Pearl: Yeah, that's one of my favorites! Actually, that's all of my favorites...
The Action genre is highly prevalent in movies and video games, and is characterised by a lot of adrenaline and blowing things up.
The typical scenario of the protagonists in an Action is a plot-specific — usually MacGuffin-retrieving — series of mini-stories in the form of fights or challenges, usually featuring extended violence with a prevalence of firearms because the protagonists are in direct physical danger. Over the years, the visual impression of these action scenes has become of tantamount importance, using cinematic techniques like The Oner with liberal use of visuals and Special Effects. Protagonists may be varying shades of Anti-Hero, but will almost always win.
The story or tension in Action typically shades in comparison to the visuals, but will be a threat of physical danger to the heroes or a loved one, often with a Race Against the Clock aspect.
Increasingly, the soundtrack has become as important to works in the action genre as the action sequences are. In film, the genre developed in the 1970s with the increase of modern stunt work.
In Hong Kong, they have a particularly booming Action movie production line — it's the home of John Woo, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li movies — seen as the gem of the country's film industry and being heavily influenced by Chinese Circus and Peking Opera (stylised, highly dramatic acrobatic fight scenes as entertainment). See the Martial Arts Movie for more.
The Action genre can be qualified as submitting to Rule of Cool.
Has a lot of overlap with the Spy and Superhero genres as well as Fighting Series.
The main guy is the Action Hero (usually in films; see Sly, Arnie, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jason Statham, and The Rock) or the Action Genre Hero Guy (usually in games; see Nolan North). See also Action Girl, Action Pet, Hollywood Action Hero, and Nerd Action Hero.
See also: So You Want to Write an Action Movie? and Action/Adventure Tropes.
Super-Trope to:
- Action Game
- Action-Adventure (video game genre)
- Action RPG
- Action Horror
- Action Series
Examples of Action Movies:
- 12 Rounds
- 21 Jump Street
- 21 Red List
- 22 Bullets
- 24 Hours to Live
- 2019: After the Fall of New York
- 2020 Texas Gladiators
- 3 Days to Kill
- 300
- The 355
- 7 Man Army
- Above the Law (1988)
- Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe
- Accident
- Accident Man
- Action Jackson
- Action Man DTV Trilogy
- The Adam Project
- The Adventures of Robin Hood
- Against the Wall
- The Aggression Scale
- Air Force One
- Airport
- Alien Outlaw
- Aliens
- The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse
- Ambulance
- American Assassin
- American Cyborg: Steel Warrior
- American Justice
- American Renegades
- And God Said to Cain...
- Android Cop
- Angel (1984)
- Angel Force
- Angel's Mission
- Angel on Fire
- Angel Terminators
- The Anonymous Heroes
- Apocalypto
- Arachnicide
- Army of Darkness
- Army of the Dead
- Army of Frankensteins'
- Army of One
- Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
- Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
- Asian School Girls
- Assassin's Creed (2016)
- Atomic Blonde
- Attack on Titan (2015)
- Avatar
- Avengement
- The Avenging Quartet
- The Avengers (1998)
- AWOL-72
- Axcellerator
- Baahubali
- Baby Driver
- Bad Boys
- Bad Black
- Bad Taste
- The Bare-footed Kid
- The Bastard
- Battle Royale
- The Battle Wizard
- Batman Film Series:
- Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
- Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts
- The Batman vs. Dracula
- Beach of the War Gods
- Beauty Investigator
- Beowulf (1999)
- A Better Tomorrow
- Bet Your Life
- The Big Boss
- Big Bullet
- The Big Heat (1988)
- Big Hero 6
- Billy Jack
- Blacklight
- Black Angel Vol. 1
- Black Butler
- The Black Cobra
- Black Mask
- The Black Panther Warriors
- The Blacksheep Affair
- The Black Six
- Blade Trilogy:
- Blastfighter
- The Bleeding
- Blindman
- Blood Brothers (2007)
- Blood of Beasts
- Blood: The Last Vampire
- BloodRayne
- Bloodsport
- Bloody Mallory
- The Bourne Series
- The Bodyguard (Thai)
- Bodyguards and Assassins
- Boss Level
- The Brave and the Evil
- Breaking Point (1976)
- The Bride With White Hair
- Bring Me the Head of the Machine Gun Woman
- Brotherhood of Blades
- Brotherhood of Death
- Bubba the Redneck Werewolf
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Butterfly and Sword
- Bullet For Hire
- Bullet in the Head
- Bullet to the Head
- Bullet Train
- The Bullet Train
- Bullitt
- Bury Me High
