Top 10 Best Action Movie Stars
When you think of action movies, who springs to mind? The fearless hero diving through explosions? The ice-cool sharpshooter who never misses? Maybe it's the martial arts master whose moves seem to defy gravity.The action genre has given us so many iconic stars. Men and women who've thrilled us with death-defying stunts, epic fight scenes, and a whole lot of attitude. They make saving the world or getting revenge look cool as heck.
But who's the ultimate action superstar? Is it the powerhouse wrestler turned leading man? The versatile actor who pulls off stunts like a pro? Or the classic hero who always has a one-liner up their sleeve?
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.He is best known for his roles as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series and John Rambo in the First Blood/Rambo series. His most well-known films are primarily action movies.
He is also close... read more
They got this one right. Sly and Arnold are clearly the top two. The reason why I think Sly tops the list is that he created the two most iconic action movie characters of all time (Rocky and Rambo). He created the characters and wrote the movies.
His career has spanned over 40 years, and he's STILL making great action movies. He's the king of the series. The Rocky character is still going strong, and he was smart to switch over to "Creed." It's a spinoff of the Rocky movies, and his character is still relevant. He has another Rambo coming out as well. The recent Rocky/Creed and Rambo movies have been great.
Then he created the "Expendables" series, and those were great too. And Escape Plan! Great movies like Cliffhanger, Assassins, Judge Dredd, Demolition Man, Daylight, Cobra, Get Carter, Escape Plan, Over the Top, and Tango and Cash... the list goes on.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, filmmaker, businessman, investor, author, philanthropist, activist, former professional bodybuilder, and former politician... read more Arnie is the BEST. He has done so many great films like Terminator 1 and 2, Predator, Commando, Total Recall, Conan the Barbarian, and The Running Man, to name a few. He was a big icon for his time.
And aren't we forgetting those awesome one-liners that he spews out in every film he's in? Arnold is the best, period!
The only truly believable action star who you could see taking on a bunch of bad guys at once, a whole army base single-handed, or defeating an alien from another planet! See True Lies, The Running Man, Commando, Predator, or almost any of his action films! Plus, probably the best one-liners ever!
Walter Bruce Willis, known professionally as Bruce Willis, is a retired American actor, producer, and singer. Well, I must admit Sly is one of the greatest action stars among others such as Arnold, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee. But I consider Bruce Willis the best. He has something that makes you like him. He is suited for action.
In all his films, Bruce is an average, normal guy, but he still manages to kick some ass. Bruce Willis shows the power that the common man can exert and to never underestimate anyone, no matter who they are.
He's definitely one of my favorites. His greatest performance is in Die Hard. He has many great one-liners that I use often, and he stars in many other flicks that I enjoyed.
Jason Statham is an English actor. He is known for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and Revolver. He should be number one, but at least he's on the list. I really like his acting and think he should at least be in the number three spot. The others are a little too old to be acting out some of the scenes they are in, but I respect them as actors and as people. There are a lot of good actors.
Jason Statham should be number one! Not only is he gorgeous and has a perfect body (because being the #1 action actor is not about looks like some of these ignorant people have implied - hello, you idiots, it's not hottest actor, it's best), but he's also got a great voice for an action star.
He's a great actor, and his overall demeanor fits the part perfectly. Or how about the fact that ANY movie he is in is guaranteed to be a good one? If I see his name in the description of a movie, just his name alone tells me it will be good - and it always is.
Chan Kong-sang known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and singer. He is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself, in the cinematic... read more Jackie is the top contender, period. On pure merit alone, he's been doing movies before Sly, Arnold, or Willis. He has written, produced, and filmed 90% of those movies. Arnold has done three, and they all sucked. Sly did one, and it was okay. Willis at least can talk and act. I'd watch a movie with him before the other two.
But J.C. - you have to give it to him on action alone. He is the best real-life action star of our time. He obviously isn't a fake CGI-created action hero like all the others. He falls down skyscrapers in real life shooting his movies, not stunt doubles or recreated sets in a studio or CGI. Name one of those top three that do that?
Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often... read more Come on, guys, Bruce Lee has to be number one. He made action and martial arts movies famous. If Bruce hadn't been there, the world wouldn't have heard of all these guys mentioned in the list. He is the god of action, undoubtedly the greatest martial artist of all time. Probably the greatest superstar who ever lived. All these guys are just kids compared to Bruce Lee.
Bruce Lee is the best martial artist in the world. He fights like no other person in the world. His films are major box office successes. He is an inspiration for millions of people. He should be number one. He is known throughout the world.
Harrison Ford is an American actor and film producer. He gained worldwide fame for his starring roles as Han Solo in the original Star Wars epic space opera trilogy and the titular character of the Indiana Jones film series. Handsome and cool. He isn't a super muscle man that ordinary people will never be. He's the cool guy that always gets the girl. Every man wants to be him (and in our minds, we are!).
He does his own stunts and, in my opinion, is easily the best actor of all time!
This is a legendary man. Mr. Han Solo. Indiana Jones himself. He means so much to the world.
With that being said, Vin Diesel should not be here. If talent was the force, Vin Diesel would be the poop of a stormtrooper.
Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. She has also been cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress... read more Great actress, and very good in action movies!
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and producer. He has received various accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Awards and three nominations for Academy Awards. He is one of the highest-paid actors in the world. My dad and I are fans of Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves. I think they should put those two stars together in a popular action movie.
Tom Cruise is the best. He should be at least Top 3. He does his own stunts. Mission Impossible Series. Edge of Tomorrow. Top Gun. Jack Reacher, etc.
