Top 20 Contemporary Action Heroes
AMC Movie List

Top 20 Contemporary Action Heroes

They may have tried to tackle comedy or drama at some point. But when it comes to action, which one of these stars kicks butt the best?

rank title points votes your vote
1 Bruce Willis
When Die Hard exploded onto the big screen, he was propelled from TV comic actor to marquee tough guy. 484 1164
2 Harrison Ford
Sure, he's played Indiana Jones and Hans Solo, but Ford's legacy also includes hits like The Fugitive and Blade Runner. 478 1152
3 Arnold Schwarzenegger
Conan, Terminator, Eraser, Commando, Total Recall... The former Mr. Olympia's list of action flicks goes on and on. 435 1115
4 Sylvester Stallone
Sly's big break was as Rocky but Rambo actually made Stallone one of the biggest action stars ever. 279 1025
5 Jackie Chan
One of the most popular movie stars in the world, Chan is best known for his acrobatic fighting style and over-the-top stunts. 279 1115
6 Jason Statham
Director Guy Ritchie can be credited for making this former Olympic diver one of the hottest action heroes around. 263 1037
7 Daniel Craig
Craig's action career began with Tomb Raider and was solidified when cast as 007-- one of the most iconic heroes of all-time. 249 1013
8 Sigourney Weaver
As Ripley in the Alien franchise, Weaver is the only action hero on this list to get an Oscar nod for kicking ass. 233 1001
9 Mel Gibson
Gibson shows both the serious and comedic side of action pics via the Road Warrior and Lethal Weapon franchises. 231 1017
10 Will Smith
Smith has battled aliens, robots, corrupt politicians, drug dealers, mutants, and everything else in between. 216 1048
11 Kurt Russell
Despite his history as a Disney child star, Russell proves himself to be pretty badass when he teams up with director John Carpenter. 211 927
12 Jet Li
Li's lightning-fast moves are world-renowned, making him one of the most visually dazzling action stars on the big screen. 157 919
13 Dwayne Johnson
The WWF champion's movie debut as The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns made "The Rock" a household name. 104 960
14 Chuck Norris
Many credit Norris with ushering in a new era of high-octane flicks that combines hand-to-hand combat with explosive action. 103 1001
15 Vin Diesel
From cult hit Pitch Black to blockbuster The Fast and the Furious, Diesel put a new spin on silent but deadly. 65 969
16 Keanu Reeves
Reeves has had his share of hits and misses, but his greatest success has been in action-fare like The Matrix and Speed. -31 937
17 Tom Cruise
Cruise has done it all, but his greatest money-makers have been high-octane rides like the M:I franchise. -32 1004
18 Jean-Claude Van Damme
The Muscles from Brussels introduced kickboxing hits like Bloodsport, Universal Soldier, and Timecop. -34 914
19 Angelina Jolie
Jolie may be easy on the eyes, but in movies like Salt, Wanted, and the Tomb Raider series she's pretty hard to beat. -47 1005
20 Steven Seagal
The former fight coach for Sean Connery went on to star in his own action-packed movies Under Siege and Hard to Kill. -117 941