Action movies give people a much-needed adrenaline rush in their mundane lives. The image of a superhero chasing a criminal or vice versa gets our hearts racing.
Action sequences work the best when there is thick suspense build-up, much like a horror scene.
Hollywood has a wide assortment of action movies; however, it is hard to differentiate between the good and bad with such a variety. Therefore, this list mentions the best action movies in USA of all time, from the beginning of Hollywood to the present.
These 50 movies are a must-watch for any action fan due to their exciting stories and action scenes.
1. The Matrix (1999)
Director: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
When people think of The Matrix, they automatically categorize it as a science fiction movie, and rightfully so. However, it also belongs to the action genre due to the stellar, well-directed action sequences. There is Kung Fu, machine guns, snarky dialogues, and all other tropes of typical action movies.
In this film, Thomas, the computer programmer, must fight an underground war. He is at war with computers who have taken over his whole reality.
2. Gladiator (2000)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Gladiator, the action-packed movie, is unbeatable in Hollywood, thanks to the incredible acting and musical scores. Maximus, the main character of the tale, suffers demotion after Commodus becomes powerful.
Maximus must now fight throughout his life as a gladiator, and the film tells us a story about him. This ancient Roman drama piece has lots of fighting and intelligent dialogs. It is a tale of a noble warrior who fights against all odds after getting cast away.
3. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Director: George Miller
Writer: George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nick Lathouris
Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
The famous adult cartoon series Rick and Morty has a reference from this classic post-apocalyptic movie. The world where humans have lost and all that remains are some metalhead gimps makes for an excellent premise.
Mad Max, the main character, has severe trauma from his unpredictable past. He wanders alone, thinking of it as the best course of action, but something changes, and he has to deal with annoying people again.
4. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron, William Wisher
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
John Connor faces mortal peril as a terminator wants to kill him. For the Terminator, killing John is nothing more than a mission, but there is one obstacle. A cyborg who previously aimed to murder Sarah is now protecting her son, thus standing in the way of his current executor.
The plotline, premise, and dialogs are typical action movie tropes that make this film worth watching. Get ready for iconic one-liners, fight scenes, and other cool action genre tidbits. We could say that this movie is the most impressive in the Terminator movie series so far, and also perfectly directed.
5. Batman Begins (2005)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Bob Kane, David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Because it focuses on one of the most famous characters – Batman, it is among the best action movies in USA of all time. This movie is more than just an origin story for the superhero because there are other significant characters. It has an exceptionally complex plotline and a beautiful soundtrack that make it mind-blowing.
According to most fans, this is the only film that does justice to the origins of Batman. Anyone who is a Batman fan should see this film at least once, and for a complete Christmas experience, fans should see the Batman films in order.
6. Predator (1987)
Director: John McTiernan
Writer: Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
This list is incomplete without a classic Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie, so here is Predator. This movie is an evergreen creation that people will talk about for years due to its action sequences. It also has the best villain reveal scene and some brutal killing sequences that will make your jaw drop.
Dutch and other people are on a mission to rescue some hostages, but some extraterrestrial creatures cause a rift in their plan.
7. The Fifth Element (1997)
Director: Luc Besson
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
This movie is for people who like the action but also want to watch something edgy. Korben Dallas is an unlucky fellow who lives in an unfortunate, apocalyptic time.
There is an evil force taking over the world, and only five objects can defeat it. He finds the first four mythical stones but cannot wrap his mind around the strange fifth element. This cab driver now carries the responsibility of saving the universe single-handedly.
8. First Blood (Rambo) (1982)
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Writer: David Morrell, Michael Kozoll, William Sackheim
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Sylvester Stallone will make it hard for you to understand his words, but you will root for him nevertheless. This movie is all about war and bloodshed with no room for peace, which is just the way fans like it.
Rambo knows that you cannot fight a war with silent pleas, so you must use crazy action. However, he carries this trauma even after the war ends, thus getting into trouble with the sheriff.
9. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
Samuel L Jackson and Bruce Willis standing on a bridge, looking down in a scene from the film ‘Die Hard: With a Vengeance’, 1995. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)
Director: John McTiernan
Writer: Jonathan Hensleigh, Roderick Thorp
Cast: Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
The Die Hard series will go down in history as the best action movies in USA of all time. These movies have celebrity appeal, guns, violence, bombs, and exhilarating actions scenes.
In this film, John McClane must stop the villain from detonating bombs across New York. He approaches a local shop owner, Zeus Carver, for help, and together, they form the most entertaining pair. Meanwhile, Simon, the villain, does not stay passive because he targets both men.
10. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Robert Rodat
Cast: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
This movie is not for the faint of heart because the story takes inspiration from an actual person. The action sequences are full of gore, portraying the most vivid depictions of war. The events happen during the Normandy invasion of World War 2, and a commander has the task of bringing back Private James Ryan.
There are visuals of soldiers entering a field of flying bullets that kill them within seconds, making this movie extremely graphic.
11. John Wick (2014)
Director: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch
Writer: Derek Kolstad
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
John Wick is the beloved hitman of Hollywood, thanks to this introductory movie about him. Wick is a retired hitman who only wants to have some alone time with himself.
Unfortunately, some Russian gangsters disturb his peace by killing his puppy, a gift from his late wife, and stealing his car. It causes something inside Wick to go off, and one by one, he kills all the Russian gangsters and returns alone.
The Jason Bourne movies are just as entertaining as John Wick, so I recommend watching them in order if you want to watch a movie that is both action and thriller simultaneously.
12. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writer: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Stan Lee
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Even if you are not a fan, you still know that Avengers: Endgame is among the best action movies in USA of all time. It is all thanks to the trendsetting action scenes and a complicated plotline that made this movie famous.
Another reason for its popularity is the several fan-favorite superheroes who came together after Thanos wiped out half the universe. These superheroes must save the universe, but Thanos is a skilled and stubborn antagonist.
13. Skyfall (2012)
Director: Sam Mendes
Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan
Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
The movie fleshed out the character of James Bond, thus increasing his popularity. There are several sexual innuendos, catchy one-liners, martini glasses, and deaths in this film. Because it is a James Bond movie, expect a lot of action, entertainment and thrill.
This movie revolves around a stolen hard drive containing data for carrying out a vendetta. It is up to James Bond to deal with his past and fight the present to protect someone.
14. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
This movie is about the Jews fighting the Nazis, where the Jews have a mission. They must carry out an elaborate plan to take down the Nazi government, including Hitler, but it is far from easy.
The movie has a complex plot full of twists and turns, making it enjoyable for any history buff. A significant character in this story is a woman who is hellbent on taking revenge on the Nazis for killing her family.
15. Iron Man (2008)
Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
All Marvel movies are action blockbusters, and nobody can deny it! Iron Man came to the market and added flair to the superhero franchise with his charming personality and dashing outfit.
This movie dominated the box office for several years for all the right reasons – Iron Man deserves it! The origin of Iron Man stems from a response to adversity because it is all about the suit. Tony Stark gets captured and devises his powerful suit to escape his captors, thus bringing a new superhero to life.
16. The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (2003)
Director: Peter Jackson
Writer: J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Cast: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
The LOTR franchise kept pumping out action movies and did their best to entertain the audience with each creation. The Fellowship members must prepare for the final battle in this movie, which makes for an epic premise for an action film.
There is fantasy, betrayal, action, destruction, dialogs, and other elements from the LOTR franchise. Expect to go on a wild ride with this film because the plot gets thicker every minute.
17. 300 (2006)
Director: Zack Snyder
Writer: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon
Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Zack Snyder never stops to impress his audience, and this historical action drama proves his expertise. This movie tells the famous story of Leonidus’ and 300 Spartans with high-quality visuals of ancient Greece.
The enemy is Xerxes, coming with a massive Persian army eager to abuse and kill the Greeks. Leonidus’ struggle gets big when a Spartan reject betrays him, thus putting Greece in jeopardy. This movie is all you need to satisfy your cravings for a Zack Synder creation.
18. Casino Royale (2006)
Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis
Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Casino Royale is a spy movie with the fan-favorite character James Bond, who has a mission. James Bond must sabotage a high-stakes poker game to prevent a notorious mob banker from winning the lottery.
