Play "Seen It Or Not" With These Action Movies To Get A Superhero Twin
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Nothing can pull an audience into a movie quite like a well-executed action sequence. This is no doubt why superhero movies have been dominating the box office for the last decade, as they almost always kick things off right in the middle of the action.
While no one can deny just how popular Marvel and DC movies have been as of late, superhero movies are just a small subset of the action-adventure genre. These types of thrilling endeavors have always been popular with mainstream audiences, it’s just that the heroes didn’t always have to wear a cape or exhibit supernatural abilities to defeat the bad guy — just look no further than iconic characters like Indiana Jones or the Bride. Surely these action heroes are every bit as brave as Star-Lord and Wonder Woman.
Anyone who’s taking this quiz has most likely kept up to date with the MCU and DCEU. But are they also familiar with the action movies from decades past? After all, it’s hard to fully appreciate a scene such as the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy without also having seen Raiders of the Lost Ark.
So let’s play a quick game of “Seen It or Not” with these action movies to match with a popular superhero!
The Dark Knight
Despite the surplus of superhero movies that have dominated the box office ever since, The Dark Knight continues to be regarded as one of the greatest comic book movies ever made. The 2008 film found the Caped Crusader facing off against his most iconic antagonist: the Clown Prince of Crime.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
This 1981 film directed by Steven Spielberg gave audiences one of the most beloved movie characters of all time with Indiana Jones. Raiders of the Lost Ark went on to spawn a successful franchise consisting of three sequels. A fifth installment featuring Harrison Ford is currently in development for a 2021 release.
The Matrix
With a heavy reliance on cutting-edge computer-generated imagery, The Matrix helped shake up the action genre in a big way when it debuted back in 1999. Now, nearly 20 years after its release, the effects in this sci-fi film still hold up relatively well, as does the story about humans living in a virtual reality.
The Terminator
Not only did this 1984 film launch many of its actors into stardom, but it also hinted at the many great things that were yet to come out of writer and director James Cameron. Today, Cameron is best-known for making two of the most profitable films of all time with Titanic and Avatar. He’s currently working on a number of Avatar sequels.
Iron Man
A surprise hit if there ever was one, not many mainstream audiences were very familiar with the superhero Iron Man before this 2008 film hit screens. The film not only went on to be a success in its own right, but it also ended up launching a shared cinematic universe which has since become the biggest film franchise of all time.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Plenty of big-budget action films end up winning over audiences. But few achieved such widespread critical acclaim as 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The film even ended up being nominated for Best Picture of the Year at the Academy Awards — pretty impressive for a movie that is essentially one long chase sequence.
Black Panther
With a collective worldwide gross over $1.3 billion, this year’s Black Panther not only become one of the highest-grossing movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Pretty impressive for a comic book character that few had heard of before 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.
The Predator
The fourth main installment of the Predator series, this sci-fi action flick was released in September of this year. The film was directed by Shane Black, who is probably best known for his buddy action films like Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Nice Guys. In the original Predator, Black also happened to play the role of Rick Hawkins.
John Wick
The plot of John Wick may be simple, which involves an out-of-work hitman who returns to the underworld to seek revenge on those who wronged him. But that hasn’t stopped this 2014 film starring Keanu Reeves from being considered one of the best action movies in recent years. The third film in the series is slated for release next year.
Wonder Woman
Despite the onslaught of superhero movies we’ve gotten in the last decade, only one has featured a female in the title role. That movie is, of course, Wonder Woman, which went on to be one of the most successful movies of 2017. It also helped ensure a future for female-led superhero movies in the upcoming years.
Aliens
Many may consider the 1979 film Alien to be the better movie. But the original comes much closer to a sci-fi horror film than it does an action movie. That’s what sets the 1986 sequel apart from its predecessor, which has no shortage of thrilling and action-packed sequences. Today, the film is very much regarded as a classic in its own right.
Incredibles 2
After having to wait over a decade for the sequel, many Pixar fans finally got to revisit their favorite superhero team with this year’s Incredibles 2. Once again, the film was met with critical and commercial acclaim, earning it over a billion dollars worldwide and garnering a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz is one of those movies that only seems to get better with the number of action movies you’ve seen. The 2007 film is very much a celebration of action movies, but that doesn’t stop this buddy cop film from being an original, stand alone movie in its own right.
Jurassic Park
There have been a number of Jurassic Park films released since the 1993 film, but many would agree that none are quite as thrilling as the original. The Steven Spielberg film was based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, and for the most part, the film doesn’t stray very far from its source material.
