The 100+ Best Intelligent Action Movies, Ranked
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Vote up the best intelligent movies, or those that are smart, clever, etc.
- 1Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael BiehnIn the heart of the sci-fi action thriller The Terminator, a cyborg assassin known as The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from 2029 to 1984. His mission? To execute Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son is destined to lead humanity in a war against machines. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier from the same post-apocalyptic future, is also hurled back in time with an assignment to protect Sarah. It's a race against time, technology, and destiny itself. This James Cameron-directed film won several awards for its groundbreaking special effects and gripping narrative.More The Terminator
- 2Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul FreemanIn the adventurous roller-coaster ride, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, we follow Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), a renowned archaeologist and obtainer of rare antiquities. Set in 1936, Jones is thrust into a perilous mission to outwit his Nazi competitors who are bent on harnessing the power of the mystical Ark of the Covenant. Alongside former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Jones navigates treacherous terrains and relentless enemies. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie bagged four Academy Awards, solidifying its status as a classic action-adventure film that combines history, mysticism, and heart-stopping sequences with aplomb.
- 3Matt Damon, Brian Cox, Jeremy RennerThe Bourne films are a series of action/thriller spy films based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from extreme memory loss who must figure out who he is, created by author Robert Ludlum. The Bourne Legacy introduces a new character, Aaron Cross, a Department of Defense operative who runs for his life because of Bourne's actions in Ultimatum. All three of Ludlum's novels were adapted for the screen, featuring Matt Damon as the titular character in each. Doug Liman directed The Bourne Identity, and Paul Greengrass directed The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Tony Gilroy co-wrote each film and directed The Bourne Legacy. Damon chose not to return for the fourth film. The character of Jason Bourne does not appear in Legacy, but mention of his name and pictures of Damon as Bourne are shown throughout the film. The series is noted for its realism, in contrast to the growing use of computer-generated imagery in the action genre.More Bourne Franchise
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- 4Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne MossNeo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.
- 5Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie FisherThe adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master's help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).
- 6Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van CleefThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic spaghetti western that transcends time. Set amidst the chaos of the American Civil War, it stars Clint Eastwood as 'Blondie' (The Good), Lee Van Cleef as 'Angel Eyes' (The Bad), and Eli Wallach as 'Tuco' (The Ugly). The trio embarks on a thrilling quest for buried Confederate gold, each driven by their own unique motives. Directed by Sergio Leone, this film combines intense gunfights with strategic mind games. Boasting a memorable score by Ennio Morricone, it won the 1967 BAFTA Award for Best Original Score. This film is a must-see for fans of the genre and cinema history alike.
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- 7Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael BiehnIn the science fiction thriller Aliens, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), survivor of the spaceship Nostromo, returns to confront her nightmares. Waking up 57 years later, she discovers a human colony has been established on the alien-infested planet she once escaped from. Accompanied by a squad of marines, Ripley must face her fears and the extraterrestrial menace once again. Directed by James Cameron, this sequel boasts an Oscar-winning visual effects team that brings the terrifying creatures to life. With suspenseful twists and thrilling action sequences, Aliens is a cinematic masterpiece in its genre.More Aliens
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- 8Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie BedeliaDie Hard, a classic action-thriller, revolves around New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis). He's just trying to reconcile with his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), at her company's Christmas Eve party. But things spiral out of control when German terrorist Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his henchmen take over the high-rise building. Armed only with his wits and determination, McClane must face down the deadly adversaries, save the hostages, including his wife, and thwart Gruber's grandiose heist plan. A high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues creating an unforgettable cinematic experience resulting in four Academy Award nominations.
- 9Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela WardIn the heart-pounding thriller, The Fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must evade relentless U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) while he uncovers the truth behind his spouse's death. This 1993 film, directed by Andrew Davis, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Jones). A maze of suspenseful twists and turns, it is a captivating journey through Chicago's underbelly as Kimble races against time to clear his name and bring the real killer to justice.
