Why Some Action Franchises Endure: My Definitive Top 10 Ranking
by Scott
Top ten lists are always a little dangerous. They say as much about the person writing them as they do about the movies themselves. My taste in action leans toward clean storytelling, memorable heroes, practical stakes, and a sense that the chaos on screen actually means something. Big explosions are great, but only when they’re attached to characters I care about.
With that in mind, here’s my methodical, honest breakdown of my top ten action movie franchises, ranked from best to worst.
Die Hard
At the very top sits Die Hard, and it earns that spot by doing something deceptively simple: it perfected the action movie formula early and never forgot why it worked.
What I love about Die Hard is that it keeps its action grounded in character. John McClane isn’t a superhero. He’s tired, sarcastic, injured, and constantly in over his head. The action feels tense because it has consequences. Every gunshot and broken window matters.
The first film is practically a masterclass in pacing and spatial storytelling, and even when the sequels get bigger and sillier, the DNA of that original movie carries through. Die Hard doesn’t just deliver action; it delivers stakes, wit, and a blueprint countless films still try to copy.
The Matrix
The Matrix lands at number two because it didn’t just raise the bar for action movies — it rewrote the rules.
This franchise blends philosophy, science fiction, and action in a way that feels both ambitious and accessible. The bullet-time visuals were revolutionary, but what keeps me invested is the idea beneath the spectacle: questioning reality, choice, control, and identity.
Even when later entries get messy or overly ambitious, I admire how committed the series is to its themes. The action is stylish and precise, but it always serves a larger concept. Few action franchises can say they genuinely changed how movies are made, and The Matrix absolutely did.
John Wick
John Wick feels like the modern evolution of the action genre done right.
What I appreciate most about this franchise is its clarity of purpose. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a beautifully choreographed, hyper-focused action experience. The world-building is surprisingly rich, but it never slows the momentum.
Every fight scene feels intentional. The camera work respects the choreography, the violence has rhythm, and the mythology grows naturally with each installment. John Wick knows exactly what it is, and it executes that vision with confidence and precision.
James Bond
James Bond earns its place through sheer longevity and adaptability.
What fascinates me about Bond is how the franchise reinvents itself to reflect its era. From Cold War spy thrillers to modern, gritty character studies, Bond has managed to stay culturally relevant for decades.
Not every era or film is perfect, but the character endures because the core idea is strong: sophistication mixed with danger, charm paired with brutality. When Bond is good, it’s iconic. When it stumbles, it still contributes to a legacy few franchises can touch.
Jason Bourne
The Jason Bourne franchise sits comfortably in the middle of my list because of how effectively it stripped action down to its essentials.
Bourne movies are sharp, fast, and paranoid. They feel grounded in a recognizable world where institutions are dangerous and trust is rare. I like how the action often feels chaotic and improvised, reflecting Bourne’s fractured identity and constant state of flight.
While the franchise eventually struggles to recapture its early intensity, those first films remain some of the tightest and most influential modern action thrillers ever made.
The Terminator
The Terminator series is defined by one of the strongest concepts in action cinema: the unstoppable force.
The early films combine science fiction horror with raw, relentless action, and when the franchise is at its best, it’s deeply unsettling. There’s something compelling about an enemy that cannot be reasoned with or slowed down.
That said, the franchise’s later entries dilute the original idea by repeating it too often without meaningful evolution. The highs are very high, but the inconsistency keeps it from ranking higher for me.
Taken
Taken is a franchise built almost entirely on momentum.
The first film works because it’s lean, personal, and brutally efficient. The stakes are simple, the motivation is clear, and the action is direct. I enjoy how it taps into a primal fear and channels it into relentless forward motion.
However, the concept doesn’t have much room to grow. Each sequel feels like a diminishing return on the same premise, which keeps Taken from climbing higher on the list despite its strong start.
Avatar
Avatar is an interesting case, because its action is undeniably impressive, but it’s not what I connect with most.
The spectacle is massive, the world-building is detailed, and the action sequences are technically stunning. I respect the craftsmanship and the ambition behind the franchise.
Still, I find the emotional beats and storytelling less engaging than the action franchises ranked above it. Avatar impresses me more than it excites me, which puts it lower on my personal list.
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is a franchise I admire more than I love.
The commitment to practical stunts is incredible, and each installment tries to top the last in terms of scale and spectacle. There’s something undeniably impressive about watching real, dangerous action unfold on screen.
That said, the films often feel more like showcases for stunts than fully balanced stories. I enjoy them while watching, but they don’t linger with me the way the higher-ranked franchises do.
Star Wars
Star Wars lands at number ten, not because it lacks iconic moments, but because it’s not primarily an action franchise to me.
The action is often secondary to mythology, themes, and character drama. When it works, it’s unforgettable, but when it doesn’t, the action alone can’t carry it.
I respect Star Wars immensely for its cultural impact and imagination, but as a pure action experience, it doesn’t resonate with me as strongly as the others on this list.
Final Thoughts
This list reflects how I personally experience action movies: as a balance of excitement, character, and purpose. The best action franchises don’t just thrill in the moment — they stick with you, influence the genre, and give you heroes and ideas worth revisiting.
And if you disagree with my ranking? That’s part of the fun.