Some action movies are so compelling that they don’t lose any of their excitement no matter how many times I rewatch them. While certain all-time great films stand as some of my favorite releases, that doesn’t mean that I’d happily rewatch them countless times the way I would with all of these movies. It takes a special movie with the perfect combination of action, characters, style, and sense of humor to be able to be watched on repeat without ever getting tired of it.
While some of the best action movies of all time can be counted among the most rewatchable movies out there, other underrated action movies also hold that special status because, even though they might not be high art, they still tap into something unique about the power of cinema. From genre-bending stories that combine aspects of sci-fi, horror, and even kung fu to single-setting stories that rewrote the rule book of action-packed filmmaking, all of these movies contain a quality that means they can be rewatched endlessly without losing their entertainment value.
10
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Directed by George P. Cosmatos
The PTSD-suffering Vietnam veteran John Rambo may have first been introduced to audiences in First Blood, but it was in the sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II that this franchise really embraced its action-packed nature. While this Sylvester Stallone sequel may have lacked some of the poignant nuance that made the first movie thematically rich, First Blood Part II more than made up for this with nonstop carnage and excess violence. Taking Rambo back to Vietnam as he attempts to rescue missing POWs, First Blood Part II was a major global blockbuster hit.
While it’s true that Rambo: First Blood Part II received mixed reviews from critics, the audience’s response speaks for itself, and it was the appeal of this movie that turned Rambo into a major franchise and one of the few roles that could match the appeal of Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. As an over-the-top cinematic spectacle, First Blood Part II was the quintessential action-adventure film that transformed Rambo from a thoughtful character study of intense trauma into practically a superhero.
9
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Kill Bill
9/10
- Release Date
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October 10, 2003
- Runtime
-
111 minutes
Quentin Tarantino helped introduce a whole generation of viewers to kung fu cinema with his astounding revenge story Kill Bill. Released in two parts, the first volume sets up the story of the Bride and her quest for vengeance against a group of assassins and their leader who tried to kill her and her unborn child. With plenty of callbacks and references to classic kung fu cinema, Kill Bill: Volume 1 was packed with awe-inspiring fight choreography and a unique sense of style that only Tarantino can pull off.
From its spectacular visuals right down to its stylish animated sequences, Kill Bill: Volume 1 was endlessly rewatchable. With Uma Thurman delivering a career-best performance and supporting roles from the likes of Lucy Liu and kung fu legends such as Gordon Liu, Kill Bill: Volume 1 was the perfect martial arts action movie. The second installment, released the following year, also powerfully continued the Bride’s journey and makes for an epic double-bill viewing experience.
8
John Wick (2014)
Directed by Chad Stahelski
John Wick
7/10
- Release Date
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October 24, 2014
- Runtime
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101 Minutes
It’s not often that a modern action movie is so compelling that it immediately earns its place as an undisputed modern classic. This was certainly the case for John Wick, a film that not only acted as the inception point for a major movie franchise but has also had an undeniable effect on the action genre as a whole. With Keanu Reeves as a widowed assassin coming out of retirement on a ruthless quest for revenge, this story began with a murdered dog and ended with a litany of dead bodies left in Wick’s wake.
While John Wick’s story of a skilled assassin seeking vengeance was nothing new and had been seen in previous releases like Taken, the rich lore and world-building of this film was a big reason it struck such a chord with action movie lovers. Set in a world packed with deadly assassins who also follow a strict code of rules and regulations, John Wick invites viewers to unpack its lore and go on a cinematic journey through its many astounding sequels. While the follow-up films were equally as compelling, the original John Wick still has the most rewatch value.
7
Heat (1995)
Directed by Michael Mann
Heat
10/10
- Release Date
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December 15, 1995
- Runtime
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170 minutes
While Al Pacino and Robert De Niro had previously both appeared in The Godfather Part II, Michael Mann’s Heat was notable as the first time these cinematic legends actually acted opposite one another. Although the star power on display was enough to ensure movie buffs flocked to see Heat, its psychological insight into the nature of criminality solidified its status as an all-time great action movie. With two astounding lead performances, Heat was everything an action fan could want from a clever, thoughtful, and epic crime drama.
The diner scene alone was enough to warrant multiple rewatches of Heat, as Pacino’s Lieutenant Vincent Hanna’s staredown with De Niro’s Neil McCauley was a masterclass in acting that gets more impressive with each subsequent viewing. The way these two characters found meaning in the pursuit and evasion of one another gave the game of cat and mouse at the center of this story real resonance. While it remains to be seen if the planned sequel (via IGN) can live up to the legacy of the original, even if it’s disappointing, action lovers can always go back and rewatch Heat.
6
Aliens (1986)
Directed by James Cameron
Aliens
10/10
- Release Date
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July 18, 1986
- Runtime
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137 minutes
While Ridley Scott’s Alien captured the claustrophobic horror of being trapped in a spaceship with a Xenomorph, it was James Cameron’s sequel that tapped into the action-packed potential of the franchise. Aliens traded the slow burn style of the original for an all-out war as Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) came face-to-face with not one but hordes of Xenomorph threats. With aliens coming at her in overwhelming numbers, the stakes were never higher or more frightening than in Aliens.
