Concerning film genres of the 2010s, perhaps none was more prone to volatility and inconsistency than action. We saw everything from one-of-a-kind masterpieces to bottom-of-the-barrel lemon garbage. Nonetheless, for all the horrendousmoviesproduced through the years, most vanish quickly from recollection when held up to the decade’s best.
There are diverse opinions when debating the cream of the crop from the 2010s of action movies. Some might gravitate towards the big-budget blockbusters, while others prefer foreign-market productions. Regardless of which flavor of action cinema appeals to you, we can all agree that a special few films reign supreme.
10The Night Comes For Us
Netflix’s collection of original movies has had an outrageous range in quality. Films like Roma, The Irishman, and Okja have earned justified acclaim and award show recognition, while movies like The Kissing Booth, Bird Box, and Bright are acknowledged as pure bonafide trash.
9Dredd
Because of the stranglehold Marvel had on the box office during the early 2010s, it was challenging for non-superhero films or those lacking in big-name star power to thrive monetarily. The 2012 Karl Urban starring Dredd was one such hard-luck feature.
Dredd was not only released in a competitive box office window but was also unfairly likened to the wretched 1995 Judge Dredd movie. Despite flopping badly at the box office, Dredd would become a hallowed cult classic, with many still hopeful for a sequel.
8Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
There are few filmmakers out there as proficient as Edgar Wright. Known for his trademark style of energetic camerawork and sharp comedy, Wright has built quite an impressive filmography. While most of his productions have garnered both immense critical and commercial success, there’s an outlier.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Worldisn’t the outlier because it’s mediocre, but instead because it failed hard at the box office. Based on the graphic novels, this video game-infused adventure flick contains Wright’s stylistic wit, charm, and inspired filmmaking.
7John Wick
It’s hard to recall when Keanu Reeves wasn’t one of Hollywood’s most lovable entertainers. Yet, there was a period following the Matrix films where it was seen as a rare occurrence for him to star in a good movie or deliver a quality performance.
2014’s John Wick completely revived Reeves’s career and reestablished his status as anicon of the action genre. Directed by Reeves' stunt doubles from The Matrix trilogy, John Wick told a simple story exceptionally well while boasting razor-sharp action sequences.
6The Raid 2
It’s rare for a sequel to recapture the magic from its predecessor successfully. Of course, there have been instances where a follow-up has surpassed the original, but those are infrequent. Sometimes, the bar for a sequel to be deemed superior is too insurmountable.
While 2014’s The Raid 2 may not have managed to top the masterful The Raid: Redemption, that’s hardly a slight against its quality. The Raid 2 remains one of the decade’s most gripping, ferocious, and finest action productions and an amazing sequel.
5The Nice Guys
There are many strong contenders for the title of “2010’smost underrated movie”. Across all genres, a handful of films can easily be viewed as the decade’s most overlooked movies. Yet perhaps no film has a healthier case than 2016’s The Nice Guys.
Starring the duo of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, The Nice Guys was written and directed by Shane Black. The Nice Guys is easily one of the best action comedies in decades, and its financial loss is nothing short of a tragedy.
413 Assassins
Japan exported plenty of fantastic action films over the decades. Even with the polar styles between Japanese and Western action filmmaking, many great Japanese action movies have seen critical glory across the world’s various film industries.
2010’s 13 Assassins was a remake of the 1963 film of the same name and one of Japan’s finest action flicks. Directed by Takashi Miike, 13 Assassins is one of the most stellar remakes of all time, featuring stunning direction, excellent attention to detail, and outstanding samurai fighting.
3Mission Impossible: Fallout
Tom Cruise is perhaps one of the last remaining movie stars. With IPs being the main magnet for audiences in the modern film age, Cruise is one of the few actors whose name alone can fill theater seats. The long-running Mission Impossible series is a testament to Cruise’s notoriety.
While sentiments may differ, most acquiesce that 2018’s Mission Impossible: Fallout is the high-watermark of the spy franchise. Featuring all of Cruise’s devotion to incredible stuntwork and a riveting narrative, Mission Impossible: Fallout is peak cinema.
2The Raid: Redemption
When discussing which countries are the masters of action filmmaking, no conversation is complete with Indonesia. Renowned for astonishing stuntwork and world-class pencak silat martial arts action, Indonesia has produced some remarkable films, with the most celebrated being The Raid: Redemption.
Directed and written by Gareth Evans, The Raid: Redemption begins with a SWAT team entering a dilapidated apartment complex to arrest a drug lord. What follows is a non-stop thrill ride of superb filmmaking and some of the best action sequences you’ll ever see.
George Miller’s Mad Max trilogy remains one of the most influential and iconic franchises ever created. For decades, Miller’s vision of a crazed, waterless world would inspire artists across all entertainment mediums. In 2015, Miller strengthened his position asking of post-apocalypticaction cinema.
Mad Max Fury Road saw Tom Hardy take the reigns from Mel Gibson in what many considered one of the greatest action films ever made. Nominated for ten Oscars, including best picture, Fury Road is arguably the action genre’s magnum opus.
