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In 2008, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight perfected the blend of superhero, thriller, and action, but some movies are even better. The action genre is as diverse and dynamic as it gets, often drawing on genres like sci-fi, dystopia, and espionage to become exponentially more intriguing. From a generation of directors and actors who pushed it to its limits, the high-octane side of cinema has never been better.
As great a character as Batman might be, there's undeniably something even better about ordinary heroes and more chaotic genre mash-ups. While Nolan's film often relies too heavily on its obvious homage to Michael Mann's Heat, people who prefer the more exhilarating side of action will look elsewhere. Fortunately, some stories are even more entertaining, thrilling, and brutal.
Casino Royale Brought the Spy Thriller to Its Peak
In 2006, Daniel Craig officially took over from Pierce Brosnan as the new face of James Bond, heading into the 21st century when he headlined Casino Royale. Directed by Martin Campbell, it goes back to the agent's first days with his license to kill, setting off on a mission to flip a criminal investment banker. All that stands between him and victory is winning a high-stakes poker tournament in Montenegro.
The film that resurrected the darker side of 007 for a new generation, Casino Royale, takes its time, feeling like the same type of slow burn as The Dark Knight. For people who praised Christopher Nolan's grounded, realistic interpretation of Batman, Craig's secret agent movie takes the same approach to espionage. Those who admire the more methodical approach to action will undoubtedly prefer the Bond flick, which is still the gold standard for spy action 20 years later.
The Matrix Set the Stage For A New Millennium
As the dawn of the new millennium dawned on Hollywood, the Wachowski sisters unleashed the cyberpunk universe of The Matrix. Taking its cues from anime like Ghost in the Shell, the movie follows the journey of lowly hacker Neo as he learns he may be the "One" to save a false reality from malevolent AI. However, to free more minds from the program, he must battle the sinister security program known as Agent Smith.
It's hard to find an action movie as captivating, deep, and thoughtful as The Matrix, even if The Dark Knight does come close. Nolan does a great job of using his story to touch on philosophical questions, but the Wachowskis do an even better job. Both as a cultural touchstone that reshaped how people think about cinema and as a triumph of fight choreography, the 1999 sci-fi classic is untouched.
Logan Is A Much Better Superhero Action Story
As Fox's X-Men franchise started to come to a close, James Mangold helmed the final chapter for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in 2017's Logan. The movie focuses on an older, even more cynical version of the former X-Man as he begrudgingly steps in to protect Laura Kinney, a younger female clone of him. With a team of cybernetically-enhanced mercenaries on their trail, he brings an ailing Charles Xavier along for the ride through the perils of a dystopian America.
A movie that pays homage to Western classics like Shane beautifully, Mangold reinvents Wolverine as a modern gunslinger, and it works fantastically. Both Nolan's Batman movie and Hugh Jackman's flawless performance are based on classics, but it's undeniable that the themes present in the latter land better than "Heat for superhero fans." Almost a decade after its release, few movies have come close to the brilliance of Logan.
Die Hard Nailed the One-Man Army Trope Effortlessly
John McTiernan was something of the master of '80s action cinema, and nowhere did he prove that better than in 1988's Die Hard. Following the arrival of NYPD cop John McClane to visit his wife in Los Angeles, everything goes awry when a team of armed thieves takes the office building hostage. Relying on his training and wits, McClane makes it his mission to hunt down each of the criminals before they can cause more chaos.
Die Hard completely redefined the meaning of "one-man army" action cinema, building up Bruce Willis' McClane as the most relatable and lovable action hero of the '80s. Watching him take on Hans Gruber's team means there isn't a second of wasted film on the screen, while The Dark Knight can sometimes take too long to get to the point. It manages to appeal to different tastes much better, too, throwing in plenty of humor and a little romance to make it feel even more fleshed out than Nolan's movie.
Mad Max: Fury Road Unleashed A Whole New Level of Action
In 2015, George Miller returned to his apocalyptic thriller masterpiece when he released the long-demanded sequel, Mad Max: Fury Road. Following the ex-cop Max Rockatansky as he fights to survive in the wastelands, it brings him to the realm of the despotic warlord Immortan Joe. When his harem of wives launches a daring escape from his clutches, the antihero joins their quest for safety, all while an armada of gas-guzzling vehicles chases them down.
Miller's comeback made a faded franchise relevant for a whole new generation, perfecting both the apocalyptic and dystopian genres overnight. Earning the respect of skeptics, this flawlessly-directed and visually-stunning film is nothing short of a genuine achievement of modern filmmaking and practical effects. Nothing is as high-octane and gripping as Mad Max: Fury Road, and it's easily the greatest action movie of the 21st century, beating out The Dark Knight.
