As World War Z, one of this summer's most action-packed movies, hits DVD and Blu-ray, we look back at 30 summer action movies of the last 30 years. Read on...and have a blast!
Grab your cigars and man your panels as Tony Scott's tense thriller kicks off our list of the top 30 action movies of the past 30 years. Featuring excellent back-and-forth dialogue between Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman (some scripted by Quentin Tarantino), the movie earned three Oscar nominations.
Legendary Hong Kong action director John Woo brought his unique touch to the Mission: Impossible franchise. The second installment in the Tom Cruise-starring franchise found the special agent in Australia trying to destroy a genetically modified disease.
If it's a list of action movies, you know Arnold is going to be in there. Teaming up with Carl Weathers, Arnold leads a team of special force ops to hunt down some ugly mother-effers.
Staying with the Arnold theme, the action star joined forces here with James Cameron for the blockbuster True Lies. Co-starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold and a very young Eliza Dushku, the film features Arnie taking down a bunch of terrorists no matter what it takes... including a missile.
Interestingly enough, out of all the Fast & Furious movies, fans voted Tokyo Drift into the Top 30. Perhaps this means we'll be seeing more drifting in the next two Fast movies...
How do you make the ultimate action movie? Well, start off by casting a bunch of action movie icons, add in a rescue mission and kick back and watch the good guys blow stuff up and shoot down the bad guys real good.
Four years ago, hardly anybody knew who Sharlto Copley was...then Neill Blomkamp's District 9 happened and put the actor on the map. Drawing on sociological themes, the sci-fi thriller about a government agent and extraterrestrial creatures captivated audiences worldwide.
The Asgardian God earns a solid spot on the Top 30 list. Before he teamed up with The Avengers or prepared to enter The Dark World, the son of Odin was banished to Earth, fell in love with Natalie Portman and took down a giant walking incinerating robot aptly named Destroyer.
The Joes returned to theaters earlier this year in full force, but four years ago the comic book/toy franchise made the leap to the big screen with big names playing famous (toy) characters.
Well, he did say he'd be back. Sure enough Arnold and that pesky T-1000 played by Robert Patrick make our top action movie list. James Cameron's sci-fi action flick deployed some breakthrough computer technology to animate the metallic T-1000.
If the world is coming to an end, Roland Emmerich is probably behind the camera. Famous for destroying the White House in Independence Day, Emmerich took a much more global approach to mass destruction in this movie as Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal were left to figure out how to save us all.
We searched every warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in the area and sure enough, Andrew Davis' action adventure and one of Harrison Ford's best thrillers was a fan favorite.
How do you revive a franchise that left a sour taste in fans' mouths? Start from the beginning. Matthew Vaughn brought us all the way back to the beginning of the X-Men story and interlaced real world events in a superhero movie that both fans and critics loved.
Speaking of superheroes and starting from the beginning, Marc Webb and the folks at Sony decided to start over fresh with the story of Peter Parker. Co-starring Emma Stone and Denis Leary, the superhero flick performed so well, we're getting two more installments over the next few years!
Yippie-kai, oh, you know the rest. In the late '80s John McTiernan helmed one of the most influential and entertaining movies ever made. While there was no indication of how the franchise would devolve over the years, the original Die Hard still stands as one of the smartest and best action movies ever made.
Is Christopher Nolan's mind-warping sci-fi flick really at number 15... or is it all a dream? Quick, grab your tops and give them a spin! Nolan steps outside the Batman franchise to weave this trippy tale of dream invasions that earned $800 million worldwide to become one of the highest grossing movies of all-time.
If you don't know his name, you're probably living under a rock. Just don't tell that to Tony Stark; you might bruise that massive ego of his. Marvel's run-up to one of the highest grossing movies of all-time *cough* Avengers, began here, with Tony escaping from a cave in Afghanistan and being forced to stop his business partner Obadiah Stane.The rest, as they say, is history.
Ah yes, Men in Black. Back in the late '90s when summer blockbusters starring Will Smith were accompanied by hit rap songs, Barry Sonnefeld's extraterrestrial busting flick was cleaning up at the box office, much to fans' delight. The unforgettable one-liners and characters are proof that Neurolyzers don't work on movie audiences.
Very few directors could bring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Billy Bob Thornton together in the same movie and yet, Michael Bay did just that. While the premise of the movie is quite action-packed, the movie did earn Bruce Willis a Razzie Award for Worst Actor and left us with a terribly annoying Aerosmith song.
He may be the king of sci-fi nowadays, but just a few years ago, J.J. Abrams was rebooting the Star Trek franchise much to the nervous anticipation of Trekkies everywhere. Their concerns were for naught as Abrams delivered a solid movie worthy of a sequel and a ticket to prolonging the Star Wars franchise.
Of Christopher Nolan's three Batman movies, the second one remains the most beloved. Featuring an Oscar-winning turn by the late Heath Ledger as The Joker, The Dark Knight raised the level of drama and chaos in the Caped Crusader's life up to a whole new level.
