A good action movie keeps our adrenaline pumping as the battles rage on. Whether it’s a hero on a mission or a team battling a disaster, the action must keep audiences glued to their screen from start to finish. When a great action movie leaves you eager for more, you know it was a success that future films will try to replicate. They’re the films that stick with you for a lifetime.

But sometimes, when an action flick is good, not great, it falters in earning that perfect status because it’s missing something; maybe it’s a plot hole or a character choice, ort could be lost to time or mixed in the shuffle. Whatever it is, it makes the movie forgotten by modern audiences. We’re here to discuss those, the action movies that come close to perfection and are still all but forgotten today. These near-perfect films are the ones that miss out on the all-time great list, and thus have been lost to time.

10

‘Con Air’ (1997)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

If there is one actor who has had a wild and versatile career, it’s Nicolas Cage. Unafraid of making bold choices, Cage puts his full self in his films, but that doesn’t always mean it’s always right. For instance, if there was one thing that pulled you out of Con Air, it’s the country-fried dialect Cage gave to Cameron Poe. The epitome of ’90s action films, Con Air follows Poe, a paroled Army Ranger, as he’s transported home aboard a prison transport plane called the Jailbird. On board, the passengers include some of the worst prisoners, many of whom plan a heist to hijack the plane. Poe must use his skills to defeat Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (John Malkovich) and his gang so he can make it home alive.

An over-the-top, formulaic action thriller, Con Air is brilliant in concept and execution. Looking at the casting, which also includes John Cusack, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, and more, you’d think Con Air would be perfect. But Cage’s accent is simply too distracting, especially when he’s delivering hard-hitting bits of dialogue. You can certainly appreciate Cage for crafting a fully-rounded character, but it detracts from an overall masterpiece.

9

‘The Rocketeer’ (1991)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures

Directed by Joe Johnston and set in 1938 Los Angeles, The Rocketeer sees stunt pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) find a stolen, top-secret Nazi-coveted rocket pack. After earning the attention of Howard Hughes (Terry O’Quinn) and the FBI, Secord uses it to become a hero, fighting Nazi agents, while protecting his girlfriend, Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly), and his mechanic mentor, A. “Peevy” Peabody (Alan Arkin). Based on the comic book character of the same name by Dave Stevens, The Rocketeer is a sleek film that celebrates an ordinary man who becomes extraordinary.

Rooted in nostalgia with a glamorous ’30s Art Deco tribute, The Rocketeer is a retro throwback that came out way before it was ready. There is a sense of marvel, the heroes are charming, the villains are dastardly, and the cinematography, for its time, is a wonder. But with high-flying effects central to the film, The Rocketeer became extremely dated, unable to earn masterpiece status to prevent us from giving it a pass. It’s a sleeper hit that became a beloved cult classic, but when you can sense the green screen, you’re taken out of the wonderment. Though it may have to be adjusted in the story, The Rocketeer is a film that deserves a remake.

8

‘Last Action Hero’ (1993)

Image via Columbia Pictures

In the ’80s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a full-on action hero. The films he brought to life were full-fledged action thrillers, jam-packed with action, drama, and destruction. Then, in the ’90s, Schwarzenegger opted to shift and flex his comedic skills, appearing in films that toed the line between action and comedy. Last Action Hero almost worked. The fantasy adventure film follows a young boy named Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien), who is obsessed with the Jack Slater films. With the help of a golden ticket, Danny is magically transported into the latest film, teaming up with the fictional, invincible Slater to fight villains. When Mr. Benedict (Charles Dance), a ruthless assassin, grabs the ticket and escapes to the real world, Danny and Arnold’s Jack Slater are forced to save the day.

A delightful film, it gets a bit too meta to be completely believable. While it serves as a brilliant exploration of the action genre as a self-aware deconstruction, balancing satire and a love letter to cinema, the actual action genre gets muddied at times, and it comes with Schwarzenegger’s attempt to parody himself. Last Action Hero didn’t necessarily earn iconic status just yet. That said, if you can forgive the in-jokes and appreciate the film for what it is, Last Action Hero is one of the actor’s underappreciated hits.

