"I think you should accept the Wiki def and only include films w/ cardboard characters"* - the 2026 Action Movies Poll Redux Nominations Thread

14 years ago, I ran an action movies poll on ILX.

Since that poll, we've seen the release of an incredible number of great action films, and that combined with even greater access to international cinema means things might be a bit different this time around. This will be a companion poll and not a replacement poll.

Please submit your nominations here. Just the title, with appropriate formatting and capitalization. If it shares a title with another, similar film, please specify which film you're talking about by adding the year of release. I doubt this will happen very much.

We had a decent number of ballots last time around, I'm hoping to get even more for this one.

If anyone has a line on some of our former ILXors who want to come in for one last heist, get 'em back here.

(*In honor of the dearly departed Dr Morbius, I've titled this thread with an appropriate quote of his from the nominations thread for the 2012 poll.)

***NOMINATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY AUGUST 14***

I'll kick things off with

Mad Max: Fury Road
Furiosa

Can we nominate the whole John Wick series as one, or do we have to nominate individual films? (Personally, I'd only vote for the first one, but I know mine is a minority opinion.)

Other nominations:

Ballerina (2023 Korean movie)
The Villainess
Furie

apologies, nominating from a set time or?

I think one can simply nominate the whole series and i'll add them as separate entries.

I'm going to keep the nominations open for a month, I'll have a mod add a date to the opening post.

The Night Comes For Us
The Raid 1 & 2

I Saw the Devil

rrr (2022)

this is just for films released 2012 - present? or alltime?

all time

sorry i should add that to the first post as well...

Sword of Doom
Come Drink With Me

John Wick 1-4 (just to make it official)

Buy-Bust
Baby Assassins 1-3

Runaway Train
The General (1926)
13 Assassins
Ronin
Starship Troopers
Drunken Master 2
Police Story

king fu hustle

Hard Boiled
Crank

Righting Wrongs
Point Blank
Robocop (1987)

Rush Hour
Everything Everywhere All at Once
One Battle After Another

SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (2015)
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)
Fast Five (2011)
Redline (2009)
Miami Vice (2006)
Breaking News (2004)
So Close (2002)
Battle Royale (2000)
A Hero Never Dies (1998)
Heat (1995)
Bullet in the Head (1990)
Hard Target (1993)
The Killer (1989)
Naked Killer (1992)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Total Recall (1990)
Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
They Live (1988)
American Hunter (1988)
Police Story 2 (1988)
Lady Terminator (1988)
Eastern Condors (1987)
Iron Angels (1987)
The Seventh Curse (1986)
Death Wish 3 (1985)
Holy Flame of the Martial World (1983)
Night of the Juggler (1980)
The Stunt Man (1980)
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)
The French Connection (1971)

dunkirk
exiled (johnnie to)
collateral
straight to hell
someone's watching me
sorcerer
towering inferno (orig)

Rebel Ridge

Prey
Predator Badlands
Sisu

First thought was that no MCU movies are worth nominating, but on 2nd thought --

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

I will also nominate

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Mission: Impossible - Fallout

All the Arnold movies should be auto nommed:

Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Destroyer
The Terminator
Commando
Predator
The Running Man
Total Recall
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Last Action Hero
True Lies

Aliens
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi

The Matrix
Equilibrium
Crank: High Voltage
Hardcore Henry
Nobody
Upgrade
Lockout
The Suicide Squad
Kill Bill: The whole bloody affair
Shin Godzilla

The Wild Bunch
The Dirty Dozen
5 Elements Ninjas
Die Hard
Die Hard with a Vengeance

the bourne identity
the bourne ultimatum
the bourne supremacy

rush hour 2
48 hrs
beverly hills cop
shanghai noon
cannonball run
the nice guys
ong-bak
escape from new york
big trouble in little china
raiders of the lost ark
indiana jones and the last crusade
the rock

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The Great Escape
To Live and Die in LA

For a Few Dollars More
The Hidden
Ricochet
Midnight Run

the good the bad the weird

The Matrix
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Police Story
Dead or Alive
Ip Man
RRR

Mad Max

Scarface 1932
36th Chamber of the Shaolin

Bullet Train
Die Hard 2
Edge of Tomorrow
The Fall Guy
The Fugitive
Kick Ass
Live Free or Die Hard
The Incredibles
Judge Dredd (2012)
Speed

the warriors

tenet

Tenet II: Elevenet

So far a lot of films that finished in the 2012 poll have been nominated but not our #3 —

Inception

Duel

sorry, another export of nonsense that I like:

