In 2001, Rob Cohen Fast and Furious created an action classic, but it’s no secret that there are many action movie franchises out there that are even better. Delving into the world of underground street racing, car culture and high-octane crime, the team of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker has become synonymous with unrivaled cinema. While these films are entertaining, popcorn-munching classics, some select cinematic series are more enjoyable overall.
The action genre, which combines an epic blend of science fiction, gritty revenge films and ruthless missions, has generated more audiences than most other films. The last 30 years, in particular, have seen one hit after another hit the silver screen. Finding a great action movie isn’t hard, but turning it into a hit franchise is another matter entirely.
John Wick Has More Style and Substance Than The Fast and the Furious
Image courtesy of Summit Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection
In 2014, Keanu Reeves’ career was revived overnight when he starred in Chad Stahelski’s action masterpiece. John Wick. Telling the story of a retired Russian assassin seeking revenge for the murder of his dog, he became the new face of a whole new era for the genre. Traversing the New York mafia and underground society of hitmen, the anti-hero’s personal vendetta redefined 21st century action.
John Wick elevates virtually every component of the action genre above Fast and Furiousfrom more stylish use of color to a stronger protagonist and much better fight scenes. The only way it falls short of Dom Toretto’s story is that it doesn’t lean as heavily into the “epic” side of its genre, although that ultimately works to the series’ benefit. Watching Wick’s four-part revenge arc play out was the greatest stealth success of the century.
In 2020, Netflix released its first Production film starring Chris Hemsworth as Australian mercenary Tyler Rake. He follows him on a grueling mission to India, where he is tasked with rescuing a teenager when his father’s rival places a bounty on his head. With a potential killer literally around every corner, they fight their way through. From there, a whole new hero appeared in the genre, returning in a sequel that somehow felt even more epic than the first.
Production may fall on the newer side of the action genre, but it’s undoubtedly a better experience than Fast and Furious. With a compelling lead character, superb fight choreography and more intense direction, the Russo Brothers and Sam Hargrave have created something reminiscent of Call of Duty campaign. The one thing Dom Toretto and the gang do well is make their adventures always seem bigger, but this masterpiece somehow outdid the entire series on its first try.
The first Matrix movie is better than all the Fast and Furious films combined
Neo with outstretched hand in The MatrixImage via Warner Bros.
In 1999, the Wachowski sisters revolutionized science fiction with their tribute to Ghost in the Shell, The Matrix. The film, headlined by Keanu Reeves, is about a hacker named Neo who discovers that his entire reality is a false construct created by intelligent machines. Escaping the program, he teams up with Morpheus, who believes him to be the prophesied “One” who will save humanity from the control of the sinister AI.
Admittedly, Matrix The sequels do get worse, but they never miss a beat when it comes to the action scenes. Regardless of the shortcomings of the third film or the reboot, there’s nothing wrong with it. Fast and Furious franchise that is getting closer to fighting in Matrix franchise. After all, a car heist is hard to compare to the stakes or emotional cost of fighting to free humanity itself.
Mad Max – automotive action perfection
Kjell Nilsson as Lord Humungus in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.Image via Warner Bros.
George Miller started his Mad Max the 1979 epic that introduced the world to elite Australian policeman Max Rockatansky. After the fall of civilization, the franchise evolved into the world’s best apocalyptic action movie, following Max as he saves the helpless in the wasteland. Everything came to a head when in 2015 Fury Road The continuation of the legacy has officially secured its title as the coolest epic of the 21st century.
It’s not just that the action scenes steal the show Fast and Furiousbut Miller outdoes it on his own turf by making high-speed car chases the centerpiece of the story. A few muscle cars or Lamborghinis have their work cut out for them when it comes to watching a hungry, fiery armada of modified cars pursue a fortified war machine. Characters like Dom may be cool, but they have nothing in common with Max.
Die Hard has mastered the one-man army formula
Image via Srudios 20th Century
In 1988, Bruce Willis completely changed his career from comedy television star to action legend when he was cast as John McClane in John McTiernan’s film. Die Hard. After the first film perfected the one-man army trope, which pitted a New York City cop against Hans Gruber’s gang of thieves, he returned for a slew of sequels, ending in 2013. In each installment, attempting to top the last, fans saw the hero foil a rogue military plot, stop a bomber, and even go up against a fighter jet.
Even when Die Hard is at its worst, it still boasts more developed and likable characters than its competitors and ups the stakes even further. Perhaps its greatest charm is that it perfected the recognizable character of Joe, which Vin Diesel keeps trying to copy with Dom, only for it to become a meme. After 38 years, Die Hard is the greatest name in action, and Fast and Furious there’s nothing on it.