Movies which have defined the action genre?

I personally think there are only a handful of films that have come along in the course of the 50+ year history of this genre that have really defined what an action movie is. Here is my list:

Goldfinger (1964) - The first true blockbuster action film. It basically legitimized and popularized the genre.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - A truly revolutionary film with genre-defining heroes, action set pieces, and a truly extraordinary climax.

Die Hard (1988) - Arguably the greatest action film of all-time.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) - Groundbreaking visual effects, a kick arse hero, a kick arse villain, and a very strong Sarah Connor are just some of the things Terminator 2 can use to argue GOAT action movie status.

The Matrix (1999) - A brilliant concept punctuated by solid action scenes makes this film soar to unparalleled heights. Many action films over the next decade were influenced by this film.

The Dark Knight (2008) - The greatest of the comic book subgenre films, The Dark Knight has gone on to influence other films in the action genre such as Skyfall and Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man reboot.


I have not seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet but there are many who are saying it is also a genre-defining film. I guess I will find out tomorrow when I finally get to see it.