How cool would it have been if the second Taken movie had been called Found? And the third one Returned? But let’s not talk about missed opportunities. There are plenty of those in Hollywood. Today, the first film in the trilogy remains iconic, thanks to spectacular action sequences, a likable action hero, and one of the greatest quotes of all time: “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
Even better, there are many more movies like Taken. Several action flicks have a plot where a protagonist with a “special set of skills” becomes a one-man wrecking crew after lawbreakers mess with someone (or something) that he loves the most. Messing with the wrong person has serious consequences, and the villains in these movies often learn that the hard way. They also learn that sometimes, it’s too late to say sorry.
‘Harry Brown’ (2009)
While Michael Caine looks nothing like an action star, don’t be mistaken. He can throw a punch… or at least his stuntman can. Harry Brown sees him playing a lonely Royal Marine, and a veteran of The Troubles. When criminals in Harry’s gang-infested neighborhood kill his only friend, the elderly man loses and vows to clean up the streets himself.
While this moody, ultra-violent exploration of urban decay and the flaws of the justice system isn’t Caine’s best-known film, it certainly deserves repeat viewing from fans of British cinema. Thanks to a cast that is made up of a who’s who of talented Brit stars in small roles, including Charlie Creed Miles as a detective and the lovely Orla O’Rourke as a nurse, Harry Brown mainly soars thanks to Caine’s sterling performance as a man tired of crime.
‘Commando’ (1985)
Just as Jack is the name of most of TV’s toughest dudes, you can tell an action movie is going to be great when the hero is named John. John Wick, John Rambo, John McClane. A guy named John is guaranteed to break some jaws, and John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Commando is no different. The former United States Army Special Forces colonel is living peacefully in his secluded mountain home until a former dictator kidnaps his daughter and orders him to carry out an assassination. Um…. Johny’s retired and done taking orders.
Is there a cooler ‘80s action scene than John Matrix painting his face and grabbing an extraordinarily excessive amount of weapons before storming the enemy base? Or one where he picks up an entire telephone booth with someone in it and flips it over? And would you believe that Commando was originally meant to star Gene Simmons? Lifting a guitar is easy. Lifting a telephone is something only a former bodybuilder can do. Schwarzenegger was perfect in the film. It’s a shame that no sequel was ever made.
‘The Foreigner’ (2017)
Although Martin Campbell’s powers have faded ever since he made Casino Royale, he tends to make a good film once in a while. The Foreigner is one of them. Here, the battle is between London restaurateur and Vietnam War veteran Ngoc Minh Quan (Jackie Chan) against the Northern Island Deputy First Minister, Liam Hennesy (Pierce Brosnan). Quan’s daughter has just been killed during a terrorist attack, and Quan has fingered Hennesy as part of the conspiracy. Buckle your belt.
What begins as a standard-issue direct-to-video-type action thriller quickly breaks out of boilerplate with its twists and a story pacing that prevents even the sleepiest spectator from grabbing a blanket. You shouldn’t make any quick conclusions because The Foreigner isn’t the typical Jackie Chan slapstick-driven action movie. The actor never smiles, and everything his character does appears realistic. Brosnan gives a great performance, too, as a politician who becomes invested in more than just his job description.
‘The Equalizer’ (2014)
While there are two reboots of the ‘80s hit, The Equalizer, when choosing between the TV show starring Queen Latifah and this Denzel Washington action flick, bet on the latter. Mr. Washington plays Robert McCall, a former Marine and retired DIA/DCS officer, living a quiet life in Boston until he learns that his free-spirited teenage friend Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz) is being forced to work as an escort by Russian mobsters. Time to act!
The Equalizer is an unabashed triumph for director Antoin Fuqua, who brought in hundreds of millions for Sony Pictures and was given the green light to make two more movies. The filmmaker wouldn’t have cast anyone better than his long-time collaborator, Denzel Washington. Russell Crowe, Washington’s co-star in American Gangster, was the first to declare interest in the movie. All the central players are outstanding, and even though Washington is the star, Moretz also stands out as the luminous Teri. Watch out for the Home Mart scene.
‘The Man from Nowhere’ (2010)
John Wick director Chad Stahelski admitted that his movie was heavily inspired by The Man from Nowhere, and it’s easy to see that while watching it. All is initially well as the reserved pawnshop owner, Cha Tae-sik (Won Bin), spends most of his days talking to a lonely girl named So-mi (Kim Sae-ron). When the girl is kidnapped by a criminal syndicate over her mother’s unpaid debts. Tae-sik taps into the secret skills he acquired while working as an operative.
