Best Action Saga? (NEW POLL)

I'm reopening this poll because—honestly—I can't believe I forgot to include Dirty Harry in the lineup. It’s one of those things where you fail to see the forest for the trees; some movies are so woven into the fabric of cinema culture that they just... slip your mind. Haha. For me, Clint Eastwood is practically synonymous with the genre.

So, cast your votes from the options below and let me know what you think. Personally, there isn't even a debate here:

Mission: Impossible and Jason Bourne (though, personally, I don't count the fourth Bourne installment) 🙂

Look, let's be clear—I love Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, but Mission: Impossible and Bourne are just part of my DNA. That's that.

The 1996 Mission: Impossible is my absolute favorite action saga of all time, right up there with the Bourne ultimatum.

It is genuinely difficult to articulate how much I love that first Mission: Impossible; it's hard to put into words. 🙂 Interestingly enough, a few years after seeing it, I visited Prague and it was... love at first sight. 😁 Everything just clicked—Prague, that specific movie, the plot, the whole vibe.

I'm a huge fan of Mission: Impossible 3 and 4, and I'm counting down the days until the fifth one, but the original remains the GOAT for me.

As for the Bourne series, they are all excellent, except for the fourth one—I don't really count it if Matt Damon isn't in it.

Bottom line for me, no contest: Mission: Impossible and Bourne.

The Dirty Harry films will always be a part of me, but again, Clint Eastwood is such a massive icon and his other work is legendary, so I'll stick to voting for Bourne and M.I. here.

I decided against including the Rambo franchise because, in my view, aside from the first film, the sequels are more war movies than pure action flicks. Including them would open a Pandora's box regarding movies that blend action with other genres, but since some people specifically asked for Rambo, fine, he's in.

Forgive me, folks, but I didn't want to clutter the poll with every other request. They wouldn't stand a chance against these heavy hitters anyway, and if I included everything, we'd be here arguing about edge cases until tomorrow. Just vote for the ones listed; they are likely your favorites, or at least close to it, even if your absolute number one isn't on the list.

PLEASE VOTE HEAVILY FOR THESE TWO SAGAS.

I'll be dropping my remaining comments from the previous poll right here:

wiredraven82 The user said:The Bourne series—specifically that first trilogy—possesses this distinct atmosphere that’s honestly tough to put into words. It has a certain "soul," if you will, that sets it apart from your typical run-of-the-mill thriller. 😁Maybe it’s just something about the vibe of Europe and its historic cities—I don't quite know how to put my finger on it, honestly.

Only something like the original 1996 Mission: Impossible had that kind of energy—and even then, they were filming all over Europe to get it done.

Look, let me be blunt—Jason Bourne is... man, he’s just top-tier. Absolute perfection.

Man, that ending to the Bourne ultimatum—I swear, I almost blew up my seat in the theater because of how good it was. Seriously, top-tier stuff. And that Moby track, "Extreme Ways"? Absolute perfection.

The Bourne ultimatum — an epilogue.

Look, people can complain all they want—they can nitpick every frame and grumble about the pacing if it makes them feel better—but I’m going to play one more card here. I'll pull out the scores from both the critics and the general audience. I don't usually bother doing this—it's not really my style to get caught up in the numbers—but honestly, right now, I really want to. 🙂

The Bourne ultimatum stands alone as arguably the most highly rated action saga—both from the perspective of critics and general audiences—in the entire history of cinema. ☕

When it comes to the Mission: Impossible franchise, I’ve already made my feelings pretty clear about how much I love it—especially that first installment. For me, that opening sequence remains one of the top two or three greatest action scenes in the history of the entire action genre.

The Mission: Impossible TGV scene—it’s one of those rare moments where a director actually understands how to build tension without relying solely on cheap jump scares or frantic cutting. It’s pure, calculated cinematic momentum. Most modern action flicks try to hide a lack of direction behind a blur of shaky cams and rapid-fire editing, but this sequence works because it respects the geography of the stunt and the physics of the situation. You actually feel the speed, the danger, and that looming sense of catastrophe in a way that feels earned rather than manufactured.

I still get chills thinking about that moment when Tom Cruise leaps from the train onto the helicopter—it’s pure cinematic adrenaline. 😁And then there’s that music—specifically from the 04:22 mark onwards in the video. 🙂

In that exact moment—when he leaps, right as the score swells to meet the action, and the entire sequence unfolds—you finally grasp the true definition of the word: pure action. Mission: Impossible And when it comes to an action scene—well, that’s where things really get interesting.

