Theaction moviegenre is a style of filmmaking not known for its subtlety, although some massive movies from the past have only grown more absurd over time. Whether it’s through outlandish narratives, extreme characters, or stunts that push the audience’s suspension of disbelief to its absolute limit, there are some movies that have carved out a legacy as some of themost absurd moviesever produced. Featuringall-time great action starstaking part in death-defying acts of heroism, these movies were made all the better for their sheer ridiculousness.
Some of thebest action movies of all timewere truly absurd, and this was an important factor in them standing the test of time. While the action genre has gotten continually more extreme as the years have gone on, there were some trailblazing releases that, despite being released decades ago, are hard for modern movies to live up to. Whether it was Nicolas Cage switching faces with John Travolta or Jason Statham in an adrenaline overload,these action movies were totally absurd in the best way possible.
10Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Directed by Ivan Reitman
In 1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger had become such an all-encompassing worldwide action movie star that we took his presence in wild crime movies for granted. However, this fails to recognize just how absurd the characterization and story of Detective John Kimble truly were. While the idea of an Austrian-born LAPD cop already brings up a litany of questions, the fact that anybody thought puttingthis muscle-bound narcotics officer undercover in a kindergartenwas a good idea was truly mind-boggling.
The only way to enjoyKindergarten Copwas to leave all logic behind and just take its ridiculous premise for what it is. With the perfect blend of action and comedy,Kindergarten Cophighlighted Schwarzenegger’s increased talent in comedic roles that he previously honed inTwinsand later showed off in cult classics likeJuniorandJingle All the Way. As a defining moment in Schwarzenegger’s willingness to play with his legacy as an action hero,Kindergarten Copopened the door to more clever, meta, and tongue-in-cheek roles from the former bodybuilding champion.
9Speed (1994)
Directed by Jan de Bont
Speedwas an action movie classic whose premise was so ingenious it was shocking to think that it hadn’t already been done before. With a plot centering on a city bus that will explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour, the heart-racing premise and sheer absurdity of its narrative have not lost any of their appeal in the more than three decades since it was released. Featuring standout performances from Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock,Speedwas a major hit and one of the most iconic action movies of the 1990s.
While the heroism at the center of this story was part of its enduring appeal, credit must be given to Dennis Hopper’s portrayal as the vengeful villain who planted the bomb. With nonstop excitement, high energy, and outrageous stunts,Speedwas a highly rewatchable moviewhose erratic presentation has been mimicked by countless films since. While the sequel,Speed 2: Cruise Control, may have been even more ridiculous, the surprising originality of the first one made it an all-time classic.
8Fast Five (2011)
Directed by Justin Lin
TheFast & Furiousfranchise started off as a street racing series that was relatively grounded in realism, although as the years went on, it increasingly embraced the absurd. What began asPaul Walker and Vin Diesel’s found family storyof street racing, epic chases, and impressive stunts had turned into a de facto superhero franchise by the timeFast Fivewas released in 2005. Featuring a notorious scene where a gigantic bank vault is hauled down the highway of Rio de Janeiro, this Justin Lin movie represented a tipping point for the series.
While the outrageous nature ofFast Fiveis often criticized, it also represented a point of rebirth as the series shifted from a street racing franchise into an over-the-top heist story. With characters who regularly ignored the laws of gravity as they propelled themselves across moving cars,Fast Fivewas so absurd that, as a viewer, you’ve just got to go with it. Depending on who you ask,Fast Fivewill either be the point that the franchise jumped the shark or when it finally starts to kick things into high gear and give the viewers what they want.
7Crank (2006)
Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
Few action movies have kept the tension as consistently high asCrank, a fast-paced showcase of pure spectacle that was about as close as you could get to playingGrand Theft Autowhile still watching a movie. With Jason Statham as Chev Chelios, this over-the-top story saw an LA assassin poisoned by a synthetic drug that meant if he did not keep his adrenaline flowing constantly, he would die. As Chelios does everything in his power to keep his heart rate at extreme levels, he simultaneously seeks to track down the men who poisoned him.
Crankboiled the essence of an action movie down to its barest essentialsand was essentially a retelling ofSpeed, except instead of a bus, it was a human body that had to keep moving. While Statham would later achieve wider fame and become a household name in the world of action movies,Crankstill stands as one of his most high-octane, over-the-top, and absurd films.
6Rambo III (1988)
Directed by Peter MacDonald
When the PTSD-suffering Vietnam War veteran John Rambo was first introduced to movie audiences with the release ofFirst Blood, it was a nuanced character study on the nature of trauma. But by the timeRambo IIIwas released, things had truly devolved into full-blown superhero-style action. This sequel moved the story to the Soviet-Afghan War andRambo IIIsaw Sylvester Stallone going on a death-defying mission to rescue his former commander.
