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This is a comprehensive list of the top 20 action movies of the 21st century, based on aggregated opinions of critics, as well as personal preferences.

The 20 Best Action Movies of the 21st Century

	Title of the Movie	Year / Country / Director / Cast	Movie Description
1	Kill Bill, Volumes 1 & 2	Release Date: 2003 / 2004 Country: USA Director: Quentin Tarantino Cast: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, James Parks, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Chiaki Kuriyama, Yoshiyuki Morishita, Michael Parks, Julie Dreyfus, Shin'ichi Chiba, Chia-Hui Liu, Michael Bowen, Jun Kunimura, Kazuki Kitamura, Yuki Kazamatsuri, Sakichi Satô, Jonathan Loughran, Kenji Ohba, Tetsuro Shimaguchi, Goro Daimon	There’s simply nothing quite as exquisite as Kill Bill. It’s a marathon, spread across two films and four hours, with a sophisticated storyline, impeccable acting, and the incomparable cinematography of Quentin Tarantino. The leading lady is Uma Thurman as the Bride (later revealed to be Beatrix Kiddo), whose codename is Black Mamba. She is a member of Bill’s Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, and said to be the most dangerous woman in the world. At the beginning of the duology, the Bride awakes from a coma, having been shot four years earlier by Bill, whilst pregnant, and left to die. She is disturbed to find she is no longer pregnant, and decides to take revenge by murdering Bill and the four other members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. In the first instalment, the Bride is trying to discover more information regarding Bill’s whereabouts, and dispatches two of her targets. In one of the most iconic sequences of the movie, the Bride journeys to Japan, acquires a weapon from a legendary swordsmith, and manages to annihilate a restaurant full of guards, before engaging in a final showdown within a snow-laden garden terrace. In the second film, we learn more about Bill and the Bride’s combined background, and uncover one particularly life-changing secret. Kill Bill is the kind of masterpiece that emerges so rarely that it becomes an instant classic. Not only two of the best action movies of the 2000s, but fierce contenders for the best cinema experience of all time.
2	Mad Max: Fury Road	Release Date: 2015 Country: Australia, USA Director: George Miller Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Zoë Kravitz, Nathan Jones, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Helman, Riley Keough, John Howard, Abbey Lee, Richard Carter, Courtney Eaton	After a nuclear apocalypse devastates Earth, humans are left to roam the land without law, order, or the basic facets of civilisation. One exception is a citadel occupied and ruled by the despotic Immortan Joe. Survivor Max Rockatansky is captured by Joe’s mob of thugs, the War Boys, so that he can provide a blood supply to the injured War Boy, Nux. Joe’s five wives hatch a daring plot, with the assistance of Lieutenant Imperator Furiosa, to escape from his clutches, taking his armoured War Rig with them. The War Boys are sent to pursue and apprehend Furiosa and the wives, with Max alongside them to continue his donation of blood to Nux. After a battle between the two sides, Furiosa and her team are victorious. Max attempts to steal the War Rig and make his own bid for freedom, but is prevented from doing so by the Rig’s killswitch. Max, Furiosa, and Joe’s wives make a deal to go onwards together, but Joe is furious and in hot pursuit. Mad Max: Fury Road is a thrilling, flamboyant, and thought-provoking movie. It takes the concept of apocalyptic survival and adds a healthy dose of girl power, with all the stunts and exciting sequences you’d expect from one of the best action movies.
3	Casino Royale	Release Date: 2006 Country: UK, Czech Republic, USA, Germany, Bahamas, Italy Director: Martin Campbell Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Giancarlo Giannini, Isaach De Bankolé, Ivana Milicevic, Jesper Christensen, Tobias Menzies, Sebastien Foucan	When Daniel Craig was announced as the new Bond in 2006, the appointment was met with a mixed response, to put it mildly. However, Casino Royale turned out to be precisely the refresh that the franchise desperately required. Craig’s incantation of Bond feels more real, with human frailties and a depth that had been absent from the bravado-laden Bonds of old. The action itself is thrilling and beautifully-filmed, and beneath the surface is a deeply emotional current, that captivates the audience and creates a lasting connection. The story itself centres on Bond’s attempt to apprehend the terrorist financier, Le Chiffre, who has made a high-stakes bet on the failure of an aerospace company, Skyfleet. Le Chiffre has arranged for Skyfleet’s newest aeroplane to be destroyed during a demonstration, but Bond intervenes to prevent it. Le Chiffre loses a vast sum of money, and sets up a game of poker at Montengro’s Casino Royale to recoup his loss. Bond receives begrudging approval from M to join the game, in order to win and force Le Chiffre to hand himself over to MI6. Vesper Lynd joins Bond, as custodian of the British government’s investment in the game, and soon finds her duties extending beyond the job description. From the beautiful title sequence right through to the final credits, Casino Royale is a exhilarating return to form for the beloved 007.