In the Shadows (2010)
Mad Max 2 (1981)
Shogun Assassin (1980)
The Exterminator (1980)
The Driver (1978)
The Battle Wizard (1977)
Shaolin Temple (1976)
The Super Inframan (1975)
Truck Turner (1974)
Lady Snowblood (1973)
Tony Arzenta aka Big Guns (1973)
The Mandarin aka The Godfathers of Hong Kong (1973)
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973)
Across 110th Street (1972)
The Getaway (1972)
The Mechanic (1972)
One-Armed Boxer (1972)
Dirty Money (1972)
Prime Cut (1972)
Five Fingers of Death (1972)
Dragon Inn (1967)
Magic Crystal (1986)
Royal Warriors (1986)
Cobra (1986)
Yes, Madam! (1985)
Hong Kong Godfather (1985)
The Devil’s Sword (1984)
Descendant of the Sun (1983)
Golgo 13: The Professional (1983)
Portrait in Crystal (1983)
The Challenge of the Lady Ninja (1983)
Self Defense aka Siege (1983)
48 Hrs. (1982)
Vigilante (1982)
The Hidden (1987)
Extreme Prejudice (1987)
Magnificent Warriors (1987)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
City on Fire (1987)
Mechanical Violator Hakaider (1995)
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Zëiram 2 (1994)
Kamen Rider ZO (1993)
Undefeatable (1993)
Run and Kill (1993)
Lethal Panther (1990)
Lethal Panther 2 (1993)
Nemesis (1992)
Angel Terminators 2 (1992)
The Cat (1992)
Angel Terminators (1992)
Fortress (1992)
Black Cat II (1992)
Ricochet (1991)
The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead (1991)
Stone Cold (1991)
Predator 2 (1990)
Undeclared War (1990)
Class of 1999 (1990)
In the Line of Duty 4 (1989)
Road House (1989)
Lady Reporter (1989)
Dead Bang (1989)
On the Run (1988)
Tiger Cage (1988)
Bloodsport (1988)
Amsterdamned (1988)
Bāhubali: The Beginning (2015)
Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)
The Roundup: Punishment (2024)
Shin Kamen Rider (2023)
Furie (2019)
Furies (2022)
Limbo (2021)
Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010)
Bad Black (2016)
Blackhat (2015)
Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (2013)
Man of Tai Chi (2013)
Drug War (2012)
Blood and Bone (2009)
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
The Hunted (2003)
The Mission (1999)
Knock Off (1998)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Bloodmoon (1997)
Breakdown (1997)
Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 (1997)
Riot (1996)
Fudoh: The New Generation (1996)
XX: Beautiful Killing Machine (1996)
Money Train (1995)
Sudden Death (1995)
Gonin (1995)
The Day of the Beast (1995)
Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Crying Freeman (1995)

Double Team (1997)

Undercover Brother

Hard Ticket to Hawaii
Enthiran

Yes, Madam!
She Shoots Straight
Full Contact
Bullitt
The Seven Ups
Point Break
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In

Broken Arrow

Drive (1997)
Resident Evil: Retribution
Showdown in Little Tokyo

I've expanded my knowledge of action trash in the last 14 years. my list back then had things like Blade Runner that I like as movies, but not as action movies.

anyway

Kung Fu Hustle
Master of the Flying Guillotine aka One Armed Boxer 2

More JCVD needed:
Kickboxer (1989)
Double Impact (1991)
Universal Soldier (1992)
Hard Target (1993)
Timecop (1994)

Haven't seen the rest!

The Fifth ELement
Tropic Thunder
Top Gun
Top Gun: Maverick
Hot Fuzz
Pineapple Express

Haven't seen the rest!

Van Damme did a really good movie called The Bouncer a few years ago with director Julien Leclercq. Add that to the list.

hellboy (2004)
mandy
meg2: the trench
transporter 2 (transporter - the mission)
john carter
charlie's angels (2000)
charlie's angels: full throttle
hobbs & shaw
crank 2: high voltage
speed racer
death race 2000 (1975)
starcrash
remo: unarmed and dangerous
rollerball
danger: diabolik
flash gordon (1980)

parker

Hoppers

I considered nomming Hoppers. It is a wild ride, comparable to the nonstop energy of Crank.

under siege
under siege 2: dark territory

xpost - Hoppers keeps accelerating and escalating, the finest qualities of an action movie imo.

Looper

i'm posting the full results of the 2012 poll here, just in case any of these films weren't nommed and anyone needs a reminder.

