Top 20 Most Rewatched Action Movie Scenes Ever

#20: Parkour Chase

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“Casino Royale” (2006) What a brilliant introduction to the new era of 007. In his first action scene as James Bond, Daniel Craig chases his target through a construction yard, parkouring over buildings, cranes, scaffolding, and more as they fight in one of the most stunning cinematic experiences ever seen in a Bond movie. Interestingly, the actor who played Bond’s target in this scene, Sébastien Foucan, is an actual freerunner and early developer of parkour. Everyone involved went all out in making this opening action scene one to not only rival previous Bond movies, but to surpass them.

#19: Hot Gates Battle

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“300” (2007) This beautifully stylized scene captures the mood and aesthetic of Zack Snyder’s “300” perfectly. The brutal combat as the Persians try to push through the Spartans showcases the strength of the so-called 300, setting the stage for why this movie is so well-regarded. It’s not just the action, but the badass one-liners that the Spartan characters utter while kicking butt that makes this movie so delightful. Interestingly, according to history, those laconic statements were very in character for the Spartans, and indeed the word laconic is derived from “Laconia,” the region that Sparta ruled. It’s fun to think that the real Spartans could’ve been just as dramatic as Gerard Butler.

#18: Opening Chase

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“Baby Driver” (2017) Sometimes, a director utilizes their medium perfectly and manages to craft a scene that will stick with viewers for years to come. The opening of “Baby Driver” is one of those scenes. The song “Bellbottoms” accompanies Baby’s incredible driving as he helps his criminal “friends” escape their successful bank robbery. Apparently, this opening chase and its musical accompaniment were the very first inklings of what this movie would be, as Edgar Wright used to sit and listen to “Bellbottoms” and imagine an elaborate car escape. It’s an amazingly inventive scene and definitely worth a few watches to see how precisely they match the beat of the music with the action on the screen.

“Fast Five” (2011) Here’s another epic car chase to make the list. While the “Fast and Furious” franchise is responsible for a lot of incredible action scenes, this one is just so creative. The characters steal a bank vault, attach it to the back of their vehicle, and then use the vault as a VERY large bludgeon and shield in their escape. This epic car chase couldn’t be more visually entertaining to watch, as their enemies get smashed up by the very vault they’re trying to take back. The typical style and flash of the “Fast and Furious” series are on full display in this incredible scene.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) It was hard to choose just one scene from this legendary series, what with Indy’s fantastic tank chase sequence as well. But this classic temple escape spawned so many homages and parodies that it’s not hard to see why it’s on the list. This opening scene sets the tone for the movie and indeed for the Indiana Jones franchise. The famed explorer cleverly sniffs out traps before being forced to run from the crumbling temple and the rolling boulders. This scene is so much fun to rewatch because of its classic nature, but also because it's fun to see how many traps and obstacles Indiana Jones must overcome in such a short period of time.

“Speed” (1994) This scene at the beginning of “Speed” is intense for a number of reasons. The stakes are already high for the characters, but Keanu Reeves insisted on doing this stunt, jumping from a moving car into a moving bus, even rehearsing it in secret so the director wouldn’t know. He surprised director Jan de Bont by doing it himself the day of the shoot, which we imagine was a highly terrifying moment for the Hollywood director. This scene is one of the greatest of the classic 90s action movies, starring a terrific action star who put himself in danger to get the shot.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2014) This scene gets a ton of praise, and it’s well deserved. Shot with very few cuts, the fight choreography had to be tight, and with dozens of people involved and a camera moving in and out of the action, that is not easy. But it’s worth it because this scene is a masterpiece. Colin Firth’s character Galahad gets a chance to shine and show off just how incredible a super-spy he really is, in some of the most brutal finishers we’ve seen. And the icing on the cake is Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” accompanying the action. This scene is so well-made and fun that it simply never gets old.

#13: Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris

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“The Way of the Dragon” (1972) The movie where the legend of Chuck Norris began. All Chuck Norris jokes aside, this was the man’s film debut, and what an entrance onto the stage. A legendary, almost 10-minute martial arts fight between these two is sure to get a rewatch. Interestingly, Bruce Lee popularized a new move during his fight with Chuck Norris called the “oblique kick,” which would go on to be used by many MMA fighters who cited Lee as their inspiration. This fight is fun, brutal, and hilarious at times, with Bruce ripping out Norris’ chest hair. Truly this is a battle of legends.

“Oldboy” (2003) Continuous takes are tricky to pull off and not always worth the time and money, but when they work, they work. This 3-minute fight through a crowded corridor took 17 takes in 3 days to pull off, and there are no cuts or edits at all (save a digitally rendered knife in the back). As mentioned with “Kingsman,” it is impressive to do such a long continuous take, but with so many actors involved in the scene, the choreography had to be tight and performed well, and they blew it out of the water. The result is a scene that is incredibly rewatchable, filled with brutal fighting from a man armed with only a hammer.

“Mission: Impossible” (1996) This iconic scene from the original spawned a number of copycat scenes, but it is a marvelous scene in its own right. While the “Mission: Impossible” series has plenty of incredible action scenes that Tom Cruise really did, such as the terrifying time he hung onto a plane in “Rogue Nation”, this one is so classic and fresh. It features Tom Cruise doing his own stunts, hanging precariously from a rope as he cracks the vault. The tension in this scene, as the protagonists have to deal with close calls and the fear that things could go wrong, make this eminently rewatchable.