7

‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’ (1996)

Image via New Line Cinema

Nothing can kill a potentially brilliant action film like some sloppy storytelling. Such was the case for Renny Harlin’s The Long Kiss Goodnight. The film tells the story of Samantha Caine (Geena Davis), a suburban schoolteacher with amnesia, who, after a car accident, triggers memories of her violent past, discovers she is actually a highly skilled government assassin named Charly Baltimore. When her past catches up with her, she teams up with a private investigator (Samuel L. Jackson) to uncover a conspiracy.

A story about the rebirth of an identity, The Long Kiss Goodnight is a fast-paced thriller that’s exceptionally well-led. It is highly regarded, thanks to the wonderful chemistry between Davis and Jackson. With Davis as the focal point, the film satisfied the itch for female-driven action thrillers. Today, the government’s plot to blame a Niagara Falls attack on terrorists to gain military funding doesn’t play well. Then, if you can get past an amnesiac school teacher who once was an assassin, you’ll be fine, but the premise often leads to moments when you ask yourself, “What?” Luckily, Davis overcomes a split-personality performance, with Jackson anchoring her.

6

‘To Live and Die in L.A.’ (1985)

Image via MGM

If you ask director William Friedkin, To Live and Die in L.A. was as close as he’s ever been to his perfect vision. And yet, it’s still underrated compared to his other efforts. From the visionary behind The Exorcist, To Live and Die in L.A. follows Richard Chase (William Petersen), a reckless Secret Service Agent who becomes obsessed with avenging his partner’s murder by a dangerous counterfeiter, Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe). A story of blurred morality through the lens of corruption and revenge, To Live and Die in L.A. is a style-over-substance masterclass that dreams of being The French Connection.

A daring and sometimes erratic cop thriller, Friedkin pushes bullets, betrayals, and forgeries as an allegory for obsession and the drive to become whole again. If you’re willing to set aside your desire for action to focus on the film’s deeper meaning, To Live and Die in L.A. is a great work of art. Yet the ending also makes you feel as if injustice is something you have to get over. Nevertheless, it’s a stunning film with utterly visceral action. If you love a good car chase, To Live and Die in L.A. delivers. Between a gritty, unforgiving appearance and the Wang Chung soundtrack, it feels like an ’80s classic that falls short of perfection.

5

‘Dredd’ (2012)

Image via Reliance Entertainment

If you were a comic book blockbuster arriving anywhere between The Avengers and Justice League, I’m sorry, you’ve simply been forgotten with time. Such is the case for 2012’s Dredd. Based on the 2000 AD comic strip, the Pete Travis-directed, Alex Garland-written film stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, a law enforcer given the power of judge, jury, and executioner in a vast, dystopian metropolis called Mega-City One. Dredd is partnered with Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities, and together, they seek out Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), a drug lord who will stop at nothing to protect her empire in the 200-story high-rise apartment block.

Brought to life with such force and fidelity to the source material, Dredd is an intelligent and immersive film that may have been too gritty for the PG-13 superhero world of the 2000s. Though the helmet stayed on, Urban maintained the integrity of the source material while also nailing a phenomenal performance. The pacing clips along, and when it’s deliberately slowed, Travis meticulously delivers visually stunning moments amid the horrific violence. Perhaps Dredd doesn’t get the adoration it deserves because it’s not a full-scale save-the-world feature, but rather focuses more on a day in the life of Dredd.

4

‘Backdraft’ (1991)

Image via Universal Pictures

Directed by Ron Howard, Backdraft follows two Chicago firefighter brothers, Stephen (Kurt Russell) and Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin), estranged years after the tragic death of their legendary firefighter father, as they navigate intense sibling rivalry and a series of fatal, oxygen-induced arson fires. While senior firefighter Stephen leads the dangerous jobs, rookie Brian joins the arson investigation unit, led by Donald “Shadow” Rimgale (Robert De Niro), to solve the mystery of the “backdraft” fires. They uncover a political conspiracy by corrupt politician Martin Swayzak (J.T. Walsh), who is cutting fire department budgets, and a pyromaniac who is setting fires to eliminate those opposing the politician.

