The Best Action Movies of All Time Broken Down by Decade

Cheeky banter, bad guys and badassness is an easy recipe for the best action movies of all time. Before there was “Netflix and chill”, there was “VHS and kill.”

We put together our list of the best action movies of all time, broken out by decade. We even included our favorite from each decade. Now this isn’t a definitive list. No need to go all keyboard warrior and flip out because we didn’t pick something you like. If we missed something and you think it’s a crime against humanity, tell us in the comment section below. If you think this list sucks, tell us in the comment section below. And if you’re petitioning for a remake of “Die Hard,” tell us in the comment section below and leave your address so we can travel to your home and beat the ever-living hell out of you. Leave “Die Hard” alone.

Best Action Movies of All-Time — 1960s

1961 – The Guns of Navarone
1964 – Goldfinger — Our favorite pick of the 1960s. It’s arguably the best Bond film out there.
1967 – The Dirty Dozen
1968 – Bullitt
1968 – The Green Berets

1970s

1971 – Dirty Harry — Our favorite pick of the 1970s. The origins of all-around badass “Dirty” Harry Callahan that would span two decades and four more (not as good) movies.
1973 – Enter The Dragon
1974 – Death Wish
1976 – Rocky
1979 – Walking Tall

1980s

1981 – Raiders of the Lost Ark
1982 – First Blood
1984 – The Terminator
1984 – Red Dawn
1988 – Die Hard — Our favorite pick of the 1980s, barely beating out the other entries. And yes, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie.

1990s

1991 – Point Break
1992 – Under Siege
1994 – True Lies
1995 – Heat — Our favorite pick of the 1990s. It features an all-star cast and one of the best movie shootouts ever.
1997 – Con Air

2000s

2000 – Gladiator
2002 – The Bourne Identity
2002 – The Transporter
2003 – Kill Bill: Volume 1 — Our favorite pick of the 2000s. Tough call against the likes of “Gladiator,” but Tarantino’s bloody homage to Japanese action films is damn near perfect.
2009 – Man on Fire

2010s

2010 – The Expendables
2011 – Hanna
2014 – John Wick
2015 – Mad Max: Fury Road — Our favorite pick of the 2010s. Yeah, John Wick has the gun skills and body count, but “Fury Road” doesn’t let its foot off the gas for the whole film … literally.
2016 – The Accountant

This article is from a previous issue of Skillset Magazine, for subscriptions please visit outdoorgroupstore.com and also listen to our podcast Skillset Live.