The Best Action Movies of 2006

Ranker Film
Updated April 1, 2024 50 items
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1.1K votes
85 voters

List of the best 2006 action movies, ranked by how many upvotes they've received by other fans of the genre. These movies give you car crashes, explosions, gun fights and everything else you could hope for in a good action flick. These are all the action movies that defined the year 2006, so vote for your favorites and help them rise to the top. This poll is also a great resource for finding new movies that you haven't already seen, especially since you can watch trailers for each film right on this page. To make sure this list is as accurate as possible, please don't downvote a movie if you haven't seen it.

These movies, like 300 and X-Men: The Last Stand include images when available. This isn't necessarily a list of all action movies from 2006, but it does contain all the ones worth watching.
Most divisive: The Pink Panther
Over 80 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Action Movies of 2006
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
    1

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

    Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
    26 votes
    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, a swashbuckling adventure film, sees Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back in action. This time around, he's on a quest to find the fabled Dead Man's Chest to ward off the ghostly Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who seeks to ensnare him into eternal servitude. With his crewmates Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) entangled in his perilous voyage, Sparrow must navigate treacherous waters and supernatural dangers. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, testament to its stunning cinematic spectacle.
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  • Casino Royale
    2

    Casino Royale

    Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen
    30 votes
    In the thrilling action movie Casino Royale, James Bond (Daniel Craig) embarks on his first mission as 007. He's dispatched to Madagascar, where he locks horns with Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a ruthless financier aiming to recover funds in a high-stakes poker game. The stakes couldn't be higher, and with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) by his side, Bond enters a dangerous game of deception and espionage. As the plot thickens, Bond finds himself entangled in a world of treachery that tests his resolve like never before. This film won the BAFTA for Best Sound.
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  • Night at the Museum
    3

    Night at the Museum

    Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke
    32 votes
    Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), a down-on-his-luck dreamer, lands a job as a night watchman at the Museum of Natural History. He's tasked with ensuring everything runs smoothly, but little does he know that after sunset, the exhibits spring to life. Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), an adventurous T-Rex skeleton, and a mischievous monkey are just some of the characters he encounters. As Larry navigates this wild new world, he finds himself in the middle of an epic struggle for power. Night at the Museum, directed by Shawn Levy, is a whimsical family comedy-adventure that combines historical figures with modern-day humor.
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  • Blood Diamond
    4

    Blood Diamond

    Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, Djimon Hounsou
    28 votes
    As civil war rages through 1990s Sierra Leone, two men, a white South African mercenary (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a black Mende fisherman (Djimon Hounsou), become joined in a common quest to recover a rare gem that has the power to transform their lives. With the help of an American journalist (Jennifer Connelly), the men embark on a hazardous trek through rebel territory to achieve their goal.
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  • The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
    5

    The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

    Lucas Black, Zachery Ty Bryan, Shad "Bow Wow" Moss
    26 votes
    The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a thrilling ride, steeped in the underground world of Japanese street racing. Sean Boswell (Lucas Black), an outsider with a penchant for speed, finds himself marooned in Tokyo. Here, he discovers 'drifting', a risky high-speed cornering technique that redefines his understanding of racing. Under the tutelage of Han (Sung Kang), a seasoned drifter, Sean embarks on an adrenaline-fueled journey through Tokyo's neon-lit streets. His path intersect with Takashi (Brian Tee), the Drift King, setting off an explosive rivalry. Amidst roaring engines and screeching tires, this movie carves its niche in the action genre, making it an unforgettable entry in the Fast and Furious franchise.
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  • Rocky Balboa
    6

    Rocky Balboa

    Sylvester Stallone, Burt Young, Antonio Tarver
    25 votes
    Now long-retired, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) runs a Philadelphia eatery and mourns the loss of his beloved wife, Adrian. Yearning to recapture a bit of his glory days, he plans to re-enter the ring for a few low-profile, local matches. All that changes when Rocky accepts a challenge to fight the world's reigning heavyweight champion, Mason "the Line" Dixon (Antonio Tarver).
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  • Ice Age: The Meltdown
    7

    Ice Age: The Meltdown

    Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary
    19 votes
    With global warming threatening their once-icy domain with widespread flooding, Manny (Ray Romano), Sid (John Alberto Leguizamo) and Diego (Denis Leary) set out to find a safe haven. Along the way, another mammoth (Queen Latifah), who thinks she is an opossum, joins the travelers on their perilous quest.
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  • Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
    8

    Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

    Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen
    24 votes
    Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, a sports comedy, features the adventures of NASCAR driver, Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell). Raised in the world of speed, his life shifts gears when French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges his throne. This film intertwines humor with racing drama, providing a unique look into the sport's culture. It was directed by Adam McKay and received two MTV Movie Award nominations for Best Comedic Performance and Best On-Screen Team. Packed with high-speed thrills and laughs, it's an entertaining ride through the fast-paced world of NASCAR.
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  • Children of Men
    9

