995) Richard Gere,
Sean Connery 		7.5
Fist Of Legend (1994) Jet Li 7.5
Léon: The Professional (1994) Jean Reno,
Natalie Portman 		7.5
Under Siege (1992) Steven Seagal 7.5
The Master (1992) Jet Li 7.5
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Kevin Costner 7.5
If Looks Could Kill (1991) Richard Grieco 7.5
The Karate Kid Part III (1989) Ralph Macchio,
Pat Morita 		7.5
The Living Daylights (1987) Timothy Dalton,
Maryam d’Abo,
Andreas Wisniewski 		7.5
The Karate Kid (1984) Ralph Macchio,
Pat Morita 		7.5

Movies rated Upper-OK

MOVIE STARS RATING
Code 8: Part II (2024) Robbie Amell,
Stephen Amell 		7.25
Code 8 (2019) Robbie Amell,
Stephen Amell 		7.25
Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016) Scott Adkins 7.25
Undisputed III: Redemption (2010) Scott Adkins 7.25
Assassination Games (2011) Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Scott Adkins 		7.25
Replicant (2001) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7.25
Shanghai Noon (2000) Jackie Chan 7.25
Blue Streak (1999) Martin Lawrence 7.25
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999) Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Bill Goldberg,
Michael Jai White		7.25
Sudden Death (1995) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7.25
Timecop (1994) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7.25
The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994) Jet Li 7.25
Demolition Man (1993) Sylvester Stallone,
Wesley Snipes,
Sandra Bullock 		7.25
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Eddie Murphy 7.25
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Roger Moore,
Barbara Bach,
Richard Kiel,
Curd Jürgens 		7.25
Enter The Dragon (1973) Bruce Lee 7.25
Live And Let Die (1973) Roger Moore,
Jane Seymour,
Clifton James 		7.25
Goldfinger (1964) Sean Connery,
Gert Fröbe,
Harold Sakata 		7.25

Movies rated OK

These movies are mildly entertaining if you’ve not seen them before or in many years. Not as exciting as those above, but far from dustbin material. Many of these are highly memorable classics too.

MOVIE STARS RATING
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Benedict Cumberbatch 7
The Matrix Resurrections (2021) Keanu Reeves 7
The Magnificent Seven (2016) Denzel Washington,
Chris Pratt 		7
Hard Target 2 (2016) Scott Adkins 7
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015) Rupert Friend 7
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) Chris Pine 7
The Mechanic (2011) Jason Statham 7
The Karate Kid (2010) Jackie Chan,
Jaden Smith 		7
Salt (2010) Angelina Jolie 7
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Harrison Ford 7
The Shepherd (2008) Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Scott Adkins 		7
Redbelt (2008) Chiwetel Ejiofor 7
Fearless (2006) Jet Li 7
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006) Scott Adkins,
Michael Jai White 		7
Batman Begins (2005) Christian Bale,
Liam Neeson 		7
Mr & Mrs Smith (2005) Brad Pitt,
Angelina Jolie 		7
The Foreigner (2003) Steven Seagal 7
National Security (2003) Martin Lawrence 7
Half Past Dead (2002) Steven Seagal,
Ja Rule 		7
Ticker (2001) Steven Seagal 7
Exit Wounds (2001) Steven Seagal 7
Mercury Rising (1998) Bruce Willis 7
Knock Off (1998) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
Legionnaire (1998) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
Fire Down Below (1997) Steven Seagal 7
Maximum Risk (1996) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
The Steal (1995) Helen Slater 7
The Net (1995) Sandra Bullock 7
GoldenEye (1995) Pierce Brosnan,
Gottfried John 		7
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) Steven Seagal 7
On Deadly Ground (1994) Steven Seagal 7
Street Fighter (1994) Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Kylie Minogue 		7
The Specialist (1994) Sylvester Stallone,
Sharon Stone 		7
Nowhere To Run (1993) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
The Bodyguard (1992) Kevin Costner,
Whitney Houston 		7
Out For Justice (1991) Steven Seagal 7
Double Impact (1991) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
Lionheart (1990) Jean-Claude Van Damme 7
Hard To Kill (1990) Steven Seagal 7
Licence To Kill (1989) Timothy Dalton,
Robert Davi,
Talisa Soto 		7
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Harrison Ford,
Sean Connery 		7
Above the Law (1988) Steven Seagal 7
Lethal Weapon (1987) Mel Gibson 7
Raw Deal (1986) Arnold Schwarzenegger 7
The Karate Kid Part II (1986) Ralph Macchio,
Pat Morita 		7
Highlander (1986) Christopher Lambert 7
A View To A Kill (1985) Roger Moore,
Christopher Walken 		7
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Harrison Ford 7
Octopussy (1983) Roger Moore 7
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Harrison Ford 7
Moonraker (1979) Roger Moore,
Richard Kiel,
Michael Lonsdale 		7
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) Roger Moore,
Christopher Lee,
Hervé Villechaize,
Britt Ekland,
Clifton James 		7
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Sean Connery,
Charles Grey,
Jill St John 		7
You Only Live Twice (1967) Sean Connery,
Akiko Wakabayashi 		7
Thunderball (1965) Sean Connery,
Adolfo Celi 		7
From Russia With Love (1963) Sean Connery,
Daniela Bianchi,
Robert Shaw 		7
Dr No (1962) Sean Connery,
Ursula Andress 		7

Movies rated Lower-OK

These movies are at the lower end of those previously rated OK when the rating system was a bit simpler – now we have more levels for more accurate ordering. These movies are a bit better than those rated So-So (mediocre) but are falling short of the standard of those currently rated OK (fine). But they’re not “not okay”, so we’ll call them Lower OK for now.

