In an age of green screens, CGI rendering, and even de-aging video technology, it's nice to see film producers and directors that still take practical effects and real stunt work seriously. The best modern action movies combine live-action and special effects together seamlessly to amaze and thrill the viewer.
Contemporary filmmakers have the option of using both practical and special effects when it comes to stunt work, and sometimes it's a tough combination to get right. Movies that have great stunt work utilize different kinds of martial arts or other combat styles along with unique camera angles or setting choices that elevate an action scene from average to awesome.
8 John Wick: Parabellum (2019)
It's not a surprise that that latest entry in the John Wick franchise is noted for its stunt work. John Wick: Parabellum takes this to a whole other level, integrating knives and dogs into these action scenes along with a wide variety of firearms. Every movie in this series uses traditional hand-to-hand fighting along with a martial arts style nicknamed "gun fu" which includes elements of Judo, Brazilian Capoeira, and other techniques.
The closing action scene is an amuse-bouche compared to the rising action that precedes it, but that's followed up by a much more satisfying portion of John Wick taking a dive off a five-story roof. Keanu Reeves actually did take a dive from a five-story height (in a specially constructed set) in order to shoot this scene.
7 Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
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This was the movie that Robert Rodriguez got to make after Hollywood noticed the first two entries in what is actually a trilogy, and decided to give him a decent budget. It was the practical stunts that caught the eye of certain directors and producers, Quentin Tarantino being one famous example.
The previous two films in what's nicknamed the Mexico Trilogy or the Desperado Trilogy also follow the story of El Mariachi as he seeks revenge for his murdered loved ones. These were made cheaply in the 1990s, and it shows; however, they still have solid examples of quality stunt work, especially considering the money available.
6 Mad Max: Fury Road
What makes Mad Max: Fury Road so amazing is that even though the franchise had a reputation for incredible special effects, the name had been dormant for decades. What's more, creator George Miller's most recent work had involved an adorable talking pig who moonlights as a sheepdog, so nobody saw this coming.
The "polecats" scene in this movie gets a lot of attention, with Tom Hardy famously describing his harrowing experience riding one as part of the filming. However, the fact is that virtually every sequence is in the same tone. All the vehicles are real, as is the flaming guitar, while explosions and background details are added later. The thrilling action and awesome stunts get started about ten minutes in, and go hard for two solid hours.
5 Atomic Blonde (2017)
Atomic Blond had all kinds of great stunts, and the range used given the rather humdrum setting of pro-democracy East Berlin was also impressive. The stunt that includes a leap from a third-story building's inner courtyard is the one that makes most jaws drop, and was also featured in the trailer.
There are a lot of other great stunts that deserve just as much credit. The fight in the stairwell is one example. One of the film's first action scenes includes ice-cool spy Lorraine Broughton, played by Charlize Theron, beating a potential kidnaper with a bright red pump from the back seat of a car.
4 The Raid: Redemption (2011)
This is the same movie also known as The Raid, now with a slightly tweaked title to help iron out some copyright issues that got in the way of North American distribution. The story and plot seem fairly generic at first glance, focusing on a team of elite cops as they infiltrate a building controlled by a crime lord.
What makes this movie different are the realistic stunts and gunplay integrated with the Indonesian martial art of Pencak Silat. The combination works so well that the film has enjoyed both critical and fan acclaim. There was a sequel in 2014, and an American remake is planned for 2022.
3 Baby Driver (2017)
A treat for gear heads, Baby Driver had some physics-defying tricks when it came to stunts involving vehicles. Without that creative angle, this might have just been another Mafia movie. Unlike certain other movies that feature unusual or altered cars to thrill the audience, this movie shows us what the family sedan can do, instead.
The actors had some limited training and did some easier moves, but the really breathtaking stunts were accomplished with stunt drivers, cameras on cranes, CGI, and editing. The hard part was clearing some parts of the highway and city streets in Atlanta to get the filming done.
2 Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)
Tom Cruise has become notorious for doing his own stunts on the set of his movies, and Rogue Nation took this reputation to a whole new level. Every installment in this franchise has to outdo itself. Audiences look at the title and expect to be amazed, since it's right there in the name.
Some movies with great stunts can surprise the audience, but the Mission: Impossible movies have a reputation to protect when it comes to watching a human being do something that's completely improbable. In addition to this scene with our hero clinging to the aide of an Airbus, there's also the underwater vault and the motorcycle chase that are equally awesome.
1 Spectre (2015)
The stunts in Spectre are famous for their terrifying realism, and although the opening scene with the helicopter is the most obvious example, it's just the start for James Bond in this adventure. Casino Royale, which deserves an honorable mention, starts with the parkour opening scene at the construction site and pretty much upped the ante for every Bond movie to come.
Spectre has great stunts that borderline on the fantastic and seems to like flying machines even if they aren't exactly designed to fly. There's a car chase scene later that involves a plane (yes, that's what it says) and another one in which James destroys his new Astin Martin in a real car chase through downtown Rome.