The best action movies you may have yet to see

Movies that didn't get the credit they deserved
'The Last Boy Scout' (1991)
'Blue Steel' (1990)
'Hard To Kill' (1990)
'Demolition Man' (1993)
'The Long Kiss Goodnight' (1996)
'Fight Club' (1999)
'Femme Fatale' (2002)
'Crank'  (2006)
'Speed Racer' (2008)
'Haywire' (2011)
'Looper' (2012)
'Dredd' (2012)
'Pain & Gain'  (2013)
'Lucy' (2014)
'The Guest' (2014)
'The Nice Guys'  (2016)
'Free Fire'  (2017)
'Atomic Blonde' (2017)
'Extraction' (2020)
Movies that didn't get the credit they deserved

Whether it was the public or the critics, these action movies didn't get the love they deserved when they were released. Some have become cult classics. Which ones did you miss?

Photo: Focus Features LCC

'The Last Boy Scout' (1991)

Brilliant in every sense. This film has action, explosions, it's a great buddy film and the one liners are absolutely hilarious. One of Bruce Willis' best movies. It also introduced us to the stunning Halle Berry.

'Blue Steel' (1990)

Jamie Lee Curtis is a police officer who kills a burglar on her first night on patrol. She then becomes the object of desire for a murderous psychopath and witness to the shooting. Another must-see.

'Hard To Kill' (1990)

It's been a while since Steven Seagal made a decent movie but this is definitely one of them. This is Segal at his peak, along with a superlative Kelly LeBrock. Steven Seagal's character spends seven years in a coma and wakes up to be hunted by the gang who tried to kill him previously.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

'Demolition Man' (1993)

A wonderfully silly and violent film set in the future. Sandra Bullock and Sylvester Stallone have an unexpected chemistry but it is Wesley Snipes who steals all the scenes, with one of the best villains of the 90's: Simon Phoenix.

'The Long Kiss Goodnight' (1996)

Living a peaceful life as a teacher with amnesia Geena Davies discovers that she was previously a deadly assassin. Samuel L Jackson plays a private eye caught in the middle, as Davies tries to discover who she really is.

'Fight Club' (1999)

A film that has now become a cult classic. However at the time failed at the box office and was not well received by critics. Brilliant violent and thought provoking. What's the first rule of Fight Club?

Photo: 20th Century Fox

'Femme Fatale' (2002)

Rebecca Romjin is as hypnotic as she is dangerous in this thriller by Brian de Palma. Deception, passion and robbery. A film ahead of its time.

'Crank' (2006)

Jason Statham gets injected with a poison that requires him to keep his adrenaline levels high in order to stay alive until he finds a cure. This is a film of pure adrenaline.

Photo: Lionsgate

'Speed Racer' (2008)

It's hard to win a race when the race is fixed. But that's what our hero must do in order to save his family business.

'Haywire' (2011)

With an all star cast that consists of Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas And Gina Carano. An agent is double crossed and left for dead, but somebody is going to pay.

Photo: Relativity Media

'Looper' (2012)

Science fiction, action, time travel, violence and, above all, Bruce Willis being hunted by his younger self (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Who could ask for anything more?

Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment

'Dredd' (2012)

A big risk after the dreadful (excuse the pun) sly Stallone attempt in 1995. Karl Urban stays loyal to the 2000 AD character and the film is brilliant with a feel fans of the comic were happy with. Dark, futuristic and violent.

Photo: Lionsgate

'Pain & Gain' (2013)

What's the opposite of chick flick? This film is. Michael Bay, Mark Whalberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie more testosterone Than a gym full of steroids.

Photo: Paramount Pictures

'Lucy' (2014)

Scarlett Johansson with her senses and brain sharpened by a synthetic compound is all the world needed in 2014. Despite this, the world was not particularly fond of it. We think it is a really good action film even if the critics disagreed.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

'The Guest' (2014)

Dan Stevens makes it clear that he can do whatever he wants in film. In this case, he is a former American soldier who visits the family of a comrade killed in the war. But, is he really who he says he is?

Photo: Picturehouse

'The Nice Guys' (2016)

Apparently Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling didn't get along at all during this film but you can't tell. They work together brilliantly in this action comedy that recovers the 'bromance' spirit of the 90s.

Photo: Warner Bros

'Free Fire' (2017)

1970's Boston: a black market weapons deal between Chris, the buyer, and Vernon, the dealer, goes terribly wrong with dire consequences.

Photo: StudioCanal UK

'Atomic Blonde' (2017)

An MI6 agent is sent on a mission to Berlin just before the collapse of the wall. Who is the agent? Charlize Theron. The film is based on the 2012 graphic novel 'The Coldest City'.

Photo: Focus Features LCC

'Extraction' (2020)

Chris Hemsworth proves that not only is there life beyond Thor, but that Tyler Rake and a mercenary suit both fit him just as well. It was so good they made a second one.

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