4	The Bourne Ultimatum	Release Date: 2007 Country: USA, Germany, France, Spain Director: Paul Greengrass Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney, Paddy Considine, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramírez, Daniel Brühl, Tom Gallop, Corey Johnson, Joey Ansah, Colin Stinton	The Bourne series is gilded within the genre. It’s a series characterised by compelling characters, intricate storylines, and daring action sequences. As such, selecting the best of the bunch is a contentious issue. On balance, it has to be the third instalment; The Bourne Ultimatum. Building upon the first two films, 2007’s outing seeks to delve deeper into the history of Jason Bourne, and how his experiences have informed his character. The Bourne Ultimatum also contains a fantastic storyline in its own right. We meet Bourne directly after the events of The Bourne Supremacy, having been shot and wounded in Moscow by Kirill. He goes into hiding, then travels to Paris to deliver the news of his girlfriend Marie’s passing to her brother, Martin Kreutz. Whilst experiencing flashbacks of his experiences in Operation Treadstone, Bourne realises he is being tracked by the CIA. Alongside British journalist Simon Ross, Bourne is forced to confront his background, and the events that led to him transforming from David Webb into his current alias, whilst avoiding the CIA operatives out to neutralise him. The Bourne Ultimatum is a must-see for action fans, although it’s certainly advisable to watch the previous instalments first.
5	Logan	Release Date: 2017 Country: USA Director: James Mangold Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant, Boyd Holbrook, Elise Neal, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Eriq La Salle, Quincy Fouse, Al Coronel, Richard E. Grant, Frank Gallegos	Logan picks up the X-Men story 25 years after the events of Days of Future Past. Logan – aka Wolverine – is in hiding, the adamantium coating of his skeleton seeping into his body and slowly poisoning him. He works as a limo driver and cares for the frail and elderly Charles Xavier. The onset of dementia has rendered Charles’ telepathy deadly, and alongside Caliban, the two are the only remaining X-Men. Logan is contacted by Gabriela, a former nurse for a biotech company called Alkali-Transigen. She asks him to take a young girl named Laura to Eden, a sanctuary in North Dakota. When Logan arrives, he finds Gabriela dead, and Laura hiding in his car. It soon transpires that Laura has similar powers to Logan. Logan discovers that Alkali-Transigen created mutant children – including Laura – who they planned to use as weapons. Laura was created using Logan’s own DNA, and with help from Gabriela, she managed to escape her captors. Logan and Laura embark upon a cross-country trip to reach Eden, with Alkali-Transigen and the Reavers, a band of villainous cyborgs. Along the way, they must make sacrifices, deal with tragic loss, and keep fighting against the odds. This instalment of the X-Men franchise is not to be missed!
6	Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol	Release Date: 2011 Country: USA, United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic Director: Brad Bird Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Samuli Edelmann, Michael Nyqvist, Ivan Shvedoff, Josh Holloway, Vladimir Mashkov, Anil Kapoor, Léa Seydoux, Pavel Kríz	You won’t be surprised to discover that movies starring Tom Cruise feature a few times on this list. He’s the undisputed king of action films for good reason. The Mission: Impossible franchise has been consistently exceptional; a treat for fans of the genre. Selecting just one for this list was a challenge, but Ghost Protocol just about edges ahead. Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan Hunt, who has been out of action for a few years, receives a new task. He needs to track down a terrorist, Kurt Hendricks, who is planning to use Russian launch codes to instigate a nuclear attack on the United States. Hunt must infiltrate the Kremlin, but the operation doesn’t run smoothly, and the seat of Russian power is damaged in the fracas. The failure of Hunt and his team leads the President to approve the ‘Ghost Protocol’, which shuts down the IMF and prevents any further funding or assistance. Hunt continues his mission, but can he successfully apprehend Hendricks and prevent a deadly war? We’ll leave you to find out!
