Action films have had undergone an interesting transition since the turn of the century. A genre that used to be largely populated by trained performers capable of in-camera stunt work, American action cinema has more and more been folded in and blended with high concept franchising. Superheroes, sci-fi and spectacle are the order of the day, and in a film market increasingly driven by proven box office star power, the classic model of action star has by and large been relegated to the realm of direct-to-video in favor of leading man heroes with remarkable trainers and even better stunt doubles.
But the art of the fight scene is stronger than ever. While action films from overseas markets continue to deliver staggering in-camera displays from skilled martial artists likeDonnie Yen,Jet Li,Sammo Hung,Tony Jaa,Jackie Chanand recent breakoutIko Uwais, the rising popularity of genre films on an international scale ensures there’s never a shortage of kinetic kick-ass action in the theater at any given week. If you like your fights scenes a bit more classically macho, there’s also a healthy DTV scene where the 80s and 90s all-stars likeJean-Claude Van Damme,Dolph Lundgren, andSteven Segalare still in action alongside reliable next generation powerhouses likeScott AdkinsandMichael Jai White.
In short, there’s been an insane amount of great action over the last couple decades, which makes singling out the best of the best in well-rounded way one hell of a challenge. A few ground rules before we get to the picks. First of all, this is movie scenes only, which means noBanshee, noArrow, and most painfully of all, noDaredevil. Second, I’m not using “fight scenes” as a catch-all phrase for action, I’m focusing on hand-to-hand combat fight scenes, not shootouts, massacres, battles, or chases, though admittedly some fall a little close on the line. Finally, I’m limiting selections to one fight scene per movie because otherwise, this list would just beKill Bill,The Raid, and Donnie Yen, and that’s no fun.
Without further ado, let’s look at the best fight scenes of the 21st century below.
27. King Kong - T-Rex Fight
Directed by:Peter Jackson
It’sKing Kongvs. T-Rex, need I say more? Ok then, there are three of them. I feel like that’s really enough to sum up why this fight scene is so great, but I’ll expand.Peter Jackson’s loving remake of the monster movie classic can be a bloated and uneven mess, but there are moments when it glimpses greatness. The moment where King Kong squares off against a pack of three Tyrannosaurus Rex is definitely one of them.
Jackson teamed with his tried and true digital effects partners at WETA for the film and while some of the VFX bits haven’t aged so well, this one is a triumph. Kong takes on the pack of killer dinos singlehandedly – both in the sense that he’s alone and in the sense that he’s basically got one hand tied behind his back, carrying aroundNaomi Watts' Ann Darrow in his hand the whole time. As Jackson proved with theLord of the Ringsfilms, he knows how to direct a massive-scale battle, and here he narrows the numbers of players down, but keeps the scale the same as the giant beasts tumble through the jungle in savage, prehistoric fisticuffs. You kind of have to pretend Darrow has bones of reenforced steel for the scene to totally work, but I really just can’t overstate how much you’ll forgive when King Kong is fighting a trio of T-Rex.
26. Anchorman - News Team Street Fight
Directed by:Adam McKay
Anchorman’s signature newscaster battle royale is dangerously close to a battle sequence, but there are so few truly great comedic fight scenes, it wouldn’t be right to leave off the list.Adam McKay’s endlessly quotable, painfully hilarious feature debut has plenty of memorable moments, but the newscaster street fight has become the film’s signature moment; a crystallization ofAnchorman’s unpredictable, anything-goes sense of humor. Well, almost anything. As always, no touching of the hair or face.
The key to the big news team battle is the perfectly keyed up progressive escalations as Ron Burgundy and Co. prepare to go toe-to-toe vs. Evening News vs. Channel 2 News vs. Public News vs. Spanish Language News. From the trash-talking, to the celebrity cameos, to the weapon reveals and, ultimately, the shockingly violent ways those weapons are put to use, McKay structures each reveal with rising absurdity and energy until the scene breaks out into full-on chaos. There are no shortage of memorable bits inAnchorman, but the newscaster street fight has superseded them all – even sex panther and Afternoon Delight – to become the definitive and enduring moment of the film.
25. Guardians of the Galaxy - Xandar Fight
Choreographed by:James Young
Directed by:James Gunn
Ladies and gentlemen, meet theGuardians of the Galaxy. The first time we see our oddball band of unlikely heroes together, they’re kicking the crap out of each other, each pursuing in pursuit of their own illicit agenda. Typical.