“I feel the need. The need for speed!” Tom Cruise stars as ace fighter pilot Maverick in this glorified commercial for the US Navy. In fact, the US Navy set up recruiting booths in major cinemas to try and catch some of the adrenaline charged guys leaving the screenings. They had their highest applications rates for years as a result!
Action director Michael Bay was tasked with turning a 20-year-old toy franchise into a super, action-filled mega movie and he did it with Transformers, the 2007 film starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. Giant robots that turn into cool cars and back again to fight each other -- What’s not to love?!
Ewoks aside, 1983’s Return of the Jedi was a great action movie and the culmination of George Lucas’s original trilogy of Star Wars films at the time. Space battles, Jabba’s barge and, ok, the Ewok battle of Endor all make this movie an action-filled, fun ride.
One of director Roland Emmerich’s first big budget action/destruction films was this 1996 spectacle that had Will Smith fighting off an alien invasion, of course, on July 4th, Independence Day!
The Bourne franchise started with a young Matt Damon playing the secret spy trying to figure out his identity in the 2002 film that started it all, The Bourne Identity. Damon starred in two more sequels before handing the torch off to Jeremy Renner in 2012’s The Bourne Legacy.
“Welcome to Jurassic Park!” Although the iconic Steven Spielberg film came out 20 years ago, it is back in the theaters in a modified 3D format for a whole new generation to enjoy. And, although the dinosaurs are mostly CG, we dare you not to be adrenalized when the T-Rex chases the jeep!
Christian Bale's Batman shows up again in his last outing directed by Christopher Nolan and going up against a menacing Bane, played by Tom Hardy. The summer action flick was a huge success at the box office taking in over 1 billion dollars worldwide. That’s billion with a ‘B.'
Who can turn a theme park ride into a billion-dollar franchise? Johnny Depp can! And he did with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as lovable pirate Jack Sparrow. The 2003 movie started it all and it’s had 3 sequels to follow, with a fifth planned for 2015.
"The Best Superhero Movie Of All Time" is the quote on the box art (and yes, it's our own)...and we still believe it. Joss Whedon’s A-list collection of Marvel superheros was an action lover's dream come true, the Star Wars for the new generation, and our favorite summer action movie of the last 30 years.
Get the "Pandango Pin Bundle" and receive a Zootopia 2 ticket and an exclusive mystery pin of Nick and Judy, Flash or Gary!
*Pandango Pin Bundle is non-refundable. While supplies last. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Official Disney Exclusive Collectible Pin will begin shipping in the month of November. Please use a physical U.S. address where the item can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. See https://redeem.fandango.com/products/pandango-pin-bundle for full terms and conditions.
Take one last trip to Oz with the For Good Collector’s Pack, featuring a Movie Ticket and a Limited-Edition Costume Sketch Poster by Paul Tazewell.exclusive sketch of Academy Award-winning designer Paul Tazewell’s original costume design!
*For Good Collector’s Pack is non-refundable. While supplies last. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Poster Print will begin shipping in the month of November. Please use a physical address where the item can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/for-good-collectors-pack . Universal Pictures Marketing and its affiliates are not sponsors of this bundle.
Buy a ticket between 11/20-11/29 to opening weekend (12/4-12/7) for Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair and be the first to receive a Gogo Yubari Fortnite outfit!
"Movie ticket is non-refundable. Fortnite outfit will be provided on 11/30/25. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 12:00am ET on 11/20/25 and 11:59pm PT on 11/29/25 and purchase at least one movie ticket to ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ for an opening weekend showtime (showtimes between 12/4/25 and 12/7/25). On 11/30/25, purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing one (1) Fortnite Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for one (1) Gogo Yubari Fortnite outfit. Code expires, and must be redeemed at https://www.fortnite.com/redeem by, 4:00pm PT on 12/31/25. Code is one time use only. Limit one Code per Fandango account and Fortnite account. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. An Epic Games account is required to play Fortnite and redeem a Code. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango's terms and policies, at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies. Redemption of the Code is subject to Epic Games’ Terms of Service, at https://legal.epicgames.com/en-US/epicgames/tos.