7	Looper	Release Date: 2012 Country: USA, China Director: Rian Johnson Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Piper Perabo, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Pierce Gagnon, Jeff Daniels, Tracie Thoms, Qing Xu, Frank Brennan, Jon Eyez, Garret Dillahunt	By the mid-21st century, time travel has been invented – finally! However, the innovation is soon outlawed, except for those who can afford it. Crime syndicates have the means to manipulate time, and they use it for nefarious purposes. Joe is an assassin – known as a looper – who dispatches victims sent to him from the future by a syndicate owner named Abe. In the interest of protecting the syndicate, loopers know that their final job will be to assassinate the future versions of themselves, who travel back in time just like all their other victims. This is known as closing the loop. Through his friend Seth – a fellow looper – Joe discovers that someone called the Rainmaker eventually stages a coup against the five major crime bosses and closes all existing loops. Joe’s very next target is his future self. ‘Old’ Joe manages to escape, and after a failed attempt to confront him, ‘Young’ Joe falls from a fire escape and becomes unconscious. He wakes up in an alternate timeline, in which he did kill his future self. He moves to Shanghai, hits the party scene a little too hard, then settles down with his wife. When the time comes for his loop to be closed, Joe evades his younger self and escapes once again, to begin searching for the Rainmaker. Having discovered the birth date and location of the Rainmaker, Old Joe intends to kill the child in order to prevent future catastrophe. He persuades Young Joe to help him, and explains the personal reasons why this is so important. Can they find the Rainmaker and go through with their plan? An intricate, captivating story that demands your full attention!
8	Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon	Release Date: 2000 Country: text Director: Ang Lee Cast: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Chen Chang, Sihung Lung, Ziyi Zhang, Fa Zeng Li, Pei-Pei Cheng, Li Li, Xian Gao, Yan Hai, Jin Ting Zhang, De Ming Wang, Su Ying Huang	A movie that transcends genres; a mix of action, fantasy, period drama, with a thread of raw emotion woven through the intricate story. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is set in 1778, during the Qing dynasty. Wudang warrior Li Mu Bai decides to retire and hand over his beloved sword, Green Destiny, to his friend, Sir Te. He asks Shu Lien, the object of his affections, and recently bereaved fiancé of his best friend Meng Sizhao, to help him deliver Green Destiny to Sir Te. However, the sword is stolen by an elusive thief, and the pair must set about to retrieve it. What follows is a mix of exquisite storytelling, gorgeous cinematography, gravity-defying stunts, and a thrilling tension that lasts until the final shot. It has become beloved throughout the world with good reason. An unmissable experience!
9	Crank	Release Date: 2006 Country: USA Directors: Mark Neveldine (as Neveldine), Brian Taylor (as Taylor) Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, Reno Wilson, Carlos Sanz, Edi Gathegi, Dwight Yoakam, Yousuf Azami, Glenn Howerton, Keone Young, Jay Xcala, Valarie Rae Miller	An action-packed story that will get the adrenaline pumping. In fact, that’s pretty crucial to the whole premise! Chelios is an LA-based hitman, working for a crime boss named Carlito. Chelios is sent by Carlito to kill rival mafia boss, Don Kim. After Chelios completes the job, he is confronted by a wannabe don, Verona, his brother Alex, and several goons. In the melee, Chelios is injected with a Chinese serum that drains the adrenaline from his body, which will eventually stop his heart. He calls the mafia doctor, who tells him that he needs to keep his adrenaline levels elevated, by engaging in risky, irresponsible, and promiscuous behaviour. Although an antidote doesn’t appear to exist, Chelios takes advantage of the advice, and puts himself in increasingly reckless situations. When Chelios goes to Carlito for help, he discovers that Carlito is working with Verona, and that his own death will be used by Carlito as an excuse to have another pop at his rivals. Chelios is furious, and decides to exact revenge on both Carlito and Verona. An unexpected arrival gives Chelios a lifeline, and a battle royale ensues. With Chelios’ life hanging in the balance, can he find an antidote? Crank does require the viewer to suspend their belief in reality, but that doesn’t take away from what is a very entertaining movie with a compelling storyline.
