Top 22 Beast Mode Moments of Each Year (2000 - 2021)
2000: Facing Green Destiny
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000)
Despite going into battle with a stab wound, Maximus has little trouble wiping the Colosseum with Commodus. As satisfying as it is, our money was always on Max. We’re not sure who to bet on when Yu Shu Lien faces Jen Yu. Sure, Jen has the Green Destiny, but Shu Lien is the more seasoned warrior. As such, their heated duel makes for a more engaging confrontation with both women unleashing every move in their repertoire. Shu Lien remains resilient even as Jen shatters whatever weapon she can grab. In a clever resolution, Shu Lien gets the upper hand, not with an all-powerful weapon, but a broken sword. While Jen had the mightier weapon, it’s inconsequential in the face of Shu Lien’s unbreakable spirit.
2001: Sauron Smash
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)
As the Dark Lord enters the Siege of Barad-dûr, it feels like a final boss fight. The audience has to remind themselves that they’re only a few minutes in, setting the bar high for the epic escapades this trilogy will bring. Yet, few figures in Middle-earth prove as threatening as Sauron. With the One Ring equipped, Sauron sends fleets of men and elves flying through the air. He’s a one Maia army, but once again, it’s a broken sword that results in Sauron’s undoing. In true Achilles’ heel fashion, Isildur slices Sauron’s fingers along with the Ring. Although the Dark Lord’s spirit lives on, his physical body is destroyed. Even in defeat, Sauron’s beastly presence roars across the battlefield as his helmet comes crashing down.
2002: Grease Me Up
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“The Transporter” (2002)
Trapped on a bus with thugs closing in from both sides, it appears Jason Statham’s Frank may have a glimmer of fear in his eyes. That glimmer is just the beast being unchained, however. While the ensuing showdown is expertly choreographed, Statham makes it feel improvised as Frank makes the most of his limited environment. Most action movies would cut with Frank getting off the bus unscathed, but these filmmakers are just getting warmed up. More enemies await outside where a one-on-one fight turns into a one-on-several brawl. Some grease is thrown in for good measure. Frank is fortunately already topless, as the grease makes him even harder to hold down. It also proves a slick getaway when guns start blazing.
2003: The Crazy 88
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“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003)
2003 was all about one-person armies. While the CGI hasn’t aged spectacularly, Neo’s battle against a fleet of Smiths reminds us why he’s the One. In “Oldboy,” Oh Dae-su and his hammer set a new standard for single-shot fights. In terms of ambition and execution, nothing tops the Bride’s showdown against the Crazy 88. Although 88 is a random number, this group of assassins has got to be crazy. Otherwise, they all probably would’ve fled the minute Beatrix started turning them into human kabobs. Nevertheless, members keep throwing themselves at the Bride, who in turn keeps separating body parts. A small taste of how far she’ll go to reach one opponent. Thanks to the black-and-white cinematography, the scene is even more violent than it looks.
2004: Stopping the Train
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“Spider-Man 2” (2004)
In nature, what are a spider’s two worst enemies? If you said an octopus and a runaway train, we might’ve looked at you with a raised eyebrow had it not been for this rousing scene. While we had seen Spidey and Doc Ock duke it out before, bringing the subway into the mix drastically upped the wow factor. The effects hold up remarkably well, making impeccable use of Octavius’ mechanical arms, Spidey’s agility, and the moving environment. Spider-Man remains restless as he simultaneously pursues the Doc while catching passengers. He’s finally pushed to his physical limits when Octavius destroys the controls. With everything he’s got, Peter stops the train at the last second. As the beast rests, the passengers see the kid behind the mask.
2005: V for Vanquish
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“V for Vendetta” (2005)
V lets Creedy carry out the execution against Adam Sutler, but the masked antihero walks away with the highest body count. They say never bring a knife to a gunfight. Well, V proves that saying is a load of hogwash. After firing almost all of their bullets at V, Creedy’s forces are left with little to defend themselves against a barrage of knives. V swiftly slices through the men before they even know what’s happening. By the time V makes his way to Creedy, we see just how unfair this fight truly was. Alas, V’s body isn’t invincible and the bullets eventually take their toll. Even if V isn’t 100% bulletproof, the idea he fought for can never be broken.
2006: This Is Sparta!
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“300” (2006)
As James Bond popularized parkour in “Casino Royale”, King Leonidas essentially gave birth to a golden age of movie memes. Leonidas’ immortal line was repeated and parodied so many times that it got kind of ridiculous. Every time we hear Gerard Butler utter those three words, though, we still get beyond pumped. “Don’t kill the messenger” is really more of a suggestion for Leonidas. Letting King Xerxes know that he’ll never willingly submit, Leonidas sends his messenger plummeting to his end. Delivering a single kick, this might seem like one of the tamer beast mode moments on our list. With one fell swoop, though, Leonidas leaves a stronger impression than an all-out war. That epic battle cry doesn’t hurt either.
