From the groundbreaking Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! to the iconic Blade Runner, these are some of the best cult classic action movies.
Although many incredible movies spanning all different genres have become cult classics over the years, action films are a category that immediately comes to mind, mostly given the quantity of incredibly influential movies it has delivered. This often has to do with their lasting imprint on audiences, whether because of the genre boundaries they transcended, the creative risks they took, or the unique and unconventional storytelling they featured, often elevated by stylish imagery.
To celebrate the number of iconic films that have become must-sees in this niche category, we look back at some of the best cult classic action movies of all time and rank them by their cult classic status. From Mad Max to Blade Runner, these movies manage to keep audiences equal parts entertained by their incredible action sequences and immersed in their worldbuilding.
This more than anything drives home the fact that these listicles are very US-focused. If it hadn't been for Oldboy and, you could argue, Dredd then this one would be blatantly embarrassing. But still... where is Seven Samurai or Kung-fu Hustle or Hard Boiled/The Killer or The Raid or, to some degree, Leon?
Run Lola run is epic. If you like that movie you should check out Victoria (2015). The whole movie is one long take. It took 3x to get it right and it’s a masterpiece as far as epic filmmaking and choreography.
Fight Club and Blade Runner I wouldn't really consider as action movies at all. You'd may as well put the Princess Bride in there if you're playing that fast and loose with the genre.
The Raid definitely deserves a place. Id put Death Proof in there too, because I don't think it's all that well known.
I guess the difference for me is you don't really watch Fight Club for the spectacle of the fight scenes, like you would in The Matrix or Die Hard. Yeah it's got fighting in it but the action isn't really the point of the movie, it's about the growth of the fight club and relationship between the 3 main characters.
Gods. The Ong Bak and them flaming knees. The bloody tree in the opening. I don’t know how well it holds up, but when it came out I remember my jaw just hanging for basically the entire duration.
half that list is far from a cult movie. Fight Club in particular may have similarly devoted fans, but the movie was a huge success on release, and that inherently prevents cult status. If a movie is popular across the board, it shouldn't be on any "cult" list.
Nothing about the 1995 Dredd movie? What makes a cult classic is highly subjective, but I think it should be hard to find. Makes the hunt more fun. I found out very recently that Big Trouble in Little China is not really available on streaming services. I bought the blu-ray.