Not many people seem to realize that in the original 1996 Mission: Impossible, Tom Cruise doesn't actually fire a single shot from a gun—yet somehow, the action sequences are still incredible and the whole thing remains a total blockbuster.

wiredraven82 said:When it comes to James Bond, the whole franchise has felt like some sort of cartoon to me for a long time now. Even if we aren't strictly defining it as an action saga—which, let's be honest, it's supposed to be—it wouldn't even make it onto my list if that were the case. At this point, the series has become a complete joke.

The only Bond films I've actually sat through were the ones featuring Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery—everything else since then just hasn't hit the mark for me.

Absolute garbage.

Jacob J. Harper said:Well, James Bond 007 is in a league of his own 👍

Lethal Weapon and 😁 are great—they’re absolute action classics—but they don't even come close to the James Bond films, nor does any other action franchise for that matter.
The JB movies are unique, distinct, and there are just so many of them that no other series can ever hope to touch them.

@Dragon, man, you missed Rambo in the poll. He had to be in there; I know you probably thought "maybe some other option," but Rambo is Rambo.

I didn't want to include Rambo 🙂 because, well... he's more of an action-war movie—at least those later ones after the unit—and adding him would have opened a whole can of worms about where all the other action films mixed with different genres fit in. 🙂 These are what you'd call... pure action-thrillers or just straight-up action movies... haha... I hope you get my drift. 🙂

But fine, look, I put Rambo in this poll anyway. 🙂

Look, for me, Dirty Harry is way more of a classic, and honestly, First Blood stands out so much in quality compared to all those sequels that I’m sticking to my guns on this one.
So yeah, regarding that, I thought the first poll was actually pretty spot on.☕

Patrick Martin said:Look, for me, Dirty Harry is way more of a classic, and honestly, First Blood stands out so much in quality compared to all those sequels that I’m sticking to my guns on this one.
So yeah, regarding that, I thought the first poll was actually pretty spot on.☕

It’s basically Dirty Harry, but man—the action was something else. 🙂 And besides—he was the first one... how should I even put this... the first real, gritty protagonist of the action genre—and if you ask me, still the most compelling one out there. 🙂

As for Rambo—honestly, I don't think he even belongs in this poll. His inclusion here just opens up a whole mess of questions, mostly because Rambo ties so closely into that specific war-driven sub-genre. But hey, fine—if people want him included, let them have him.

M.I. is actually heading in the right direction. Honestly, compared to how much they completely trashed the franchise with the fourth Jason Bourne installment, every single Mission: Impossible movie just keeps getting better and better. ☕

Patrick Martin said:M.I. is actually heading in the right direction. Honestly, compared to how much they completely trashed the franchise with the fourth Jason Bourne installment, every single Mission: Impossible movie just keeps getting better and better. ☕

I feel exactly the same way.🙂

When I sat down to watch M.I.4, my internal monologue was basically just: HOLY SHIT, what a massive blockbuster, haha.

But seriously, it’s been ages since I’ve seen an action blockbuster this solid—not since the 1996 original, which remains the gold standard for me in this saga. That fourth one is a total powerhouse; even the third isn't bad by any means, but the fourth? Absolute masterpiece.

As for this fifth one, I’m genuinely itching to see it—it looks like the reviews on IMDb and Metacritic are absolutely crushing it.

Indiana Jones, Mad Max, Terminator, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean
Just thought I’d drop by and totally throw a wrench in your new poll 😁

here we go again 🤣

Jonathan Mendoza17 said:Indiana Jones, Mad Max, Terminator, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean
Just thought I’d drop by and totally throw a wrench in your new poll 😁

You won't be able to argue that point—mostly because we're talking about sagas and films where action is just one component of the genre, rather than being the entire backbone of the movie. For some people, those sequences only account for maybe a third of the actual character of the film. 🙂

We both know—you and I—that these movies don't really belong in the same league as the ones I mentioned earlier, which are... how should I put it colloquially? Pure action. 🙂

I could certainly point out that certain action sagas are missing from this list—but let’s be honest—those series just don't hold a candle to the heavy hitters currently sitting in this poll. What would be the point of adding them? Just to pad out the numbers and make the survey look more "complete"? No thanks. We aren't here to play house with mediocre franchises; we're here to debate the absolute best action saga ever made. 🙂

wiredraven82 said:

I'm reopening this poll because—honestly—I can't believe I forgot to include Dirty Harry in the lineup. It’s one of those things where you fail to see the forest for the trees; some movies are so woven into the fabric of cinema culture that they just... slip your mind. Haha. For me, Clint Eastwood is practically synonymous with the genre.

So, cast your votes from the options below and let me know what you think. Personally, there isn't even a debate here:

Mission: Impossible and Jason Bourne (though, personally, I don't count the fourth Bourne installment) 🙂

Look, let's be clear—I love Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, but Mission: Impossible and Bourne are just part of my DNA. That's that.

