Action motion-picture show are hard . They ’re simple in invention and first moment , but pulling it off is complicated . The movie has to feel newfangled and exciting and most of all , worth the time . Audiences tend to treasure these movies differently than critics . Few action film deserve much praise from critical circles , and a surprising identification number of movie think classics never did .

Some of the best action flick of all time only did ok with critic at the time of their initial release , and even today , they rest average in their reception . Fans still love them anyway .

Lethal Weapon

Lethal Weaponpioneered a dealership that finally breed a television system series on Fox . It was peradventure the acme of the cop action motion picture genre , which would bedifficult to replicate today .

The movie made a immense ace out of Mel Gibson and boosted the career of writer Shane Black who would go on to writea number of capital movies . Most reviews at the sentence of its release in 1987 were only broadly speaking well-disposed to the picture show , though . Despite this , the movie remain a classic in the action movie genre .

Die Hard

Die Hardis generally consideredone of the practiced action motion-picture show of all time . The character of John McClaine became iconic in this moving picture , which pitted him against a squad of opportunistic terrorists led by one of the all - time greats , Alan Rickman .

The movie was a huge succeeder ( spawning a number of sequels of deviate quality ) and even won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing among others , but critic generally did n’t wish it . Many critics praise Alan Rickman but were motley on the performance of Bruce Willis and the   amount of violence in the moving picture .

Commando

Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the biggest action mechanism stars of the LXXX ( and really of all time ) . He had a tally of big hit in the mid - to - late 80s , one of which wasCommando .

The picture show is pretty childlike in terms of plot , which is mayhap one reason why critic were meh on it . John Matrix ( the best name of all time ) is a retired Special Forces Colonel just want to cool out . Bad guys kidnap his girl and he proceed to kill all of them with all of the guns that have existed .

Predator

Predatoris one of the good natural process films of the 80s , and certainlyone of the serious from Arnold Schwarzenegger , though critics did n’t really opine so . Reviews at the meter of its release in 1987 were generally negative , withThe New York Timescalling it ' grisly and obtuse . '

The moving picture proved popular enough to engender a long - running franchise which eventuallymerged into theAlienmythos , though most of the moving picture since the original have n’t been very good at all .

Rush Hour 2

Rush Hour 2is the continuation to an often drop franchise from the early 2000s . The movie receive interracial review on release with Roger Ebert only giving it one and a one-half stars out of four .

Despite this , the moving-picture show have outstanding andhard - hitting action and combat fit . Jackie Chan continue to deliver amazing stunts in this picture show ( and proves how dangerous they are in the post - credits outtakes ) . Also delivering on all cylinder isCrouching Tiger , Hidden Dragonstar Ziyi Zhang .

Point Break

Point Breakisa quintessential activity movie from the early 90s . It asterisk two of the biggest male leads of the time , Keanu Reeves and the later , neat Patrick Swayze , and features one of the cockamamie plots conceivable .

Reeves is an FBI agent sent to pass through a group of surfers who moonlight as banking company robber and somehow that finish up with them jumping out of airplanes . Over the top in every way , most critics meet it with indifference , though praise the directing of Kathryn Bigelow .

Face/Off

Face / Offis the first real foray into Hollywood by fabled film director John Woo . His impression is all over the film with its balletic activity choreography and ubiquitous doves .

Not everybody like the photographic film , though audiences certainly did , grossing over $ 245 million worldwide . The overdone performances that have come to define the later career of Nicholas Cage arguably started here . His dedication to imitating the mannerisms and speech of John Travolta is something to see though .

Robocop

The originalRobocopisone of the near flick from director Paul Verhovenand one of the honorable film in the genre . That was n’t forthwith obvious to critics in 1987 , who generally criticized it for its over the top furiousness . Roger Ebert was a uncommon exception . He emphasized that the film had a message and audience since have apprize it for its subtle motif on advanced society .

Robocop is a classic action motion-picture show with big battles between robots , but it tackles heady sci - fi themes and alsothinks forward to the futurity .

Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom

critic and audiences alike go back and forth onIndiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom . The movie was mostly faulted upon its outlet in 1984 for being too dark , though it ’s senesce very well .

Some consider it to bethe best motion-picture show in the franchise . It does n’t have the visceral joy ofRaiders of the Lost Ark , but the prequel has an intensity that none of the film in theIndiana Jonesfilms have ever really been able-bodied to match .   The mine cart pursual alone try hugely fun and influential .

The Rock

Regardless of what critic or even audiences suppose , Michael Bay has left such a mark on modern action cinema that a discussion was forge to describe it : ' Bayhem . ' A adult factor in the organic evolution of his signature blow everything up vogue was pioneered inThe Rock .

Most critics did not wish this flick , though it did very well at the box office . At 66 % on Rotten Tomatoes , it ’s just so - so even today and is really his high order film . Still , it ’s a sight of fun with bragging determined pieces and big , chewy performances by Sean Connery and Nic Cage .

NEXT:5 Reasons Speed Is The Best Action Movie of the 1990s ( & 5 Alternatives )

Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

Ben Affleck as Christian drumming his hand on the table while talking to Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Marybeth in The Accountant 2

The Rock Predator Robocop

riggs & Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon 3

John McClane crawls through an air vent in Die Hard

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Matrix in Commando 1985

Predator

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker looking through a telescope in Rush Hour 2

Point break

Travolta-Face-Off

Robocop

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Sean Connery issuing a thumbs up in The Rock.

Movies

Die Hard