2007: Voldemort vs. Dumbledore
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007)
Dumbledore is the only one Voldemort ever feared. This long-awaited reunion exemplifies why. Up until this point in the franchise, we hadn’t really seen Dumbledore engage in battle. While Voldemort dueled Harry in the previous film, that was only a preview of his capabilities. In this scene, we finally get to see two of the most powerful wizards go full beast. Although they’re almost equally matched, Dumbledore and Voldemort are otherwise complete opposites. Voldemort summons a fiery snake while Dumbledore engulfs him in water. Voldemort shows a wide range of emotions while Dumbledore is mostly composed throughout. Even after Voldemort immerses the Ministry of Magic in shattered glass, Dumbledore firmly stands his ground. This is what gets to Voldemort as he flees.
2008: Chasing the Joker
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“The Dark Knight” (2008)
Would you rather challenge ten Black Belts or a bazooka-wielding clown behind the wheel of a truck? No offense to Ip Man, but we think Batman had the more daunting task. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? You get one of cinema’s most intense chases ever. A game of cat and mouse throws a rabid dog into the mix with the Joker pursuing Harvey Dent and Batman close behind. The Batmobile takes a blow for Harvey, but Bats came prepared. Since the Joker wrecked his vehicle, it’s only fair that Batman flips the Joker’s truck. The clown thus decides to play Chicken, daring Batman to run him down. Even in beast mode, Batman still won’t break his one rule.
2009: Prison Fight
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“Watchmen” (2009)
Upon arriving in prison, Rorschach asserts that everyone is trapped in there with him. Regardless, Big Figure isn’t about to let his best shot at revenge slip through his fingers. In the process, one of his henchmen not only loses his fingers, but his hands as well. Even with a saw directly pointed at him, Rorschach still comes out on top. Meanwhile, Silk Spectre II and Nite Owl II effortlessly fight their way through the prison riot, leaving behind a trail of jailbirds. The three vigilantes are soon reunited, but before leaving, Rorschach settles the score with Big Figure. While the action takes place behind closed doors, we know two things: Rorschach went full beast and his face was the last sight Big Figure saw.
2010: Hit-Girl Paints the Hallway Red
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“Kick-Ass” (2010)
You should never underestimate one little girl, no matter how adorable her pigtails are. Making her way to big bad Frank D’Amico, Hit-Girl must first shoot and kick through a hallway of armed goons. While Mindy’s purple ensemble makes her a colorful target, the men miss every shot as she runs, flips, and slides through the corridor. Hit-Girl puts every bullet to effective use, although she is short one in the end. It’s all fittingly set to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation.” This rebellious song has popped up in numerous shows and movies, but “Kick-Ass” perhaps utilized it best. The film’s soundtrack even included a cover by the band, The Hit Girls. It’s the perfect tune to free the beast within.
2011: Toretto vs. Hobbs
“Fast Five” (2011)
When you have Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson sharing the screen, you might as well change the title to “Testosterone: The Movie.” It’d be about as consistent as this franchise’s other titles. In Johnson’s first “Fast & Furious” flick, Luke Hobbs pursues Diesel’s Dom with the fortitude of an armored vehicle that never runs out of gas. The cars are sidelined as Toretto and Hobbs duke it out the old-fashioned way. When you have two of the most iconic action stars, you don’t need extra gimmicks. You just need them to bring the pain, which Diesel and Johnson both do in spectacular fashion. Tearing through walls and glass, it’s debatable if anyone truly wins this fight, but Dom clearly has the upper hand before showing mercy.
2012: Puny God
“The Avengers” (2012)
Some characters aren’t as invincible as they appear. In “The Dark Knight Rises,” Bane broke the Bat with his bare hands. In “Avengers,” we see that even gods have their limitations, especially in a Hulk’s presence. While not his first appearance on the silver screen, the Battle of New York arguably marked the first time we got to see the Hulk do something incredible. Rampaging through the Chitauri army, the Hulk leaps from skyscraper to skyscraper like a green wrecking ball. His best moment comes during his confrontation with Loki. Sparing us a long-winded speech, the Hulk tosses around the God of Mischief like a rag doll. Although this easily could’ve been an anticlimactic defeat, seeing the Hulk’s strength deflate Loki’s massive ego is incredibly satisfying.
2013: The Snap (Not the Marvel One)
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“Man of Steel” (2013)
People remain divided on the climax of “Man of Steel.” Some feel that Superman did what he had to while others argue that he only contributed to the destruction of Metropolis. From a sheer action standpoint, though, we can all agree that this is the most badass Supes has ever been in a live-action movie. Charging through buildings and even into space, Superman and Zod are on a constant collision course for each other. Their battle comes to a standstill at a train station where Zod gives Superman a choice between sparing the innocent or getting blood on his own hands. With a literal snap, Supes goes from boy scout to beast out in a controversial - yet admittedly hardcore - moment.
2014: Say Your Prayers
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“Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2014)
For this year, it’s a tough call between John Wick’s night at the Red Circle and Harry Hart’s church brawl. While Wick takes out almost 30 men, he doesn’t get Kirill or Viggo… yet. So, we’ve got to give the edge to Harry for thoroughness. What’s more, Harry annihilates somewhere around 40 hatemongers in just under four minutes. The sped-up scene is shot and edited to practically look like a single take. In reality, the filmmakers spent a week shooting the scene. Despite this, Harry’s rampage flows so seamlessly. Every time Harry takes one life, another brainwashed target emerges from around the corner. Although the villain’s signal brings out Harry’s beast, it’s his spy skills that leave him the last person standing.