- BuyBust
- The Candy Tangerine Man
- Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
- Catchfire
- Central Intelligence
- Chai Lai Angels: Dangerous Flowers
- The Chain Reaction
- A Chinese Ghost Story
- Clash of the Titans (1981)
- Code 8
- Coffy
- Cold Pursuit
- Cold Sweat
- Collateral Damage
- Commando
- Combat At Heaven Gate
- Con Air
- Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Constantine
- Coolie Killer
- Copshop
- Cosmos: War of the Planets
- Crank
- Crazed
- Crime Story
- Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse
- Crippled Avengers
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny
- The Crow
- Cy Warrior
- Cyberjack
- Cyborg (1989)
- Cyborg Cop
- Cyborg Soldier
- Damage
- Danger Has Two Faces
- Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic
- The Dark Knight Trilogy
- Days of Thunder
- DC Extended Universe
- DC Universe Animated Original Movies
- Superman: Doomsday
- Justice League: The New Frontier
- Batman: Gotham Knight
- Wonder Woman (2009)
- Green Lantern: First Flight
- Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
- Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
- Batman: Under the Red Hood
- Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
- All-Star Superman
- Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
- Batman: Year One
- Justice League: Doom
- Superman vs. the Elite
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
- Superman Unbound
- Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
- Justice League: War
- Son of Batman
- Batman: Assault on Arkham
- Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
- Batman vs. Robin
- Justice League: Gods and Monsters
- Batman: Bad Blood
- Justice League vs. Teen Titans
- Batman: The Killing Joke
- Justice League Dark
- Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
- Batman and Harley Quinn
- Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
- Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay
- The Death of Superman
- Constantine: City of Demons
- Reign Of The Super Men
- Justice League vs. The Fatal Five
- Batman vs. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Batman: Hush
- Wonder Woman: Bloodlines
- Super Man Red Son
- Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
- Superman: Man of Tomorrow
- Batman: Soul of the Dragon
- Justice Society: World War II
- Batman: The Long Halloween
- Dead and Deader
- Dead Heat
- The Dead One
- Dear God No!
- Death Duel
- Death Race 2000
- Death Rides a Horse
- Death Ring
- Death Wish
- The Deep
- Deep Blue Sea
- Deliverance
- Demolition Man
- The Demolitionist
- Demon Hunter (2005)
- Demon Hunter (2016)
- Demon of the Lute
- The Devils Mirror
- Die Hard
- Die You Zombie Bastards!
- Dirty Harry
- Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
- Disaster on the Coastliner
- Django
- Dobermann
- Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze
- Doom
- Doomsday
- Dragons Forever
- Dreaming the Reality
- Dredd
- Drive Angry
- Duel of the Ironfist
- The Dungeonmaster
- Eastern Condors
- The Eiger Sanction
- Electra Glide in Blue
- Eliminators
- The Elusive Avengers
- End of Days
- Enter the Dragon
- Enter the Eagles
- The Equalizer
- Eraser
- Escape 2000
- Escape from New York
- Escape Plan
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Executive Decision
- Exit Speed
- The Expendables
- The Exterminators of the Year 3000
- Extreme Prejudice
- Face/Off
- Fair Game
- The Fast and the Furious
- Faster
- Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
- Fantasy Mission Force
- Fatal Termination
- Fatman
- Faust: Love of the Damned
- The Fifth Commandment
- Fighting Mad (1976)
- Final Run
- Final Score (1986)
- Final Score — do not confuse this with the 80s flick listed above
- Finger of Doom
- Fire Birds
- Fire Dragon
- Firefox
- Firestorm (1998)
- Firewalker
- Fire with Fire
- Fist of Fury
- Fist of the North Star
- Fists of the White Lotus - also known as Clan of the White Lotus
- Fistful Of Vengeance
- Five Fingers of Death
- Five Shaolin Masters
- Flaming Brothers
- Frankenstein's Army
- Freebie and the Bean
- Free Guy
- The French Connection
- From Dusk Till Dawn
- The Fugitive
- Furie
- Future Force
- Future War
- Gallowwalkers
- The Game Changer
- Game of Death
- The Gauntlet
- Gemini Man
- The General
- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
- Gladiator
- God's Gun
- Golden Bat
- Golden Queens Commando
- The Great Train Robbery (1903)
- Gun n' Rose
- Gunpowder Milkshake
- The Guns of Navarone
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
- Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!
