doesn’t exclusively direct action movies, by any means, and is probably best known for making crime films, some of which also cross over into the action genre. There are also some oddities, like , as well as more biographical films like and , but many of his most acclaimed works are thrilling and/or somewhat action-packed. And it’s not hard to see why, because Mann’s always had a knack for crafting visceral and high-impact scenes within his films.

What follows will hopefully showcase Michael Mann’s talents as a director of action, because all the following films can be categorized – at least in part – as action movies. – are ranked below.

Look, even great directors miss the mark every now and then, and perhaps more so as they get older. feels like a misstep of the late-career variety, on the part of Michael Mann; an action/thriller film that feels clunky and muddled. Its story relates to modern-day cybercrime, so you could be generous and suggest that things are meant to feel overwhelming and a little obtuse, but it’s hard to tell just how intentional that pervasive feeling is.

It’s definitely going for something bold, so generous viewers might also appreciate Blackhat on that level. The style at hand is unlike much else, even if it’s also disorientating and a bit ugly at times. To date, it , so time will tell if can end up being something of a comeback… if it does come out, and if it has enough action to be an action film, of course.

Speaking of -related projects helmed by Michael Mann, that legendary 1995 film had a proof-of-concept low-budget version of sorts made in 1989, called . It is, essentially, a less epic and not as spectacular version of Heat, with a runtime that’s about half the length and lower production values throughout. As a film, judged on its own, it’s certainly not great…

…But it is interesting, and it works as a decent TV movie for its era. , and while most people will be better off just watching Heat (given it’s superior in every way), L.A. Takedown might be intriguing for big fans of Michael Mann, and it can be respected for what it is, for sure.

From here on out, things are pretty good at worst, so don’t be too offended at seeing placed in the bottom half of this overall ranking. It’s more a testament to how solid Mann is as a director of action/crime movies, because this one is indeed pretty good, and thrillingly simple, too. There’s a cab driver who gets wrapped up in the affairs of an assassin on one dramatic night, the latter using the former to drive him to destinations to carry out hits.

It has one of the best villains in any Michael Mann movie, with being excellent here as the surprisingly cold-blooded assassin, and Jamie Foxx also turning in a strong performance as the cab driver continually fearing for his life. Collateral is ; just enough, in the end, to stay largely compelling throughout.

While the TV series might be more beloved (and Michael Mann was associated with it, too), 2006’s is nonetheless an interesting, visually bold, and kind of underrated crime/action/thriller movie. It takes some comparable risks visually and stylistically to the aforementioned Blackhat, but it feels more consistent and purposeful overall, even if the way it looks and feels takes a while to get used to.

The best way to describe the approach here is that, in 2006, Mann was trying to make something that encapsulated the digital and grimy feel of the decade just Narratively, the film is moderately compelling, too, but it’s really the style and slick action that makes Miami Vice stand out, maybe not as one of Mann’s very best, but one of his most interesting for sure.

While all the other action (or semi-action) movies Michael Mann directed can be called crime films too, very much isn’t a crime film, instead being a period drama that also happens to have quite a bit of action. Well, it’s a real blend of genres, when you think about it, given it also works as something of a war and adventure film, and romance is pretty central to the narrative, too.

It’s set during the 1700s, and has a fast-paced and moving story set against the backdrop of the French and Indian War; a conflict that involved the British Empire, the French colonial empire, and some Native American tribes. , all around working as an excellent and easily approachable epic of the rather lean variety (given the runtime’s only about two hours).

What else could take the number one spot here besides Heat, really? This is about as good as heist movies get, taking a cops vs. robbers sort of story and blowing it up to epic proportions, all the while being riveting, explosive, and intense for the better part of (almost) three hours. It’s perfectly acted, with one of the most impressive casts of the 1990s, which is perhaps a given when your leads are and .

Michael Mann also directs the hell out of Heat, making the quieter scenes just as riveting as the larger set pieces. It’s a movie that’s always in perfect control, and it’s a delight to revisit every time, perhaps getting even better as the years go on. Michael Mann has made his fair share of great movies, but of the bunch - action-related or otherwise - Heat is the greatest.

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