1 | [[quoteright:301:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mcbain.jpg]]]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:301:''[[SayMyName MENDOOOOOZAAAA!!!]]'']] |
3 | |
4 | ->''"Hey, look at me\ |
5 | Casually\ |
6 | Walking away like Action Movie Hero Boy,\ |
7 | In slow-mo,\ |
8 | Everything glowing and blowing to bits\ |
9 | Right behind me!"'' |
10 | -->-- '''Music/LemonDemon''', "Action Movie Hero Boy" |
11 | |
12 | A subtrope of the ActionHero, a Hollywood Action Hero is TheHero of a SummerBlockbuster ActionAdventure Movie. He (and it's [[AlwaysMale almost always a he)]] is usually defined by a few specific traits that separate him from other types of heroes: |
13 | |
14 | * '''Personality:''' Usually a Hollywood Action Hero is either [[TheStoic stoic]] and [[DeadpanSnarker glib]] or wisecracking and jolly. |
15 | * '''Intellect:''' Usually BookDumb but deadly practical with weapons and vehicles of all types. |
16 | * '''Morality:''' A few are {{Anti Hero}}es but most are plain old heroes who are morally upright. That doesn't stop them from killing mooks, but causes them to deliberate a bit before killing villains. |
17 | * '''Aesthetics:''' Usually rugged and [[PermaStubble unshaven]], often [[HeroicBuild muscular]], and usually [[GoodScarsEvilScars scarred.]] |
18 | * '''Martial Ability:''' They'll of course be MadeOfIron or just plain ''made'' of hit points, soaking up tons of damage without stopping. They'll rarely fight with anything more complex than GoodOldFisticuffs and a trusty {{BFG}} or HandCannon. Some may use a big blade if it's personal. |
19 | |
20 | Now compare the above to CommonMarySueTraits. |
21 | |
22 | Unsurprisingly, these types can fall into the InvincibleHero category if done poorly. Expect the hero to be bloody, bruised, and hurt badly by the end. He may be a BadassNormal, but he still ''worked'' for that victory. Speaking of normal, Hollywood Action Heroes rarely have [[StockSuperpowersIndex superpowers]], perhaps because they tend to fit a male viewer's [[EscapistCharacter "fantasy" of their ideal self]], a strong warrior {{ubermensch}} type who kills bad guys, does good, and gets the girl. |
23 | |
24 | The phrase "action heroes" appeared early in The60s, used to describe the Creator/CharltonComics protagonists (later the inspiration for the characters in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''). This phrase, coined by Dick Giordiano, applied to their mostly non-metahuman adventurers such as ComicBook/TheQuestion and [[ComicBook/BlueBeetle Ted Kord]]. The era with the biggest bunch of Action Heroes was The80s and The90s, with big name stars like Creator/SylvesterStallone, Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger, Creator/BruceWillis, and many, ''many'' others starring in a half dozen {{Summer Blockbuster}}s every year. TheAhnold is a subtrope specifically referring to parodies of these guys. There was also a big action movie scene in Hong Kong, with stars such as Creator/BruceLee, Creator/ChowYunFat, Creator/JackieChan, and Creator/JetLi kicking serious ass with kung fu (or GunFu, in the case of Chow Yun-Fat). |
25 | |
26 | The movies of the TurnOfTheMillennium have instead produced the ActionSurvivor who, rather than being a MartyStu, is more akin to a SelfInsertFic where HilarityEnsues. Occasionally both are teamed up as an ActionDuo. Contrast the NerdActionHero. |
27 | ---- |
28 | |
29 | !!Examples of Action Heroes: |
30 | |
31 | [[AC:Creator/AngelinaJolie]] |
32 | * ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaider'' and its sequel. |
33 | * ''Film/{{Salt}}'' |
34 | * ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' |
35 | |
36 | [[AC:Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger]] |
37 | * ''[[Film/The6ThDay The 6th Day]]'' |
38 | * ''Film/CollateralDamage'' |
39 | * ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' |
