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 film, see Arnie, Jason Statham and The Rock) or the Action Genre Hero Guy (usually games, see Nolan North).
See also: So You Want to Write an Action Movie? and Action/Adventure Tropes.
Super-Trope to the Action Game and super-super to Action RPG and Action-Adventure game. There is also an index of 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
- 7 Man Army
- Above the Law (1988)
- Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe
- Accident
- Accident Man
- Action Jackson
- Action Man
- 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
- American Assassin
- American Justice
- American Renegades
- And God Said to Cain...
- Android Cop
- Angel
- Angel Force
- Angel's Mission
- Angel on Fire
- Angel Terminators
- The Anonymous Heroes
- Apocalypto
- Arachnicide
- Army of Darkness
- Army of Frankensteins'
- Army of One
- Asian School Girls
- Assassin's Creed (2016)
- Attack on Titan (2015)
- Avatar
- Avengement
- The Avenging Quartet
- The Avengers (1998)
- Axcellerator
- Baahubali
- Bad Boys
- Bad Black
- Bad Taste
- The Bare-footed Kid
- The Bastard
- Batman (1989)
- Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
- Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts
- The Batman vs. Dracula
- Beach Of The War Gods
- Beauty Investigator
- Ben-Hur
- Beowulf (1999)
- A Better Tomorrow
- The Big Boss
- Big Bullet
- The Big Heat (1988)
- Big Hero 6
- 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
- The Bullet Train
- Bullitt
- Bury Me High
- BuyBust
- The Candy Tangerine Man
- Captain Kronos-Vampire Hunter
- Central Intelligence
- Chai Lai Angels: Dangerous Flowers
- The Chain Reaction
- A Chinese Ghost Story
- Code 8
- Cold Pursuit
- Cold Sweat
- Collateral Damage
- Commando
- Combat At Heaven Gate
- Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Constantine
- Coolie Killer
- Cosmos: War of the Planets
- Crank
- Crazed
- Crime Story
- Crippled Avengers
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny
- The Crow
- Cyberjack
- Cyborg (1989)
- 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
- Dead and Deader
- Dead Heat
- The Dead One
- Dear God No!
- Death Duel
- Death Rides a Horse
- Death Ring
- Death Wish
- The Deep
- Deep Blue Sea
- Deliverance
- Demon Hunter (2005)
- Demon Hunter (2016)
- Demon of the Lute
- Die Hard
- Die You Zombie Bastards!
- Dirty Harry
- Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
- Disaster on the Coastliner
- Django
- Dobermann
- Doom
- Doomsday
- Dragons Forever
- Dreaming the Reality
- Dredd
- Drive Angry
- Duel of the Ironfist
- The Dungeonmaster
- Eastern Condors
- Electra Glide in Blue
- The Elusive Avengers
- End of Days
- Enter the Dragon
- Enter the Eagles
- The Equalizer
- Escape 2000
- Escape from New York
- Escape Plan
- Executive Decision
- Exit Speed
- The Expendables
- The Exterminators of the Year 3000
- Extreme Prejudice
- Face/Off
- Fair Game
- The Fast and the Furious
- Fantasy Mission Force
- Fatal Termination
- Fatman
- Faust: Love of the Damned
- The Fifth Commandment
- Final Run
- Final Score (1986)
- Final Score — do not confuse this with the 80s flick listed above
- Finger Of Doom
- Fire Dragon
- 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
- Five Fingers Of Death
- Five Shaolin Masters
- Flaming Brothers
- Frankenstein's Army
- The French Connection
- Free Guy
- The Fugitive
- Furie
- Future Force
- Gallowwalkers
- The Game Changer
- Game of Death
- Gemini Man
- The General
- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
- Gladiator
- God's Gun
- Golden Queens Commando
- The Great Train Robbery
- Gun n' Rose
- 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)
- Hellboy Animated (2006-2007)
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army