As the finalRambomovie of the 1980s, it was clear the series had reached a level of absurdity previously unseen as his kill count hit massive numbers and Sylvester Stallone ruthlessly shot, fought, and killed his way out of every situation. While there were some attempts to address current Cold War political themes, the truth was that theRambofranchise had become a shell of its former self, and looking back, this movie has only become more absurd and dated over time.
5Die Another Day (2002)
Directed by Lee Tamahori
WhileJames Bondenthusiasts have a love-hate relationship with the Pierce Brosnan era, there’s no denying that he had the style and swagger to pull off the suave charisma of the MI6 agent 007. Although movies likeGoldenEyehave achieved a special place in popular culture, most likely due to its all-time great Nintendo video game adaptation, the final Brosnan movie,Die Another Day, is often viewed as a low point for the franchise.
With an overreliance on CGI, tons of product placement, and a truly absurd invisible vehicle,Die Another Daysaw theBondfranchise alienate viewers as it pushed its ridiculousness further than it ever dared to go. As the subsequent Daniel Craig era embraced a more grounded, grittier presentation of Bond,Die Another Dayhas only gotten more absurd with time, although quite a few viewers will still have a soft spot in their heart for this wild entry.
4Snakes On A Plane (2006)
Directed by David R. Ellis
Basically everything you need to know about the absurd nature ofSnakes on a Planecan be inferred from the title. As an action thriller following a group of plane passengers dealing with an influx of venomous snakes, this was an extreme method of a crime lord attempting to put an end to a witness who knew too much. WhileSnakes on a Planehas only gotten more absurd in the years since, viewers were already pointing out its ridiculous nature at the time of its release as it became an early internet phenomenon and sparked a lively response from fans online.
Featuring Samuel L. Jackson in a suitable foul-mouthed role, the actor’s iconic utterance of “I have had it with these motherfin’ snakes on this motherfin’ plane” helped the film become one of the most talked about so-bad-it’s-good movies of the mid-2000s. With a willingness to fully embrace its outlandish premise,Snakes on a Planewas an absurd piece of B-movie fun that highlighted the over-the-top nature of action movies in the first decade of the 21st century.
3True Lies (1994)
Directed by James Cameron
FromAvatartoTerminator, the filmmaking career of James Cameron has been filled with record-breaking box office smash hits to the point that it’s easy to forget how absurd his movies are. A prime example of this wasTrue Lies, which featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as a U.S. government agent trying to balance his secret life as a spy with his familial responsibilities. Not only was the concept of this bodybuilding Austrian trying to lay low as an everyman already ridiculous, butTrue Lieslived up to its title as it pushed the bounds of believability to their absolute limits.
With a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and an outlandish premise, AgentHarry Tasker’s attempt to masquerade as a simple computer hardware salesmanwas clearly false just by looking at him. In addition, when Harry realizes his wife has grown suspicious of his secret life, instead of coming clean, he organizes an elaborate ruse to make her believe she’s been interrogated, a strange logic that borders on sociopathic.True Lieswas just one bizarre misunderstanding after another, and looking back, everything about the film feels absurd in a good way.
2Con Air (1997)
Directed by Simon West
Following his Academy Award win forLeaving Las Vegasin 1995, Nicolas Cage had nothing else to prove and decided to embrace Hollywood action movie blockbusters with the back-to-back releases ofThe Rock,Con Air, andFace/Off, three movies that cemented his legacy as one of the biggest stars of that time. As the title suggests,Con Airdepicted convicts being transferred to a supermax prison via plane, a situation that quickly devolved into a hijacking situation.
With a cast of cunning criminals and some truly outrageous sequences,Con Airwas a pure action movie spectacle that encouraged audiences to leave their sense of realism at home. A bearded Cage looked so spectacular in his white tank top and luscious long hair that the movie has even served as the basis for countless memes in the years since. With a knowing sense of humor and non-stop action,Con Airrepresented one of the funnest and most ridiculous action movies of the 1990s.
1Face/Off (1997)
Directed by John Woo
While Nicolas Cage’s role inCon Airpushed the boundaries of action movie absurdity, he managed to take this to entirely new levels withFace/Off. As the story of an FBI agent and terrorist who literally swap faces, this over-the-top showcase of pure spectacle sawCage and John Travolta playing dual roles as both the hero and villainas they undergo experimental surgery to swap their identities.
Face/Offwas so wild that it truly has to be seen to be believed and has since earned a reputation as a cult classic and one of director John Woo’s best-loved films. While someaction moviesendeavor to keep things within the realms of believability,Face/Offtook its wild premise and just ran with it. WhileFace/Offhas only gotten more absurd over time, we have to agree with Cage’s assertion in 2022 (viaPeople) that he thinks the movie has “aged beautifully.”