    Children of Men

    Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
    25 votes
    In the dystopian genre film Children of Men, humanity grapples with infertility, a crisis threatening extinction. The protagonist, Theo Faron (Clive Owen), is a disillusioned bureaucrat who gets entangled in a mission to protect the world's only pregnant woman. Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore), an activist and Theo's ex-lover, leads this desperate quest for survival. The movie, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, won acclaim for its immersive storytelling and technical excellence, particularly its long-take action sequences. It offers a bleak yet poignant exploration of hope amid despair, challenging viewers to reflect on society's resilience in the face of impending doom.
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  • The Pink Panther
    10

    The Pink Panther

    Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyoncé
    25 votes
    When the coach of a French soccer team is killed, his ring featuring the legendary Pink Panther diamond goes missing. Luckily, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kevin Kline) has a plan: assign his most intelligent, most driven officers to track down the thieves in secret, while publicly assigning the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin) as head of the case. Clouseau seems hopeless, until his various mistakes and misjudgments miraculously put him on the real killer's trail.
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  • 300
    11

    300

    Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham
    23 votes
    In the epic movie 300, King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) leads his Spartan warriors into battle against the massive Persian army. Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, this film is a historical fantasy war spectacle, directed by Zack Snyder. With just 300 men, Leonidas seeks to halt the advancing Persian forces led by god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). This visually stunning film won several awards for its unique visual effects and production design. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Leonidas and his men display an unwavering resolve and loyalty to their homeland, resulting in a gripping tale of courage and sacrifice.
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  • Superman Returns
    12

    Superman Returns

    Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden
    24 votes
    In the movie Superman Returns, Clark Kent, embodied by Brandon Routh, resumes his role as the iconic superhero after a mysterious five-year absence. His return is marked by an internal struggle to reconcile with his love, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth), and to confront his nemesis, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey). The film, directed by Bryan Singer, is a blend of action and science fiction that effectively revives the Superman saga. The narrative explores themes of identity and responsibility while showcasing spectacular special effects. Garnering praise for its visual spectacle, Superman Returns was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
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  • Déjà Vu
    13

    Déjà Vu

    Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel
    17 votes
    Déjà Vu is an intense science fiction thriller led by ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington). After a tragic ferry explosion in New Orleans, Carlin is enlisted to help with the investigation. Aided by unique technology that allows him to look back in time, he soon uncovers a sinister plot. The film, directed by Tony Scott, marries elements of crime and time-travel genres. Val Kilmer co-stars as Agent Pryzwarra. The movie's enigmatic storyline intertwines past and future events, creating a complex narrative web that keeps viewers on their toes.
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  • Underworld: Evolution
    14

    Underworld: Evolution

    Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran
    13 votes
    Seductive vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and renegade werewolf Michael (Scott Speedman) love one another, but find themselves abhorred by the members of their own clans. Seeking clues that might provide a key to healing the rift between their species, they are hounded by Marcus (Tony Curran), an ancient creature obsessed with perpetuating the war between them. Continually beset by enemies from both sides, the lovers explore their pasts as they seek their destiny.
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  • Zoom
    15

    Zoom

    Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, Spencer Breslin
    29 votes
    Capt. Zoom, or Jack (Tim Allen), as he is now known, has long since given up his career of fighting evil and protecting the defenseless. The former superhero gets back into the game when he takes a job at a private academy, where he must whip into shape a ragtag group of heroes-in-training.
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  • Mission: Impossible III
    16

    Mission: Impossible III

    Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames
    19 votes
    Mission: Impossible III is an adrenaline-fueled action thriller, the third installment in the globally acclaimed franchise. The film pivots around super-spy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), who is pulled back into action after a period of semi-retirement. Hunt's mission, should he choose to accept it, involves stopping a ruthless arms dealer named Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Amidst high-stakes espionage and heart-stopping stunts, Hunt must also protect his beloved Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan) from danger. Directed by J.J. Abrams, this movie adds a layer of personal stakes to the usual explosive spectacle that defines the Mission: Impossible series.
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  • Fearless
    17

    Fearless

    Jet Li, Betty Sun, Yong Dong
    18 votes
    After a terrible tragedy, a martial artist (Jet Li) retreats to a remote village to gain a new appreciation for the important things in life, but when he returns to the city to reconcile his past with the present, he gets caught up in a duel to the death defending China's honor.
  • Crank
    18

    Crank

    Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo
    12 votes
    Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), a hit man wanting to go straight, lets his latest target slip away, then he awakes the next morning to a phone call that informs him he has been poisoned and has only an hour to live unless he keeps adrenaline coursing through his body while he searches for an antidote.
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  • Curse of the Golden Flower
    19

    Curse of the Golden Flower

    Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou
    15 votes
    In 928 A.D. a power struggle emerges in the palace of China's emperor (Chow Yun-Fat). A cruel man, he is secretly having his wife (Gong Li) poisoned with a substance that will eventually drive her insane. Meanwhile the empress is having an affair with Prince Wan (Ye Liu), her husband's son from a previous marriage. But the prince secretly wishes to run away with Chan (Li Man), the daughter of the imperial doctor.
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  • X-Men: The Last Stand
    20