The 1996 Mission: Impossible is my absolute favorite action saga of all time, right up there with the Bourne ultimatum.

It is genuinely difficult to articulate how much I love that first Mission: Impossible; it's hard to put into words. 🙂 Interestingly enough, a few years after seeing it, I visited Prague and it was... love at first sight. 😁 Everything just clicked—Prague, that specific movie, the plot, the whole vibe.

I'm a huge fan of Mission: Impossible 3 and 4, and I'm counting down the days until the fifth one, but the original remains the GOAT for me.

As for the Bourne series, they are all excellent, except for the fourth one—I don't really count it if Matt Damon isn't in it.

Bottom line for me, no contest: Mission: Impossible and Bourne.

The Dirty Harry films will always be a part of me, but again, Clint Eastwood is such a massive icon and his other work is legendary, so I'll stick to voting for Bourne and M.I. here.

I decided against including the Rambo franchise because, in my view, aside from the first film, the sequels are more war movies than pure action flicks. Including them would open a Pandora's box regarding movies that blend action with other genres, but since some people specifically asked for Rambo, fine, he's in.

Forgive me, folks, but I didn't want to clutter the poll with every other request. They wouldn't stand a chance against these heavy hitters anyway, and if I included everything, we'd be here arguing about edge cases until tomorrow. Just vote for the ones listed; they are likely your favorites, or at least close to it, even if your absolute number one isn't on the list.

PLEASE VOTE HEAVILY FOR THESE TWO SAGAS.

It’s a bummer Charles Bronson isn't in the running since we don't have the Death Wish series... and honestly, that’s more of a constructive critique than just a random comment. See, Harry Potter is more of a crime series with some occasional Action scenes thrown in, whereas Death Wish is a thriller that leans into Action—and it leans way harder into it once the plot starts getting a bit thin...

I didn't want to throw the Rambo franchise in there because, in my book, aside from the first one, the other movies are kind of a different breed of action films—more like war movies—which opens up a whole can of worms for any movie where Action is mixed with other genres... but hey, some people were asking for Rambo, so fine, whatever.

Well, you might as well have tossed Missing in Action into the mix then, if we're playing the genre-mashup game... 😉

I don't think they stand a chance against this lineup, so you guys can keep throwing accusations at me all day if you want. Just vote for the options provided—it's likely one of those is actually your favorite, or at least close to it, even if your absolute number one isn't on the list.

See, that’s the thing with these polls. They aren't really made for the person running them, they're for everyone else. You include everything relevant—even if those entries don't get a single vote—just to show you've actually done the homework and covered all the bases... then you just let the chaos unfold and enjoy the ride.

The Raid and Ong-Bak...

Aside from The Raid, Berandal is probably the only guy who actually impressed me—maybe The Man from Nowhere comes close, but honestly, I don't think anyone's topping him!
*Plus, Johnnie To basically has his own whole saga of solid action crime thrillers.

briskhound2 said:It’s a bummer Charles Bronson isn't in the running since we don't have the Death Wish series... and honestly, that’s more of a constructive critique than just a random comment. See, Harry Potter is more of a crime series with some occasional Action scenes thrown in, whereas Death Wish is a thriller that leans into Action—and it leans way harder into it once the plot starts getting a bit thin...

I didn't want to throw the Rambo franchise in there because, in my book, aside from the first one, the other movies are kind of a different breed of action films—more like war movies—which opens up a whole can of worms for any movie where Action is mixed with other genres... but hey, some people were asking for Rambo, so fine, whatever.

Well, you might as well have tossed Missing in Action into the mix then, if we're playing the genre-mashup game... 😉

I don't think they stand a chance against this lineup, so you guys can keep throwing accusations at me all day if you want. Just vote for the options provided—it's likely one of those is actually your favorite, or at least close to it, even if your absolute number one isn't on the list.

See, that’s the thing with these polls. They aren't really made for the person running them, they're for everyone else. You include everything relevant—even if those entries don't get a single vote—just to show you've actually done the homework and covered all the bases... then you just let the chaos unfold and enjoy the ride.

Look, if they wanted Harry Potter in there, they could have put him in. If they wanted Rambo, fine, throw him in. But there’s absolutely no need to include anyone else. 🙂

briskhound2 said:It’s a bummer Charles Bronson isn't in the running since we don't have the Death Wish series... and honestly, that’s more of a constructive critique than just a random comment. See, Harry Potter is more of a crime series with some occasional Action scenes thrown in, whereas Death Wish is a thriller that leans into Action—and it leans way harder into it once the plot starts getting a bit thin...

I didn't want to throw the Rambo franchise in there because, in my book, aside from the first one, the other movies are kind of a different breed of action films—more like war movies—which opens up a whole can of worms for any movie where Action is mixed with other genres... but hey, some people were asking for Rambo, so fine, whatever.

