In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, the ESFP personality is one of the sixteen established personality types. The ESFP personality is often known as "The Performer." These types of people are usually spontaneous, fun-loving, and energetic. Given these traits, it seems as though ESFPs would love a good action movie.
With so many great action movies to choose from, the modern hits to the classics, it's important to narrow down which films would be ideal for ESFP viewers and which ones would not suit their particular tastes and interests. Here are some action movies ESFPs will love and some they will hate.
Love: Central Intelligence (2016)
Central Intelligence is a buddy action-comedy starring Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. Hart plays a man who was once the cool kid in school but now lives a mundane job. All that changes when he meets up with a former classmate who is now a super spy (Johnson).
Despite his intimidating size, Johnson's character is a big teddy bear. Sure, he'll beat up the bad guys, but he's also friendly to everyone he meets and enjoys getting to know people. These are qualities shared by ESFPs and are rarely seen in the action genre.
Hate: Logan (2017)
The critically acclaimed Logan marked Hugh Jackman's epic final film as Logan aka Wolverine. The film finds Logan living a dismal and aimless life filled with regret. When he finds a young mutant in the need of help, he becomes her reluctant guardian.
While Logan holds some responsibility to his young partner, he is not the most welcoming road trip buddy. He is a reserved man who has no interest in sharing his emotions or thought with those around him which is the exact opposite of most ESFPs.
Love: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Tom Holland's Peter Parker gets his first solo film in the MCU with Spider-Man: Homecoming. The film finds Parker trying to prove himself as a real hero worthy of joining the Avengers while battling a new villain named The Vulture (Michael Keaton).
ESFPs will no doubt admire Spider-Man's enthusiasm for crime-fighting and being part of the superhero world. ESFPs take a passionate approach to things as well and like to keep a sunny disposition whenever appropriate.
Hate: Captain Marvel (2019)
The newest and perhaps strongest hero in the MCU was introduced in last year's Captain Marvel. Brie Larson plays the titular cosmic hero who finds herself stranded on Earth and realizing she had a life on this planet. Teaming with a young Nick Fury, she begins to uncover the truth about her past.
ESFPs like to help people realize their potential and encourage them forward. This is not the kind of mentoring Captain Marvel gets in her journey as she is controlled by those around her and held back from realizing her true power.
Love: The Matrix (1999)
The Wachowski's The Matrix was one of the most ground-breaking action films of all time. Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a man living a dull and aimless life when he is recruited by a mysterious figure named Morpheus. The truth is finally revealed to Neo that his world is a simulation run by machines.
ESFPs value individuality and try to help others recognize that in themselves. They want to help people rise above the crowd, which is what Morpheus does with Neo. He helps him escape his mundane world and experience something new and exciting.
Hate: Constantine (2005)
Constantine is another Keanu Reeves action film based on the popular comic book character. Reeves plays the titular character, a man who keeps demons and supernatural creatures in check on Earth while trying to earn his place in heaven.
Constantine is the kind of anti-hero who really doesn't have a lot of passion for his work. He sees it all as a means to an end and goes through the motions with his world-saving adventures. ESFPs expect to see some passion and drive in others that they themselves possess.
Love: Predator (1987)
Not only is Predator a thrilling sci-fi action-adventure, but it also introduced one of the greatest movie monsters in cinema. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the leader of a band of commandos on a mission in the deep jungle. While there, the team begins being hunted by a deadly alien.
Part of the reason Predator is so much fun is the team at the center of it all. These tough guys are like their own one-man armies but they work together and form an unstoppable group of badasses.
Hate: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road is the long-awaited Mad Max sequel that proved to be well worth the wait. Tom Hardy takes over the role of Max, the lone wanderer in the wastelands of the post-apocalyptic future who joins a group of women attempting to escape a dangerous warlord.
Max is someone who likes to be on his own. Even in the dangerous world he lives in, he looks for any opportunity to get back out on the road by himself. ESFPs are much more interested in meeting people and working together.
Love: Wanted (2008)
Wanted is a wild and fun adaptation of the cult comic book. James McAvoy stars as an ordinary office worker who is taken out of his dull existence and introduced to the world of secret assassins. Soon he learns the unbelievable skills of this killer community.
ESFPs cannot stand the mundane. They like excitement and energy so they would likely find a lot to like in this story of a man escaping a dull existence and turning his life into something amazing.
Hate: Equilibrium (2002)
Equilibrium is the underrated sci-fi action film starring Christian Bale. Set in a dystopian future in which emotions are outlawed, Bale plays an officer who enforces the law and ensures there are no expressions of emotions in any way.
This world would be torture for ESFPs especially. They love to express their emotions with others and get other people to share their own feelings with them. To be in a society where they would have to bottle that up would probably make them explode.