Who is today's biggest action star? (1 Viewer)

[bigbottom]

Back in the day, we had Arnold, Sly and Bruce Willis. Who is today's top guy? Vin Diesel and The Rock are up there I guess, but I think I'd have to give the top nod to Jason Statham.

Use whatever criteria you like (quality of work, most prolific, etc.). And, no, I didn't do this as a poll.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Michael Cera was pretty awesome in Scott Pilgram Vs. The World.

 

[sports_fan]

I'll say Will Smith

Independence Day, Men in Black 1,2 and 3, Enemy of the State, Bad Boys 1 and 2, Hancock, I Robot, I am Legend, etc

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

Statham was the first to come to mind for me also

 

[BroadwayG]

Leem Nielson

 

[mquinnjr]

Liam Neeson.

Nasty in Taken 1/2, but versatile enough to be great in non-action movies, like Schindler's List.

 

[Hawks64]

Statham was the first to come to mind for me also

I would agree with this.

 

[Sabertooth]

Robert Downey Jr.

Ironman and Sherlock Holmes.

 

[Copeman]

Gerard Butler

Matt Damon

Jeremy Renner

Aaron Ekhart

Sam Worthington

Thomas Jane

Liam Hemsworth

 

[Abraham]

Do we even have enough action movies for it to matter? Matt Damon? TomCruise?

 

[bushdocda]

Surprised the Rock hasn't taken ownership of this yet.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Tom Hardy for me lately.

 

[SacramentoBob]

The BEST is Matt Damon, although with the Bourne franchise solidly in the rear view, I don't know if you can count him anymore. It seems like the action stars of today aren't quite what they were in the 80s, otherwise they wouldn't keep doing more movies with these same 80s stars. Vin Diesel, The Rock and Jason Statham just don't have the same appeal to me.

 

[Daywalker]

I like Statham but he's never starred in a blockbuster.

 

[Ilov80s]

There really isn't an action star like we used to have. It seems like movie stars aren't quite what they used to be, atleast not for big budget action movies.

 

[dparker713]

Biggest star that does a lot of action movies has to be Cruise or Will Smith.

 

[Sarnoff]

I'll see any movie Statham makes.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

 

[General Malaise]

Peter North

 

[Tony Jabroni]

The Rock

Over saturated...yes. Good..yes

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

He's fantastic as Bond.

Fantastic actor period.

ETA: Statham is too.

Expendables 3 is filming as we speak....the lineup is an action fool's dream.

 

[mad sweeney]

Gerard Butler

Matt Damon

Jeremy Renner

Aaron Ekhart

Sam Worthington

Thomas Jane

Liam Hemsworth

Damon is the only one that remotely qualifies. What action movie has Eckhart been in?

 

[Insein]

I like Statham but he's never starred in a blockbuster.

Did Van Damme?

 

[Ilov80s]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

Good one, but has he done much beyond that role?

 

[bigbottom]

I like Statham but he's never starred in a blockbuster.

Did Van Damme?

Or Steven Segal? But that said, neither Van Damme nor Segal were the biggest action heroes of their era. That was Sly and Arnold. I think Statham rates for consistency and being so prolific in the genre, but I can see arguments for others as the "biggest" action star.

It will be interesting to see what Statham's role is in the Fast and Furious world.

 

[Insein]

I think the Rock, Diesel and Statham are the top of the heap right now. Some others can make a claim. Five or six years ago Jet Li could be in the mix but those 3 are the best action stars going right now.

 

[Fennis]

Optimus Prime

 

[Guest]

Statham was the first to come to mind for me also

I would agree with this.

Yep.

 

[zoonation]

The Rock?

Quit playin.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

Good one, but has he done much beyond that role?

The other one that he did that was really good was Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

Good one, but has he done much beyond that role?

Road to Perdition?

 

[shadyridr]

Yeah The Rock is the only answer

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

action

 

[matuski]

Downey

Craig

Dude that plays Thor

 

[SacramentoBob]

action

Taken 3

 

[BigJohn]

The Rock

Over saturated...yes. Good..yes

This

 

[Run It Up]

Jason Statham? By sheer volume at least. Daniel Craig or Liam Neeson if we are considering talent of any kind, Dwayne Johnson if we aren't.

 

[SportsGuru311]

I wold have to say Jason Statham or the Rock.

 

[Insein]

Jason Statham? By sheer volume at least. Daniel Craig or Liam Neeson if we are considering talent of any kind, Dwayne Johnson if we aren't.

I think for an action star, talent is optional. It's pure macho charisma that is needed for that role. Schwarzenegger was the undisputed king of that role for almost 2 decades. Stallone took up the 2nd place role nicely and neither of those 2 could ever be considered to have acting talent. I think the Rock, Diesel and Statham are our goto action guys from 2000 on.

 

[Riversco]

Will Smith. I think I read somewhere only Will Smith and some other guy is actually worth the big money they pay A list actors. There was one other actor but I can't remember who.

 

[Insein]

Will Smith. I think I read somewhere only Will Smith and some other guy is actually worth the big money they pay A list actors. There was one other actor but I can't remember who.

I know he does action films but I consider Will Smith an actual actor compared to the other guys. He has a pretty solid resume for both action and drama.

 

[Daywalker]

Will Smith. I think I read somewhere only Will Smith and some other guy is actually worth the big money they pay A list actors. There was one other actor but I can't remember who.

I know he does action films but I consider Will Smith an actual actor compared to the other guys. He has a pretty solid resume for both action and drama.

His drama resume is pathetic for basically the biggest star in the world box-office-wise. Guy prints money. Acting is a distant second. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[drummer]

It's a battle between who opens an action film between Tom Cruise and Will Smith. But that be due to Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis aging out.

I'd say it's a batlle between Bruce Willis right now over Mel Gibson through three decades of opens. Outside of Gibson's drunken meltdown, the Mad Max franchise is still waiting for his return.

Mel Gibson is my vote, if we forget Russell Crowe.

 

[xulf]

Angelina Jolie.

 

[FUBAR]

He's likely not even top 10, but I'm surprised Hugh Jackman hasn't done more.

 

[FUBAR]

Will Smith. I think I read somewhere only Will Smith and some other guy is actually worth the big money they pay A list actors. There was one other actor but I can't remember who.

I know he does action films but I consider Will Smith an actual actor compared to the other guys. He has a pretty solid resume for both action and drama.

Along the same lines, Samuel Jackson deserves a mention.

 

[Rick James]

I don't accept Will Smith as the answer. He is so talented, but he chooses the safest movies possible. It's such a shame, too.

 

[Run It Up]

He's likely not even top 10, but I'm surprised Hugh Jackman hasn't done more.

Hugh Jackman is actually a pretty good actor, hes just been typecast as Wolverine.

Which is fine, cause he nails that role too and will likely be Wolverine for the next 10 or more years and will make more money doing it than he would have on more serious roles.

 

[Copeman]

Gerard Butler

Matt Damon

Jeremy Renner

Aaron Ekhart

Sam Worthington

Thomas Jane

Liam Hemsworth

Damon is the only one that remotely qualifies. What action movie has Eckhart been in?

How, so? Each has been in numerous action movies. And good ones too.

 

[Thunderlips]

Daniel Craig, from the newest set of Bond movies does a pretty good job.

Good one, but has he done much beyond that role?

Road to Perdition?

The Layer Cake?