10	John Wick	Release Date: 2014 Country: China, USA Directors: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Dean Winters, Omer Barnea, Bridget Moynahan, John Leguizamo, Toby Leonard Moore, Bridget Regan, Daniel Bernhardt, Ian McShane	John Wick is in mourning. His beloved wife, Helen, has passed away after a long illness. Directly after her funeral, he receives a Beagle puppy that Helen bought him, named Daisy. Wick finds purpose and comfort from raising Daisy, and forms a close bond with her. Whilst out driving his prized Mustang, Wick stops to refuel. He receives a compliment on the car from an unusually persistent young man, who offers to buy it. Wick refuses, and drives away with Daisy. Later that night, the man goes to Wick’s home, steals the car, and kills Daisy. It transpires that the attacker is Iosef, the son of a Russian mob boss, Viggo Tarasov. The elder Tarasov and Wick previously worked together, but Wick left in order to pursue his relationship with Helen. Wick’s past life was that of a professional hitman, and he decides to tap into his latent abilities to exact revenge on Iosef and Viggo. A meandering, complex, yet thrilling plot unfolds, with the grieving Wick intent on avenging Iosef’s actions. It’s a rich tale with a satisfying ending.
11	Minority Report	Release Date: 2002 Country: USA Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Patrick Kilpatrick, Neal McDonough, Richard Coca, Jessica Capshaw, Keith Campbell, Kirk B.R. Woller, Frank Grillo, Klea Scott, Eugene Osment, Anna Maria Horsford	Based on a story of the same name, written by Philip K Dick, Minority Report delves into the ethical issues that spring from innovative approaches to crime prevention. In this movie, psychics known as ‘precogs’ are used by an agency called PreCrime to predict criminal acts. Future perpetrators are then captured and held in a perfectly pleasant virtual reality, unaware of their arrest, and protected from knowledge of the crime they were otherwise destined to commit. Captain John Anderton, a senior PreCrime operative, is deeply troubled after the disappearance of his son and breakdown of his marriage. To his alarm, a precog has predicted that he will commit a murder. The target of his crime, Leo Crow, is unknown to Anderton at the time, but as the story progresses, we begin to learn more about how their lives intertwine, and the complex reasons behind the precog’s premonition. Minority Report spans the action, science fiction, and psychological thriller genres. It asks challenging questions about methods of law enforcement and their potential for abuse.
12	The Transporter	Release Date: 2002 Country: France, USA Directors: Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen (as Cory Yuen) Cast: Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze, François Berléand, Doug Rand, Ric Young, Didier Saint Melin, Laurent Desponds, Tonio Descanvelle, Vincent Nemeth, Matthieu Albertini, Adrian Dearnell	There are three rules a transporter must live by: don't change the deal, no names, and never open the package. Frank Martin is the ultimate transporter. He’ll deliver anything, without question. We join Frank on a robbery getaway job. When the clients try to change the deal, he reminds them of the rules, refusing to move until they withdraw their request. When they decide to go it alone, they bungle the escape and are captured. Frank is questioned, but in the absence of evidence, the lead investigator drops his line of inquiry. Frank’s next client is a businessman named Bettencourt. The heavy package is loaded into his vehicle, and Frank soon discovers that it contains a person. He suspends his rule and offers the lady inside a drink. She tries to escape, but Frank prevents this and delivers her to Bettencourt. On a return trip with a package from Bettencourt, Frank makes a stop at a shop. The package from Bettencourt explodes, and although Frank is unscathed, his is furious with Bettencourt. He returns to the house and murders several of Bettencourt’s gang, before leaving with the girl, named Lai. Lai reveals the true nature of Bettencourt’s business; human trafficking. Shipping containers full of Chinese victims – including several members of Lai’s family – is en route, and Frank decides to intervene. Bettencourt is out to stop him, alongside an unforeseen accomplice from Lai’s own family. Frank and Lai must work together to defeat Bettencourt, even if that means making a devastating sacrifice. An enticing story with plenty of twists!
