Only 3 Action Movies Are Better Than ‘Die Hard’

With its bombastic bravura and high-stakes, rapid-fire storytelling, action cinema has been a marquee centerpiece of blockbuster cinema ever since the genre truly took root as such a marvelous spectacle in the 1980s. In the eyes of many, 1988’s taut thriller Die Hard is the action genre’s crowning triumph. The rollicking story of John McClane (Bruce Willis) standing against a mob of terrorists who besiege an office Christmas party in Nakatomi Plaza soars as one of the most exciting and exhilarating movies ever made. All its gun-toting glory is well accompanied by John McTiernan’s astute direction, several incredible performances—particularly from Willis and the late Alan Rickman—and a razor-sharp screenplay of propulsive momentum and finely-tuned action. Thus, it’s really no surprise that so many hold it in such high regard even after almost 40 years, but is it truly the greatest action movie ever made?

Over the decades, there have been many worthy claimants to that title, ranging from pioneering classics of the genre from the mid-20th century to other indelible icons of ’80s bravado and bombast, and even to modern masterpieces that combine the riveting allure of action cinema with all the technical advancements today’s filmmakers have at their disposal. While it is, of course, up to each and every individual to decide for themselves what warrants the honor of being viewed as the greatest action movie of all time, these three films certainly make a compelling case from the viewpoint of cultural objectivity. They encompass the vast era of box office domination and cultural impact the genre has accrued over many decades, as well as the global appeal of action artistry, not only in audience appreciation but also in filmmaking. If anyone were to suggest that any of these three films stands as the outright best action film in cinematic history, it would certainly be hard to argue.

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

A modern marvel of action cinema and a true triumph of filmmaking at large in the 21st century, Mad Max: Fury Road is an operatic blending of balletic majesty and bone-crunching carnage. It enraptures viewers from its opening moments and thrusts them on a violent and vehement adventure that never once stops for breath. Effectively running as a continuous chase sequence, it follows wasteland drifter Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) as he joins forces with runaway warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), who strives to guide a ferocious warlord’s multiple brides away from his tyranny and to a lush green haven in the desert. Hunted all the way, and finding an unlikely ally in a glory-seeking war boy named Nux (Nicholas Hoult), the small band of escapees is forced to fight for their lives consistently throughout their journey.

The sheer relentless abundance of action violence on display isn’t even the film’s defining quality. That belongs to its stunning realization of the incredible sequences it features. Flaunting a gleefully visceral penchant for practical effects and stunt work over CGI everywhere possible, Mad Max: Fury Road is a ceaseless procession of orchestrated chaos that keeps viewers in the midst of the action with razor-sharp fight choreography and editing as well as its immersive grit and clean camera work. While the sense of spectacle is its most arresting strength, the film also deserves commendation for its tight thematic ideals regarding empowering femininity and the nature of resource scarcity amid environmental catastrophe. With its emotional punch further buoyed by its piercing characters—whose traits are communicated to the audience with incredible efficiency and impact—Mad Max: Fury Road masters the art of combining a ravishing spectacle of eye-popping action awe with meaningful and evocative ideas.

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Who ever said spin-offs and sequels never work? While the saturation of franchise entertainment in modern cinema can be uninspiring, there have been many occasions where follow-ups have not only matched the artistry and impact of their predecessors but also surpassed them by building on previous ideas and spinning them in new and interesting directions. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is perhaps the greatest example that cinema has ever seen. While 1984’s The Terminator runs as a tense action-thriller with elements of slasher suspense, the sequel is an astounding commitment to large-scale, no-holds-barred action splendor. It has managed to be both a watershed moment in filmmaking technology, particularly visual effects, and an enduring masterpiece that is every bit as good today as it was in 1991.

Recasting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stoic and staunch T-800 Terminator as the hero rather than the villain, it sees the futuristic killing machine sent back in time to 1991 L.A. to protect John Connor (Edward Furlong), a troubled youth destined to become the leader of humanity’s resistance when Skynet takes over the world. Along the way, he must fight against the far more advanced T-1000 (Robert Patrick), while also retrieving John’s mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), from a psychiatric hospital to aid his battle. The T-800’s efforts to defend John Connor are a display of hard-hitting action intensity consisting of everything from machine-gun mayhem to mind-blowing explosions, mechanical melees, and heart-stopping car chases through the streets and storm drains of Los Angeles. Not at all dissimilar to the aforementioned Mad Max: Fury Road, Terminator 2: Judgment Day excels at mixing its pulsating and propulsive spectacle with underlying emotional might. Director James Cameron emphasizes the growing bond between John and the T-800 as much as he does any scintillating set piece. Complemented by its mesmerizing marriage of practical effects and CGI and its relentless yet grounded action, Terminator 2: Judgment Day stands not only as potentially the greatest action movie ever made, but the most important and innovative in the genre’s history as well.

‘Seven Samurai’ (1954)

Image via Toho

Seven Samurai stands as one of the most formative pictures in the genre’s history. Directed by Japanese filmmaking maestro Akira Kurosawa, the 217-minute epic unfolds as a poor farming village makes a desperate plea for warriors to help defend them from the relentless raiding and pillaging of a vicious bandit gang roaming their area. While they have nothing to offer in the way of payment, veteran samurai Kanbê Shimada (Takashi Shimura) agrees to aid the farmers in the battle and is soon joined by six fellow warriors who struggle to overcome complex societal differences between peasants and samurai while trying to ready the defenses of the village and train the locals to fight.

Seven Samurai earns its place as an action classic because every combat sequence is a masterclass in fight choreography and stunt work. Kurosawa’s astute directorial instincts with regard to shot selection, camera movement, and the inclusion of natural elements like rain, wind, and fire only enhance the spectacle on display. That said, the film aspires to offer so much more than even the most audacious action offerings. Its historical period setting in feudal Japan is entrancing, as is its thematic scope that dissects specific cultural issues like the animosity between ordinary people and samurai while also highlighting more universal ideals like honor, sacrifice, and nobility. Seven Samurai combines an awe-inspiring sense of scale with such piercing thematic sharpness and absorbing character development and dynamics. Today, it’s a defining masterpiece of world cinema, a timeless triumph of innovative and impactful filmmaking, and an enduring pioneer of action majesty.