There’s plenty of kinetic fun to be had when our heroes first meet on Xandar. At times, it feels like a relay race as the soon-to-be team members trade advantage and disadvantage at a moment’s notice. But the scene’s greatest strength is how succinctly it introduces our characters, their combat styles, and personalities all in a brief matter of minutes. It’s got personality and personality goes a long way. You watch this sequence and you immediately get who they are. You understand why you would want them on your team, even why they might be your enemy. And it’s an absolute joy to watch, each action beat punctuated by a comedic punchline that keeps the energy through the roof.
24. Pirates of the Caribbean - Sword Fight
Choreographed by:Bob Anderson
Directed by:Gore Verbinski
There aren’t a whole lot of examples of swashbuckling sword play done right, which is what makes the showdown betweenJohnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow andOrlando Bloom’s Will Turner such a delight.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlis a good old-fashioned action adventure, and its signature fight scene follows suit.
Choreographed byBob Anderson, the master swordsman behindThe Princess BrideandHighlander, the duel itself is rousing with a self-referencing focus on footwork and technique. But it’s also a fantastically fun character scene. Depp’s Jack Sparrow act has become a series of diminishing returns over the years, especially in light of his post-Piratespreference for ostentatious characters and over-the-top costuming, but it can’t be over-stated how enchanting his original spin on the character was. In case you forgot, he was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for the role, and he earns it at every beat with a performance so consummately entertaining, it’s like a giddy rum buzz by proxy.
23. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - Roxy vs. Ramona
Choreographed by:Brad Allen
Directed by:Edgar Wright
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Worldshould have been a huge hit. It’s based on a beloved comic, it’s got a a charming set of lead characters including the somehow always underratedMary Elizabeth Winstead, andEdgar Wrightdirects the hell out of the material, creating a freewheeling video game reality where Kung Fu fights can break out at any moment andMichael Cerais a martial arts master.
The fight scenes are truly better than they have any right to be considering the untrained cast base, and in addition to Wright’s dynamic direction of the set piecess, the credit goes to stunt choreographerBrad Allen. A former member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, Allen has gone on to become an acclaimed stun coordinator in his on right on films likeKick Ass,The Worlds End, andKingsman, butScott Pilgrim vs. The Worldis the best use of his expertise in Chan’s famous comedic combat yet. The fight between Roxy (Mae Whitman) and Ramona (Winstead) may not be the most comedic fight in the film (at least not until Scott gets involved, when that Chan influence comes fully into play), but it is one of the most engaging thanks to the women’s unusual weaponry and some incredibly detailed and imaginative visual and audio effects work. That, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is just a total badass.
22. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Elevator Fight
Directed by:Joe and Anthony Russo
As is fitting for the consummate all-American soldier,Captain Americahas alway set the standard for hand-to-hand combat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe andThe Winter Soldier, in particular, boasts some absolutely stunning fight-choreography from Marvel regularJames Young. There are a few killer fight scenes in the film, especially the extensive close quarter combat sequences between Steve and The Winter Soldier throughout, but it’s the elevator fight scene that sticks in your head because it’s so perfectly crafted to show off Cap’s remarkable skill set.
The idea to take the First Avenger from the battlefield to a claustrophobic, sardine-tight elevator packed with bad guys is inspired, serving as a microscope that amplifies the sheer force of Cap’s strength. With no where to move, no place to gain ground, Cap simply has to do what he does best – stand up to a bunch of bullies; these bullies just happen to be trained and armed to the teeth. That tight-quarters set-up made subbing in stunt doubles more trickier than usual, meaning a lot of the work fell onChris EvansandFrank Grillo(who was sadly never given enough ass kicking scenes of his own during his MCU run), who pull the action off handily, crystalizing Cap’s strength and determination into a tightly-contained microcosm.
21. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Rey and Finn vs. Kylo Ren
Choreographed by:C.C. Smiff and Rob Inch
Directed by:J.J. Abrams
There’s a tremendous power to anticipation; a heady bliss that comes with a payoff built upon years of anticipation. No doubt that payoff a huge part of the impact that came with finally seeing a new hero channel the Force and wield a lightsaber inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. It doesn’t hurt that that person was finally a woman. For viewers the world over, including myself, it was an incredibly powerful moment watchingDaisy Ridley’s Rey power up that iconic weapon and wield it against the dark side in a way no other female character had before.