- Hellboy (2019)
- Hero
- 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 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
- Ip Man Film Series
- Iron Angels (and both 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
- Juncture
- Jungleground
- Just Heroes
- The Karate Kid
- 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
- Legend of the Red Reaper
- Legion
- Lego DC Comics Super Heroes
- Leopard Hunting
- Lethal
- Lethal Panther
- Lethal Weapon
- The Losers (1970)
- 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 (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Spider-Man: Homecoming
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Avengers: Endgame
- Spider-Man: Far From Home
- Black Widow
- Marvel Rising
- Magadheera
- Masked Avengers
- Meatball Machine
- Men in Black
- Mercenaries from Hong Kong
- The Meg
- Miami Connection
- Midnight Run
- Mile 22
- Minority Report
- Missing in Action
- Mission: Impossible Film Series
- Mission Of Condor
- Momentum
- Monster Brawl
- Monster Hunter
- Moon Warriors
- Mortal Kombat:
- Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge
- Mulan
- Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
- Mutant Girls Squad
- Nam Angels
- Nazi Overlord
- Nekrotronic
- Never Say Regret
- The Night Comes For Us
- Night Hunter
- Ninja
- Ninja Assassin
- Nobody
- No Retreat, No Surrender
- No Retreat, No Surrender 2
- North By Northwest
- Oblivion (1994)
- Oblivion (2013)
- The Old Guard
- Olympus Has Fallen
- On Deadly Ground
- One Man's Justice
- Out for Justice
- Outlaw Brothers
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Overlord (2018)
- P-51 Dragon Fighter
- Pacific Rim
- Peppermint
- Perfect Assassins
- Pink Force Commando
- Plan B: Scheiß auf Plan A
- Point Break (1991)
- Polar
- Power Connection
- Predator
- Primal
- Princess Madam
- Princess of Thieves
- Prisoners of the Lost Universe
- 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 Scorpion
- Red Sun
- Red: Werewolf Hunter
- Reign of the Gargoyles
- Rendezvous With Death
- Renegades
- Resident Evil
- 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
- The Rock
- Rollerball
- Rolling Thunder
- Rolling Vengeance
- Romeo Must Die
- The Rookies
- Run All Night
- Running Scared (1986)
- Running Scared (2006)
- Rurouni Kenshin
- Rush Hour and its sequels
- Russian Terminator
- Samson and Delilah
- 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
- Skyscraper
- Slaughter in Xi'an
- The Soldier
- Space Mutiny
- Spawn
- Special Female Force
- Special Forces
- Speed
- Spy Gear
- SS Doomtrooper
- Star Wars
- Stiletto
- Stone Cold
- Street Fighter
- Streets of Fire
- Strike Commando
- The Substitute
- Sucker Punch
- Super Cop
- Super Cop 2
- Super Fly
- Superman
- Supersonic Man
- The Suppressor
- The Swift Knight
- Tai Chi Master
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
- Tango & Cash
- Tank Girl
- 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
- The Thunderbolt Fist
- Tiger Cage
- Tiger on Beat
- Top Gun
- The Tournament
- Tragic Hero
- Trained to Kill, USA
- Trancers
- Transformers Film Series
- The Transporter
- Traxx
- The Treasure of Silver Lake
- Triple Frontier
- Triple Threat
- Turbo Kid
- Turkey Shoot
- Undeclared War
- Undercover vs. Undercover
- Under Siege
- Underworld (2003)
- Unhinged
- Universal Soldier
- The Untouchables
- Upgrade
- Vampirella
- Van Helsing
- Venom
- Versus
- Waar
- Wake of Death
- Warrior of the Lost World
- Warriors of the Wasteland
- Way of the Dragon
- The Way of the Lady Boxers
- Werewolves of the Third Reich
- Who Killed Captain Alex?
- The Wild Bunch
- Wild Thing
- Willy's Wonderland
- The Witches Hammer
- Wizards of the Demon Sword
- WolfCop
- Wyrmwood
- X-Men Film Series
- Yes, Madam
- Zeppelin
- Zombie Cop
- Zombie Wars
- Zulu