Top 30+ Hollywood Best Action Movies Of All Time

Ankita Chetana|Feb 06, 2020

Hollywood is the most successful movie market over the world and action films have contributed the majority to make it. Here is the list of Hollywood best action movies of all time!

Ever since in the worldwide movie scope, Hollywood has barely disappointed fans with its action genre. Not only a phenomenon un this day and age but Hollywood best action movies have drafted a steady box of success time and again. Whenever they fought out the screen, onlookers, as well as film critics, have screamed for its perfection and completion.

Throughout the time, with the new phase of superhero series ruling the roost, people still remember the ace of best Hollywood action movies. Adopting laudatory reviews from both movie critics and audiences, these movies compiled on the list are worth running on your screen this time. What are they and how have they been ranked? Find your ride on action genre with the list below!

If you remember this scene from Superman, you are no longer young now!

Best Hollywood action films of all time

Basically, we cannot recommend the full action English movies list from the starting date of this genre but here is an overall look at the nominated films on the tag of action. Some movies you may get acquainted with already while others reach the first time to you.

Hollywood action movie Year Main Cast Rating/10
Johnny Guitar 1954 Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden 7.7
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957 Alec Guinness, William Holden 8.1
Rio Bravo 1959 John Wayne, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin 8.0
A Fistful of Dollars 1964 Clint Eastwood, Marianne Koch 8.0
Goldfinger 1964 Sean Connery, Shirley Eaton 7.7
The Wild Bunch 1969 Ernest Borgnine, William Holden 7.9
Badlands 1973 Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates 7.8
Superman 1978 Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, Valerie Perrine 7.3
Apocalypse Now 1979 Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen 8.4
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 1980 Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford 8.7
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman 8.4
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior 1982 Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Virginia Hey 7.3
The Terminator 1984 Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn 8.0
Aliens 1986 Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton 8.3
One False Move 1992 Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Paxton, Cynda Williams, Michael Beach 7.1
The Fugitive 1993 Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano 7.8
Apollo 13 1995 Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon 7.6
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002 Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin 8.7
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2003 Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin 8.9
Spider-Man 2 2004 Tobey Maguire, Stan Lee, Kirsten Dunst 7.3
Casino Royale 2006 Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen 8.0
The Bourne Ultimatum 2007 Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen 8.0
Iron Man 2008 Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges 7.9
Star Trek 2009 Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana 7.9
True Grit 2010 Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon 7.6
Drive 2011 Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Isaac 7.8
Marvel’s The Avengers 2012 Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner 8.0
X-Men: Days of Future Past 2014 James McAvoy, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrick Stewart 8.0
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation 2015 Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner 7.4
Captain America: Civil War 2016 Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson 7.8
War for the Planet of the Apes 2017 Andy Serkis, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson, Amiah Miller 7.4
Baby Driver 2017 Ansel Elgort, Edgar Wright, Jon Hamm, Lily James, Jamie Foxx 7.6
Avengers: Endgame 2019 Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland 8.5

As going through this list details is likely to tire all of us, so we will derive some weighted rating (higher than 8.0/10) movies of the list. Check out the below section!

>>> Are you into thriller genre? Check this! Top Hollywood Thriller Movies You Must Watch in 2020

Legends of Hollywood best action movies

1. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Poster of "The Bridge on the River Kwai"

The movie stirred an obvious drama of World War II when British POWs decides to construct a bridge of railway across the river Kwai to connect with the captors from Japan. Behind the beauty of generosity and hospitality, it’s a visible conspiracy of the Allies to destroy unity. At that time, The Bridge on the River Kwai earned 7 Oscars awards for its excellence on the screen.

2. Apocalypse Now (1979)

None other historical films than Apocalypse Now can describe the unhallowed alleyway of the war. Later it achieved 8 nominations in different categories at the Academy Awards and bagged 3 awards of Golden Globes for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Score.

3. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

According to what was reviewed by the film critics, this part of the Star Wars franchise carved a fertile imagination and engrossed a spectacular draft of the director. The film won 1 Oscars award and several other honorable awards from Academy Awards, Golden Globes amongst many others.

The original Star Wars movie is a true legend.

4. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Transporting moviegoers from the dazzling side to the ancient thrill-sated matinee, it’s not wrong to declare that Raiders of the Lost Ark packs the perfection. One more time, writer George Lucas made everyone admire him for a powerfully attractive and incredible story. The film brought home 4 renowned awards from Oscars.

5. Aliens (1986)

Not just a dramatic action movie but Aliens is also a worth-watching thriller. It assails us like many other films but the provoking tautness drains us like an easy-going viewer. Collecting 2 Oscars awards, the film proved its impeccable runs.

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

It was a flick heading straight on action scenes and brawled for the first part’s pastoral radiance. Bagging home two Oscars awards, the second part of the trilogy was one of the most monumental action films of all time.

>>> See full list of upcoming Hollywood movies in 2020 released in India here!

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

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King marks the successful end for the trilogy.

Continuing the success of the second film, the 2003 film certainly excites the audience’s senses and whispers the wind of startling scenes. Apart from 11 Oscars awards, the film also took home nearly 200 other awards and was nominated for 122 honors.

8. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

In spite of not winning an award of Oscars, Avengers: Endgame has ruled the world as an enormous and marvelous movie party with both actions and touching emotions. In the final battle against Thanos, the Avengers team once again assembles with the support from the left allies such as Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Spider-man, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man amongst many others.

Avengers: Endgame poster

In case you have watched all these legendary movies from Hollywood, check for a more recent list below!

List of Hollywood action films 2019

Take a look at the best action movies Hollywood in 2019 you can watch!

Title Director Main cast
Alita: Battle Angel Robert Rodriguez Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly
Hellboy Neil Marshall David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw David Leitch Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby
Terminator: Dark Fate Tim Miller Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes
Captain Marvel Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law
Avengers: Endgame The Russo Brothers Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Chad Stahelski Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Michael Dougherty Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe
X-Men: Dark Phoenix Simon Kinberg Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence
Spider-Man: Far From Home Jon Watts Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maris Tomei. Samuel L. Jackson
Men in Black: International F. Gary Gray Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani
Angel Has Fallen Ric Roman Waugh Gerard Butler, Frederick Schmidt, Danny Huston
The Kitchen Andrea Berloff Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss
Charlie’s Angels Elizabeth Banks Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks

>>> Editor's pick for you: 

Upcoming Hollywood action movies 2020

And here are 12 action films we cannot wait to see in the cinema this year. Check it out!

Anticipated Movies of Hollywood action genre in 2020
Title Director Original release date
Fast & Furious 9 Justin Lin April 8
Black Widow Cate Shortland May 1
Wonder Woman 1984 Patty Jenkins June 5
Godzilla vs. Kong Adam Wingard November 20
The King’s Man Matthew Vaughn September 18
Monster Hunter Paul W.S. Anderson September 4
24 Little Hours Paul Knight Jan 13
Underwater William Eubank Jan 10
No Time to Die Cary Joji Fukunaga April 8
Top Gun: Maverick Joseph Kosinski June 26
Tenet Christopher Nolan July 17
Jungle Cruise Jaume Collet-Serra July 24

In all times, the action genre has played a major role on the screen of Hollywood. We hope that the above Hollywood best action movies can lie on your bucket list in your free time. Enjoy them and have a glimpse at our category of Hollywood life and STARBIZ in general.

>>> Read more about Hollywood life:

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