16 Action Movies Not To Be Missed: Visuals and Plot Double Whammy

1. The Expendables 2010，IMDB Rating: 6.4, IMDB Votes: 366878, ID: 1320253
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The Expendables brings together many of the action stars of the 80‘s and 90’s. The film follows an elite team of retired Special Forces soldiers who are hired to carry out a dangerous international mission. They travel deep into enemy territory and engage in intense battles with powerful villains, filled with explosive scenes and high-intensity fights. With its nostalgic star cast and intense action scenes, the film has won over action movie fans.
2. Bad Boys 1995，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 295201, ID: 0112442
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Bad Boys is the quintessential cop film, with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence co-starring in an energetic and comedic action film. They get caught up in a drug case and have a fierce confrontation with a drug lord in the course of investigating the case. The film is full of car chases, shootouts and witty banter.
3. Point Break 1991，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 205017, ID: 0102685
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Point Break is a classic film that blends surf culture with a thrilling heist plot. When young agent Johnny Utah is sent to investigate a group of mysterious robbers who are robbing a bank, his investigation takes him into the world of surfing and closer to the leader of the robbers, Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze.
4. True Lies 1994，IMDB Rating: 7.3, IMDB Votes: 283825, ID: 0111503
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True Lies is a tense action-comedy film that follows the thrilling story of secret agent Harry as he navigates between saving his marriage and fighting terrorists, incorporating both tense espionage elements and fun interactions with family relationships.
5. Heat 1995，IMDB Rating: 8.3, IMDB Votes: 726982, ID: 0113277
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Heat is a masterclass in action filmmaking, and the film follows the showdown between Detective Hannah and career criminal McCauley. McCauley leads a gang of criminals on a series of daring robberies across the city, while Hannah vows to bring them to justice. The film not only focuses on the intense confrontation, but also delves into the inner workings of the characters, showing their struggles between family, relationships and career.
6. Casino Royale 2006，IMDB Rating: 8.0, IMDB Votes: 699450, ID: 0381061
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Casino Royale reinvents the James Bond franchise with a grittier, more realistic take on his first mission: to uncover and defeat the machinations of financial genius Richford. As MI6’s newest “007” agent, Bond is sent to the Black Hills Casino to compete with the villainous Richford in a high-stakes Texas Hold’em poker tournament. The blend of action and drama makes this a refreshing addition to the Bond series.
7. The A-Team 2010，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 270050, ID: 0429493
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The A-Team tells the story of a team of retired Special Forces members who go on the run after being framed and accused of a felony, and are determined to clear their reputations. The film is filled with exaggerated action scenes, frantic chases and explosion sequences, showcasing the team members’ tacit cooperation and humorous interactions.
8. Shooter 2007，IMDB Rating: 7.1, IMDB Votes: 358671, ID: 0822854
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Starring Mark Wahlberg, Shooter is about a retired sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, who seeks revenge after being framed by the government. Swagger is invited to help stop an assassination plot, but is then falsely accused of being an assassin and has to go on the run. While on the run, he uses his superb sniper skills and military tactics to uncover the truth step by step, and battles corrupt politicians and officials.
9. Olympus Has Fallen 2013，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 294326, ID: 2302755
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Olympus Has Fallen is about Mike Banning, the homeland security advisor to the President of the United States, who fights alone to save the President after the White House is attacked by terrorists. The film is full of intense gun battles, explosions and thrilling action scenes. Although the plot setting is rather exaggerated, especially Banning’s single-handed fight against an entire group of terrorists, the film still provides a strong visual impact and a tense and exciting viewing experience.
10. The Equalizer 2014，IMDB Rating: 7.2, IMDB Votes: 427183, ID: 0455944
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The Equalizer tells the story of Robert McCall, a former secret agent living an ordinary life. When he meets a young girl who is being persecuted by the Russian mob, he decides to step up and use his former skills to avenge her.
11. Jack Reacher 2012，IMDB Rating: 7.0, IMDB Votes: 368019, ID: 0790724
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Jack Reacher is about retired military police officer Jack Reacher, who launches an investigation into a case involving the shooting deaths of five innocent civilians. As Reacher tracks down the killers, he uncovers a larger conspiracy involving a complex set of political and business interests. He unravels the mystery and confronts his enemies with his superior reasoning and combat skills.
12. The Transporter 2002，IMDB Rating: 6.8, IMDB Votes: 323548, ID: 0293662
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The Transporter is about Frank Martin, a professional transporter who specialises in transporting dangerous goods for his clients, following the ‘three don’ts’ rule: no destination, no cargo, no client. However, during one of his missions, he breaks his own rules and discovers that the cargo he is transporting is a kidnapped girl. In order to protect the girl, he has to fight against the crime syndicate.
13. Crank 2006，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 265797, ID: 0479884
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Crank is about a drug-dealing professional killer, Chelsea, who is poisoned by an enemy during a mission; the poison causes his heart to stop beating, and he must avoid death by continually keeping his heart rate up. He has to resort to extreme means to keep himself aroused and even perform various dangerous acts to stay alive.
14. Wanted 2008，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 411220, ID: 0493464
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Wanted is about an office worker, Wesley Gibson, who is bored and lost in life until he stumbles upon the murder of his father by a mysterious organisation. Wisley is then taken in by super-assassin Kate and joins a mysterious organisation of assassins. The members of this organisation have extraordinary abilities and perform their tasks in extreme ways, the most unique of which is the ability to ‘bend’ bullets to kill their targets with pinpoint accuracy.
15. Safe House 2012，IMDB Rating: 6.7, IMDB Votes: 238414, ID: 1599348
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Safe House is about a young CIA agent, Matt Wells, who is responsible for guarding a secret ‘safe house’ in South Africa that houses a dangerous international criminal, Tommy, a former notorious spy who is being hunted across the globe for his treachery.
16. Non-Stop 2014，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 277784, ID: 2024469
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The story takes place on a plane in flight. The film follows Bill Marks, an American air marshal, who receives a text message from a mysterious threatening individual on a flight from New York to London, and Malkin must fight the terrorist in the cabin to protect the lives of the passengers. The film features several reversals and suspenseful moments that keep the story full of tension.