However, even if you put that historical moment in the live action franchise aside,The Force Awakens' final showdown between Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren ranks as one of the great Star Wars standoffs. Once Rey and Ren really get going, there’s a shared brute strength between them; an unrefined force of will that spills out of them onto the battlefield. Ren wrenches through the action; trained, but undisciplined and Rey moves through it with the unpolished ease of a natural. Far removed from the slick duels of the sequels, The Force Awakens gives lightsabers a rough-and-tumble edge, setting the stage for a fight that feels like the birth of two strong new fighters for the light and the dark.
20. Ninja: Shadow of a Tear - Bar Fight
Choreographed by:Tim Man
Directed by:Isaac Florentine
Ninjawas an absolutely goofy movie that was watchable only for its camp and outstanding fight scenes, but against all odds, the follow-upNinja: Shadow of a Tearis a genuinely fun old school action movie.Scott Adkinsand directorIsaac Florentine(who also directed Adkins onUndisputed 2and3) return to the material, but the wipe the slate clean and set a definitive tone when they kill off the only other major returning character – his pregnant wife Namiko (Mika Hijii) – at the very beginning. The rest is an onslaught of vengeful ass-kicking of the highest order.
With his gymnastic approach to martial arts, Adkins fills a void in the action scene that’s been there sinceJean-Claude Van Damme’s heyday and this feels like a throwback fight straight from the 90s, right down to the denim shirt. Adkins is inhumanly agile and speedy as ever, and Florentine films the action with a steady camera that lets you see the choreography for all it’s worth.
19. John Wick - Home Invasion
Choreographed by:Jonathan Eusebio
Directed by:David Leitch and Chad Stahelski
It shouldn’t be too surprising that if you give a couple stuntmen the means to make a kickass action film, it’s going to be even more action-packed than usual. And if you getKeanu Reevesto star in that film, it’s going to include fantastic in-camera stunt work from the star who has long preferred to do as much of his own stunt work as he can. WithJohn Wick, the refreshing dose of fresh face-smashing air no one saw coming, Reeves teamed with his long-time stunt doubleChad Stahelskiand fellow stuntman vetDavid Leitch, who teamed to helm the action-fuelled revenge pic and created a signature fighting technique that mixes flying fists and firearms, called “Gun Fu” — a combination of Japanese jiu jitsu, Brazillian jiu jitsu, 3-gun, and standing judo.
The home invasion scene is the moment where we finally see that technique unleashed and the moment we finally understand why everyone is so darn afraid of John Wick. Stahelski and Leitch build to the moment beautifully, teasing the reveal of “Baba Yaga” until Wick is finally suited up and ready for action. Then he calmly and cleanly dispatches the team of combat gear armed men and you get why Wick is such a big deal. The directorial duo know enough to frame the action cleanly, letting you see the fights play out instead of cutting around them, crafting the image of a preternaturally gifted hitman you definitely don’t want to piss off.
Choreographed by:Greg van Borssum
Directed by:George Miller
I never would have thought a fight betweenTom Hardyand a one-armedCharlize Theroncould be so believable, butGeorge Miller’s action masterpieceMad Max: Fury Roadhas all the right moves.Fury Roadis a non-stop barrage of high-octane thrills, but it’s relatively slight on actual hand-to-hand combat. However, Miller knows how to get it in right where it counts and the smackdown between Furiosa and Max is dripping with intensity and intent from both players, both of whom just want to be free.
But this particular set-piece isn’t just a two-hander, there’s alsoNicholas Hoult’s Nux, who is chained to Max, and Immortan Joe’s five wives who are outmatched but always willing to get in the fray. And everyone’s got a disadvantage – Max is stuck in a mask chained to Nux, Nux starts out unconscious, Furiosa isn’t wearing her prosthetic arm, and Splendid Angharad is pregnant. The cumulative result is a completely singular brawl hinged on the tooth-and-nail tussle between Max and Furiosa, and it’s the kind of fight that uses choreography to tell a story. This fight lets you know who these characters are. And all credit to the fantastic work of the performers and choreographerGreg van Borssum, but it’sMargaret Sixel’s Oscar-winning editing that pulls the chaos into comprehensive, clearly punctuated piece of excellence.
