With Top Gun: Maverick crossing $1 billion globally, a career record for Tom Cruise, it is soaring its way through the box office for the fourth straight week, wowing old and new viewers with its action sequences and nostalgia. From the opening scene, fans were treated to a much older Tom Cruise whizzing around on his trusted old motorcycle, but the prequel proved that Maverick still had his wings!
The flying scenes in the movie's last 30-minutes left fans feeling an adrenaline rush and wanting more fact-paced action. From climbing the Burj Khalifa to tracking down kidnappers, there is no shortage of action movies that can bring goosebumps like Maverick.
Taken (2008)
Taken has become a recognizable action movie, toying with the use of international travel, father and daughter relationship, and the chilling way to make calls on a mobile phone. The opening scene saw fans screaming at their screens in frustration when Bryan was unable to reach his daughter as she relayed the ongoing abduction she was witnessing - before being taken herself.
The movie created some of the most suspenseful scenes in cinematic history due to viewers being privy to each character's point of view at the time of the abduction and feeling the same fear both characters felt. Bryan proved to be the doting dad, and through sophisticated fight scenes, many viewers were stunned as to just how powerful he was. The Liam Neeson-starring film became a tale of cat and mouse that also encouraged viewers to solve the crime, despite their shaky hands and wide-eyed stares.
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix might be responsible for creating the most iconic sunglasses in movie history and prompting a love for full-length leather coats, but it also acted as a blueprint for future action movies. The Matrix's choreography was something to behold, and despite being dressed head to toe in leather, many of the cast completed it successfully.
The movie changed the way people saw action movies by paving the way for other unique additions, sending fans into a frenzy with its mind-bending special effects and impressive cinematography. The movie didn't fail to wow fans which ultimately is the reason for its continued success and huge following.
Drive (2011)
Drive has become a cult classic due to its many references to '80s culture which are made even more exciting by Ryan Gosling's stellar performance as a getaway driver, who has more control over his car than his life. This fast-paced flick places fans in the passenger seat before taking them on a life-altering joy ride.
Through the use of cinematography and tracking shots, fans are immersed in the action, resulting in the viewing experience being electric for many. Drive cleverly targets the senses through high-speed cars, low lighting, and most of all an incredible soundtrack that mirrors the fans' racing heartbeat as they ride along with the Driver.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)
There are many things that Top Gun does better than Mission: Impossible, but both movie franchises are responsible for spiking fans' blood pressure. Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol took viewers' fears and made them look scary when Tom Cruise carried these stunts.
The movie provides a sophisticated insight into American intelligence, and a suave, intricate plot offers fans a front-row seat in Agent Hunt's next mission. However, going undetected proves to be harder than it looks with fans holding their breath alongside Agent Hunt due to the movie's use of high quality explosions and impressive CGI.
Kidnap (2017)
Kidnap is one of the very few action movies to focus on a badass female and even won praises from female fans who advocated that the movie accurately represents how far mothers will go for their children. The movie threw viewers into a false sense of security but soon made fans' hearts lurch when a game of Marco Polo ended in a kidnap.
Through clever dialogue and unusual camera angles, this spine-chilling thriller places viewers within a game of cat and mouse that continuously toys with Karla's proximity to rescuing her son. Kidnap encourages fans to root for Karla as they place their foot on their imaginary gas pedal whilst slowly plotting revenge on the people that took Frankie, who had become like a son to viewers.
John Wick (2014)
Keanu Reeves may have been an unlikely lead, but his performance as John Wick blew audiences away and saw this initial one-off movie become a highly successful franchise. John Wick proved what a talented and ruthless man can do with just a pencil, prompting fans' early obsession with this heart-racing action thriller.
The movie's clever choreography showcases John Wick's ability to clear out a room in an effortless fashion that is spectacular to fans, providing them with many satisfying but shocking scenes of violence. But, there is also a sense of empathy towards John's excursion due to his dog's death - a gift from his wife before dying from a terminal illness. John Wick's quick transition from a calm civilian to a vengeful fighter shocked viewers who had previously been unsuspecting of his violent outbursts until they happened.
Unstoppable (2010)
Nothing quite says adrenaline like a runaway freight train that's been labeled 'unstoppable' by multiple professionals trying everything they can to shop the sheer carnage it's creating. Alongside the train gaining momentum the movie's lively plot also picks up speed and has viewers hooked even before they hear this fast-paced flicks is inspired by a true story.
Unstoppable reimagines the overdone car chase by replacing it with two trains heading the same way on the same track, but with one fault: one of them is unmanned and unstoppable. The movie toys with viewers' emotions by providing suspense that is interrupted by explosions, helicopters, and death-defying stunts - from Chris Pine in particular. Unstoppable gives viewers a refreshing action movie that took an usually ignored form of transport and, instead, made it a powerful force unstoppable in its tracks.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road had fans gasping for breath with its fast pace taking form from the offset. The movie's post-apocalyptic setting provided fans with barren lands that were perfect for utter carnage which is exactly what happened from start to finish.
This fiery flick took full advantage of its vast landscape by combining human and nonhuman threats with natural elements like weather to create an onscreen battle that wasn't like anything viewers had seen before. The movie is considered a cinematic masterpiece due to its visual storytelling, stunning scenery, and breathtaking stunts which saw viewers glued to their seats.
Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright's Baby Driver looked like it had a much higher budget than it did, especially with the sophisticated edge it emanates throughout its runtime. The movie focuses on a getaway driver that is seriously skilled in high-speed car chases and encourages many fans to press their foot on the imaginary brake.
The movie contains many impressive car stunts that get fans' blood pumping alongside its incredible soundtrack and intricate tracking shots. Baby Driver is action-packed from start to finish and continues to have that effect even outside of the car. It keeps fans guessing as to what happens next and, in some cases, gives them time to process what just happened.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick may have been the most highly anticipated prequel to date, and it's safe to say that the wait definitely paid off for fans. Whether it's the speed of the fighter jets or the turbulent terrain, fans felt as though they were placed right in the center of the action, with the movie's clever use of camera angles giving viewers the ride of their life.
The sequel provided the same fast-paced action as its 1986 release and saw fans gripping their armrests whilst others searched for their own death-defying flying experience. From tension between pilots to twists in the air, the movie definitely encourages fans to feel part of the troop, even if it leaves them feeling a bit dizzy and jelly legged.