- Hard Boiled
- Hard Target
- Hard to Kill
- The Heat
- Heavenly Sword
- Hell Drivers
- Hell of the Living Dead
- Hellbinders
- Hellbound
- Hellboy (2004)
- Hells Angels on Wheels
- Hero (2002)
- Hero (1997)
- Heroes Shed No Tears
- The Hitman
- Hitman
- Hitman (1998)
- Hitman: Agent 47
- Hitler, Dead or Alive
- Hobo with a Shotgun
- Hong Kong Godfather
- Horrors of War
- Hot Fuzz
- House Of Fury
- Hulk
- Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell
- The Hunt for Red October
- I, Frankenstein
- The Immortals
- The Imperial Swordsman
- Inception
- In the Line of Duty III: Force of the Dragon
- In the Line of Duty 4: Witness
- The Invincible Sword
- Indiana Jones
- Instant Death
- Ip Man Film Series
- Iron Angels (and both its sequels)
- Iron Eagle (and its sequels)
- James Bond
- Dr. No
- From Russia with Love
- Goldfinger
- Thunderball
- You Only Live Twice
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service
- Diamonds Are Forever
- Live and Let Die
- The Man with the Golden Gun
- The Spy Who Loved Me
- Moonraker
- For Your Eyes Only
- Octopussy
- A View to a Kill
- The Living Daylights
- Licence to Kill
- GoldenEye
- Tomorrow Never Dies
- The World Is Not Enough
- Die Another Day
- Casino Royale
- Quantum of Solace
- Skyfall
- Spectre
- No Time to Die
- Jaws
- John Wick
- Judge Dredd
- Juncture
- Jungleground
- Just Heroes
- The Karate Kid
- Kate
- Keoma
- Kickboxer
- Kickboxer's Tears
- Kid From Kwangtung
- Kill and Kill Again
- Kill Bill
- The Killer
- The Killing of Satan
- Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects
- Kung Fu Hustle
- Lady of Steel
- The Last Airbender
- The Last Days of American Crime
- The Last Heist
- The Last Samurai
- The Last Boy Scout
- Legend of the Red Reaper
- Legion
- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes
- Leopard Hunting
- Lethal
- Lethal Panther
- Lethal Weapon
- The Losers (1970)
- Love And Bullets
- Love, Guns & Glass
- Lovely But Deadly
- Almost any Luc Besson movie (i.e. Nikita, The Professional, The Fifth Element, Taken, Lucy and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets)
- Mad Max
- Mad Monkey Kung Fu
- The Magic Blade trilogy
- The Magic Crystal
- Manborg
- A Man Called Tiger
- Mandy (2018)
- Marked for Death
- Ma Su-zhen
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- Iron Man 2
- Thor
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Thor: The Dark World
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Ant-Man
- Captain America: Civil War
- Doctor Strange
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Black Widow
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Eternals
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Marvel Rising
- Magadheera
- Masked Avengers
- Meatball Machine
- Men in Black
- Mercenaries
- Mercenaries from Hong Kong
- The Meg
- Miami Connection
- Midnight Run
- Mile 22
- Minority Report
- Missing in Action
- Mission: Impossible Film Series:
- Mission Of Condor
- Mohawk
- Momentum
- Monster Brawl
- Monster Hunter (2020)
- Moon Warriors
- Mortal Kombat:
- Moving Violation
- Mulan
- Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
- Mutant Girls Squad
- Nam Angels
- Nazi Overlord
- Nekrotronic
- Never Say Regret
- The Night Comes for Us
- Night Hunter (1996)
- Ninja
- Ninja Assassin
- Nobody
- No Dead Heroes
- No Retreat, No Surrender
- No Retreat, No Surrender 2
- North By Northwest
- The Northman
- Oblivion (1994)
- Oblivion (2013)
- The Old Guard
- Olympus Has Fallen
- On Deadly Ground
- One Man's Justice
- One Shot
- Operation: Endgame
- Out for Justice
- Outlaw Brothers
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Overlord (2018)
- P-51 Dragon Fighter
- Pacific Rim
- The Paper Tigers
- Peppermint
- Perfect Assassins
- Peur sur la ville
- Pink Force Commando
- Pistolera
- Plan B: Scheiß auf Plan A
- Point Break (1991)
- Polar
- Power Connection
- Predator
- Primal
- Princess Madam
- Princess of Thieves
- Prisoners of the Lost Universe
- Prisoners Of The Ghostland
- Proud and Confident
- Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies
- The Punisher (1989)
- The Punisher (2004)
- Punisher Warzone
- The Raid: Redemption
- Rambo:
- Raw Deal
- Razor Blade Smile
- Ready Player One
- Red Heat
- Red Notice
- Red Scorpion
- Red Sun
- Red: Werewolf Hunter
- Reign of the Gargoyles
- Rendezvous With Death
- Renegades
- Resident Evil Film Series
- Return Engagement
- Revenge (2017)
- Ride Along
- Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
- Rio Lobo
- R.I.P.D.