Join FanClub Today to Get $20 in Bonus Codes*
The “Join FanClub and Get $20 in Bonus Codes” offer (the “Offer”) is valid starting November 24, 2025, for a limited time only. To qualify, you must enroll in a paid Fandango FanClub membership either through Fandango.com/fanclub or by adding FanClub to your cart during ticket checkout, where the Offer will be automatically applied. This Offer is not valid for current FanClub members. Eligible customers will receive two (2) promo codes via email: one (1) $10 promo code valid toward a Fandango movie ticket purchase, and one (1) $10 promo code valid toward a movie or TV episode rental or purchase on Fandango at Home. If you join FanClub with a paid membership (no free trial), the promo codes will be delivered within 24 to 48 hours after your membership begins. If you opt into a 7-day free trial, the promo codes will be sent after your trial ends and your membership automatically converts to a paid membership. To be eligible, you must be an active, paying FanClub member at the time the Offer is delivered and at the time you redeem the promo codes. The Fandango promo code is valid for up to $10 off one ticket order for any movie at a participating Fandango theater and must be redeemed by January 31, 2026. The code is one-time use only and must be redeemed on Fandango.com or via the Fandango app. It cannot be used at theater box offices. If the cost of the ticket and any associated fees exceeds $10, the user is responsible for the difference. The code has no residual value, is non-transferable, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. It has no cash value except as required by law and is void where prohibited. It cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Limit one code per person. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited). The Fandango at Home promo code is valid for up to $10 off a single rental or purchase transaction of a movie or TV episode on Fandango at Home and must also be redeemed by January 31, 2026. The code is one-time use only, and any unused value is forfeited. If the total cost exceeds $10, the user is responsible for the difference. The code is non-transferable, cannot be combined with other offers, has no cash value (except as required by law), and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited). Taxes may apply. Adjustments to prior purchases will not be permitted. Fandango reserves the right to withdraw or modify this Offer at any time, in its sole discretion and without notice. Use of the promo codes is subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies and FanClub Program Terms.
Embark on a final journey to Pandora with the Collector’s Print Bundle, featuring one Movie Ticket and a Limited-Edition Print!
*Collector’s Print Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Collectible Mini Print will begin shipping in December. Please use a physical U.S. address where the poster shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/collectors-print-bundle.
Buy a ticket to The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, get The SpongeBob SquarePants Triple Feature bundle for $7.99 on Fandango at Home!
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase, between 12:01am PT on 11/24/25 and 11:59pm PT on 12/26/25, at least one movie ticket to ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants'. Purchaser will receive a post-purchase email containing 1 Fandango at Home Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for the purchase (and not the rental) of The SpongeBob SquarePants Triple Feature bundle for $7.99 in My Offers in your account on http://fandangoathome.com and via participating Fandango at Home apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires on (and must be used by) 12/30/25 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You must have a Fandango at Home account to redeem your Code on Fandango at Home. Fandango at Home is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to open a Fandango at Home account. Credit card may be required for transactions on fandangoathome.com. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Search for SquarePants Starter Set for a ticket for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants and an exclusive LED Patrick Star popcorn bucket.
*Search for SquarePants Starter Set is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The LED Patrick Star Popcorn Bucket will begin shipping in December. Please use a physical U.S. address where the popcorn bucket shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. Valid only in the U.S. and D.C., excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law. Not valid with any other offer. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/search-for-squarepants-starter-set
Love classic films? Love someone who loves classic films? Check out Turner Classic Movies Film Festival exclusive holiday gifting items through Fandango FanStore.
Buy a ticket to Wicked: For Good, get Wicked for $9 on Fandango at Home!
Limited time offer. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app and purchase, between 5am PT on 10/8/25 and 11:59pm PT on 12/7/25, at least one movie ticket to ‘Wicked: For Good’. Purchaser will receive a post-purchase email containing 1 Fandango at Home Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for the purchase (and not the rental) of ‘Wicked’ for $9 in My Offers in your account on http://athome.fandango.com and via participating Fandango at Home apps. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Code expires on (and must be used by) 12/10/25 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value, except as required by law. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law). You must have a Fandango at Home account to redeem your Code on Fandango at Home. Fandango at Home is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to open a Fandango at Home account. Credit card may be required for transactions on fandangoathome.com. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer and redemption of the Code are subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Buy tickets to see the film three times in IMAX, get a limited-edition Avatar: Fire and Ash print
Limited time offer. While supplies last. Log into your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 6:00am PT on 11/17/25 and 11:59pm PT on 1/23/26 and purchase at least three (3) IMAX tickets to three (3) different IMAX showtimes of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (purchases must be made in separate transactions). Purchaser will receive an email on 1/25/26 containing one (1) Promotional Code (“Code”) that is redeemable for one Avatar: Fire and Ash limited-edition IMAX print, while supplies last. Limited-edition print will ship in February. There is a limited quantity of Codes available in this promotion. Codes will stop being distributed on the earlier of (i) the Code distribution limit being reached, (ii) Avatar: Fire and Ash no longer being in theaters, or (iii) 11:59pm PT on 1/26/26. There is a limited quantity of Code redemptions available in this promotion. Code expires, and can no longer be used, when the limit of Code redemptions has been reached, or at 11:59pm PT on 2/1/26, whichever comes first. Limit one Code per transaction. You may have to pay taxes additionally. One-time use only. Void where prohibited. Offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. If lost or stolen, cannot be replaced. No cash value, except as required by law. Non-transferable. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid in the U.S. only. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at Terms and Policies at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Let the games begins. Don’t miss all your favorite Superstars at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames!
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