10 Action Movies of the 2010s With the Best Fight Choreography
Action cinema provides a uniquely engaging way to watch movies. They offer explosive thrills, adrenaline-fueled set pieces, and death-defying stunts all from the comfort of a living room or theater, getting hearts pounding and pulses pumping in ways that most other genres can’t. The best action movies provide what many would argue is the very essence of cinema: escapism.
As most action junkies would agree, there’s nothing quite like good hand-to-hand combat (swords and knives appreciated, but not necessary). Car chases are thrilling, and huge explosions provide the eye candy, but there’s just something about visceral, close-quarters brawls in an action movie that really gets the adrenaline flowing. Of course, such stunts require a team of talented coordinators and performers, and it’s time to pay them some much-deserved recognition. This is a selection of 2010s action movies that have great action choreography.
10
‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ (2017)
Directed by Chad Stahelski
After getting his revenge on the thugs who killed his beloved dog, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) returns in this hyper-violent second entry in the John Wick series. A binding blood debt forces Wick back into the criminal underworld. This time, there’s an even bigger price on Wick’s head, and many killers are looking to cash out.
The John Wick franchise is one of modern cinema’s most consistently thrilling action franchises. The unique blending of gun-fu and martial arts combat has been exceedingly influential on the genre as a whole. John Wick: Chapter 2, while not the best entry from the series overall, features the franchise’s most vicious and impressive hand-to-hand sequences. Action fans can only hope that this series will go on forever— Reeves dispatching hordes of assassins in brutally creative ways will likely never get old.
9
‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)
Directed by David Leitch
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Berlin, 1989, mere days prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall during the final stages of the Cold War. Undercover MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is sent to the German capital to recover documents stolen following the murder of a fellow service member. Being hunted by the KGB and stuck in a city nearing its tipping point, Lorraine must navigate a minefield of mistrust and sabotage.
Proving himself to be a more than capable stunt coordinator on numerous Hollywood productions in recent years, David Leitch‘s directorial strengths are on full display in Atomic Blonde. The grounded yet thrilling set pieces are as cool and crisply captured; a single-take, bare-knuckle skirmish in a stairwell stands out in particular. Atomic Blonde soars in these sequences, as well as the commanding screen presence of Theron, making it solid and thoroughly enjoyable action-fare.
8
‘Shadow’ (2018)
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Set during the ancient Three Kingdoms Era of China, a violent and unpredictable king (Zheng Kai) rules over his population. Against the wishes of his king, a military general (Deng Chao) trains a “shadow”: a secret warrior and look-alike who could fool both the king and enemies. An intricate and audacious plan to recapture a neighboring city from enemy forces promises an epic battle.
There’s an elegance and grace behind every fight scene in Shadow…
Shadow is a wholly underappreciated Chinese martial arts epic. Even more impressive than the movie’s scrumptious set design and visuals are the action set pieces. There’s an elegance and grace behind every fight scene in Shadow, whether it’s the more personal, dramatically driven face-offs or the large-scale, epic battle sequences. For fans of this style of action movie, Shadow is an unmissable effort.
7
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Formed from the remnants of the Syndicate, the Apostles are a criminal organization planning a multipronged nuclear attack that threatens the lives of millions. Once again under scrutiny for their operational procedures, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF are forced to collaborate with hardheaded CIA agent August Walker (Henry Cavill). Old enemies and allies alike throw their hats into the ring in a race for plutonium cores.
Not only the strongest movie in the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Fallout is one of the best action movies of all time. Relentlessly paced and packed with standout sequences that make up many of the series’ best, Mission: Impossible – Fallout demonstrates action movie filmmaking at its most breathless and visually impressive. An immaculately choreographed and effectively brutal bathroom fight scene between Cruise, Cavill, and Laing Yang stands as the best hand-to-hand combat the series has seen so far.
6
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
Directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo
After being awakened after decades of suspended animation, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is forced to adapt to the modern day. Rogers becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, a global organization that combats shadowy threats, led by Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The emergence of a dangerous assassin known as The Winter Soldier will prove to be Rogers’ toughest challenge yet— one with stakes far more personal than he could’ve ever imagined.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a franchise packed with memorable action sequences, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes credit for a large portion of them. The action (particularly the fight sequences) is especially weighty here, more so than any other entry in the MCU. The hard-hitting, visceral action complements Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s more grounded tone, and the result is one of the long-running franchise’s most memorable and thrilling entries to date.
