Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

50 Greatest Movie Action Heroes

Features
By Simon Kinnear published 2 September 2013

Character + chaos = cool

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Hit Girl

The Action Hero: Eleven years old (on-screen and off, since that's how old Chloe Grace Moretz was when she filmed Kick-Ass ) and just about the fiercest, sweariest girl in town. See, this is what happens when you're home-schooled by a vigilante.

Most Iconic Moment: When Kick-Ass gets in over his head, Hit-Girl storms an apartment and slaughters an entire gang of drug dealers.

Coolest Catchphrase: "OK, you cunts, let's see what you can do now."

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

Wong Fei-hung

The Action Hero: How cool must this Chinese folk hero have been? Well, he's been played by both Jackie Chan (in Drunken Master ) and Jet Li (in Once Upon A Time In China ). So, very cool, then.

Most Iconic Moment: Once Upon A Time In China 's final showdown with arch nemesis Yim Chun-Tung in a room full of ladders, allowing the men to climb, jump and clamber around in between attacks.

You may like
  • Best James Bond movies Best James Bond movies, ranked! From Dr. No to No Time to Die
  • Next James Bond Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
  • Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now

Coolest Catchphrase: "Win or lose, it's just a game."

Dirty Harry

The Action Hero: Officially, Clint Eastwood's scowling scourge of criminals is a San Francisco cop… but if it wasn't for the badge, he'd pretty much be a vigilante.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Most Iconic Moment: Daring serial killer Scorpio to go for his gun, on the off-chance that Harry has fired all of his bullets. He hasn't.

Coolest Catchphrase: "I know what you're thinking. 'Did he fire six shots or only five?' Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"

Neo

The Action Hero: To his friends, he's just computer-programmer wage slave Thomas Anderson. But to those who have escaped The Matrix , Keanu Reeves' character is saviour-in-waiting Neo. All he needs is to be trained in bullet time.

You may like
  • Best James Bond movies Best James Bond movies, ranked! From Dr. No to No Time to Die
  • Next James Bond Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
  • Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now

Most Iconic Moment: Rescuing Morpheus, from hotel lobby shoot-out to roof-top bullet dodging.

Coolest Catchphrase: "Guns. Lots of guns."

Wolverine

The Action Hero: Born James Howlett, known as Logan but just 'Wolverine' to you and me, Hugh Jackman's grouchy mutant has a self-repairing body that's been augmented with adamantium to make him the most action packed of superheroes.

Most Iconic Moment: The scorching fight with fellow adamantium-assisted mutant Deathstrike in X2 .

Coolest Catchphrase: "I'm the best there is at what I do and what I do best isn't very nice. I'm the Wolverine."

Sanjuro Tsubaki

The Action Hero: Toshiro Mifune's amoral, beard-scratching samurai mostly used brains to save the day in Yojimbo and Sanjuro but could slice and dice when required.

Most Iconic Moment: Villainous Hanbei insists on a duel, so Sanjuro kills him in a single move.

Coolest Catchphrase: "I'm not dying yet. I have to kill quite a few men first."

Ethan Hunt

The Action Hero: As an IMF agent, Tom Cruise's character in the Mission: Impossible series is a master of disguise, an early adopter of really cool tech and an able tactician. All he's missing is a quiet life at home with the missus.

Most Iconic Moment: Hacking into a CIA computer room by gliding down from the roof to avoid detection by motion and noise sensors.

Coolest Catchphrase: We just rolled up a snowball and tossed it into hell."

Bryan Mills

The Action Hero: Ex-CIA spook played by Liam Neeson in Taken and Taken 2 , whose efforts to live a normal life are continually compromised by his daughter's habit of getting, well, taken. Best bring out his particular set of skills to rescue her.

Most Iconic Moment: Ice-cool as he explains to the bad guys exactly what is about to happen - see coolest catchphrase. Shame they didn't listen, really.

Coolest Catchphrase: "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money... but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that will be the end of it - I will not look for you, I will not pursue you... but if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you... and I will kill you."

