17 Underrated Action Classics Every Movie Buff Needs to Watch
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In 2023, the Action Film and series Market was valued at USD 93.18 billion, with action movies contributing around 53% of the total box office in 2022. Action films have found a new lease on life via digital streaming platforms, broadening their target audience even more.
That being said, we see time and again just how timeless the thrills and quality storytelling in classic action films are and how they contribute to what has made contemporary cinema. These seventeen films offer diverse and captivating action experiences that every movie buff should explore.
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Directed by Robert Aldrich, the plot centers on a group of twelve convicts sent on a near-suicide mission during World War II. The intense story arc is filled with suspense, calculated action sequences, and compelling character dynamics.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 81% rating, highlighting its enduring appeal. Roger Ebert called it “a big, bold, vastly entertaining picture.” Meanwhile, The New York Times lauded it for its “rat-a-tat action, robust characters, and sardonic humor,” adding layers to its diverse appeal.
The Warriors (1979)
Set in the urban jungle of New York City, this 1979 film directed by Walter Hill revolves around a gang falsely accused of murder and their harrowing journey to safety through hostile territories. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds an impressive 89% Fresh rating based on contemporary reviews.
Renowned critic Roger Ebert gave it three stars, lauding its atmospheric setting and relentless pacing. The use of desaturated colors and exaggerated urban settings gives it a comic-book feel ahead of its time. It influenced countless video games, including the 2005 Rockstar Games adaptation, which expanded the backstory and universe of the original movie.
Hard-Boiled (1992)
This 1992 Hong Kong action masterpiece stars Chow Yun-fat as Inspector “Tequila” Yuen, a tough-as-nails cop with a penchant for dramatic shootouts. John Woo’s inventive use of slow-motion, multi-angle shots and dramatic zoom-ins have become iconic, influencing directors like Quentin Tarantino and The Wachowskis.
Rotten Tomatoes gives Hard-Boiled a compelling 94% rating based on 33 reviews, boasting an average rating of 7.9/10. Roger Ebert lauded the film for its “astonishingly well-choreographed action sequences,” noting that the opening tea house shootout is “a masterpiece of directing and editing.”
Run Lola Run (1998)
“Run Lola Run” (original title “Lola rennt”) has been praised for its inventive use of split-screen, montages, and the thumping electronic score by Tykwer, which perfectly complements the high-paced action. With a runtime of just 80 minutes, this film is a pacing, editing, and storytelling masterclass.
The film follows Lola, played by Franka Potente, who has 20 minutes to save her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), from disaster. The film won multiple awards, including the Audience Award for Best Film at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999 and a BAFTA nomination for Best Film not in the English Language. Rotten Tomatoes holds the film at a high 93% approval rating, with critics noting its “visually exhilarating” experience and “dazzlingly original” approach.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
For starters, the script by Shane Black (the same genius behind “Lethal Weapon” and “Iron Man 3”) mixes sharp wit and intense action to elevate it above the usual genre fare. Geena Davis’s portrayal of Samantha Caine—an amnesiac who’s a former covert operative—is phenomenal.
Davis transitions seamlessly between a suburban mom and a lethal assassin, offering a depth we rarely see in female action leads, even today. Roger Ebert gave it a glowing review, highlighting its “rousing female hero and a great supporting performance by Samuel L. Jackson.” Cinematography by Guillermo Navarro, who later worked on “Pan’s Labyrinth,” lends the action scenes a stylistic flair.
The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Directed by Gareth Evans, this Indonesian film takes the genre to unprecedented heights with its intense, close-quarters combat and ingenious use of a high-rise building as both setting and narrative device. Starring Iko Uwais, a practitioner of the Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat, the movie is a tour de force for martial arts enthusiasts.
The film has garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, holding an impressive 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore of 73. The venerable film critic Roger Ebert praised it for its “lean, spare, and taut” execution, likening its impact to “being pummelled for 101 minutes”.
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
A hard-boiled detective story infused with dark humor, The Last Boy Scout stars Bruce Willis as a private investigator teaming up with a former athlete. Shane Black delivers a screenplay rich with snappy dialogue and complex characters. Tony Scott’s direction ensures that the film’s pace never lags, blending explosive action set-pieces with moments of character-focused drama.
Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, giving it “a thumbs up” and praising its “surprisingly original screenplay” and “quirky characters.” However, contemporary audiences seem to appreciate the film more, as evidenced by its solid 68% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Kim Jee-woon’s ability to blend genres—from noir to melodrama and high-intensity action—sets A Bittersweet Life apart from your average thrill ride. The movie’s pacing is expertly controlled, ensuring that each moment of tension is palpable. Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong captures both the bleakness and beauty of the urban landscape.
The use of light and shadow adds an extra layer of depth to the high-octane action sequences, making them feel both gritty and poetic. The film has an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its stylish direction and Lee Byung-hun’s charismatic performance. Variety calls it “a persuasive, visually accomplished crime saga.”
