Good Action Movies to Watch

Before you ask -- yes, good action movies exist. Like any film genre, "action" is a poor description of what actually takes place in a movie. No movie can be pure action, explosions, and blood from start to finish. Even hardcore fans of 'action' movies will tell you that a "good action movie" contains plot, character development, drama, and plenty of other little nuances along the way.

Just like many great "dramas" are chock full of action (can you call Deliverance anything but a drama?) many great action movies show subtle notes of other genres. Here is a list of twenty-five good action movies to watch -- movies that contain all the elements it takes to call a film "good".

Our List of Good Action Movies on DVD

Here's a list of good action movies on DVD. You'll occasionally see a good action movie at the theater these days, but it seems like the action movie genre has seen its heyday. New good action movies like Law Abiding Citizen or the Bourne movies are the exception these days, not the rule. Any of these films are good action movies to rent or to buy.

1. The Great Escape

Possibly the greatest action movie of all time. Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Charles Bronson are outstanding as allied POWs attempting to escape a Nazi prison camp. Any list of good action movies that doesn't include this movie is incomplete.

2. Terminator 2 - Judgment Day

A rare sequel that is better than the original, Terminator 2 is an Oscar-award winning fantasy about cyborgs, liquid metal, and time travel. Don't miss young Edward Furlong in a starring role. T2 is the movie that all really good action movies should aspire to be like.

3. Predator

1987's Predator is another Schwarzenegger classic. Here, commandos working in Latin America discover they are being hunted by a mysterious alien presence.

4. Aliens

What is it about action movies and the Academy Awards? This shoot-em-up alien flick won a pair of Oscars in 1986 for some amazing visual and audio effects.

5. Silverado

The two Kevins (Kline and Costner) are at the top of their game in this too-often overlooked Western about a band of good guys wiping out a much larger group of bad guys.

6. We Were Soldiers

Mel Gibson and Greg Kinnear together in a war movie? You betcha. We don't have enough great movies about the Vietnam war, and this is surely one of them.

7. The Fugitive

The film that earned Tommy Lee Jones a Best Supporting Actor Oscar is a great story full of amazing action. (This could be include on a list of good action thriller movies, if someone were to create one.)

8. Die Hard

The film that opens the greatest action trilogy of all time is surprisingly funny and riveting. Come for the Willis, stay for an amazing villain played by Alan Rickman.

9. The Matrix

Sure, the science fiction plot is a bit thin, but the stunt choreography and visual effects are worth a watch or two.

10. True Lies

An action movie with its tongue planted firmly in cheek, this Schwarzenegger feature is full of sight gags and amazing explosions.

11. Lethal Weapon

Sure, the first installment of this series isn't as funny as the next few, but the character development is so rapid and engaging you can't overlook this film. This is one of the few good action comedy movies out there.

12. Full Metal Jacket

Kubrick's 1987 Vietnam war masterpiece is a bit uneven -- the first thirty minutes are so good you can't look away. Stick around for some great action movie tropes.

13. Heat

What's that? You've never seen Heat? And you call yourself an action movie fan. Pacino, De Niro, Jon Voigt and Natalie Portman are reason enough to check out this classic.

14. Murder at 1600

The only Wesley Snipes movie worth a damn -- the plot is intriguing and you really get into the characters.

15. Speed

This is a good action movie mostly because of the great villain -- the incomparable Dennis Hopper.

16. In the Line of Fire

Considered Clint Eastwood's greatest film (no, really!) this assassin picture also shows off the talents of John Malkovich.

17. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Okay, so I know I just declared the last movie Eastwood's greatest . . . this spaghetti Western takes a close second.

18. The Dark Knight

Has there ever been a superhero movie with this much psychological intrigue? Heath Ledger is brilliant as the Joker.

19. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

You may not think of the sequel to Star Wars as an action movie, but all the elements are there, plus a great story.

20. Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa's 1950s samurai flick inspired everyone from George Lucas to Christopher Nolan. Bonus: this was the first movie to use slow motion. (We might launch a new site about "good Asian action movies" and/or about "good Japanese action movies," and if we do, this movie will make both of those lists too.)

21. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford is at his best when he's got a solid script and plenty of humor at his disposal. He has both here.

22. Fight Club

A very introspective action movie -- don't worry, the nerdy political stuff is easily ignored in favor of some solid brutality.

23. Apocalypse Now

Here's another psychological thriller that turns out to be an action movie. Forget that its based on a great piece of literature . . . there's explosions!

24. The Rock

If you can sit through some awful Nicolas Cage drivel, you'll enjoy a tight storyline and beautiful action shots.

25. Ben-hur

This is the 1950s version of Gladiator -- a Prince is turned into a slave, only to return and seek vengeance.