The Best Foreign Action Movies of All Time
Action fans, rejoice! When it comes to pulse-pounding thrillers, some of the very best action movies extend far beyond the borders of American cinema. From jaw-dropping fight scenes to intense international thrillers, foreign action movies have left an indelible mark on the genre. Here’s a curated list of the best foreign action movies, supported by external ratings and a glimpse into what makes each film a standout.
Oldboy (2003)
Country: South Korea
Director: Park Chan-wook
About the Film: Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” is a South Korean masterpiece that blends action, mystery, and psychological drama. The film follows Oh Dae-su, who is inexplicably imprisoned for 15 years and seeks revenge upon his release. Renowned for its visceral action sequences and a mind-bending plot, “Oldboy” has earned acclaim for its dark and complex narrative.
Seven Samurai (1954)
Country: Japan
Director: Akira Kurosawa
About the Film: One of the originators of the samurai film genres, SEVEN SAMURAI boasts a picture-perfect critics score of 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. A samurai answers a village’s request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Country: China
Director: Ang Lee
About the Film: Rated a near-perfect 98% fresh, Ang Lee’s 4-time Academy Award winning martial arts masterpiece, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” seamlessly blends stunning visuals with an epic tale of love and honor. Set against the backdrop of ancient China, the film features gravity-defying fight scenes and an engaging narrative. Its international success and critical acclaim paved the way for a new era of martial arts movies.
The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Country: Indonesia
Director: Gareth Evans
About the Film: Indonesian action cinema reached new heights with Gareth Evans’ “The Raid: Redemption.” The film follows a SWAT team trapped in a high-rise building controlled by a ruthless crime lord. Praised for its relentless action sequences and innovative fight choreography, “The Raid” is a visceral and adrenaline-fueled experience.
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: Robert Clouse
About the Film: One of the most iconic films of all time, even beyond the action genre, Bruce Lee plays a martial-arts expert determined to help capture the narcotics dealer whose gang was responsible for the death of his sister. Lee enters a kung fu competition in an attempt to fight his way to the dealer’s headquarters with the help of some friends.
Drunken Master (1978)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
About the Film: Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight. Followed by several sequels, including Drunken Master II & III, DRUNKEN MASTER was just the tip of the iceberg for a star making turn for martial arts icon Jackie Chan.
Ip Man (2008)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: Wilson Yip
About the Film: Set during the war between China and Japan, the film tells the story of Ip Man, a Wing Chun expert who reluctantly agrees to train the Japanese officers. The film almost takes the form of a biopic, as it is loosely based on the life of Yip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art and the teacher of the great Bruce Lee.
Run Lola Run (1998)
Country: Germany
Director: Tom Tykwer
About the Film: This German action thriller directed by Tom Tykwer explores the concept of fate and second chances. Two-bit Berlin criminal Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu) delivers some smuggled loot for his boss, Ronnie (Heino Ferch), but accidentally leaves the 100,000 mark payment in a subway car. Given 20 minutes to come up with the money, he calls his girlfriend, Lola (Franka Potente), who sprints through the streets of the city to try to beg the money out of her bank manager father (Herbert Knaup) and get to Manni before he does something desperate. Known for its innovative narrative structure and high-energy pacing, “Run Lola Run” is a captivating and visually dynamic cinematic experience.
Watch on Angelika Anywhere: https://www.angelikaanywhere.com/film/run-lola-run/
The Way of the Dragon (1972)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: Bruce Lee
About the Film: The film tells the story of a man who arrives in Rome to help his relatives who are being forced by a mafia syndicate to sell off their restaurant. The film is now famous for the climactic battle sequence between Lee and Chuck Norris at the Colosseum. While Lee may best be known for his work in ‘Enter the Dragon’ among western audiences, it’s in ‘Way of the Dragon’ where he fully displays his remarkable range as an actor and as a truly great martial artist.
Fearless (2006)
Country: China
Director: Ronnie Yu
About the Film: Jet Li stars in the biography of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia, who is the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation. After a terrible tragedy, a martial artist (Jet Li) retreats to a remote village to gain a new appreciation for the important things in life, but when he returns to the city to reconcile his past with the present, he gets caught up in a duel to the death defending China’s honor.
La Femme Nikita (1990)
Country: France
Director: Luc Besson
About the Film: Convicted felon Nikita (Anne Parillaud), instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained to be a secret police assassin controlled by the government. Her lonely life is warmed when she falls in love with a man who knows nothing of her mysterious life.
The Night Comes for Us (2018)
Country: Indonesia
Director: Timo Tjahjanto
About the Film: Rated 91% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, Timo Tjahjanto’s THE NIGHT COMES FOR US is a nonstop thrill ride. Ito, a gangland enforcer, is caught amidst a treacherous and violent insurrection within his Triad crime family upon his return home from a stint abroad.
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Country: France
Director: Luc Besson
About the Film: Luc Besson’s Léon is widely regarded as one of the greatest action flicks of all time – even being ranked as #38 as IMDb’s Top Rated films. A young girl, Mathilda (Natalie Portman), befriends her neighbor, Léon (Jean Reno), a hired hitman for mobster Tony (Danny Aiello). When her family is murdered by crooked DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Mathilda joins forces with a reluctant Léon to learn his deadly trade and avenge her family’s deaths.