The Killer (1989)
Directed by the legendary John Woo, this Hong Kong action masterpiece blends intense shootouts with emotionally charged storytelling. “The Killer” has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%. The thematic depth, focusing on honor and sacrifice, sets it apart from the more superficial films of the time.
Legendary movie critic Roger Ebert lauded the film (mostly) for its “bravura action sequences,” and “stylized violence,” calling it an elevating of the action as an art form idea. That church scene battle has become one of the most influential action sequences ever filmed, inspiring everyone from Quentin Tarantino to the Wachowskis.
District B13 (2004)
Also known as Banlieue 13, Disa is a 2004 French action film. Set in a Parisian ghetto in the not-too-distant future, where crime prevails, and corruption reigns supreme, the film is directed by Pierre Morel and produced by Luc Besson.
BBC’s Stephen Clarke said, “It’s a film that’s more about breathtaking stunts than profound narratives but what it does, it does brilliantly.” David Belle, a parkour co-founder, performs jaw-dropping, real and riveting sequences. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an 80% rating, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
The Hunted (2003)
Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro, this film showcases a gripping hunter-versus-hunted storyline that elevates it to an underrated classic status. What distinguishes the film is its meticulous staging of realistic combat sequences, realized with stylized finesse courtesy of renowned knife-fighting expert Tom Kier.
That commitment to verisimilitude shines through in the film’s raw, intimate combat set pieces, which eschew the usual hyper-stylized battle clichés for a more grounded, visceral experience. A solid 63% on Rotten Tomatoes confirms this. The chemistry between the two leads was quite clear and made every confrontation all the more dramatic.
Equilibrium (2002)
Set in a future society where mandatory injections suppress emotions, Equilibrium follows John Preston (Christian Bale), a top enforcer whose life changes dramatically when he misses a dose. Eventually, Preston rebels after realizing the depth of human emotion and fighting against the authoritarian regime.
It also introduces “Gun Kata,” a traditional martial art mixing gunplay and hand-to-hand combat. Equilibrium boasts a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb, with many praising its stylish action and thought-provoking narrative. Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers called it “a stylish piece of dystopian sci-fi,” and IGN highlighted it as a “sci-fi gem worth watching.”
The Man from Nowhere (2010)
Won Bin plays Cha Tae-sik, a pawnshop owner with a violent and secretive past, in this thriller directed by Lee Beam. His only friend, a young girl named So-mi, is kidnapped by a drug-trafficking ring, and Tae-sik embarks on a relentless mission to save her.
Its knife fights, in particular, are so well made—you could almost call them dances, given how much detail goes into them—that even seasoned action directors were impressed. It currently holds a score of 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes (though from only 13 reviews) and an audience score of 89%. The film won Best Film and Best Actor at the 2010 Korean Film Awards.
Push (2009)
Push introduces us to a world where specific individuals, known as “Watchers,” “Movers,” “Pushers,” and more, possess psychic abilities. The narrative centers around Nick Gant (Chris Evans) joining forces with a telepathic vigilante, Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), to defeat an invisible government organization called the Division.
With a plot filled with twists and turns — one can describe Inception very much as a cat-and-mouse story — it is a brainy thriller that keeps you guessing through the whole ride. Rotten Tomatoes scores it at 23% for critics and 46% from audience. A host of psychic powers, each with its own rules and limitations, further deepen these layers of geeky joy.
The Hidden (1987)
Now think of an alien parasite that can take over humans and make them act all ragey-violent-hideous. This brings us to the central chase of The Hidden, wherein a straight-shooting FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan) teams with a local detective (Michael Nouri) to pursue this elusive badass.
An incredible 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is just one of the film’s many feather prizes. Empire magazine’s Ian Nathan called The Hidden “an oddball treat that keeps its tongue in cheek while delivering cheap thrills,” epitomizing it and his point of view perfectly. The car chases, shootouts and explosive set pieces are executed with finesse.
The Yakuza (1974)
Directed by Sydney Pollack and co-written by Paul Schrader, this neo-noir thriller marries the gritty streets of 1970s America with the deeply rooted traditions of Japan’s Yakuza underworld. The film stars Robert Mitchum, a titanic figure of noir, bringing gravitas to an already intense storyline.
The sensitive treatment of cross-cultural dynamics and a code of honor (or bushido) separates it from other action blockbusters of that era. It has a decent movie rating of 7.2 on IMDb, and the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is very high, at 87%. Legendary critic Roger Ebert admired it for its “delicate and painstaking” storytelling, while Pauline Kael highlighted its “beautifully detailed” action sequences and character interactions.
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Based on the novel by Gerald Petievich, the film follows the story of Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William Petersen), who is on a relentless hunt to capture a counterfeiter named Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe) after his partner is killed. The movie’s car chase sequence is often hailed as one of the best ever filmed.
The song “To Live and Die in L.A.” reached #41 (also charting on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles). In addition, Quentin Tarantino has named “To Live and Die in L.A.” one of his all-time favorite films and influences.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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