MOVIE STARS RATING
For Your Eyes Only (1981) Roger Moore 6.75

Movies rated SO-SO

Now we’re getting deep into the weaker movies. These ones are at the lower end of the ‘OK’ scale. They’re not as bad as those rated barely watchable (below) but they’re slightly weaker than those scoring a solid OK (above).

MOVIE STARS RATING
Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009) Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Dolph Lundgren,
Mike Pyle,
Andrei Arlovski 		6
In Hell (2003) Jean-Claude Van Damme 6
Derailed (2002) Jean-Claude Van Damme 6
Double Team (1997) Jean-Claude Van Damme 6
Death Warrant (1989) Jean-Claude Van Damme 6
Cyborg (1989) Jean-Claude Van Damme 6
The Golden Child (1986) Eddie Murphy 6
The Protector (1985) Jackie Chan 6
Never Say Never Again (1983) Sean Connery 6

Movies rated WATCHABLE

OK, now we’re scraping the barrel. The movies below are watchable if you’re desperately bored and haven’t seen them before. Much worse and I wouldn’t have bothered to review them, but as they made it to this list, they are genuinely watchable (once a decade, tops). Expect a harsh critique for any movie listed below.

MOVIE STARS RATING
One More Shot (2024) Scott Adkins,
Michael Jai White 		5
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) Harrison Ford 5
Birth of the Dragon (2016) Philip Ng,
Xia Yu 		5
Welcome to the Jungle (2013) Jean-Claude Van Damme 5
Cleaner (2007) Samuel L Jackson 5
Wake Of Death (2004) Jean-Claude Van Damme 5
Undisputed (2002) Wesley Snipes 5
Unbreakable (2000) Bruce Willis,
Samuel L Jackson 		5
The Patriot (1998) Steven Seagal 5
The Chase (1994) Charlie Sheen 5
The Next Karate Kid (1994) Hilary Swank,
Pat Morita 		5
Sidekicks (1992) Jonathan Brandis,
Chuck Norris 		5
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) Christopher Lambert 5
Marked For Death (1990) Steven Seagal 5
Best Of The Best (1989) Eric Roberts,
Phillip Rhee 		5
Black Eagle (1988) Sho Kosugi,
Jean-Claude Van Damme 		5
Red Heat (1988) Arnold Schwarzenegger 5
Masters Of The Universe (1987) Dolph Lundgren 5
48 Hrs. (1982) Eddie Murphy,
Nick Nolte 		5
The Big Brawl (1980) Jackie Chan 5
The Octagon (1980) Chuck Norris 5

Movies rated BARELY WATCHABLE

These movies are dwindling between Watchable and Unwatchable, so I made a new category for that middleground: Barely Watchable.

MOVIE STARS RATING
Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning (2012) Scott Adkins,
Jean-Claude Van Damme,
Dolph Lundgren,
Andrei Arlovski,
Roy Jones Jr 		4
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) George Lazenby,
Diana Rigg 		4

Movies rated UNWATCHABLE

Some movies I expect to be watchable but aren’t. For example, The American – an assassin movie starring George Clooney. How could it possibly be unwatchable? Well, it really is that bad. Had I known how bad it were, I would never have watched it. Any movie like this, where I had high hopes based on its cast and genre, and have given it every chance and pretty much watched it till the end (skipping the most boring bits) shall be reviewed & listed here as Unwatchable. Consider this section like a wall of shame. The real Rotten Tomatoes.

See Also

Wikipedia has some useful links for seeing the most popular action movies in history – this is a useful reference in case I’ve missed anything – of course I’ve missed lots of these but am gradually expanding my own list to include them all, it just takes time writing honest reviews which I like to do during and/or immediately after watching each one even if I’ve seen it many times before.

DON’T MISS: My actor-specific Top 5 & Top 10 lists

This is a new concept that I hope to expand on. The top ten movies, in descending order, for each action movie star featured on this site. The full filmography of their movies (minus some in the wrong language or genre) can be found further down the page, beneath the top 10 list. Check out the ones I’ve started here:

  • Top 10 BEST Van Damme Movies
  • Top 5 BEST Steven Seagal Movies

Why do I do this?

There are many lists of action movies around the web, and there are many lists of martial arts movies too. But “action hero movies” seems to be a niche genre neglected. And the more generic lists are never in an agreeable order. They’re also rarely comprehensive – they’re usually missing some great ones while including some stinkers, often with many that aren’t even available in English!

So this site began as a scrapbook of reviews & recommendations for anyone who wants to watch a good English language action hero movie – be it a martial arts movie or otherwise – but has seen most of them before and either can’t find anything new worth watching or can’t re-find a good one seen before. There’s one I’m still looking for!

Unlike all the other lists online, this one is BY an action hero movie junkie, FOR action hero movie junkies. I’m also a teacher of Kung Fu myself, with a focus on practical Self Defence (not cinematics) so I know what I’m looking for when it comes to credible fight mechanics, martial philosophy & psychology, strategy & tactics, etc.

I’m not into slow & gritty, suspenseful drama scenes like professional critics always seem to be. Nor am I into gruesome horror scenes. But I do appreciate intriguing concepts, rich scripts, powerful actors, convincing acting, fresh humour, benevolent messages and good effects for setting the mood and building momentum etc. So far as is appropriate for the smooth action hero movie genre.