Well, you might as well have tossed Missing in Action into the mix then, if we're playing the genre-mashup game... 😉

I don't think they stand a chance against this lineup, so you guys can keep throwing accusations at me all day if you want. Just vote for the options provided—it's likely one of those is actually your favorite, or at least close to it, even if your absolute number one isn't on the list.

See, that’s the thing with these polls. They aren't really made for the person running them, they're for everyone else. You include everything relevant—even if those entries don't get a single vote—just to show you've actually done the homework and covered all the bases... then you just let the chaos unfold and enjoy the ride.

But I'm not doing this for my own sake, and it isn't about being subjective. Let's look at it from a different angle—I'll use a basketball analogy (since that's my favorite sport). If someone's favorite player of all time is Karl Malone, should I include him in a TOP 6 or 7 list just so that specific individual has someone to vote for? Especially when he has absolutely zero chance of standing next to names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Shaquille O'Neal?

It makes no sense to me...

To me, that kind of approach is just catering to someone's SUBJECTIVE whims rather than being objective. This isn't a poll for me to figure out what everyone likes; I don't work for some magazine and I don't run my own news site. I simply listed the franchises that are objectively the PEAK of this genre, which was my goal. So, yeah, cheers. 🙂

wiredraven82 said:Look, if they wanted Harry Potter in there, they could have put him in. If they wanted Rambo, fine, throw him in. But there’s absolutely no need to include anyone else. 🙂

But I'm not doing this for my own sake, and it isn't about being subjective. Let's look at it from a different angle—I'll use a basketball analogy (since that's my favorite sport). If someone's favorite player of all time is Karl Malone, should I include him in a TOP 6 or 7 list just so that specific individual has someone to vote for? Especially when he has absolutely zero chance of standing next to names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Shaquille O'Neal?

It makes no sense to me...

To me, that kind of approach is just catering to someone's SUBJECTIVE whims rather than being objective. This isn't a poll for me to figure out what everyone likes; I don't work for some magazine and I don't run my own news site. I simply listed the franchises that are objectively the PEAK of this genre, which was my goal. So, yeah, cheers. 🙂

Wait, what?

Aren't Death Wish and Missing in Action basically legendary action saga staples?

But I'm not doing this for myself...

Then who are you doing it for? The crowd that wanted a poll featuring Harry Potter and Rambo? If that's the case, I might as well just lock this thread right now because it feels pretty pointless...

this isn't some survey where I'm trying to figure out everyone's personal favorites—I don't work for any magazine or run my own site or anything. I just put in the franchises that are objectively the absolute BEST of the genre, that's my goal, heh, peace out 🙂

So what's even the point of the poll then?

To spark a discussion? Hard to say when you haven't included everything worth mentioning, just a selective bunch based on what others suggested you throw in... "objectively the best" is subjective—for one person's peak is another's bottom tier—and honestly, if Clint Eastwood wasn't in the Harry Potter series, he'd be practically unwatchable... so you've already decided what counts and what doesn't before we even start. It just brings us back to that old issue where polls like "vote for what's on the list" end up being totally closed-off... There aren't actually *that* many action sagas out there, and since you left out stuff like Police Story by Jackie Chan—which I'm sure has its own cult following too—a more thorough list would have actually made this informative... at least it would give people a chance to remember something they might have missed...

Death Wish is missing again, so I’m going back to my vote for some other .

I suggest renaming this thread to "The Best Action Saga from the List," because there will always be people who aren't satisfied. 🙄

Bradley Ramos11 said:I suggest renaming this thread to "The Best Action Saga from the List," because there will always be people who aren't satisfied. 🙄

It’s not about being unhappy, it’s more about how the whole thing was put together... Polls usually have a specific goal or some kind of logic behind them—trust me, I've participated in plenty of them—but here, it feels like there isn't much purpose or originality since everyone else suggested the options. The poll itself isn't bad (I actually remember the rule about alternative titles), but if we're including >, then why wouldn't > be there too? And if we've got > on the list—which is a fantasy series, not an Action one—then why isn't > included? 🤷 It’s not me complaining, it's just a debate, though it ends up feeling like—well, whatever is most popular wins, and everything else doesn't matter.

I agree, which is why I suggested a new title for this thread. My previous 🙄 was a mistake—it was actually meant for the OP and those specific (read: unselected) movies.

The poll results are certainly interesting enough, though honestly, it doesn't much matter what anyone claims to think ☕

Ali, someone like @švaleru really ought to be hit with a formal decree banning them from casting multiple votes in these polls—because if someone’s just here to mess around and troll, they shouldn't expect to find anything of value here.