Although many incredible movies spanning all different genres have become cult classics over the years, action films are a category that immediately comes to mind, mostly given the quantity of incredibly influential movies it has delivered. This often has to do with their lasting imprint on audiences, whether because of the genre boundaries they transcended, the creative risks they took, or the unique and unconventional storytelling they featured, often elevated by stylish imagery.

To celebrate the number of iconic films that have become must-sees in this niche category, we look back at some of the best cult classic action movies of all time and rank them by their cult classic status. From Mad Max to Blade Runner, these movies manage to keep audiences equal parts entertained by their incredible action sequences and immersed in their worldbuilding.

They are:

  1. Mad Max (1979)
  2. Blade Runner (1982)
  3. Fight Club (1999)
  4. Oldboy (2003)
  5. Repo Man (1984)
  6. The Warriors (1979)
  7. Escape From New York (1981)
  8. Dredd (2012)
  9. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
  10. Point Break (1991)
  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPMEnglish
    25•4 months ago

    This more than anything drives home the fact that these listicles are very US-focused. If it hadn’t been for Oldboy and, you could argue, Dredd then this one would be blatantly embarrassing. But still… where is Seven Samurai or Kung-fu Hustle or Hard Boiled/The Killer or The Raid or, to some degree, Leon?

    And Mad Max isn’t even the best Mad Max film.

    • @RolandoEnglish
      16•4 months ago

      Hmm… Run Lola Run, Who Killed Captain Alex, El Mariachi, too.

      As far as US films, since it doesn’t have Bloodsport then forget it.

      p.s. for the bystanders: [email protected]

      • @[email protected]English
        4•4 months ago

        Run Lola run is epic. If you like that movie you should check out Victoria (2015). The whole movie is one long take. It took 3x to get it right and it’s a masterpiece as far as epic filmmaking and choreography.

      • rezzEnglish
        2•4 months ago

        Oh hell yeah thanks for the rec. subbed.

    • @DkarmaEnglish
      6•4 months ago

      This list is trash

    • Phenomephrene
      4•4 months ago

      And Mad Max isn’t even the best Mad Max film.

      Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, your opinion, man.

    • slingstoneEnglish
      3•4 months ago

      I vote for The Road Warrior as the go-to for the Mad Max franchise.

    • rezzEnglish
      3•4 months ago

      Also none of these are cult classics, save Blade Runner before it had a rebirth.

    • aramis87
      3•4 months ago

      Collider pulls almost all of their spammy “top ten/top tips/top whatever” contents from reddit and they’re incredibly formulaic and mostly dumb.

    • @[email protected]English
      1•4 months ago

      The fuck? Mad Max is Australian-focused as all get out. How can you “argue Dredd” yet completely leave Mad Max out.