In the 2010s, the action genre leveled up with films likeJohn WickandThe Raid.
Even more impressive is that both films spawned worthy sequels, arguably outdoing their predecessors.
Unfortunately, action sequels haven’t always had a great reputation.
GivenThe Matrix’simpact on the action genre, a sequel was bound to be an uphill challenge.
Where the film shines most though is in its ambitious action sequences.
Mission: Impossible IIis widely viewed as the black sheep of theMission: Impossiblefranchise.
Image via Warner Bros.
It commits to a dated aesthetic and is, admittedly, not a very goodMission: Impossiblemovie.
It is, however, when viewed on its own, a breezy and delightfully melodramatic action flick.
Though not his greatest work, directorJohn Woo’saction scenes are still better than many directors' at their best.
Licence to Killforeshadowed the darker interpretation of the character we would later see in theDaniel Craigera.
The jokes are crude, the story is incoherent, and the chases and gunfights are dizzyingly chaotic.
However,Martin LawrenceandWill Smith’sinfectious chemistry lights up the screen.
Complicating matters further is secretary Selina Kyle, who becomes a cat-like vigilante after nearly being killed by Schreck.
FromDanny DevitotoChristopher Walken, the ensemble is having a blast,Michelle Pfeifferas Catwoman being the obvious standout.
The fourth installment in theUnderworldfranchise,Underworld: Awakeningis a near-standalone 90 minutes of monster mayhem with little filler.
Image via Columbia Pictures
Each set piece is gleefully gorier than the last, withKate Beckinsaleshowcasing the best fight choreography in the series.
Dont let the franchises shaky reputation and mixed reviews fool you.
This one is B-movie gold.
Image via Warner Bros.
From the opening stick-fighting match to the large-scale desert finale, this is 80s muscle-bound excess at its finest.
However, the film brings plenty of new things to the table, both narratively and in its action.
DirectorGuillermo del Toroelevates this sequel to the 1998 hit with a perfect blend of dark fantasy and action.
Check out the director’s cut for an extended version that many fans agree improves upon the original.
NEXT:Best Legacy Sequels, Ranked
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
