10 Best Plots in Action Movies, Ranked

Action cinema provides a uniquely engaging way to watch movies. They offer explosive thrills, adrenaline-fueled setpieces, and death-defying stunts, all from the comfort of a living room or theater, getting hearts pounding and pulses pumping in ways that most other genres can’t. The best action movies, from Die Hard to John Wick, provide what many would argue is the very essence of cinema: escapism.

As important and bombastic setpieces are in action movies, a good plot has the potential to elevate a serviceable movie into a genre classic. After all, movies were created as a means to tell a story. This is a selection of action movies that have the best plots that the genre has to offer, ranked by how engaging and fitting they are and how memorable they have become.

10 ‘Face/Off’ (1997)

Directed by John Woo

The F.B.I.’s top agent, Sean Archer (John Travolta), finally captures his nemesis, the ruthless criminal Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage). Even after being apprehended, Troy still poses a threat: he has planted a bomb that will ravage Los Angeles, and only Troy’s brother, Pollux (Alessandro Nivola), knows its location. Archer must utilize an advanced surgical procedure that will give him the face of Troy as a means to infiltrate his inner circle. Troy has similarly personal but far more sinister plans.

Face/Off is just as silly as it sounds, and as a movie, it’s all the better as a result. It’s a supercharged and exceedingly entertaining action flick that makes the most out of its leads’ charisma and off-the-wall concept. Boat chases, slow-motion shootouts, and Nicolas Cage dressed as a priest: Face/Off truly has everything one could ask for. Every frame of the movie is directed with such conviction and passion that it’s virtually impossible not to be won over by the end.

9 ‘Total Recall’ (1990)

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives as a construction worker on Earth in the year 2048. Quaid consistently dreams of visiting Mars and opts to visit a center that will simulate the trip by implanting a fake memory into his brain. The procedure backfires, and he soon finds himself being hunted by people he once trusted. Quaid will have to fight for his future by confronting his mysterious past.

Total Recall is a wacky and bombastic slice of sci-fi action that boasts a surprisingly dense, mind-bending narrative. Nothing is ever quite as it seems, and as the twisty plot plays out, it only grows more entertaining. It’s gleefully over-the-top, and a healthy serving of ’90s cheese adds to the charm, but by no means is Total Recall a farce. As can be found in many of Dutch director Paul Verhoeven‘s movies, Total Recall has a satirical edge that keeps it feeling fresh even three decades later.

8 ‘Point Break’ (1991)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

F.B.I. Agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) is tasked with bringing down a crew of bank robbers who call themselves The Ex-Presidents. The crew robs banks with extreme efficiency while donning masks with the likeness of past American Presidents. Utah believes that the crew is a group of surfers that frequent Los Angeles beaches, and he goes undercover as a surfer to infiltrate the gang. A friendly relationship blossoms between Utah and the group’s leader, Bodhi (Patrick Swayze), who may be more dangerous than Utah predicted.

In terms of heist action movies, Point Break ranks among the greatest ever made. Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow shows a more than capable hand at directing explosive action set pieces that are as memorable as they are enjoyable. Who would’ve ever imagined surfing to serve an action movie so wonderfully? Thankfully, Point Break never takes itself too seriously, but it still can pack quite the punch when appropriate. Point Break is a righteously good time and an overall bodacious watch.

7 ‘Crank’ (2006)

Directed by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor

Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is a professional assassin working for a West Coast crime syndicate. Unfortunately for Chev, just as he is on his way out of the business, a rival organization injects him with an active poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. To stay alive, Chev must race to an antidote and exact his revenge, doing whatever he can to keep his heart pumping along the way.

To put it lightly, Crank is absolutely bonkers. Crass, violent and utterly perverse, Crank is essentially an adrenaline shot in movie form. It’s a Jason Statham vehicle through and through — this action legend’s delightfully unhinged performance grants Crank a surprising amount of pitch-black humor that compliments the absurd action setpieces wonderfully. Conceptually, it works on every level; the brilliantly simplistic plot allows for more white-knuckle action than most genre efforts could ever conjure.

6 ‘Oldboy’ (2003)

Directed by Park Chan-wook

Following his abduction, Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) awakes in a windowless hotel room where he is kept imprisoned for fifteen years. Being provided no explanation behind his capture, Oh Dae-Su is inexplicably released back into society. Searching for answers, as well as revenge against his captors, Oh Dae-Su finds himself at the center of a devious plot that will have him digging up dark secrets from his past.