#10: The Ten Black Belts

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“Ip Man” (2008) Based on the life of the legendary martial artist and teacher of Bruce Lee, Yip Man, this incredible action scene pits the hero against 10 black belts in one of the most breathtaking fight scenes on our list. The dazzling choreography, the brutal sound effects as Ip breaks bones and snaps necks, and the dramatic music all combine to make an unforgettable tour de force. Seeing Donnie Yen, an incredible martial artist in his own right, take center stage is the cherry on top of this perfect scene.

“The Raid 2” (2014) This brutal final duel to the death is tightly choreographed and shot well. The long kitchen fight begins with fists but ends in deadly fashion with knives. It’s tracked well by great camera shots that don’t have too many cuts in between them, letting the brutal and incredible fight speak for itself. This scene is on the rewatch list due to how many great moves there are and how evenly matched it is. At no point in this fight is it clear who is going to come out on top as both characters give it their all and hold on by the skin of their teeth to survive.

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) This beautiful movie has other incredible scenes, such as the duel between Yu Shu Lien and Jiaolong. While that’s a fantastic set-piece, what makes the treetop fight worth a rewatch is the knowledge that the actors are really up there in the trees, suspended by wires, dueling it out! This stunt work gives the fight a mystical, ethereal quality, as if the two opponents are legendary spirits who are light as a feather. Seriously, watch this scene again and just try to imagine the courage and skill you’d need to pull off this scene.

“Die Hard” (1988) Honestly, this whole movie is worth numerous rewatches; it’s just that good. While we had a number of great scenes to choose from, like the ever-quoted “Yipee-ki-yay” where our hero intimidates Hans Gruber, John McClane’s leap from the tower is incredibly iconic. Interestingly, this scene was one of the very first Bruce Willis actually filmed. McClane’s death-defying escape from the roof is one to rewatch as the stakes are high, it is shot extraordinarily well, and it would come to inspire many homages. This scene could also double as one of the most rewatched scenes in a Christmas movie, too...

“Inception” (2010) This mind-bending action scene was one of the highlights of this inventive movie when it came out. While a lot of the movie is set-up and exposition, it all pays off once the action gets going. Seeing the different levels of characters going through their own struggles, which affect the others, adds a layer of complexity. The van flips, so Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s dreaming character needs to now contend with his enemies in a hallway that flips along with the moving vehicle. It’s all very creative and the blaring soundtrack in the back adds to the suspense.

#5: The Crazy 88

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“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) While the Bride doesn’t need to slay exactly 88 enemies in this scene, it’s still around 40, and to beat those odds are… impressive, to say the least. This scene is so rewatchable because seeing Uma Thurman tear through the Yakuza like an absolute beast is such a joy. This unbelievable scene took eight weeks to shoot and was made mostly with practical effects that would have been used in classic Chinese action films of the 70s, as an homage to them. It’s hard not to feel for the Bride and how exhausted she looks after absolutely annihilating the Crazy 88, realizing she has one more foe.

#4: The Chase Begins / Sandstorm

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“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) This whole movie is one long car chase and an astounding one at that. But the beginning of the chase for Imperator Furiosa, and the epic sandstorm, are some of the best scenes in the movie. The truly amazing thing about this movie is just how much of it is made with practical effects, which really lends the movie a gritty, realistic feel. The cars are all real, as are most of the costumes, and a lot of the stunts were done with the cars. Knowing the hard, grueling work that went into some of these shots out in the desert really makes you want to rewatch just to see the hard work the actors and crew are partaking in.

#3: Club Shootout

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“John Wick” (2014) The entire “John Wick” series belongs on this list, we know, but this scene is a perfect representative for the film saga. John Wick takes out an entire club of goons in a masterful display of skill and choreography, and all of it is taken with a steady camera and no quick cuts. The club music in the background adds an interesting dynamic to the work. The most rewatchable elements are just seeing all the interesting and realistic quirks in this fight. Everyone has to reload, and sometimes an enemy gets a hit in on John. This “realism” is what makes them so much fun to revisit.

#2: Motorcycle Chase

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“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991) This heart-pounding chase sequence follows immediately from the Mall scene where it’s revealed that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is actually here to save John Connor. While that scene is also legendary, it’s this motorcycle chase that “Terminator” fans revisit over and over again. It is one of the first times we see the Terminator as a “good guy” in action. Interestingly, a river had to be redirected for this scene as they were filming in what would otherwise be wet canals. “The Terminator” series is well known for its incredible action scenes, but this one has the greatest rewatch value.

#1: Bullet Time

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“The Matrix” (1999) The scene with a thousand references, parodies, and homages. While modern action movie fans may not see the appeal, when this scene happened in theatres back in 1999, people’s minds were blown. The filmmakers dubbed this “bullet time,” a method of using slow-motion in a scene while keeping the camera at normal speed to show the heightened senses and movements of the character Neo. This scene may be one of the most rewatched in history, and certainly one of the most inspirational scenes in modern action movies, and for good reason. It was a trailblazer and set the stage for hundreds of action movies to come.