13	Unstoppable	Release Date: 2010 Country: USA Director: Tony Scott Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Corrigan, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn, Kevin Chapman, T.J. Miller, Lew Temple, Jessy Schram, Andy Umberger, David Warshofsky, Elizabeth Mathis, Meagan Tandy	The ultimate runaway train action movie! A locomotive is pulling away from the fictional Fuller Station in Pennsylvania, with a precarious cargo, when the engineers working on it realise that the brakes are not properly engaged. The train is carrying highly-flammable molten phenol and 5,000 gallons of diesel; a potentially deadly combination. Dewey and Gilleece, the two engineers, are instructed to drive alongside the train and find a way to stop it. However, they soon notice that it is running on full power, and is practically uncontrollable. The engineers decide to try to slow the train using other locomotives as a buffer, allowing one of the team to be helicoptered into the cab to bring its rampage to a close. Unfortunately, this plan fails, and the train continues to barrel towards a section of the track named ‘Devil’s Curve’ – which, as we’re sure you can imagine, doesn’t exactly bode well! It is decided, reluctantly, that the best course of action is to induce a derailment that’s as controlled as possible, although the consequences still have the potential to be catastrophic. Despite the best attempts of the engineers, the train doesn’t derail, so a more audacious plan is hatched, which involves separating the locomotives from the load. It’s risky, with a high risk of failure, but there’s no other option. Unstoppable is a thrilling adventure, that’s just about plausible enough to send a chill down your spine!
14	The Equalizer	Release Date: 2014 Country: USA Director: Antoine Fuqua Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman, Haley Bennett, David Meunier, Melissa Leo, Johnny Skourtis, E. Roger Mitchell, Alex Veadov, Vladimir Kulich, James Wilcox	Robert McCall is the guy you want on your side. A retired Marine and security operative, McCall made a promise to his late wife that he wouldn’t return to his old career. At the start of the movie, he is working in a hardware store and helping a co-worker to pass his security guard exam. An all-round good guy! While reading in a diner, McCall strikes up conversation with a young woman called Alina, who is a prostitute for the Russian Mafia. After Alina is savagely beaten by her pimp, McCall rushes to her defence, and soon finds himself embroiled once again in the worlds of espionage and justice. McCall also unearths corruption within the local police force, which is intertwined with Russian Mafia activities. He demands that the police pay back the money they have extorted from local businesses, and threatens to expose them if they return to illegal actions. McCall is assisted by another former operative, Susan Plummer, who not only provides useful information that will help McCall in his investigation, but the reassurance that his late wife would not be upset with him for returning to his career with good reason. As the Russian Mafia begin to encircle McCall and his friends, he must take decisive action to eliminate the threat. The Equalizer takes an interesting approach to the spy movie format, with a wonderful performance from Denzel Washington at the helm.
15	Parker	Release Date: 2013 Country: USA Director: Taylor Hackford Cast: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis, Clifton Collins Jr., Wendell Pierce, Nick Nolte, Bobby Cannavale, Carlos Carrasco, Micah Hauptman, Patti LuPone, Emma Booth	Starring action movie veteran Jason Statham, Parker tells the story of the mysterious titular character, a professional thief who has vowed never to steal from the poor, nor to hurt innocent people. He is sent on a job by his mentor, Hurley, to steal gate money from the Ohio State Fair. Despite the inadequate professionalism of the crew he is leading, the job is a success. Parker decides to cut ties with the group, rejecting their offer of a bigger job. De facto leader, Melander, decides that it’s too risky for Parker to know their plans, and shoots him at the side of a road, leaving him to die. Fortunately, Parker is picked up by kindly tomato farmers, who take him to the hospital for treatment. Parker uses his powers of persuastion to escape, and discovers that not only is a hitman out to finish him off, but his girlfriend, Claire, has barely evaded a kidnapping attempt. Melander is responsible for the entire plan, and Parker sets off to Florida to exact revenge. Parker has all the thrills you would expect from a great action film, with a strange but satisfying sense of morality.