5
‘Ip Man 2’ (2010)
Directed by Wilson Yip
Ip Man (Donnie Yen) relocates with his family to Hong Kong after escaping from the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Struggling to make a living and provide for his family, Wing Chun master Ip Man opts to open a martial arts school catering to the troubled youth of Hong Kong. The growing reputation of both Ip Man and his academy brings forth the attention of some unsavory and powerful figures.
The Ip Man series is one of martial-arts cinema’s most beloved franchises, and Ip Man 2 makes a strong case for being the series’ best entry. Here, the dramatic stakes are raised, and the intensity of the fight sequences matches that energy. The action in Ip Man 2 is expressive, exciting and masterfully helmed. The Ip Man franchise as a whole is an unmissable series for martial arts fans, offering countless action set pieces that range in scale but are never anything less than satisfyingly thrilling.
4
‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)
Directed by Timo Tjahjanto
In this Netflix original from Indonesia, Ito (Joe Taslim) is an enforcer for a vicious triad. Remorseful and no longer willing to comply with the triads, Ito goes into hiding in hopes of starting a new life. Eventually, his dark past catches up with him as the elite members of the crime syndicate he once worked for are looking for retribution.
When it comes to martial arts action movies focusing on brutal, close-quarters combat, Indonesia is the top supplier. The Night Comes for Us is relentlessly violent and exquisitely crafted. The stunt performances are top-notch and exceedingly impressive, considering the number of extras that some of the fight sequences employ. Household items are used as weapons in the most gruesome of ways, and there is no shortage of severed limbs and broken bones.
3
‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ (2014)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
A top-secret spy organization based out of London recruits street-kid Eggsy (Taron Egerton). Seasoned agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) sees potential in Eggsy as he undergoes the dangerous and strenuous training program. The Kingsman initiative faces its largest threat yet in the form of a cellular network weapon that has the power to turn the entire population into raving murderers.
Kingsman: The Secret Service is slick, spy-action fun that features a variety of colorful characters and memorable action setpieces. And just when you think you have the movie figured out, it throws a wicked curveball with some startlingly violent yet exhilarating fight sequences. Most impressive of those would be the church brawl that finds agent Hart squaring off against a mob of raving churchgoers after a cyber terror attack. Is it shocking and brutal? Absolutely. It’s also one of the best and most memorable action sequences in any modern action movie.
2
‘The Raid: Redemption’ (2011)
Directed by Gareth Evans
Set in the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia, a towering and derelict apartment building serves as the safe house of a powerful drug lord and his army of thugs. While previously left untouched by the local authorities, an Indonesian SWAT team is finally sent on a mission to remove and eliminate the syndicate. Unfortunately for the officers, their cover quickly becomes blown, and the team finds themselves vastly outnumbered and outgunned.
The Raid: Redemption is a breathless example of non-stop action filmmaking. It’s a landmark effort in stunt coordination, fight choreography and high-intensity direction that is the very essence of what good action movies should provide for their audience. The Raid: Redemption gets down to business early and does not let up until the credits roll. It’s like a marathon of violence and gritty action that’s always thoroughly entertaining.
1
‘The Raid 2’ (2014)
Directed by Gareth Evans
Following the events of The Raid: Redemption, rookie Jakarta cop Rama (Iko Uwais) finds himself pulled back into a dangerous fight for survival after capturing the attention of a criminal empire. As a means to protect his family, Rama is forced to go undercover to bring down a syndicate and expose the corruption within his police force.
The Raid 2 doubles down on just about everything that made its predecessor a genre classic. Bigger isn’t always better, yet the expansion of scale in The Raid 2 allows for an assortment of fight sequences that somehow exceed the violence and thrills of The Raid: Redemption. It’s simply a stunning work of action and stunt coordination that will have viewers simultaneously impressed and on the edge of their seats the entire time.
