Among the various film genres, thrillers and action movies are often the ones that thrive on perfect pacing and continuous excitement. It’s clear that these films should begin with an engaging premise, progressively build up with each new scene, and conclude on a spectacular note. However, not every action movie or thriller achieves this, making it essential to celebrate those that adhere to these principles and ultimately deliver a satisfying experience.
While many of these films qualify as thrillers, the focus here is on action films. These movies are well-paced, consistent, and solidly constructed in terms of writing and editing. They may not all be non-stop action, but they flow exceptionally well and remain compelling, even during the quieter moments necessary for the narratives.
10
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
Image via Lionsgate
If you’re a fan of action movies, you can’t go wrong with any of the John Wick films. The series begins on a personal note and escalates significantly over several installments. However, to focus on one particularly outstanding entry in the series, it must be the fourth film.
It’s a joy to watch every action scene improve upon the last, and the wild final 30 to 45 minutes must be seen to be believed.
The aptly named John Wick: Chapter 4 surpasses its predecessors in terms of spectacle and runtime, starting at an intense level and finishing even higher. Watching each action scene become progressively better is exhilarating, and the final segment is truly remarkable. The upcoming fifth film has high expectations to meet, but if it can surpass this one, it will be quite an achievement.
9
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
Fifteen years before he portrayed John Wick, Keanu Reeves starred in The Matrix, which remains arguably his best action film. It’s also an excellent sci-fi movie that tells the story of humanity being enslaved by machines and a small group fighting back against them. Along the way, there are plenty of kung-fu battles and slow-motion shootouts.
The Matrix was a breath of fresh air in 1999, and despite being imitated numerous times since then, it retains much of its impact and awe. It’s intelligently crafted as a sci-fi film and exhilarating as an action movie, blending both genres seamlessly while delivering some of the most technically impressive sequences of its time.
8
‘The Killer’ (1989)
If you’re focusing on films released before 2000, you can’t go wrong with works by John Woo, especially with something as meticulously crafted as The Killer. While films like Hard Boiled might be more spectacular and relentless, and others like Face Off are certainly more extravagant in premise and acting, The Killer masterfully balances an engaging story with exceptional action sequences.
The plot centers around an assassin seeking redemption after accidentally blinding a woman during a hit. He eventually encounters a police officer who follows his own moral code and doesn’t adhere strictly to typical cop rules. While this premise might sound clichéd, The Killer achieves the right balance between melodrama and thrilling action.
7
‘Fast Five’ (2011)
The broad and melodramatic nature of the series has led some to dismiss the entire franchise as too silly to take seriously. However, such views overlook the quality of films like Fast Five, which stands out as one of the best entries in the series.
This film represents the peak of the franchise—if you want to be pessimistic about it, everything has been downhill since its release in 2011—but it’s still an exhilarating ride. As a relentless heist movie that brings together established characters while picking up immediately from a cliffhanger ending of the previous installment, it saves its best action sequence for last with an incredible chase involving a safe.
6
‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)
Not only isThe Blues Brothers one of the funniest movies ever made, but it also excels as an action film. It features numerous stunts emphasizing physical comedy and chaos, with memorable car chase sequences showcasing extraordinary destruction while maintaining comedic elements.
This film is also a musical classic—it’s fair to say it’s multifaceted. While it’s anarchic in nature, it possesses heart through its determined characters who pursue their mission from God. Even if they aren’t flawless individuals, they are incredibly easy to root for.
It’s hopefully not too controversial to say so, butMission: Impossible – Fallout is the best movie in the long-runningTom Cruise -starring action / spy series. It’s about trying to prevent a catastrophic event, as per usual , but everything feels particularly energetic and exciting here , with no real moment when things ever slow down (which is quite impressive , considering the movie is about 2 .5 hours long ).
There’s immense quality to the action , and it also delivers when it comes to quantity , once more being one of those excellent and admirable action movies that saves its best set pieces for the final third . It was indeed a mission somewhat impossible to exceed this sixth film , thoughMission : Impossible – Dead Reckoning gave it a pretty admirable shot (The Final Reckoning , on the other hand , had its moments , but was honestly rather dismally paced by the standards of the series ).
The Terminator had a good amount of action , butTerminator 2 : Judgment Day memorably took things to a whole other level . It did for the first movie whatJames Cameron’sAliens did for the first film in that series , casting aside a good deal of horror andkeeping things suspenseful and thrilling , sure , but also more bombastic when delivering action of a very explosive nature .
Terminator 2 : Judgment Day also isn’t any sort of slouch narratively , since it throws a pretty good twist at you early on and then proves continually willing to build upon the story that kicked off in the first movie seven years earlier . It does time travel well , and it’s also a surprisingly emotional movie when it wants to be , inevitably striking a remarkable balance across the board and being one of the best movie sequels ever made , too .
Seven Samurai is about as definitive as epic movies come , with its potentially imposing 3 .5-hour-long runtime and three acts that each on their own are kind of feature-length . But it’s an extremely well-told story that needs to take its time , and ends up being remarkably paced even in those slower moments , setting up a town that needs protection , introducing seven warriors who’ll defend it , andthen showing preparation for a climactic battle that itself ultimately takes up much of the final act .
It’s very smoothly done , to the point whereSeven Samurai still does a great job at holding one’s attention span , even if plenty of the films it inspired are technically a little snappier on a pacing front . Calling it one of the greatest movies of all time is a bit of a no-brainer , and it’s the kind of film that everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime .
Sorry to be predictable, butDie Hard is pretty much the gold standard for how to structure and execute an action/thriller movie. It earns its top spot here due to its impeccable editing and writing. The film is lean yet knows when to slow down for character development before diving into action sequences.
Alan Rickman‘s performance as the antagonist is legendary, whileBruce Willis‘ portrayal of John McClane remains iconic. Despite its simplicity upon breakdown,Die Hard avoids feeling clichéd or forced—it’s efficient, consistently thrilling, and justifiably regarded as one of the greatest action films ever made.