- 10Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron EckhartIn The Dark Knight, Gotham City's vigilante, Batman (Christian Bale), faces his greatest adversary yet - the Joker (Heath Ledger), a criminal mastermind with a twisted sense of humor. Under the guidance of mentor Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) and ally Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), Batman navigates a web of chaos spun by the Joker. The Christopher Nolan directed crime drama won two Academy Awards, including one for Ledger's posthumous performance. Brimming with high-stakes action scenes and moral dilemmas, this second installment in Nolan's Batman trilogy is a captivating exploration of heroism in times of anarchy.More The Dark Knight
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- 11Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon StoneTotal Recall is a riveting blend of science fiction and action. The film showcases Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as an ordinary construction worker, plagued by a recurring dream about Mars. Determined to uncover the truth behind his dreams, he opts for memory implants of a Martian holiday from Rekall Inc., only to have things go awry. Suddenly, Quaid finds himself embroiled in espionage, with blurred lines between reality and implanted memories. Aided by Melina (Rachel Ticotin), he must unravel the mystery of his past on a treacherous Martian terrain. This Paul Verhoeven directed spectacle won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects, setting new industry standards.More Total Recall
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- 12Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Taron EgertonIn Kingsman: The Secret Service, a British spy thriller, Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin (Taron Egerton) is an unrefined street punk. His life takes a turn when he's recruited by Harry Hart (Colin Firth), a Kingsman agent who sees potential in him. These agents aren't your run-of-the-mill spies, they're gentlemanly, impeccably dressed, and deadly efficient. They operate from a high-tech base hidden beneath a tailor shop - an ingenious blend of tradition and modernity. As Eggsy undergoes rigorous training to join this elite secret service, the world faces a grave threat from tech-genius Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson). Can Eggsy rise above his rough edges and save the world? This action-packed movie promises intrigue, humor and stylish espionage.
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- 13John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma ThurmanPulp Fiction, a quintessential Quentin Tarantino piece, is a genre-defying blend of crime, drama, and black comedy. The film intricately weaves the lives of two hitmen - Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), with a washed-up boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), and a mob boss's wife Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman). Punctuated by Tarantino's signature non-linear storytelling, the movie explores themes of redemption and consequences. It bagged the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1994, testifying to its cinematic brilliance.More Pulp Fiction
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- 14Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie PortmanMathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers, and her mother neglects her. Léon (Jean Reno), who lives down the hall, tends to his houseplants and works as a hired hitman for mobster Tony (Danny Aiello). When her family is murdered by crooked DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Mathilda joins forces with a reluctant Léon to learn his deadly trade and avenge her family's deaths.
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- 15Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace MoretzRobert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless.More The Equalizer
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- 16Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom ArnoldIn True Lies, a high-octane blend of action-comedy and spy-thriller, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) leads a double life. By day, he's a dull computer salesman married to Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), but by night, he's a top-secret government agent combating international terrorism. When his two worlds collide following an investigation into illegal arms sales, chaos ensues. Director James Cameron expertly orchestrates this rollercoaster ride of suspense, humor, and explosive stunts. The film scooped up an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, testament to its groundbreaking spectacle.More True Lies
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- 17Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan GleesonIn the gripping sci-fi action flick, Edge of Tomorrow, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) finds himself caught in a time loop during an alien invasion. Unprepared for combat, his repeated deaths become a learning curve. With each revival, he grows stronger, smarter, more adept. Alongside him is Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a seasoned warrior known as the Full Metal Bitch. Together, they strategize to defeat the hostile extraterrestrials. Directed by Doug Liman and based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel All You Need Is Kill, this movie presents an enthralling blend of high-stakes battles and mind-bending temporal twists.More Edge of Tomorrow
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- 18Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen ReaV for Vendetta is a provocative dystopian political thriller. In this film, Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante known only as V (Hugo Weaving). Set in an alternative future where a totalitarian government has seized control of the United Kingdom, V ignites a revolution when he detonates two London landmarks and takes over the state-run television network, urging his fellow citizens to rise up against oppression and tyranny. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious past, she also discovers her own path to personal freedom. The film won Saturn Award for Best Actress and Best Horror Film.More V for Vendetta
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- 19Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie SheenIn the gritty war drama Platoon, we follow Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), an American soldier thrust into the horrors of the Vietnam War. As he navigates this brutal landscape, Chris finds himself torn between two sergeants: the morally corrupt Barnes (Tom Berenger) and the righteous Elias (Willem Dafoe). Directed by Oliver Stone, this film offers an unflinching portrayal of warfare's dehumanizing effects. The movie was lauded for its realism and earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It stands as a chilling testament to the savagery of conflict and the toll it takes on those who endure it.More Platoon