Richly evocative and gripping, The Man from Nowhere functions seamlessly as both a crime thriller and a rousing action flick. Grand in plot and visually sumptuous, the stunning camerawork makes you feel every punch and shot. Few Korean directors have done a better job of exploring the country’s mysterious underworld than Lee Jeong-beom, who also sheds bright light on the woes that stem from parenthood and economic challenges. Sadly, Won Bin hasn’t starred in any other movie ever since. We miss you, Won!
‘Exterritorial’ (2025)
German action thrillers are too underrated. You’ll agree after watching Exterritorial. Seeds for a**-kicking are planted when Sara Wulf (Jeanne Goursaud), a former Special Forces soldier, visits the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt with her son to apply for a work visa, only for him to disappear. Officials deny she came with her son and accuse her of imagining things due to her PTSD. That was the wrong move!
With Exterritorial, a somber yet engrossing action thriller accentuated by the lilting musical composition of Sara Barone, director Christian Zübert found an unusually rich metaphor for mental health and parenthood. While gaslighting will make you angry, there is no need to worry. Sara gives a proper beating to all who dare to mess with her. Most importantly, the story works. Single-setting action movies always impress if the plot is done well, and nothing feels off in this magnificent German Netflix production.
‘Shelter’ (2026)
While many are tired of Jason Statham playing a former assassin or operative in all his movies, Shelter feels smarter than most of his recent works. The plot is also richer as his character, Michael Mason, tries to protect a teenage girl while fleeing from killer squads hired by the organization he used to work for.
Despite being the undeniable symbol of the traditional one-man-army trope, Statham tries harder this time. He doesn’t show off his astounding range with this tour-de-force turn, but he, at least, communicates with more seriousness than he normally does. Beyond that, the cinematography is striking, especially in the earlier scenes filmed at the Outer Hebrides off the coast of Scotland. Stunning views!
‘Nobody’ (2021)
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever picture Saul Goodman… I mean Bob Odenkirk… knocking out evil dudes. He does it so well in Nobody that you can’t help but wonder why no one ever thought of casting him in this type of movie. The agenda? Recover his daughter’s kitty cat bracelet, which was taken by thugs who raided his home.
Since Derek Kolstad, who helped create the John Wick franchise, was the screenwriter for Nobody, audiences are served much the same “mess around and find out” awesomeness. Odenkirk deserves a lot of credit for his against-type performance, and equal praise goes to director Ilya Naishuller for the action choreography. The movie could have used more action, but what’s there will totally impress you. Watch out for the bus brawl.
‘Man on Fire’ (2004)
Denzel Washington was a man on fire in the early 2000s, and that’s the time he chose to make a proper foray into the action genre. Based on A. J. Quinnell’s novel of the same name, Man on Fire follows the alcoholic former Force Recon Marine and CIA SAD/SOG officer John Creasy, who works as a bodyguard to a wealthy automaker’s young daughter in Mexico. When kidnappers take the little girl under his watch, he shows his claws.
With rapid-fire action and a breakneck pace, this color-splashed flick by Tony Scott sneaks up on you with serious anti-crime messages amidst the chaos. Scott always worked well with Denzel Washington, and the actor appears to be having a lot of fun in the adaptation. However, this isn’t just the Washington show. Dakota Fanning plays the little girl, and she might have won bigger awards if the script didn’t have a few flaws. Still, she received a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer.
‘John Wick’ (2014)
A work of sublime pathos and vengeance, John Wick will somehow leave you smiling for the rest of the week. In the movie that got Keanu Reeves’ career back on track, he played a widower and retired assassin who gets attacked by a sadistic mobster and his lackeys. They kill his puppy and take his 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429. You can bet that he won’t let that slide.
Reeves’ fine work as the grieving hero largely carries the film. However, as a viewer, make sure you pay the most attention to the action. It’s largely credited for popularizing the Gun-Fu martial arts technique (close-quarters gun action). It’s impossible not to be wowed, even if you prefer other genres. The film is also leaner than future installments, lacking the excessive details about the Higher Table, and an overabundance of characters. Give it a chance, even if you don’t plan to watch the sequels.
Was your favorite action movie on the list? Do you have another one that you recommend? Let us know in the comments.