All of this heart-racing excitement reached its climax in the final showdown between Ripley and the Alien Queen. With Ripley fighting back in the Power Loader exosuit, this cargo-moving device was repurposed to push back against alien foes in one of the most rewatchable final showdowns in all of cinema. While Cameron would later find major box office success with the romantic disaster movie Titanic, Aliens was an early showcase of his talent as a true action movie master.
5
The Matrix (1999)
Directed by the Wachowskis
The Matrix
9/10
- Release Date
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March 31, 1999
- Runtime
-
136 minutes
It’s impossible to overstate just how impactful The Matrix was when it was released back in 1999. As a cyberpunk action movie classic, the Wachowskis combined rich philosophy around the very nature of existence itself with a spectacularly envisioned world categorized by awe-inspiring visuals. From Keanu Reeves’s characterization of Neo’s journey into shedding the illusionary nature of existence to the trailblazing slow-motion depiction of bullet time, The Matrix truly was an all-time great sci-fi action movie.
While it’s true that The Matrix sequels were of varying quality and did not achieve the same kind of ever-present cultural relevance as the original, this first movie’s rewatch value is practically unmatched. Whether it’s the fight choreography against Agent Smith, the hero’s journey of Neo discovering his true potential, or the epic way Morpheus sheds the concept of existence itself, The Matrix was a massively influential film that signaled a new direction for action movies into the 21st century.
4
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
As a film that perfectly combines thrilling set pieces, an iconic hero, and a non-stop sense of adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark was the movie that introduced the world to Indiana Jones. With a timeless appeal, this Lucasfilm release from Steven Spielberg combined the energy of old adventure serials with the charisma of James Bond to gift viewers with an all-time great movie hero. With Harrison Ford in the leading role, this story of a globetrotting archeologist facing off against Nazis on a search for the long-lost Ark of the Covenant has truly stood the test of time.
With a fast-paced sense of adventure that never felt boring, Raiders of the Lost Ark balanced action with humor while maintaining Spielberg’s sense for family-friendly fun. While Ford’s performance was central to the movie’s success, basically everything about this film worked exactly how it was intended and made for a thrilling journey that could be enjoyed endless times. One of the most impressive things about Raiders of the Lost Ark was that it’s just as fun on its tenth rewatch as it was the very first time.
3
Speed (1994)
Directed by Jan de Bont
Speed
10/10
- Release Date
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June 10, 1994
- Runtime
-
116 minutes
Sometimes, a thrilling premise is all that’s needed to ensure an action movie’s place as an all-time classic, as proven by the enduring appeal of Speed. With a plot centering on a city bus that will explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour, it’s hard to think of a narrative more heart-racing and immediately gripping than Speed. This set-up meant that there was never a dull moment throughout the film’s entire runtime as viewers eagerly watched this bus speed down the highway with a sense of urgency most movies can only dream of achieving.
With Keanu Reeves as LAPD officer tasked with stopping this disaster and Dennis Hopper perfectly cast as the vengeful villain who planted the bomb, Speed was an exhilarating cinematic spectacle that boiled action movie excitement down to its barest essentials. While there are plenty of more intelligent, thematically rich, or deeply philosophical films out there, it’s hard to match the rewatch quality and bare-bones appeal of Speed.
2
Die Hard (1988)
Directed by John McTiernan
Die Hard
- Release Date
-
July 15, 1988
- Runtime
-
132 minutes
Die Hard’s John McClane rewrote the rule book of what an action movie hero could be and laid the foundations for action movies in the 1990s. With a career-defining performance from Bruce Willis, the everyday heroism of McClane traded the muscular bodybuilder stereotypical action hero of the 1980s, which was embodied by the movies of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to deliver a leading man that audiences could relate to better. Instead of being a de facto superhero, McClane was just a determined man in the right place at the right time, stepping up to save the day.
While Willis’s performance truly changed the game, the legacy of Die Hard was made all the more impressive through Alan Rickman’s characterization of the villainous Hans Gruber. With a claustrophobic one-location setting, a major new cinematic hero, and an all-time great movie villain, Die Hard had everything an action movie lover could ask for and was endlessly rewatchable. While it’s true that McClane’s heroics became less believable with each subsequent installment, the original movie has not lost any of its clout in the decades since.
1
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Directed by James Cameron
When it comes to rewatchable action movies, James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day stands above all the rest. As not only one of the best sequels of all time but a real contender for best movie ever, Arnold Schwarzenegger reprised his star-making role as a reprogrammed T-800 determined to protect John Connor and ensure the future of humanity. With groundbreaking visuals, an emotional story, and perfect pacing, Terminator 2 was bigger and better than the film that came before it.
While Schwarzenegger’s iconic utterance of lines like “Hasta la vista, baby” has gone down in cinema history, it was Linda Hamilton’s characterization of Sarah Connor as a hardened warrior training her son to become humanity’s savior that added depth to this story. From epic chases to the climactic showdown in the steel mill, the ruthless pursuit from the advanced shape-shifting T-1000 Terminator also added a sense of urgency to this all-time great release. As a truly perfect action movie, Terminator 2 never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it.
Source: IGN