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- 20Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny CoxIn the dystopian future of RoboCop, Detroit Police Officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is brutally murdered. Omni Consumer Products (OCP), a mega-corporation controlling Detroit, seizes this opportunity for their latest project - a crime-fighting cyborg. Resurrected as RoboCop, Murphy patrols the lawless streets, struggling to retain his humanity while enforcing the law with an iron fist. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, this 1987 action-packed sci-fi thriller is noted for its innovative blend of cyberpunk aesthetics and social commentary. It won an Academy Award for Sound Effects Editing, proving its technical prowess alongside its narrative depth.More RoboCop
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- 21Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volonté, Aldo SambrellA Fistful of Dollars, titled on-screen as Fistful of Dollars, is a 1964 spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood, alongside Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, Sieghardt Rupp, José Calvo, Antonio Prieto, and Joseph Egger. A Fistful of Dollars was filmed on a low budget, and Eastwood was paid $15,000 for his role. Released in Italy in 1964 and then in the United States in 1967, it initiated the popularity of the spaghetti western film genre. It was followed by For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, also starring Eastwood. Collectively, the films are known as the "Dollars Trilogy", or "The Man With No Name Trilogy". The film has been identified as an unofficial remake of the Akira Kurosawa film Yojimbo, which resulted in a successful lawsuit by Toho. In the United States, the United Artists publicity campaign referred to Eastwood's character in all three films as the "Man with No Name". As few spaghetti westerns had yet been released in the United States, many of the European cast and crew took on American-sounding stage names. These included Leone himself, Gian Maria Volonté, and composer Ennio Morricone.More A Fistful of Dollars
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- 22Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom SizemoreThe film takes place in 1993 when the U.S. sent special forces into Somalia to destabilize the government and bring food and humanitarian aid to the starving population. Using Black Hawk helicopters to lower the soldiers onto the ground, an unexpected attack by Somalian forces brings two of the helicopters down immediately. From there, the U.S. soldiers must struggle to regain their balance while enduring heavy gunfire.More Black Hawk Down
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- 23Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni SantoniIn Dirty Harry, a gritty 1971 thriller, Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) prowls the streets of San Francisco. He's relentless, unorthodox and carries a .44 Magnum - the world's most powerful handgun. When a rooftop sniper known as Scorpio (Andy Robinson) terrorizes the city, it's up to Callahan to stop him. The film, directed by Don Siegel, is renowned for its raw portrayal of urban crime and its iconic protagonist. Despite controversy over its violence and ethical ambiguity, Dirty Harry remains a landmark in cinematic history.More Dirty Harry
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- 24Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot PageInception is a mind-bending, science-fiction thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The plot pivots around Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), an adept 'extractor' who invades people's dreams to steal secrets. However, his latest task is not stealing an idea but planting one - inception. In this high-stakes job, he's aided by Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Elliot Page), and Eames (Tom Hardy). Tackling complex themes of reality and subconsciousness, Inception won four Academy Awards. This cinematic labyrinth, riddled with plot twists, leaves viewers questioning the very nature of reality.More Inception
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- 25Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha MortonBased on a story by famed science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, "Minority Report" is an action-detective thriller set in Washington D.C. in 2054, where police utilize a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime. Tom Cruise plays the head of this Precrime unit and is himself accused of the future murder of a man he hasn't even met.More Minority Report
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- 26Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie NielsenIn the spellbinding epic Gladiator, Russell Crowe embodies Maximus, a Roman general betrayed and reduced to slavery. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, the treacherous emperor who orchestrates Maximus's downfall. Ridley Scott's masterful direction brings ancient Rome to life in this historical drama that brims with breathtaking battle sequences and political intrigue. The movie, a critical darling, won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. Gladiator is an intense journey of vengeance and redemption set against a backdrop of imperial decadence.More Gladiator
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- 27Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving RhamesMission: Impossible is a series of action spy thriller films based on the television series of the same name, produced by and starring Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt.
- 28Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier BardemIn Skyfall, the 23rd addition to the James Bond franchise, Bond (Daniel Craig) is believed to be dead after a failed mission in Istanbul. However, when M (Judi Dench), head of MI6, becomes the target of a cyber-terrorist with a personal vendetta, Bond returns from his presumed demise. He must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Directed by Sam Mendes, this film breathes new life into the series with its blend of classic Bond tropes and modern storytelling. Skyfall's notable achievements include winning two Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Sound Editing.More Skyfall
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- 29Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads MikkelsenAfter receiving a license to kill, British Secret Service agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) heads to Madagascar, where he uncovers a link to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a man who finances terrorist organizations. Learning that Le Chiffre plans to raise money in a high-stakes poker game, MI6 sends Bond to play against him, gambling that their newest "00" operative will topple the man's organization.More Casino Royale
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- 30Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne KeenIn the gritty drama Logan, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the weary, aging Wolverine. Set in a dystopian future, our protagonist is tasked with safeguarding Laura (Dafne Keen), a young mutant girl, from dark forces. Patrick Stewart returns as Charles Xavier, struggling with deteriorating health but still offering guidance to Logan. The film, directed by James Mangold, is a departure from traditional superhero narratives, delving into themes of mortality and legacy. It was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 90th Academy Awards - a first for a superhero movie.More Logan
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