A Glean movie guide
The Greatest Action Movies Ever Made
Pure adrenaline, curated.
From high-octane chases to legendary shootouts, these are the definitive genre peaks.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Mad Max: Fury Road
A relentless, visually stunning masterpiece of practical stunts and non-stop vehicular mayhem.
An apocalyptic story set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and most everyone is crazed fighting for the necessities of life. Within this world exist two rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order.
- 02
Die Hard
The definitive 'wrong man in the wrong place' thriller that set the template for modern action cinema.
NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her office's Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.
- 03
The Matrix
A mind-bending blend of high-concept sci-fi and revolutionary martial arts choreography.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
- 04
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A masterclass in pacing that combined groundbreaking effects with high-stakes practical set pieces.
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
- 05
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The ultimate adventure film, featuring iconic stunts and a perfect blend of humor and peril.
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.
- 06
The Dark Knight
A gritty, grounded crime epic that redefined what a superhero action film could achieve.
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
- 07
Aliens
A high-tension military sci-fi classic that successfully turned a horror premise into an all-out war.
Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
- 08
John Wick
A sleek, stylish return to form for the genre, known for its inventive and clear 'gun-fu' choreography.
Ex-hitman John Wick comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him.
- 09
The Raid: Redemption
A claustrophobic and bone-crunching showcase of elite martial arts and relentless pacing.
Deep in the heart of Jakarta's slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world's most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building's lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city's worst to survive their mission. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais.
- 10
Seven Samurai
The foundational masterpiece that pioneered the 'assembling the team' trope and epic battle staging.
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
- 11
Heat
Features one of the most realistic and tactically accurate street shootouts in cinematic history.
Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.
- 12
Hard Boiled
A peak example of Hong Kong 'heroic bloodshed' with incredibly elaborate and stylized gunplay.
A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who's working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them.