In disaster films, the actual disaster happens, leaving the rest of the film as an aftermath saga; not in Backdraft. The threat here is unrelenting, keeping the stakes up throughout. But when seeking a blockbuster of grandeur, fires just didn’t have the same appeal. Perhaps now, with television’s love for shows like Chicago Fire, Backdraft might have been fondly remembered. Unfortunately, even with a top-tier team of actors and creators, it wasn’t enough to heat our memories in a glorious blaze.

3

‘Sudden Death’ (1995)

For better or worse, hockey is back in the mainstream, trending now more than ever. The ’90s have their fair share of hockey flicks, including Sudden Death. Directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s longtime collaborator, Peter Hyams, the action thriller follows Van Damme as Darren McCord, a firefighter-turned-arena security officer at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Hoping to impress his children, Emily and Tyler (Whittini Wright and Ross Malinger), Darren scores tickets to the Stanley Cup finals, unaware that the entire arena has been overtaken by a group of terrorists. Former CIA agent Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe) holds Vice President Daniel Bender (Raymond J. Barry) hostage in a press box, with plans to blow up the entire arena if the ransom is not paid. But when McCord learns of the plot, he jumps into action to save the day.

A high-octane thriller, it’s Van Damme doing what he does best: kicking ass and taking names. Sudden Death was riding high on the earlier success of Die Hard, but every attempt to replicate the blueprint sadly fell short. The “one man, one building” format works for a claustrophobic, high-stakes action thriller, but Sudden Death opted for a silly but fun approach that didn’t appeal to all viewers. Though Sudden Death is a truly dated film, a newfound appreciation for hockey might give you a reason to rediscover it.

2

‘Attack the Block’ (2011)

Image via Optimum Releasing

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When it comes to overlooked science fiction action movies, Attack the Block tends to make the most. The 2011 film, directed by Joe Cornish, follows a teenage street gang in South London as they defend their housing estate against a sudden alien invasion on Bonfire Night. After initially mugging a nurse named Samantha Adams (Jodie Whittaker), the group, led by Moses (John Boyega), teams up with her to battle black, glowing-toothed, furry, gorilla-like extraterrestrials. With a then largely unknown cast, Attack the Block never found an audience until it reached cult classic status.

A modern, edgy film with a retro vibe, Attack the Block is one of those titles that sounds ridiculous, but with an effective plot, earns its premise. Almost immediately, the group must outrun the police, local drug lords, AND monstrous aliens, resulting in an unnerving, action-packed joyride. By commenting on the misjudgment of the evil youth trope being broken open, audiences relate to the protagonists and their crusade. Whether standalone or as a unit, the entire cast shines, even Nick Frost as local drug lord Ron. Looking back at the cast and where they are now, perhaps we’d remember the film fondly for what it was.

1

‘Monkey Man’ (2024)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Monkey Man came out less than 24 months ago, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t completely skipped our minds. Dev Patel’s directorial debut tells the story of an anonymous young man who unleashes a bloody revenge campaign against corrupt leaders in Mumbai who murdered his mother and oppressed his village. Taking inspiration from the legend of Hanuman, Monkey Man is a stylish film about trauma, faith, and social caste.

Monkey Man is all Patel, all the time. Between his vision and performance, you can sense how deep he goes to make it work. In front of the camera, Patel delivers a magnetic, emotive performance, evoking deep trauma and rage through his eyes. Behind the camera, he’s still a fledgling filmmaker, but he still delivers a raw film with inventive, claustrophobic, and intense hand-to-hand combat. Monkey Man is an enriching film, steeped in faith and culture, that serves as a beacon for marginalized communities. If you’re willing to go with Patel and his mission to overstuff his debut with everything and the kitchen sink, you’ll wish you hadn’t forgotten Monkey Man existed.