16	Sicario	Release Date: 2015 Country: USA, Mexico Director: Denis Villeneuve Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber, Jeffrey Donovan, Daniel Kaluuya, Bernardo Saracino, Raoul Max Trujillo, Hank Rogerson, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Kevin Wiggins	FBI agent Kate Macer is involved in a raid on a suspected Mexican drug cartel safehouse, but the building is full of bodies and a deadly booby trap. After the operation, Kate is seconded to a joint task force with the CIA, to capture a senior member of the responsible cartel, Manuel Diaz, in Mexico. Kate and the team travel to Ciudad Juarez, known for its extreme violence. The CIA faction uses unconventional – as well as morally and legally questionable – tactics to apprehend Diaz; killing several cartel members and torturing others. Kate soon discovers that the true mission is not what she was told, and that the task force is actually aiming for the cartel’s prominent drug lord, Fausto Alarcon. Kate is used as bait – without her knowledge – to capture a police officer who has been hired by the cartel. He is tortured to extract information about other cops working for Diaz and Alarcon. The task force discovers that Diaz is coming back to Mexico, and they plan to follow him to locate Alarcon. However, it transpires that there is even more to the tasks force’s plan, and that the US is actually trying to return Mexico to a state of cartel monopoly, making it easier for them to exert control. Kate is horrified, and must choose whether to authorise the operation. Sicario is a captivating action movie that asks difficult questions about the ethical aspects of international crime prevention.
17	Hanna	Release Date: 2011 Country: USA, UK, Germany Director: Joe Wright Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Vicky Krieps, Cate Blanchett, Tim Beckmann, John Macmillan, Paris Arrowsmith, Paul Birchard, Tom Hodgkins, Christian Malcolm, Jamie Beamish, Vincent Montuel, Nathan Nolan	A complex and turbulent tale that extends beyond the typical action story. The titular Hanna is a child raised in exceptional circumstances; deep within the remote Finnish Arctic, her former CIA operative father, Erik, has trained her to become a highly-skilled assassin. Erik abandoned the CIA in possession of a secret with potentially devastating consequences. In response, a senior CIA officer named Marissa is assigned to permanently silence him. Erik informs Hanna that her training is complete, and that she is ready to use her training to protect herself and Erik. He uncovers a radio beacon that, once activated, will give away their location. Erik allows Hanna to have the final decision over whether they will go ahead with their plan. She agrees, and the beacon is activated. Erik flees to Berlin as planned, giving Hanna details of where to find him. She is soon captured by the CIA and taken away for questioning. Hanna uses her finely-tuned skills to escape, and she embarks upon a journey to reunite with her father. Hanna is far more complex that a typical action move. It evokes themes found in fairy tales and folklore, with a tantalisingly dark twist. Hanna also asks fundamental questions about whether our genetics or socialisation take preference in the ways that we think and behave. A thrilling adventure that will stay with you, long after the credits have rolled.
18	Celda 211	Release Date: 2009 Country: Spain, France Director: Daniel Monzón Cast: Luis Tosar, Alberto Ammann, Antonio Resines, Carlos Bardem, Manuel Morón, Marta Etura, Vicente Romero, Luis Zahera, Patxi Bisquert, Fernando Soto, Josean Bengoetxea, Manolo Solo, Anartz Zuazua, Miguel Martín	Have you ever had a first day at work that you perceived to be a complete disaster? Trust us, Juan Oliver had it far worse. He’s arrived a day early to take up a new job as a prison officer. His wife, Elena, is heavily pregnant with their first child. Unfortunately for Juan, his first day happens to coincide with a prison riot. Juan is knocked unconscious in an accident, and wakes up in cell 211. As the riot unfolds around him, he realises he must blend in as a prisoner to have any chance of survival. The riot leader, Malamadre, doesn’t recognise Juan, but believes the story that he arrived on the day of the riot, sent down for murder. Malamadre discovers that ETA members are also in the prison, and plans to capture them to strengthen his negotiating position. The government tries to dampen brewing resistance in other prisons and the Basque regions in response to this action. Malamadre becomes impatient with the government, and threatens to kill ETA members. Juan talks him out of it, but must commit a gruesome act of his own to alleviate the murderous atmosphere. Meanwhile, a distraught Elena arrives at the prison to find out if Juan is OK. She is beaten by another guard when she tries to ask about his whereabouts. Juan is disgusted, and his anger soon turns to heartbreak when Elena is taken to the hospital. Furious, he enters a spiral of violence that coincides with frenzied rioting. Celda 211 isn’t an easy watch; it will have a profound effect on you. But the quality of the acting and storytelling make it essential viewing.
