Fans were disappointed when Tom Cruise's rumored cameo in Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness didn't happen but the actor has once again proven himself to be one of the best action stars in recent times thanks to his performance in the critically acclaimed Top Gun: Maverick. And the trailer for Mision Impossible 7 has also shown that there is plenty more awesomeness to come from the star.
But how high is Cruise rated by action movie fans? According to Reddit, he is rated quite highly but so are a couple of other actors. Over the past few decades, multiple action stars have thrilled fans, but Redditors feel that not all of the big names have been impressive. Only a few individuals get pointed out in the threads.
Arnold Schwarzenneger
Dao-Jarlen argues that due to Schwarzenneger's physique, he is the undisputed action star. They write, "He looks the part of larger-than-life hero better than anyone else."
The Redditor is right about Schwarzenneger's physique since, in his prime, he could participate in plenty of stunts and be seen as that stereotypical "action man" (it also probably helped that he had a history as a bodybuilder too). And since the former California Governor always looks the part, his characters tend to be very believable. No one can doubt Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer's ability to take on an alien predator or Colonel John Matrix's level of courage as he takes on a hundred men by himself.
Jackie Chan
Redditor rgragan roots for Jackie Chan because he "does his own stunts and is charmingly funny." As most fans of the actor know, Chan has been starring in action flicks for over 5 decades now.
Chan easily distinguishes himself from other stars by blending action with humor (and he doesn't have to come up with funny statements). Like the comedians of the Silent Era, he makes audiences laugh through his facial expressions and mannerisms. But as the Redditor puts it, what Chan deserves the most credit for is his stunt work. Breaking over 10 bones throughout his career (via Kotaku) and never quitting just shows how committed he is to his craft.
Bruce Willis
Although Willis has recently retired due to health problems (via The Guardian), fans will always appreciate his work. Redditor justanothernakedred feels Willis revolutionized the action genre. They argue that he broke "the 80s muscle-bound trend of Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Lundgren etc," adding, "his characters rely largely on wit and he never really seems like the toughest guy in a fight."
Indeed, Willis has always been relatable because he looks more like the average guy. Unlike action stars, such as Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris, it's generally not easy to predict the outcome of fights involving Willis' characters. He also doesn't just thrive on violence alone. Willis is always granted brilliant dialogue too and, as such, he is responsible for some of the best action movie one-liners.
Tom Cruise
About Cruise, LowCarbCracker declares that "no one else on the list is near his level in terms of acting chops" and that "he has been doing this for over 25 years." The correct number is 40 since Cruise had his first movie role back in 1981.
In terms of longevity, Cruise trumps everyone else. Most of the popular action stars have driven box office numbers for only 2 decades at most, but Cruise continues to do so to this day. Moreover, he has a wider range as an actor because he has appeared in dramatic roles and is quite the daredevil too. Some of the wildest Mission Impossible stunts still haven't been topped to this day (and they were all done by the actor himself).
Bruce Lee
Despite dying at the age of 33, Lee left a lasting legacy. ColtLee992 is a person who will heavily vouch that the actor's work deserves to be applauded because he "truly brought Kung fu and martial arts to Hollywood" and "was a superstar."
In an age where most action stars rely on stunt doubles for fight scenes, Lee's work feels even the more special. He is one of the few actors who can boast of being the founder of a martial arts philosophy, the Jeet Kune Do. A lot of credit also goes to him for advocating for more roles to be made available for the Asian community while also breaking down the racial stereotypes that Hollywood promoted.
Keanu Reeves
Schnitzel129 picks Reeves because he also started out a long time ago and is once again "redefining the action genre once [...] with the John Wick series." Having initially fallen out of the limelight in the 2000s, Reeves resurfaced in the 2010s, becoming one of the actors who made great comebacks.
It's impossible to argue about the abilities of an actor who was recently named the best martial artist in the world by Taekwondo Life Magazine. Fans don't even have to look far to see how good he is. Through the John Wick film series, Reeves has revolutionized the genre by using techniques such as gun-fu, salat, and ninjutsu.
Jason Statham
Skey91 feels Statham is the modern era's quintessential action star because "he has the look the attitude and the voice." The British star has been in the limelight since the early 2000s.
Though Statham doesn't have a large physique, there is never doubt as to whether his characters will kick ass or not. That's all thanks to his confidence. While most action stars prefer playing characters that beat down baddies, Statham has portrayed both heroes and villains with ease. Additionally, he's been very consistent too.
Vin Diesel
CocoNew feels Vin Diesel deserves recognition because "he can actually act." And it's not an empty claim because Diesel has actually been nominated for over 30 awards across different organizations throughout his career.
Not one to hop around too much, Diesel has mostly stuck to the Fast & Furious franchise and fans wouldn't wish for him to be anywhere else. His character, Dominic Toretto, has just about everything audiences would want from an action here. His status as an action star is also boosted by the fact that he is also one of the best ever drivers in the movies (a skill many other action stars cannot boast of).
Sylvester Stallone
MovieLuv778 simply writes, "Stallone is pretty cool." That's quite accurate because the actor's name always pops up whenever the '80s and '90s action movies are being discussed.
Stallone hasn't always been a darling with critics but fans adore him because his movies are never short of entertainment value. No matter how bad the script is, fans can relax knowing Stallone will make up for the bad dialogue and plot with breathtaking shootout scenes and unforgettable slow-motion runs.
Iko Uwais
Redditor akoyaseishu describes Uwais as having "tons of personality," adding, " he is amazing in fight scenes." The actor is best known for playing the protagonist in The Raid film series.
Many critics have agreed that the fight choreography and Uwais performance in The Raid is difficult to top. In both movies, Uwais' character hardly takes a rest from breathing baddies. And the 'personality' part is correct too because the actor never plays mere brutes. His characters are good-hearted, canny, and principled.