Logan
Though it may be part of the X-Men universe, last year’s Logan very much succeeded at standing on its own two legs. So long as you were familiar with the character of Wolverine, audiences were able to get lost in this very specific story about Logan’s final days — which turned out to be as much of a Western as it was a superhero movie.
Speed
If you haven’t seen this 1994 film starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, then the premise about a public transportation bus that can’t drop below 50 miles per hour before it explodes might sound a bit on the ridiculous side. But in the case of most action movies, it’s the execution that makes the movie.
Taken
Before 2008’s Taken, Liam Neeson was largely regarded as a dramatic actor thanks to his performance in films like Schindler’s List. But even though he was in his mid-50s at the time of this film’s release, Neeson ended up becoming an unlikely action star thanks to Taken’s surprise success. Two sequels have been released since.
X-Men: First Class
Often regarded as one of the best films in the X-Men franchise, this 2011 installment picks up with a much younger Charles Xavier/ Professor X and Erik Lehnsherr/ Magneto as they go about founding what will later be known as the X-Men. A number of sequels focusing on these younger characters have been released since.
Casino Royale
The first film to feature Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond just so happened to be based on the first novel ever written about the character. Casino Royale went on to be both a critical and commercial success, which was praised for returning a sense of realism into a franchise that was becoming far too reliant on gadgets and gags.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy was really the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to prove that no matter how obscure the characters were, audiences would turn out in droves so long as the film was well made. It also proved that the more bizarre the characters' abilities were, the more interesting the action sequences could become.
Gladiator
Few action movies hold the honor of winning Best Picture of the Year as 2000’s Gladiator does. Of course, the film has its fair share of drama as well. But some of the most engaging scenes of the film take place in the Colosseum — where the film’s protagonist is forced to fight for his life against soldiers, animals, and other gladiators.
Doctor Strange
By bringing magic into the mix, this MCU movies had a very different type of action from the previous installments. The film sought to explore the origins of Dr. Strange, a surgeon turned Master of the Mystical Arts after a car accident sends him on a bizarre spiritual exploration. The character has more recently appeared in Avengers: Infinity War.
Man of Steel
This 2013 movie not only brought Superman back to the big screen after a seven-year hiatus, it was also responsible for launching the DC’s owned shared universe. The film explored the origins of Kal-El, better known as Clarke Kent, as he learns to adjust to life on Earth while struggling to embrace being a superhero in the public eye.
Mission: Impossible — Fallout
Few action series have maintained their quality as many films deep as the Mission: Impossible franchise. The latest installment, Fallout — which was released earlier this year — is one of the best-reviewed movies of 2018. The film once again found Tom Cruise in the leading role as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt.
Avengers: Infinity War
One of the most anticipated movies of all time, Avengers: Infinity War sought to bring together the last ten years and 18 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The story found the Avengers teaming up alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy to take on Thanos. However, with Thanos winning, it seems like this story is far from over.
The Bourne Identity
2002’s The Bourne Identity was a surprise hit in many ways. The film received widespread critical acclaim, grossed over $200 million worldwide and established Matt Damon as an action star as well as a dramatic actor. The film has spawned a number of sequels and spin-offs since, with Damon more recently reprising the role in 2016’s Jason Bourne.
Thor: Ragnarok
Thor: Ragnarok succeeded in giving the God of Thunder a much-needed facelift — or in this case, a haircut — as the franchise had largely been considered one of the weakest links in the MCU. New Zealand director Taika Waititi not only brought a new style to the series but also injected it with some much-needed humor.
Braveheart
This 1995 war movie found Mel Gibson not only serving as the film’s star but working as the director and producer as well. Braveheart tells the story of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who led a revolt against England during the 1200s. Though many debated the film’s historical accuracy, that didn’t stop it from winning Best Picture of the Year.
Independence Day
Hot off the success of Bad Boys — which came out the year prior — Will Smith served as the star of the 1996 film Independence Day. This blockbuster of epic proportions followed the human race’s battle against an invading alien force, and the film went on to gross over $817 million, putting it behind only Jurassic Park in terms of profitability.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Despite being the first blockbuster film to feature both Batman and Superman, this 2016 film did not perform quite as well as many would have liked. The film received mixed reviews and was considered a bit of a box office disappointment. Many pointed to a lack of originality in the action sequences as one of the many reasons for its underwhelming reception.
Django Unchained
A tribute to the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s, this 2012 Quentin Tarantino film followed a freed man who takes up work with a bounty hunter to free his wife. Django Unchained found Jaime Foxx suiting up for the title role in a film that garnered both critical and commercial success, going on to become Tarantino’s most profitable feature.