    X-Men: The Last Stand

    Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen
    13 votes
    In X-Men: The Last Stand, the mutant community faces its most formidable challenge yet. The discovery of a cure for mutation sparks a battle that will define their destiny. Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his X-Men, including Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Storm (Halle Berry), stand against their former ally Magneto (Ian McKellen), who sees this cure as a threat to mutant existence. A war ensues, with Jean Grey's (Famke Janssen) rebirth as the powerful Phoenix adding an unpredictable element. Directed by Brett Ratner, this action-packed superhero film is third in the X-Men series. It won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film 2007, reflecting its compelling mix of drama, action, and thought-provoking themes.
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  • Poseidon
    21

    Poseidon

    Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Jacinda Barrett
    14 votes
    After a huge tidal wave capsizes a luxury liner in the North Atlantic, individual survivors (Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Jacinda Barrett) band together and traverse a hazardous upside-down maze that they hope will take them to safety. As the wrecked vessel fills with water, the survivors must call on hidden strengths and skills to face the fight of their lives.
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  • Flags of Our Fathers
    22

    Flags of Our Fathers

    Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach
    18 votes
    In Flags of Our Fathers, director Clint Eastwood delves into the gritty realities of war. The film, based on a true story, follows the lives of six soldiers - John Doc Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford), and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) among them - thrust into fame as the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, a potent symbol of victory during World War II. However, their experiences on the battlefield tell a different tale. This historical drama explores themes of heroism and the harsh truths behind glorified images of war.
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  • Firewall
    23

    Firewall

    Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen
    11 votes
    Bank security expert Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) builds a career on his expertise in designing theft-proof computer systems for financial institutions. However, a criminal mastermind (Paul Bettany) kidnaps his family, and he must work feverishly to find a way to break into his own system and steal $100 million, for the lives of his loved ones hang in the balance.
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  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley
    24

    The Wind That Shakes the Barley

    Cillian Murphy, Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham
    19 votes
    In 1920s Ireland young doctor Damien O'Donovan (Cillian Murphy) prepares to depart for a new job in a London hospital. As he says his goodbyes at a friend's farm, British Black and Tans arrive, and a young man is killed. Damien joins his brother Teddy (Padraic Delaney) in the Irish Republican Army, but political events are soon set in motion that tear the brothers apart.
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  • Snakes on a Plane
    25

    Snakes on a Plane

    Samuel L. Jackson, Kenan Thompson, Julianna Margulies
    22 votes
    FBI agent Nelville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) boards a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles, escorting a witness to trial. An on-board assassin releases a crate of deadly serpents in an attempt to kill the witness. Flynn and a host of frightened passengers and crew must band together to survive the slithery threat.
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  • Letters from Iwo Jima
    26

    Letters from Iwo Jima

    Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara
    16 votes
    Letters from Iwo Jima, a war drama directed by Clint Eastwood, peers into the battle of Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspective. The narrative pivots around the experiences of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), a low-ranking soldier. Their lives intertwine in the heat of conflict, offering an intimate glimpse into wartime struggles. The film's stark portrayal of human resilience against overwhelming odds garnered it an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing in 2007. Eastwood's directorial prowess, combined with the poignant performances of Watanabe and Ninomiya, make Letters from Iwo Jima a compelling cinematic experience.
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  • The Covenant
    27

    The Covenant

    Steven Strait, Toby Hemingway, Chace Crawford
    13 votes
    In the 17th century, five families with supernatural powers make a pact of silence. Eventually one power-hungry family is banished. The descendants of those four remaining families are heirs to tremendous power. Known as the Sons of Ipswich, the boys attend elite Spencer Academy. When a student there is found dead after a party, unraveling secrets threaten to shatter the pact that has protected the boys' families for centuries.
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  • Miami Vice
    28

    Miami Vice

    Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li
    21 votes
    A case involving drug lords and murder in South Florida takes a personal turn for undercover detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx). Unorthodox Crockett gets involved romantically with the Chinese-Cuban wife of a trafficker of arms and drugs, while Tubbs deals with an assault on those he loves.
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  • Smokin' Aces
    29

    Smokin' Aces

    Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys
    10 votes
    Sleazy entertainer Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) incurs the wrath of crime boss Primo Sparazza when he agrees to testify against the Las Vegas mob. Two FBI agents (Ray Liotta, Ryan Reynolds) have the difficult task of protecting him from a motley assortment of bounty hunters, hit men and nefarious vixens who are converging on his Lake Tahoe encampment to rub him out and collect a hefty reward.
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  • Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
    30

    Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

    Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
    15 votes
    Kryptonian villain Gen. Zod (Terence Stamp) and his henchmen are accidentally freed from their outer-space imprisonment and threaten Earth with destruction, just as Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to renounce his superpowers for his new love, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). This alternate version of the film is based on footage shot by director Richard Donner before being replaced on the project, and it includes material not seen in the film's original 1980 release.