One of the most singular visionary movies of the modern age, Oldboy is a stunningly realized and inventive masterpiece that is unlike anything that came before it or since. The story is challenging and unpredictable, building to a stomach-churning climax that will shock any first-time viewer. Few action movies are as viscerally enjoyable and even fewer are as sturdily crafted from a narrative standpoint.

5 ‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Directed by John McTiernan

When a group of terrorists lays siege to Nakatomi headquarters and takes several hostages, NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is their only chance of survival. With no backup and extremely limited firepower, McClane must put his wits and resources to the test and save the building’s hostages, his estranged wife included. In this situation, McClane is afforded no luxuries, not even shoes, but one thing is certain: he will die hard.

The action movie of the ’80s and one of the definitive action movies of all time, Die Hard is a no-frills, no-holds-barred genre classic that thrilled audiences and kick-started what would become a legendary career for Willis. What elevates Die Hard into the stratosphere is its simplicity; the setting allows for a consistent stream of thrilling action, along with the satisfaction of watching McClane slowly gain control over the evildoers. Few action flicks are as tight and effective as Die Hard, and it has rightfully earned its title of a genre classic.

4 ‘Speed’ (1994)

Directed by Jan de Bont

Set in the bustling city streets of Los Angeles, California, a mastermind bomb-squad technician turned madman, Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), arms a public bus with an explosive that will detonate if the bus drops below 50 mph. Enter L.A.P.D SWAT officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves); a personal history with Payne complicates matters as Traven helps in any way he can to keep the bus moving.

Fittingly, Speed is a ferociously entertaining action movie with a break-neck pace. At a conceptual level, Speed is simply brilliant. Hurtling through the LA streets at over 50 mph, the bus is basically a 12-ton explosive bullet, and the physicality of the action reflects that. Supporting the fantastic action sequences is the chemistry of leads Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock; the pair are dynamite on screen together, making it almost impossible not to cheer their efforts to save the passengers. Speed is a ride that action junkies will never want to get off of.

3 ‘The Terminator’ (1984)

Directed by James Cameron

Los Angeles native Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) is a waitress leading an unassuming and lonely existence. Everything changes when a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back from the future to kill her. Future freedom fighter Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is also sent back to ensure Sarah’s survival. In this game of cat and mouse, the fate of humanity is on the line.

Bold, bombastic, and invigorating, The Terminator is a high-concept sci-fi action movie that offers relentless thrills and groundbreaking visual effects. Unlike some other movies that employ time travel in their narratives, The Terminator never gets bogged down in the mechanics — the action speaks for itself, and the characters are full-bodied and easy to root for. The Terminator is as novel a concept as sci-fi action movies come, and many would argue that its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, only improves on the formula.

2 ‘Inception’ (2010)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his band of associates have revolutionized the art of thievery; they conduct operations within the dreams of their targets, allowing them to steal information and secrets directly from the source. With retirement in sight and a promise for his freedom, Cobb accepts one last job—one that will require him and his crew to implant an idea into the subconscious of a powerful CEO heir.

Director Christopher Nolan and out-there concepts go hand-in-hand, and Inception might just be his most ambitious work yet. While it can still be enjoyed as a heist/action epic, Inception operates on a scale that many modern blockbusters could only dream of. Conceptually dense yet maintaining a consistent emotional throughline, Inception is the perfect blending of awe-inspiring setpieces and meaningful character development, the product of unbridled visionary filmmaking that will inspire generations of future creators.

1 ‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Directed by Lana Wachowski & Lily Wachowski

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) works a day job as a meek computer programmer but otherwise operates as a hacker known in the underworld as Neo. When Neo is presented with the opportunity to learn the truth behind humanity’s existence, he accepts. The rabbit hole Neo enters goes deeper than he could’ve ever imagined, learning he is the chosen one who will save the human race from simulated bondage.

The Matrix is a turn-of-the-century sci-fi action epic that changed the landscape of filmmaking as a whole. While the groundbreaking visual effects still amaze today, the legacy of The Matrix will live on in film history as a movie that pushes boundaries when it comes to presenting a thought-provoking, high-concept narrative. The sheer inventiveness on display is beyond impressive—every creative decision feels inspired and fresh, regardless of its age. At a time when technology has ingrained itself in nearly every aspect of everyday living, The Matrix has only grown more impactful, timely, and relevant.

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