40 | * ''Film/{{Commando}}'' |
41 | * ''Film/{{Eraser}}'' |
42 | * ''Film/HerculesInNewYork'' |
43 | * ''Film/LastActionHero'' is a DeconstructiveParody of this trope. |
44 | * ''Film/{{Predator}}'' |
45 | * ''Film/RawDeal1986'' |
46 | * ''Film/RedHeat'' |
47 | * ''Film/RedSonja'' |
48 | * ''Film/TheRunningMan'' |
49 | * ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' sequels; he played a slasher-esque villain in the original. |
50 | * ''Film/TotalRecall1990'' |
51 | * ''Film/TrueLies'' |
52 | |
53 | [[AC:Creator/BruceLee]] |
54 | * ''Film/TheBigBoss'' |
55 | * ''Film/EnterTheDragon'' |
56 | * ''Film/FistOfFury'' |
57 | * ''Film/GameOfDeath'' |
58 | * ''Film/WayOfTheDragon'' |
59 | |
60 | [[AC:Creator/BruceWillis]] |
61 | * ''Film/DieHard'' and its sequels. The first film was a conscious aversion and {{deconstruct|edTrope}}ion of this style that emphasized that John [=McClane=] ''wasn't'' invincible, but the sequels moved closer to playing it straight, and many parts of [=McClane's=] depiction became part and parcel of a new generation of Hollywood action heroes. |
62 | * ''Film/TheFifthElement'' |
63 | * ''Film/{{Hostage}}'' |
64 | * ''Film/TheLastBoyScout'' |
65 | * ''Film/Red2010'' and ''Film/Red2''. |
66 | |
67 | [[AC:Creator/ChowYunFat]] |
68 | * The ''Film/ABetterTomorrow'' series |
69 | * ''City on Fire'' |
70 | * ''Film/TheCorruptor'' |
71 | * ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' |
72 | * ''Film/FullContact'' |
73 | * ''Film/HardBoiled'' |
74 | * ''Film/TheKiller1989'' |
75 | * ''Film/TheReplacementKillers'' |
76 | |
77 | [[AC:Creator/ClintEastwood]] |
78 | * ''Film/DirtyHarry'' and its sequels. |
79 | * ''Film/DollarsTrilogy'' |
80 | * ''Film/PaleRider'' |
81 | * ''Film/TheRookie1990'' |
82 | * ''Film/WhereEaglesDare'' |
83 | |
84 | [[AC:Creator/ChuckNorris]] |
85 | * ''Film/CodeOfSilence'' |
86 | * ''Film/TheDeltaForce'' and ''Film/DeltaForce2TheColombianConnection'' |
87 | * ''Film/InvasionUSA1985'' |
88 | * ''Film/MissingInAction'' |
89 | * ''Film/WayOfTheDragon'' |
90 | |
91 | [[AC:Creator/DolphLundgren]] |
92 | * ''Film/ArmyOfOne'' |
93 | * ''Bridge of Dragons'' |
94 | * ''Film/TheExpendables'' |
95 | * ''Film/IComeInPeace'' |
96 | * ''Film/RedScorpion'' |
97 | * ''Film/ShowdownInLittleTokyo'' |
98 | |
99 | [[AC:[[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]]]] |
100 | * ''Film/{{Doom}}'' |
101 | * ''Film/TheRundown'' |
102 | * ''Film/TheScorpionKing'' |
103 | |
104 | [[AC:Creator/ErrolFlynn]] |
105 | * ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRobinHood'' |
106 | * ''Film/CaptainBlood'' |
107 | * ''Film/TheSeaHawk'' |
108 | |
109 | [[AC:Creator/HarrisonFord]] |
110 | * ''Film/AirForceOne'' |
111 | * ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' |
112 | * ''Franchise/StarWars'' |
113 | |
114 | [[AC:Creator/HumphreyBogart]] |
115 | * ''Film/AcrossThePacific'' |
116 | * ''Film/TheAfricanQueen'' |
117 | * ''Film/TheBigSleep'' |
118 | * ''Film/KeyLargo'' |
119 | |
120 | [[AC:Creator/JackieChan]] |
121 | * ''Film/TheAccidentalSpy'' |
122 | * ''Film/ArmourOfGod'' and ''Armour of God II'' |
123 | * ''Film/DrunkenMaster'' and ''Drunken Master II'' |
124 | * ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom'' |
125 | * ''Film/MrNiceGuy'' |
126 | * ''Film/PoliceStory'' and its sequels |
127 | * ''Film/ProjectA'' |
128 | * ''Film/RumbleInTheBronx'' |
129 | * ''Film/RushHour'' and its sequels |
130 | * ''Film/ShanghaiNoon'' and ''Shanghai Knights'' |
131 | * ''Film/TheTuxedo'' |
132 | |
133 | [[AC:Creator/JasonStatham]] |
134 | * ''Film/{{Crank}}'' and its sequels. |
135 | * ''Film/DeathRace'' |
136 | * ''Film/TheExpendables'' |
137 | * ''Film/GhostsOfMars'' |
138 | * ''Film/KillerElite'' |
139 | * ''Film/Safe2012'' |
140 | * ''Film/TheTransporter'' |
141 | * ''Film/War2007'' |
142 | |
143 | [[AC:Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme]] |