With his typical charm and intellect, James Bond goes about his usual business, looking intelligent and sexy. The image of Bond in this movie was undeniably different than others, and fans loved it because it had so much finesse.
19. Speed (1994)
Director: Jan de Bont
Writer: Graham Yost
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Everyone knew this movie would succeed, but not because of the storyline or anything else. People knew Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock could make any film a hit, and rightfully so. It had a simple, straightforward storyline that the characters did justice to with their acting skills.
A deranged man plants a bomb in an elevator, but his plan to set it off fails. Instead, it causes him to keep that bomb in a different place, leading to a series of mishaps.
20. Bad Boys (1995)
Director: Michael Bay
Writer: George Gallo, Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Lisa Boyle
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
This action movie represents all the tropes from the 90s era, the age when Hollywood pumped out great films. This movie only cared about three things – girls, guns, and explosions, typical of the 90s.
Marcus and Mike are two people in the Miami police department who have different ideologies about some central things. Marcus is a family man, and Mike is a lady’s man, and these identities cause a massive mishap during a case investigation.
21. Con Air (1997)
Director: Simon West
Writer: Scott Rosenberg
Cast: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
An innocent prisoner victimized by false allegations now anticipates freedom. The prison is supposed to release him, so he is put on a plane, excited about his life as a free man.
Alas! Some onboard criminals hijack his plane, thus crushing his new hopes. However, he is not ready to buckle up and yield; he tries his best to get out of the mess and reach home. The southern accents, terrifying criminals, and clever plans in this movie are worth watching.
22. Independence Day (1996)
Director: Roland Emmerich
Writer: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Cast: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
This film is among the best action movies in USA of all time due to that epic speech that people still quote today! Packing all tropes in a single flick is a formula for failure, but the creators make it work in this one.
It is also a family-friendly movie, unlike other action films that ruin the quality with excessive violence. The premise is simple: aliens have already messed up the world, and it is up to a few people to save the planet.
23. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Director: Taika Waititi
Writer: Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, Christopher L. Yost
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Do not expect this one to be a typical Marvel movie because it is something entirely different. Viewers want to experience the thrill of an action-packed sequence, and this movie grants their wish. The fight sequence at the beginning is enough to quench your thirst.
The director also points the fun part about these exaggerations and blends them into the movie like a professional. The self-awareness of this action movie is admirable.
24. The Bourne Identity (2002)
Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Tony Gilroy, W. Blake Herron, Robert Ludlum
Cast: Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Watch this movie if you are into slow-burn flicks that make you wait for the stellar action sequence. This film put Matt Damon on the Hollywood map, finally showing his acting finesse to the world.
It begins when people find a body riddled with bullets and look after it. Then, one day the man wakes up without memory and sets out on a journey to find his identity, thus giving audiences a movie they did not know they needed to see.
25. Mission Impossible (1996)
Director: Brian De Palma
Writer: Bruce Geller, David Koepp, Steven Zaillian
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Every person with an internet connection knows the name of this movie because it is impossible to ignore it. This film broke the box office immediately after release and is a must-watch for everyone.
This film begins when an innocent man gets victimized by false accusations and fights against them. He sets out to catch the real culprit to prove his innocence, thus forming an incredibly twisted plotline that fans love.
26. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Director: Irvin Kershner
Writer: Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
People will never forget the Star Wars franchise due to the exciting action movies that shaped their childhood. However, this movie is not your typical action film with dumbed-down, one-dimensional characters.
If you are looking for purely action-packed visuals, this movie is not a good choice. However, if you want complex characters and action sequences, you have come to the right place. Regardless of the watered-down action scenes, this film remains among the top action movies of all time.
27. Jurassic Park (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Despite the stupid idea to keep dinosaurs in a sanctuary and let people visit it, this movie was a box office hit. Unfortunately, something goes wrong, causing the security system of the park to break down. The worst part is that the park still has visitors, and dinosaurs are chasing after them. So, now visitors must protect themselves from getting trampled and eaten.