A Better Tomorrow (1986)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: John Woo
About the Film: Rated 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, John Woo’s A BETTER TOMORROW is a top notch action-thriller. A Hong Kong policeman (Leslie Cheung) blames his reformed-gangster brother (Chow Yun-Fat) for the death of their father.
The Killer (1989)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: John Woo
About the Film: THE KILLER is another hard-boiled action flick from John Woo featuring eye-popping balletic violence and philosophical underpinnings – rating a stunning 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. THE KILLER is a Hong Kong action classic known for its stylish gunplay and intense emotional depth. Mob assassin Jeffrey (Chow Yun-Fat) is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie (Sally Yeh) is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim’s sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, he reluctantly joins forces with a rogue policeman (Danny Lee) to make things right. Woo’s signature slow-motion action sequences and compelling characters contribute to the film’s enduring legacy.
City of God (2002)
Country: Brazil
Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
About the Film: While primarily a crime drama, the Brazilian film “City of God” delivers riveting action sequences amidst its exploration of life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the film intertwines multiple narratives, depicting the harsh realities of survival and the choices made in the pursuit of power.
Watch on Angelika Anywhere: https://www.angelikaanywhere.com/film/city-of-god/
Hard Boiled (1992)
Country: Hong Kong
Director: John Woo
About the Film: John Woo’s “Hard Boiled” is a Hong Kong action film celebrated for its intense gun battles and stylized violence. A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who’s working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them. The film’s kinetic action sequences and emotional depth have solidified its status as a classic.
Goldfinger (1964)
Country: United Kingdom
Director: Guy Hamilton
About the Film: Rated 99% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and one of the most iconic films in the James Bond franchise , Empire Magazine dubs the film “Perfection”. Special agent 007 (Sean Connery) comes face to face with one of the most notorious villains of all time, and now he must outwit and outgun the powerful tycoon to prevent him from cashing in on a devious scheme to raid Fort Knox — and obliterate the world’s economy.
A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Country: South Korea
Director: Kim Jee-woon
About the Film: Rated 100% fresh, Kim Jee-woon’s “A Bittersweet Life” is a South Korean action thriller known for its stylish visuals and intricate plot. The film follows a gangster (Lee Byung-hun) who starts a violent feud after he refuses to kill his boss’s (Kim Yeong-cheol) cheating girlfriend. With its meticulous character development and well-choreographed action, the film stands out as a compelling entry in the genre.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Country: Sweden
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
About the Film: Wealthy Swedish recluse Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube) needs closure. Forty years ago, his beloved niece disappeared, never to be seen again — and circumstances have led him to believe that a member of his own repugnant family must be responsible. Vanger hires stoic journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and scrappy, chain-smoking hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) to come to his island, dig deep into chilling family secrets and unmask the killer once and for all.
Watch on Angelika Anywhere: https://www.angelikaanywhere.com/film/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/
The Man from Nowhere (2010)
Country: South Korea
Director: Lee Jeong-beom
About the Film: Boasting a pitch-perfect 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this South Korean action thriller directed by Lee Jeong-beom follows a mysterious pawnshop owner with a dark past who becomes entangled in a dangerous criminal conspiracy. “The Man from Nowhere” is acclaimed for its emotional depth, intense action sequences, and the compelling performance of its lead actor, Won Bin.
Battle Royale (2000)
Country: Japan
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
About the Film: Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, “Battle Royale” is a Japanese action thriller that takes a dystopian look at a government program forcing students to fight to the death. Known for its controversial yet thought-provoking premise, the film has gained a cult following for its social commentary and impactful action sequences.
The Villainess (2017)
Country: South Korea
Director: Byung-gil Jung
About the Film: Bloody revenge is at the heart of this stylish, kinetic action-thriller that gives a welcome shot of adrenaline to the classic femme fatale story that is “equal parts KILL BILL, NIKITA, JOHN WICK, HARDCORE HENRY and HK-Era John Woo” (Screen Anarchy). From Director Jung Byung-Gil, this Cannes Film Festival Official Selection follows a female assassin (played by Kim Ok-bin), who leaves a trail of bodies behind as she seeks revenge.
Watch on Angelika Anywhere: https://www.angelikaanywhere.com/film/the-villainess/
The Host (2006)
Country: South Korea
Director: Bong Joon-ho
About the Film: One of South Korea’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho’s (PARASITE) THE HOST transcends the typical monster movie, blending action, drama, and social commentary. The film follows a family’s quest to rescue their daughter from a mutated creature in the Han River. Praised for its genre-defying narrative, “The Host” showcases Bong Joon-ho’s ability to seamlessly incorporate action into a compelling story.
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Country: Thailand
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
About the Film: “Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior” introduced the world to Tony Jaa – and his extraordinary martial arts skills. Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, the film follows a young man from a rural village who embarks on a quest to recover a stolen Buddha statue. The film’s emphasis on authentic Muay Thai and Jaa’s physical prowess garnered international acclaim, making it a landmark in Thai action cinema.
Whether it’s the groundbreaking fight choreography, car chases, compelling narratives, violent action, box office success, or cultural richness, each of these movies from around the world have left an indelible mark on the genre. From the frenetic streets of Jakarta to the stylized elegance of Hong Kong, these films showcase the diverse and dynamic world of international action cinema.
