provides a uniquely engaging way to watch movies. all from the comfort of a living room or theater, getting hearts pounding and pulses pumping in ways that most other genres can't. The best action movies provide what many would argue is the very essence of cinema: escapism.

As most action junkies would agree, (swords and knives appreciated, but not necessary). Car chases are thrilling, and huge explosions provide the eye candy, but there's just something about visceral, close-quarters brawls in an action movie that really gets the adrenaline flowing. Of course, , and it's time to pay them some much-deserved recognition. This is a selection of action movies that have great action choreography.

After getting his revenge on the thugs who killed his beloved dog, John Wick () returns in this hyper-violent . . This time, there's an even bigger price on Wick's head, and many killers are looking to cash out.

The franchise is . The unique blending of gun-fu and martial arts combat has been exceedingly influential on the genre as a whole. , while not , features the franchise's . Action fans can only hope that this series will go on forever— Reeves dispatching hordes of assassins in brutally creative ways will likely never get old.

Berlin, 1989, mere days prior to the collapse of the Berlin Wall during the final stages of the Cold War. Undercover MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton () is sent to the German capital to recover documents stolen following the murder of a fellow service member. Being hunted by the KGB and stuck in a city nearing its tipping point, .

Proving himself to be a more than capable stunt coordinator on numerous Hollywood productions in recent years, 's directorial strengths are on full display in . The grounded yet ; a single-take, bare-knuckle skirmish in a stairwell stands out in particular. Atomic Blonde soars in these sequences, as well as the , making it .

Set during the ancient Three Kingdoms Era of China, a violent and unpredictable king () rules over his population. Against the wishes of his king, a military general () trains a "shadow": a secret warrior and look-alike who could fool both the king and enemies..

is a wholly underappreciated . Even more impressive than the movie's scrumptious set design and visuals are the action set pieces. There's an elegance and grace behind every fight scene in Shadow, . For fans of this style of action movie, .

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Formed from the remnants of the Syndicate, the Apostles are . Once again under scrutiny for their operational procedures, Ethan Hunt () and the IMF are forced to collaborate with hardheaded CIA agent August Walker (). Old enemies and allies alike throw their hats into the ring in a race for plutonium cores.

Not only the strongest movie in the franchise, is one of . Relentlessly paced and packed with standout sequences that make up many of the series' best, Mission: Impossible - Fallout demonstrates . An immaculately choreographed and effectively brutal bathroom fight scene between Cruise, Cavill, and stands as .

After being awakened after decades of suspended animation, Steve Rogers () is forced to adapt to the modern day. Rogers becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, a global organization that combats shadowy threats, led by Director Nick Fury (). — one with stakes far more personal than he could've ever imagined.

The is a franchise packed with memorable action sequences, and takes credit for a large portion of them. The action (particularly the fight sequences) . The hard-hitting, visceral action complements Captain America: The Winter Soldier's more grounded tone, and the result is one of the long-running to date.

Ip Man () relocates with his family to Hong Kong after escaping from the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Struggling to make a living and provide for his family, . The growing reputation of both Ip Man and his academy brings forth the attention of some unsavory and powerful figures.

The series is one of martial-arts cinema's most beloved franchises, and makes a strong case for being . Here, the dramatic stakes are raised, and the intensity of the fight sequences matches that energy. . The Ip Man franchise as a whole is an unmissable series for martial arts fans, offering countless action set pieces that range in scale but .

In this Netflix original from Indonesia, Ito () is an enforcer for a vicious triad. Remorseful and no longer willing to comply with the triads, Ito goes into hiding in hopes of starting a new life. Eventually,.

When it comes to martial arts action movies focusing on brutal, close-quarters combat, Indonesia is the top supplier. is . The stunt performances are top-notch and exceedingly impressive, considering the number of extras that some of the fight sequences employ. Household items are used as weapons in , and .

A top-secret spy organization based out of London recruits street-kid Eggsy (). Seasoned agent Harry Hart () sees potential in Eggsy as . The Kingsman initiative faces its largest threat yet in the form of a cellular network weapon that has the power to turn the entire population into raving murderers.

is that features a variety of colorful characters and memorable action setpieces. And just when you think you have the movie figured out, it throws a wicked curveball with . Most impressive of those would be the church brawl that finds agent Hart squaring off against a mob of raving churchgoers after a cyber terror attack. Is it shocking and brutal? Absolutely. It's also in any modern action movie.

Set in the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia, a towering and derelict apartment building serves as the safe house of a powerful drug lord and his army of thugs. While previously left untouched by the local authorities, . Unfortunately for the officers, their cover quickly becomes blown, and the team finds themselves vastly outnumbered and outgunned.

is a breathless example of . It's a landmark effort in stunt coordination, fight choreography and high-intensity direction that is the very essence of what good action movies should provide for their audience. The Raid: Redemption gets down to business early and does not let up until the credits roll. that's always thoroughly entertaining.

Following the events of The Raid: Redemption, rookie Jakarta cop Rama () finds himself pulled back into a dangerous fight for survival after capturing the attention of a criminal empire. As a means to protect his family, Rama is forced to go undercover to bring down a syndicate and expose the corruption within his police force.

The Raid 2 doubles down on just about everything that made its predecessor a genre classic. Bigger isn't always better, yet the expansion of scale in The Raid 2 allows for an assortment of fight sequences that somehow exceed the violence and thrills of The Raid: Redemption​​​​​​. It's simply a stunning work of action and stunt coordination that will have viewers simultaneously impressed and on the edge of their seats the entire time.

NEXT: The 15 Best Action Movies of 2024, Ranked