This movie is a CGI gem and worth watching a couple of times just for some thrill and for the fans of Jurassic Park we have made an entire list of Jurassic Park movies in order so they know in which order to watch them in and how many movies have been released so far.
28. Lethal Weapon (1987)
Director: Richard Donner
Writer: Shane Black, Jeffrey Boam
Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
This movie single-handedly influenced several action film tropes, and fans cannot be happier. Martin Riggs is a police officer who is struggling with the death of their wife, which makes him suicidal and reckless.
His department assigns him to an older officer than him, and both men clash, causing more trouble. However, they must stick together after discovering a drug trafficking ring with infamous criminals.
29. Taken (2008)
Director: Pierre Morel
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
This movie was a sucker punch to the box office and the audience but in a good way. Some henchmen kidnap the daughter of a former secret service agent while he is away in Paris. There are no whereabouts of the teenage girl, but her father knows how to solve mysteries.
All hell breaks loose when the enraged man goes to Paris to retrieve his daughter and make the henchmen see nightmares. This movie is full of action, drama, suspense, and all that good stuff.
30. Braveheart (1995)
Director: Mel Gibson
Writer: Randall Wallace
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Braveheart is a story about a victimized man seeking vengeance and delivering justice. It is one of the action-packed, historical films that will make you feel like you were born in the wrong generation.
The main character, William Wallace, is a Scottish rebel all set to marry a beautiful girl. However, King Edward I of England kills his wife one day after their marriage, making William angry. So he ventures out with his clan to battle the infamous king.
31. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Jeffrey Boam, George Lucas, Menno Meyjes
Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
What equipment do you need to take down a Nazi fighter plane? Another plane? Drones? Nothing. An angry Indiana Jones with an umbrella is more than enough to tackle the Nazis, and this film proves that.
The other two Indiana Jones movies are good too, but you cannot miss the old-fashioned, ridiculous action sequences in this one. Indiana Jones is an archaeologist who wants to reach his missing father before the Nazis, and nothing can stop him.
32. Django Unchained (2012)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Quentin Tarantino is a master of massacres, and he proves it with yet another blockbuster. However, this action movie is for intellectuals who can analyze the themes in a film. The main character, Django, is a recently freed slave who wants to rescue his wife.
He teams up with a bounty hunter to help him with the rescue mission, and the duo works together. The bounty hunter is also a slave to a cruel plantation owner.
33. Sicario (2015)
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Taylor Sheridan
Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
The movie does not have truckloads of action, but it has all the significant elements of an action movie. The few action scenes have neat choreography, but the dialogs are what will make your heart pound.
The main character, Kate, works as an FBI agent, and she has a mission; to shut down a drug cartel between the U.S. and Mexico. We see some harsh realities stand in her way and how she tackles them is commendable! The excellent choreography makes it one of the greatest action movies of all time.
34. Kill Bill Volume 1. (2003)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman
Cast: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Vengeance and hate are two strong motives behind killing people, but one person does not understand it. Bill is a nasty ex-boss of an assassin called The Bride, and she is pregnant in this movie. Bill assaults her, causing her to go into a four-year coma, and one day she wakes up.
Upon waking, the assassin has set her mind on seeking revenge from Bill and his dirty associates. Her sheer anger and badassery in this movie are one of the reasons you should check it out.
35. Aliens (1986)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron, David Giler, Walter Hill
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Action movies by James Cameron never miss the box office, and this film is no different. LV-426 is a distant planet with a terraforming alien species, and Ellen is in charge of establishing contact with them.
She reaches the LV-426 and goes about her work, but the alien queen and her offspring want to kill her. Left with no options, Ellen must now kill the alien queen and her offspring to ensure her survival.
Conclusion
People like action movies because they allow them to feel alive and active. Thanks to stunt artists and technology, making action movies is easy today.
People readily associate the action genre with science-fiction and drama. A handful of horror movies also have stellar action sequences, but this list does not mention them.
The 50 films in this article were some of the best action movies in USA of all time. We selected the movies based on the story, characters, cinematography, action sequences, etc. Some action sequences may look unrealistic to you, but the feeling of thrill makes these movies popular.