19	The Foreigner	Release Date: 2017 Country: UK, China, USA Director: Martin Campbell Cast: Katie Leung, Jackie Chan, Rufus Jones, John Cronin, Mark Tandy, Caolan Byrne, Pierce Brosnan, Donna Bernard, Charlie Murphy, Orla Brady, Aaron Monaghan, Niall McNamee, Lia Williams	The Troubles loom heavy in this gritty action film. Ngoc Minh Quan, a Chinese restaurant owner from Vietnam, now living in London, loses his daughter in a terrorist bombing. The atrocity was committed by an Irish republican group, and Quan commits himself to revenge. He fixes his attention on Northern Irish First Minister Liam Hennessy, who himself has a chequered past within the Irish republican movement. Quan demands that Hennessy use his connections to share the names of those responsible. Hennessy claims he cannot identify them, and Quan sets off a bomb in Hennessy’s office in retaliation. Hennessy tries to find out the names of the bombers, but his former comrades catch wind and block attempts to infiltrate their ranks. A furious Quan stalks Hennessy’s home, and throws further explosives toward it. Hennessy asks his nephew Sean, a soldier, to defend the home. Spotting Quan on the property, Sean shoots him. As he tends his wounds, we learn more about Quan’s horrific experiences during the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The conflict between Quan and Hennessy plays out alongside a broader escalation of republican violence. Hennessy must play the negotiator on both fronts, but when Quan discovers Hennessy has a mistress and threatens to reveal it publicly, the former paramilitary must urgently call in favours. This has serious consequences for Hennessy, Quan, and the political hierarchy in Northern Ireland. The intertwined narratives within The Foreigner are seamless, and it’s a treat to see Jackie Chan in such a serious role. A must-see!
20	Miami Vice	Release Date: 2006 Country: USA, Germany, Paraguay, Uruguay Director: Michael Mann Cast: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Li Gong, Naomie Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ciarán Hinds, Justin Theroux, John Ortiz, Domenick Lombardozzi, Luis Tosar, Elizabeth Rodriguez, John Hawkes	The wildly popular 1980s TV series received a feature-length reboot in 2006, featuring Colin Farrell as Detective Sonny Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Detective Rico Tubbs. We meet Crockett and Tubbs during an undercover sting at a seedy nightclub, which is halted in response to a call from a former informant. Crockett and Tubbs soon find themselves deep within the conflict between a Colombian drug cartel, white nationalists, Russian undercover operatives, and an Inter-Agency Task Force. They must pose as drug smugglers in order to progress the investigation into José Yero, the head of the drug smuggling cartel. Along the way, our heroes encounter romance, betrayal, and thrilling action sequences. Not every reboot can capture the magic of the original, but Miami Vice certainly excels.

What makes a great action movie?

When thinking about your favourite action movies, which elements stand out? We’ve compiled the top five features of a great action movie. Let’s dive in!

1. Story
Like all movie genres, a good action film requires a decent story; there’s no point in throwing explosions at a poor idea. A story must be rich, well-developed, and understandable. Some action movies suffer from an oversaturated plot; too much going on and insufficient explanation. Instead, writers and directors must ease the audience into the world they have created, and reveal the narrative without adding any unnecessary complexity. Otherwise, the audience is in danger of walking out, or falling asleep!

2. Characters
For an action film to be successful, the audience must be able to identify with the leading character(s). Most leads within this genre take on the role of a hero; even if they are the most stone-cold killer known to cinema, there should be an aspect of their personality that makes them human. A frailty needn’t be a weakness; it’s simply a doorway to a greater connection between the audience and a character.

3. Stunts
In action films, one must go big or go home! Whilst the story and characters are crucial components, stunts serve as the embellishment; the cherry on top, if you will. Action movie creators are tasked with producing a sensory experience that takes the audience on an adventure. It should be visually exhilarating, with a soundtrack and effects that enhance the film without stifling it. Stunts should be daring and audacious, but not overdone.

4. Pacing
Action movies generally have relatively complicated narratives. There are several components to address simultaneously, and it can be a challenge to tie up all the loose ends within a feature-length timeline. That’s why the pacing of the story should be given due consideration. There have been plenty of action films with great promise that failed to deliver simply due to a pacing problem. The key is to keep the audience on their toes, but know when to provide a little breathing space.

5. Suspense
A great action film thrives on suspense. Experienced directors know how to build narrative layers to provide a thrill to the audience. But it’s important to make them work for it; there’s an art to building suspense, and the best action movies will put the audience through the wringer before any resolution is provided. Again, it’s a delicate balance, but one that pays off when done correctly.