75 APOCALYPTO
74 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
73 GOLDFINGER
72 VANISHING POINT
71 DIRTY HARRY
69 (TIE) THE HURT LOCKER
69 (TIE) DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
67 (TIE) CON AIR
67 (TIE) BRANDED TO KILL
66 ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13
65 SIN CITY
64 INFERNAL AFFAIRS
62 (TIE) DEMOLITION MAN
62 (TIE) TAKEN
61 MAD MAX
60 JAWS
59 THE FUGITIVE
58 CASINO ROYALE
57 COLLATERAL
56 THE INCREDIBLES
55 ENTER THE DRAGON
53 (TIE) MIAMI VICE
53 (TIE) KUNG FU HUSTLE
52 GET CARTER
51 AKIRA
50 LA FEMME NIKITA
49 DISTRICT 9
48 TOTAL RECALL
47 THE WILD BUNCH
46 THE GREAT ESCAPE
45 COMMANDO
44 THE KILLER
43 THE FIFTH ELEMENT
42 SPEED
41 BULLITT
40 YOJIMBO
39 LE SAMOURAI
38 DAWN OF THE DEAD
37 TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A.
36 THE MATRIX
35 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
34 CRANK
33 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
32 THE BOURNE IDENTITY
31 THE WARRIORS
30 THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
29 THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
28 ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
27 BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
26 THE DARK KNIGHT
25 PREDATOR
24 POINT BREAK
23 BATTLE ROYALE
22 THE THING
21 KILL BILL VOL. 1
20 POINT BLANK
19 THE TERMINATOR
17 NORTH BY NORTHWEST
17 STARSHIP TROOPERS
16 THE ROAD WARRIOR
15 THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
14 THE FRENCH CONNECTION
13 THE SEVEN SAMURAI
12 ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK
11 HARD BOILED
10 BLADE RUNNER
9 LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL
8 HEAT
7 RONIN
6 CHILDREN OF MEN
5 ROBOCOP
4 TERMAINTOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
3 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
2 ALIENS
1 DIE HARD

Extreme Prejudice

Cellular

The Last Boy Scout
Long Kiss Goodnight

I'll nominate these ones from the 2012 results:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Sin City
Enter the Dragon

Peking Opera Blues (1986)
The Blade (1995)
Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind (1980)
Time And Tide (2000)

how in the hell did Road House not even place in the top 75?!

2012 predates both the critical reevaluation and the groans that accompanied the remake

Independence Day (1996)

I've been pretty lax in keeping up a spreadsheet of nominations, but keep em coming!

Can we just auto nom the 2012 list? Seems tedious to go through it and nom anything not already explicitly posted

Yeah, I mean at this point it’s probably only a few films that have not been anyway

Dirty Ho (1979)

Lots of good stuff already nominated. Here's some more.

Lost Bullet
Undisputed III: Redemption
Yamadonga
Fearless
Azumi 2
Full Alert
Future Cops
Once Upon A Time In China
Ricochet
Zipang
Legend Of the Eight Samurai
Dragons Forever
The Outsider (1983)
Project A
Duel To The Death
Samurai Reincarnation
Highway Racer
Sholay
The Rapacious Jailbreaker
Street Law
One Armed Boxer 1
Killer's Mission
Baasha

And here's proof of concept for some of my choices:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKZ069ko-wA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX4owURuSaI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG8OPMB4JbI

Highway Racer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I960mNCRnuo

i already nommed Ricochet (assuming you mean the Lithgow/Washington movie) which is huge fun and often overlooked

Tango & Cash

Correct NV, sorry bout that.

ah i wasn't complaining just glad somebody else appreciates it

Deadbeat at Dawn

Lost Bullet

The whole Lost Bullet trilogy is great: Lost Bullet, Lost Bullet II, Last Bullet

Oh fun!

Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 2
Batman Begins
Children of Men
Casino Royale (2006)
Guardians of the Galaxy

ah i wasn't complaining just glad somebody else appreciates it

Yeah it's great, hilarious Lithgow perf! Caught it once on late night German tv, def benefited from that context.

The whole Lost Bullet trilogy is great: Lost Bullet, Lost Bullet II, Last Bullet

Agreed, I picked the first one kind of as a stand in for the trilogy (though the last one does get a bit bogged down in trying to create new sequels/spin offs). French action cinema def in a better place than it was during the reign of Besson.

haha thought I might've, and yep, apparently I _also_ redundantly nominated ricochet. but yep, that's a fun and weird movie!

Les Vampires
Street Law

there's one week left of the nominations process, though maybe i'll extend it. was was traveling for a couple weeks and haven't even started a spreadsheet. i hope all of you will vote in this thing!

oh man i gotta find some time to take stock