2015: The Whole Movie
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“Hardcore Henry” (2015)
“Hardcore Henry” is the missing link between an action picture and a first-person shooter. The experience almost never takes a breath with the titular Henry frequently on the go. Although character and story are kind of set aside in the process, adrenaline junkies like ourselves can’t help but eat up the non-stop action. Equipped with cybernetic prostheses, Harry’s journey makes leeway for a wide variety of over-the-top scenarios, from his on-foot pursuit of Dimitry, to the motorcycle shootout, to the rooftop battle against an army of super-soldiers. To survive any of this, you’ve got to be in constant beast mode. Harry doesn’t know the meaning of the words, “game over,” giving us the cinematic equivalent of a speedrun.
2016: Darth Vader Unleashed
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“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016)
Between his duels against Luke in “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” it seemed like we had seen Darth Vader at his beastliest. It turns out that Vader might’ve been holding back. We like to think that’s because deep down, Anakin Skywalker couldn’t take his son’s life. Vader has no qualms about slaying through a fleet of Rebels, however. From the second that red lightsaber flashes, we know that nobody in Vader’s path will survive. Vader is a literal force of nature, deflecting a barrage of shots while finding several creative ways to dispose of the Rebel scum blocking the door. We always knew that Vader was capable of mind-blowing feats, but this moment set a new standard that may never be topped.
2017: The Last Stand (For Real This Time)
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“Logan” (2017)
During his tenure as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman racked up more beast mode moments than perhaps anyone else on this list. X-23 shares her father’s fighting spirit, especially while taking down a group of mercenaries. As for Logan himself, he’s never been deadlier than during his last stand. We’ve also never seen him more vulnerable, as the mutant finds himself on his last leg and his last claw. Regardless, Logan unleashes everything he has left in him as he squares off with X-24. Although Logan still has plenty of rage, his clone is in much better shape. Even after he gets crushed by a vehicle, X-24 still musters the strength to impale his counterpart. Laura finally puts X-24 down, but her daddy meets a tear-jerking end.
2018: Everything Thanos
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“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
After nearly six years of build-up, Thanos had to deliver on the MCU’s promise of being the ultimate big bad. The complex villain not only delivered on a character level, but also on a beast mode level. We can’t limit ourselves to just one moment here. Thanos immediately set the bar high, taking down the Hulk in less than a minute, imprisoning Thor, and choking the life out of Loki. Thanos tops himself on Titan, throwing a moon during his battle against several of the universe’s mightiest heroes. With his arrival in Wakanda, Thor nearly outshines Thanos for the film’s most astounding feat. Through a single snap, though, Thanos balances the playing field and (in his own warped mind) balances the universe.
2019: Kasbah
“John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” (2019)
While we mentioned John Wick already, we’d be remiss if we didn’t dedicate an entire entry to Baba Yaga. Mr. Wick is deadly enough on his own, but he’s virtually unstoppable when paired with a fellow dog-loving assassin. Thankfully, Sofia’s dog survives Berrada’s bullet. Although Sofia leaves Berrada bleeding at John’s request, anyone else who gets in their way is fair game. John, Sofia, and even their four-legged friend get in on the mayhem as they escape the kasbah. The setting provides a breath of fresh air as our heroes engage in the franchise’s signature gun fu. While enemies keep coming, they’re really just target practice. Even if Brightburn showed up, our confidence in Wick wouldn’t waver. Okay, maybe a little.
2020: Harley Quinn at Police Station
“Birds of Prey” (2020)
Although we primarily associate Harley Quinn with a giant mallet, a bean bag gun is another appropriate weapon of choice. It seems silly on the surface, but it packs a powerful punch. Since Harley is all about going a step beyond, she also arrives at the police station packing glitter, confetti, and powder. While the cops pose little threat, Harley needs to think on her feet when the prisoners get out of their cells. Even after bringing them down in a watery display, Harley can’t take a breather as she needs to save Cassandra from some thugs. She may be out of bean bags, but Harley has a warehouse of other toys at her disposal. Even with an old-fashioned bat, Harley gets the job done.
2021: The Final Battle
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“Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021)
2021 delivered a few showdowns that we waited years to see done justice. Scorpion settled his differences with Sub-Zero in an R-rated “Mortal Kombat” movie. Godzilla and King Kong also duked it out - this time with state-of-the-art effects on their side. Unlike some other “vs.” movies, the film isn’t limited to one fight. We get to see Godzilla win one round and Kong win another, although Godzilla ultimately holds onto his title as King of the Monsters. Both monsters come out as winners during the final battle against Mechagodzilla. While Mecha comes close to taking off both of their heads, a tech hiccup provides just enough time for Kong’s axe and Godzilla’s atomic breath to reduce the mechanical titan to scrap metal.