- Robin Hood (2010)
- Robin Hood (2018)
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- RoboCop
- Robot Jox
- The Rock
- Rollerball
- Rolling Thunder
- Rolling Vengeance
- Romeo Must Die
- The Rookies
- Run All Night
- Run Hide Fight
- The Running Man
- Running Scared (1986)
- Running Scared (2006)
- Rurouni Kenshin
- Rush Hour and its sequels
- Russian Terminator
- Samson and Delilah
- SAS: Rise of the Black Swan
- Samurai Cop
- Savaged
- Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold
- A Score to Settle
- Seven (1979)
- The Seventh Curse
- Shadow Mask
- Shaft
- Shanghai Noon and its sequel Shanghai Knights
- The Shaolin Temple (1976) - this film comes out 6 years before the one below
- The Shaolin Temple
- Shocking Dark
- Shotgun
- Singham
- Six Assassins
- Skin Trade
- Sky Riders
- Skyscraper
- Slaughter in Xi'an
- The Soldier
- Solo (1996)
- Space Mutiny
- Spawn (1997)
- Special Female Force
- Special Forces
- Speed
- Spy Gear
- SS Doomtrooper
- Star Wars
- Starship Troopers
- Stiletto
- Stone Cold
- Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss
- Street Fighter
- Streets of Fire
- Strike Commando
- The Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Super Cop
- Super Cop 2
- Super Fly
- The Super Inframan
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Supersonic Man
- The Suppressor
- The Swift Knight
- Taken
- Tai Chi Master
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
- Tango & Cash
- Tank Girl
- Taxi
- Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
- Temptress of a Thousand Faces
- Ten Dead Men
- Tenet
- Terminator
- The Thieves
- Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except
- Thunder Force (2021)
- Thunderbirds
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
- The Thunderbolt Fist
- Tiger Cage
- Tiger on Beat
- Top Gun
- Total Recall (1990)
- The Tournament
- Tragic Hero
- Trained to Kill, USA
- Trancers
- Transformers Film Series
- Transit
- The Transporter
- Traxx
- The Treasure of Silver Lake
- Triple Frontier
- Triple Threat (2019)
- Turbo Kid
- Turkey Shoot
- Two Champions Of Shaolin
- The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
- Undeclared War
- Undercover vs. Undercover
- Under Siege
- Underworld (2003)
- Unhinged
- Universal Soldier
- The Untouchables (1987)
- Upgrade
- V for Vendetta
- Vampirella
- Van Helsing
- Venom (2018)
- Versus
- Vigilante Diaries
- Waar
- Wake of Death
- Warrior of the Lost World
- The Warriors
- Warriors of the Wasteland
- Way of the Dragon
- The Way of the Lady Boxers
- Wasabi
- Werewolves of the Third Reich
- Who Killed Captain Alex?
- The Wild Angels
- The Wild Bunch
- Wild Thing
- Willy's Wonderland
- The Witches Hammer
- Wizards of the Demon Sword
- WolfCop
- Wyrmwood
- X-Men Film Series
- Yes, Madam
- Yojimbo
- Zatoichi
- Zeppelin
- Zombie Cop
- Zombie Wars
- Zulu