144 | * ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}'' |
145 | * ''Film/Cyborg1989'' |
146 | * ''Film/DeathWarrant'' |
147 | * ''Film/DoubleImpact'' |
148 | * ''Film/HardTarget'' |
149 | * ''Film/{{Kickboxer}}'' |
150 | * ''Film/{{Lionheart}}'' |
151 | * ''Film/StreetFighter'' |
152 | * ''Film/SuddenDeath'' |
153 | * ''Film/{{Timecop}}'' |
154 | * ''Film/UniversalSoldier'' |
155 | |
156 | [[AC:Creator/JetLi]] |
157 | * ''Film/Cradle2TheGrave'' |
158 | * ''Film/DannyTheDog'' |
159 | * ''Film/TheExpendables'' |
160 | * ''Film/FistOfLegend'' |
161 | * ''Film/TheForbiddenKingdom'' |
162 | * ''Film/Hero2002'' |
163 | * ''Film/KissOfTheDragon'' |
164 | * ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' and its sequels. |
165 | * ''Film/TheOne'' |
166 | * ''Film/RomeoMustDie'' |
167 | * ''Film/War2007'' |
168 | |
169 | [[AC:Creator/KeanuReeves]] |
170 | * ''Film/FortySevenRonin'' |
171 | * ''Franchise/JohnWick'' |
172 | * ''{{Film/Point Break|1991}}'' |
173 | * ''Film/{{Speed}}'' |
174 | * ''Film/TheMatrix'' and its sequels. |
175 | |
176 | [[AC:Creator/KurtRussell]] |
177 | * ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'' |
178 | * ''Film/EscapeFromLA'' |
179 | * ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'' |
180 | * ''Film/ExecutiveDecision'' |
181 | * ''Film/{{Soldier}}'' |
182 | * ''Film/TangoAndCash'' |
183 | |
184 | [[AC: Creator/MelGibson]] |
185 | * ''Film/{{Braveheart}}'' |
186 | * ''Film/LethalWeapon'' and its sequels |
187 | * ''Film/MadMax'' and its sequels |
188 | * ''Film/{{Payback}}'' |
189 | * ''Film/ThePatriot2000'' |
190 | |
191 | [[AC:Creator/NicolasCage]] |
192 | * ''Film/ConAir'' |
193 | * ''Film/FaceOff'' |
194 | * ''Film/KickAss'' |
195 | * ''Film/GhostRider2007'' and ''Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance'' |
196 | * ''Film/TheRock'' |
197 | |
198 | [[AC:Creator/SeanConnery]] |
199 | * ''[[Film/JamesBond Bond. James Bond]]'' |
200 | * ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' |
201 | * ''Film/TheRock'' |
202 | * ''Film/TheUntouchables1987'' |
203 | |
204 | [[AC: Creator/StevenSeagal]] |
205 | * ''Film/AboveTheLaw1988'' |
206 | * ''Film/AttackForce'' |
207 | * ''Film/ExecutiveDecision'' |
208 | * ''Film/ExitWounds'' |
209 | * ''Film/FireDownBelow'' |
210 | * ''Film/TheGlimmerMan'' |
211 | * ''Film/HalfPastDead'' |
212 | * ''Film/HardToKill'' |
213 | * ''Film/MarkedForDeath'' |
214 | * ''Film/OnDeadlyGround'' |
215 | * ''Film/OutForJustice'' |
216 | * ''Film/OutOfReach'' |
217 | * ''Film/ThePatriot1998'' |
218 | * ''Film/{{Ticker}}'' |
219 | * ''Film/UnderSiege'' and ''Film/UnderSiege2DarkTerritory'' |
220 | |
221 | [[AC:Creator/SylvesterStallone]] |
222 | * ''Film/{{Assassins}}'' |
223 | * ''Film/CliffHanger'' |
224 | * ''Film/{{Cobra}}'' |
225 | * ''Film/DemolitionMan'' |
226 | * ''Film/TheExpendables'' |
227 | * ''Film/JudgeDredd'' |
228 | * ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'', of ''Film/FirstBlood'' and its sequels |
229 | |
230 | [[AC:Tony Jaa]] |
231 | * ''Film/OngBak'' and its sequels |
232 | * ''Film/TheProtector'' |
233 | |
234 | [[AC:Creator/VinDiesel]] |
235 | * ''Film/AManApart'' |
236 | * ''Franchise/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' |
237 | * ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' and its sequels |
238 | * ''Film/XXx'' |
239 | |
240 | [[AC:Creator/WesleySnipes]] |
241 | * ''Film/{{Blade}}'' and its sequels. |
242 | * ''Film/DemolitionMan'' |
243 | * ''Film/Passenger57'' |
244 | * ''Film/TheArtOfWar'' |
245 | |
246 | [[AC:Creator/WillSmith]] |
247 | * ''Film/BadBoys1995'' and its sequels. |
248 | * ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' |
249 | * ''Film/GeminiMan'' |
250 | * ''Film/IndependenceDay'' |
251 | * ''Film/MenInBlack'' and its sequels. |
252 | * ''Film/WildWildWest'' |
253 |
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