Escape from New York
Though the film might not be known by many younger viewers today, this 1981 action film served as an inspiration for many modern-day filmmakers. Escape from New York is set in a then post-apocalyptic 1997, where a convicted criminal is sent into New York City, which has been converted into a prison island.
Captain America: Civil War
Before 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, viewers could arguably enjoy one Marvel series without having to follow the others. But this installment was a major game changer which resulted in the Avengers breaking off into their own factions. The airport battle is largely regarded as one of the series’ best action sequences.
Point Break
One of the more underrated action movies of the 1990s, this film follows a young FBI agent who decides to infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies when he suspects they may be the culprits of a series of bank robberies. The films stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze off a script directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Justice League
Despite grossing over $650 million worldwide, many film analysts declared Justice League a box office flop — a result of the 2017 film being one of the most expensive movies ever made. That being said, many fans of DC Comics still found the movie entertaining and action-packed, with a few standout performances to boot.
300
The action genre as a whole has relied heavily on special effects for decades. But the 2006 film 300 was a bit of a game-changer, as the vast majority of the film was shot in a studio in front of blue screens. This better allowed the epic war film to remain that much closer to its comic book origins.
Rush Hour
Though Jackie Chan had already been a star in China for decades, ’90s films such as Rush Hour made him a mainstream action and comedy star in the United States and abroad. The film spawned two sequels featuring both Chan and Chris Tucker, with a fourth installment currently in development.
The Incredible Hulk
Often the forgotten child of the MCU, The Incredible Hulk isn’t a bad movie by any means, but its tone is very much at odds with the rest of the shared universe. This, coupled with the fact that Bruce Banner was later recast, have caused many to forget about this 2008 action movie.
Atomic Blonde
Though she is best known for her dramatic work in movies such as Monster and Prometheus, Charlize Theron has become known as a bit of an action star in recent years thanks to her performances in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde. A sequel for this 2017 film is currently in development.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Though it may better fall into the genres of science fiction and fantasy, no one could deny that Star War: The Force Awakens isn’t action-packed. The film succeeded in introducing the iconic franchise to a whole new generation of viewers. J.J. Abrams is currently back and working on the final installment of this trilogy.
Venom
Although the iconic villain made his film debut back in 2007’s Spider-Man 3, many fans felt that Topher Grace’s depiction of the character really left something to be desired. This might help explain why fans turned out in mass to see this year’s Venom, which has gone on to gross over $670 million worldwide and counting.
Inception
When word spread that Leonardo DiCaprio had signed on to play the lead in Christopher Nolan’s next film, Inception quickly became one of the most anticipated movies of the decade. As far as blockbuster action movies go, Inception has a rather heady premise, which involved thieves infiltrating people’s dreams to steal (or plant) information.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
The latest MCU film to hit theaters, Ant-Man and the Wasp once again proved that viewers will show up en masse to see even the smallest heroes in the series. Though Ant-Man and the Wasp were strangely absent from Infinity War, it looks like these two heroes are on track to play a big role in the follow-up.
V for Vendetta
As far as the box office is concerned, V for Vendetta certainly wasn’t the biggest action movie to come out in 2006. However, this dystopian thriller has certainly made a lasting impression, as the Guy Fawkes’ mask featured in the film has since become a symbol against tyranny out in the real world.
Drive
Drive isn’t one of those movies that’s packed wall-to-wall with action. But the 2011 film does an amazing job at cranking up the tension during these few sequences. The film was directed by Danish filmmaker Nicholas Winding Refn, and Ryan Gosling suited up to play the eponymous Driver who goes by no other name.
Big Trouble in Little China
After previously working together on the dark and nihilistic films Escape from New York and The Thing, director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russel teamed up for this far lighter production. Big Trouble in Little China follows Jack Burton, a truck driver who gets way in over his head with supernatural forces from the far east.
Heat
This 1995 film may be more of a crime drama than an outright action film, but it does have what many consider to be one of the most intense shootouts of all time. The moment comes after the film's criminals rob a bank, only to be ambushed by the LAPD officer who's been trying to track them down.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
After debuting in Captain America: Civil War the previous year, Spider-Man was given his first solo outing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Homecoming. Despite numerous depictions of the character already released for the big screen, many agreed that once again the MCU seemed to pull it off better than the rest.
Skyfall
James Bond is often depicted as being totally unfazed no matter what evil he ends up coming across. But this 2012 installment made it seem like the super spy just might be losing his edge. The result was one of the best-reviewed films in the franchise, which grossed over a billion dollars worldwide.
King Kong
After helming the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, director Peter Jackson decided to remake the one film that made him want to make movies in the first place: King Kong. The 2005 film featured an all-star cast, but it was really the action sequences and the special effects that ended up stealing the show.