| 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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