Why is Tom Cruise in 14th place? He should be at least 5th. Have you even seen his real stunt of hanging onto an airplane? That takes some courage.
Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson AO is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his action hero roles, namely his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films in the Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series, and as Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon buddy cop film series. Lethal Weapon alone should have him in the top 5. Throw Mad Max into the mix, not to mention Braveheart, and I am calling bull all over this one.
Deserves number two to Sylvester Stallone in my opinion. Sorry, the Rocky movies, Creed, and Rambo just go off the chart, but Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon and Mad Max get him through to number two.
The Newcomers
Lethal Weapon 1-4 and Predator 2! He should be on here just for the Lethal Weapon movies.
Pamela Suzette Grier is an American actress. Grier became known in the early 1970s for starring in a string of 1970s women in prison and blaxploitation films such as The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Sheba, Baby.
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American actor. He began acting on television at the age of 12 in the western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. In the late 1960s, he signed a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company where, according to Robert Osborne, he became the studio's top star of the 1970s... read more
Keanu Charles Reeves (born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian actor, director, producer, and musician. He gained fame for his starring role performances in several blockbuster films, including comedies from the Bill and Ted franchise. Another one of my favorites. He did a decent job in Point Break and a great job in Speed. However, his greatest performance is, without question, in The Matrix, which is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.
Keanu has to be by far in the top 5 actors. He's very committed to his acting and has a lot of great skills. He can play any role he wants. He's that good.
Wow, what is he doing here? He must be in the top 20, and Liam Neeson too. Keanu Reeves was so badass in John Wick.
Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American and Canadian actor, producer and semi-retired professional wrestler, signed with WWE. No doubt the greatest wrestler that turned actor of all time. He might not be number 1, but he surely deserves a spot on this list.
The king and also the coolest actor, always great with his fans.
14th? Are you kidding me? I mean, damn it, he is Dwayne!
I am not sure about elsewhere, but here in India, in the 80s and 90s, Van Damme became the most popular star from Hollywood after the release of Bloodsport. He was as big a name as Stallone and Schwarzenegger. He was the favorite of at least three out of five people.
Come on, people, JCVD deserves to be in the top 5. The man is a low-rent Stallone, sure, but come on, those splits alone catapult him much higher.
What a legend back in the '90s. Van Damme should punch Vin Diesel in the face because Vin Diesel is a joke of an action star.
Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Forbes magazine... read more Batman's awesome. Where is Heath Ledger on the list? Easily the best movie of all time is Dark Knight, and Christian Bale is the lead!
He is the backbone of action movies. He should be in the top 3 rank.
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure. I find it appalling that Clint isn't gaining recognition here. He still and always will be the greatest Hollywood badass.
The man himself is a great legend. Never fails to amaze me.
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 - October 31, 2020) was a Scottish actor and producer. He won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes... read more 007: Your mission is to take out the prime minister of fake action stunts and terrible acting. He won't be hard to miss. He looks like a mutated potato and goes by the name Vin Diesel.
My favorite James Bond - yes, even before Pierce Brosnan, but overall a very, very good actor.
He's James Bond and always will be. Sets every woman's heart aflutter.
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an actor from Northern Ireland. In 1976, he joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast for two years. He then acted in the Arthurian film, Excalibur. It would be better to recast The Expendables with better directors and better action stars. Tom Cruise to replace Sylvester Stallone. Liam Neeson to replace Jason Statham.
Liam Neeson should be in the top 10. He trained Batman and a Jedi. He killed gang and mafia members. If he doesn't deserve to be in the top 10, then no one deserves it.
Trained Batman and some Jedi, and still, people try to mess with him?
Kathrin Romary "Kate" Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973) is a British actress. After some minor television roles, she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing (1993) while still a student at the University of Oxford. She then appeared in British costume dramas such as Prince of Jutland (1994), Cold... read more Very talented in action movies (Underworld, Van Helsing, Total Recall, Whiteout) and, on top of that, very talented in every other kind of role like dramas, comedies, and suspense. This beautiful actress deserves to move up on this list!
She is badass in Underworld, plus she is drop-dead gorgeous! She should be in the top ten at least.
Oh yeah, she is so beautiful and talented. Please remove Vin Diesel. He's a stupid, potato-faced, smug tool.
Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich, known professionally as Milla Jovovich, is an American actress, model and musician.
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American actor and martial artist. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline Chun Kuk Do. Shortly... read more If you don't vote Chuck Norris up, he's going to roundhouse kick you in the face.
The Law always wins because Chuck Norris is the Law.
Chuck Norris should be number one!
Li Lianjie, better known by his English stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and wushu champion who was born in Beijing. As an actor, maybe not that much, but action? Oh yeah, he knows how to do that. He's got such an awesome martial arts style and executes them so freakishly well. I like his style more than Jackie's, no offense. He's more brutal and interacts with more people in combat scenes. And remember, he doesn't have only Hollywood movies. He's got a lot of good old Chinese ones too.
Jet Li should be in the top ten. Those who are saying that he can't act should go watch Fearless first. He is a total package.
Jet Li's action style is unique.
Marion Mitchell Morrison, known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor, director, and producer.
Mark Sinclair, better known by his stage name Vin Diesel, is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter.
He rose to prominence in the 2000s for his long-lasting role as Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel is just amazing. He nails every role he plays. And he's gorgeous.
He was more awesome voicing Groot rather than acting in Furious. I still like him in Furious.
Love him. I have a question: Vin Diesel has the best lines, he's strong, and very, very funny. Why isn't he #1?