Max Rockatansky

The Action Hero: Driven 'mad' by the death of his family, feral biker gangs and other aspects to life in post-apocalyptic Australia - not to mention being Mel Gibson - it's no wonder that ex-cop Max has become a road warrior.

Most Iconic Moment: Max takes the wheel of a tanker to help a convoy of settlers break free from a pursuing gang in Mad Max 2 .

Coolest Catchphrase: "I'm just here for the gasoline."

Robin Hood

The Action Hero: Whether human or Disney fox, Sherwood Forest's finest outlaw has been on on-screen outlaw nearly as long as cinema has been going.

Most Iconic Moment: Saving Will Scarlet in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves by firing a flaming arrow into the face of his would-be executioner.

Coolest Catchphrase: "Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That's a naughty word. We never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it."

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Current page: Page 4

Prev Page Page 3 Next Page Page 5
Simon Kinnear
Read more
Best James Bond movies
Action RPGs Best James Bond movies, ranked! From Dr. No to No Time to Die
 
 
Next James Bond
Action Movies Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
 
 
Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights
Movies 20 best movies on HBO Max to watch right now
 
 
Big Screen Spotlight: Highlander rerelease in 4K
Fantasy Movies I watched Highlander 40 years after its release and I completely get why Henry Cavill is rebooting it
 
 
The Super Mario Movie
Movies 10 Best video game movies of all time, ranked
 
 
Bob Odenkirk as Ulysses in Normal
Action Movies Bob Odenkirk and John Wick creator's new movie isn't just an action flick – it also has a surprising amount of heart
 
 
Latest in Movies
Grogu and the Anzellans in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies It turns out the best line in The Mandalorian and Grogu was improv, according to Jon Favreau
 
 
Sam Witwer as Maul in Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars Movies Star Wars fans are "over the timeline between" the prequels and original trilogy
 
 
Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Marvel Movies Marvel star Wyatt Russell says Bucky Barnes actor Sebastian Stan is "amazing" in Avengers: Doomsday
 
 
Sam Porter Bridges in Death Stranding
Sci-Fi Movies Death Stranding movie director reveals Hideo Kojima's reaction to his script
 
 
Boba Fett in The Mandalorian
Star Wars Movies Boba Fett star Temuera Morrison says he was hoping to "pop in" to The Mandalorian and Grogu
 
 
A young girl looking up at an alien in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Disclosure Day is the third film in a "sort of trio" with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., says star
 
 
Latest in Features
Persona 4 Revival trailer screenshot of the protagonist
Persona Persona 4 Revival's most exciting change is hidden in plain sight
 
 
Lego Football sets on a blurred football pitch
Toys & Collectibles This Lego World Cup 2026 merch is (Premier) leagues ahead of the rest and is the perfect half-time activity
 
 
Exodus Big Preview featured image
RPGs Exodus: The Big Preview
 
 
Elephants in Planet Zoo 2 surrounded by GamesRadar+ summer preview article badging
Simulation Games "We don't want to simplify it and make it easy, that's not where we're at": Planet Zoo 2 developer on approachability, animal improvements, and all new habitats
 
 
Spyro the dragon looking forwards in the sky in a screenshot from Spyro: A Realm Beyond's reveal trailer
Xbox 5 Xbox Games Showcase 2026 announcements I'll be talking about all week
 
 
Exodus screenshot of Jun zipping along in the air with Big Preview branding
RPGs Exodus narrative director dives into its inspirations from Interstellar to Star Wars to Mass Effect
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. A promotional image for Xbox Game Pass, featuring a huge range of devices playing games available on Xbox Game Pass
    1
    Xbox Game Pass lost "millions of subscribers" in just "a few months" after 50% price hike
  2. 2
    Blue Lock season 3 is well on the way with first look and title – despite those season 2 animation controversies
  3. 3
    Exodus: The Big Preview
  4. 4
    In today's AI hardware disaster, Stellar Blade Blood Rain devs prioritize accessible performance
  5. 5
    "Our business today is not healthy": Xbox exec says plan for exclusive games is "not ready"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...