The 10 Most Brutal Action Movies Ever Made

1. Hard Boiled (1992)

Directed by John Woo, a maestro of over-the-top action, Hard Boiled is a ballet of bullets, blood, and bravado. Set in the gritty underworld of Hong Kong, the film follows Inspector Tequila Yuen (played by Chow Yun-Fat), as he takes on the city's most vicious gangsters. The movie boasts an action scene in a hospital that lasts a staggering 30 minutes.

The level of violence here would make Tarantino blush and applaud simultaneously. Did you know Chow Yun-Fat fired approximately 1,500 rounds during the hospital scene alone? Suspension of disbelief is crucial for this one.

2. The Raid: Redemption (2011)

While The Raid: Redemption may not have raked in the big bucks at the box office (it only pulled in $4.1 million in the U.S.), it certainly didn't hold back on the brutality. Director Gareth Evans introduced us to Rama (Iko Uwais), a special forces officer tasked with fighting his way up a high-rise full of thugs to apprehend a crime lord.

The Indonesian film is a non-stop rollercoaster of vicious hand-to-hand combat, showcasing the martial art of Pencak Silat. The film currently boasts an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's a lesson in how to craft a claustrophobic, action-packed thriller with blood-curdling violence. Too bad it remains largely ignored by the general audience.

3. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)

The brilliance of Brawl in Cell Block 99 lies in its simplicity. Vince Vaughn (yes, that Vince Vaughn) delivers a performance as Bradley Thomas, a former boxer turned drug runner who ends up in prison and is forced to commit horrendous acts of violence. This isn't your typical Vaughn comedy. The brutality in this film is incredibly graphic, from bone-crunching fights to skin-crawling torture scenes. The film was critically acclaimed, but many viewers struggled to stomach its violence, proving it's not for the faint-hearted.

4. Battle Royale (2000)

Before The Hunger Games was a twinkle in Suzanne Collins' eye, there was Battle Royale. This Japanese film, directed by Kinji Fukasaku, focuses on a class of students forced by a totalitarian government to fight to the death on a deserted island. It's a terrifying premise made all the more brutal by the fact that the combatants are all schoolchildren. The film was controversial upon its release due to its violent content and political undertones but has since gained a cult following, with Tarantino reportedly being number one fan, too.

5. Oldboy (2003)

From the mind of acclaimed director Park Chan-wook comes Oldboy, a story of vengeance that's as brutal as it is heartbreaking. The film centers on Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), who, after being inexplicably imprisoned for 15 years, sets out to seek revenge on his captor.

The film's infamous hallway fight scene, shot in a single take, is a masterclass in choreographed violence. Despite its shocking twists and extreme violence, the film won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and currently holds an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

6. A Bittersweet Life (2005)

Emerging from South Korea, a country renowned for its edgy and visceral cinema, is A Bittersweet Life. This brutal action film directed by Kim Jee-woon tells the story of Kim Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun), a loyal enforcer for a crime boss, who is asked to keep an eye on his boss's young mistress suspected of having an affair. However, when Sun-woo develops feelings for the mistress, things take a rather violent turn.

Not only does the film pack a punch in the action department (prepare yourself for some wickedly choreographed fight scenes), but it also serves up a powerful emotional narrative. Its brutal depiction of the Korean underworld coupled with the main character's personal struggles make it a film you can't shake off that easily.

7. Ichi the Killer (2001)

Directed by the controversial Takashi Miike, Ichi the Killer is infamous for its high levels of violence and gore. The film follows Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), a sadomasochistic Yakuza enforcer who delights in pain (both his own and others') as he searches for his missing boss. His path collides with Ichi, a psychologically damaged man manipulated into becoming a human killing machine. The film serves up a smorgasbord of brutality that's not for the squeamish.

It's filled with a vivid range of violent imagery, including severed body parts and blood by the bucketload. In fact, the film's violence was deemed so extreme it was initially banned in several countries.

8. Drive (2011)

Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive isn't your typical action flick. It weaves together the tale of a Hollywood stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver. Although he keeps a low profile and operates under strict rules, his life takes a deadly turn when he falls for his neighbor and gets tangled up with the mob. Known for its stylish direction, pulsating soundtrack, and Gosling's reserved yet compelling performance, Drive also doesn't hold back on the brutality.

This film shows violence in such a shocking, unexpected, and sudden manner that it will leave you feeling like you've been sucker-punched. Despite its low-budget indie film roots, Drive managed to garner solid critical praise (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), and even won Refn the Best Director award at Cannes.

9. Martyrs (2008)

While Martyrs may technically fall into the horror genre, it's filled with enough relentless violence and action to make it onto this list. The French film from director Pascal Laugier is not for the faint-hearted.

It starts as a revenge story, following Lucie (Mylene Jampanoi) and her friend Anna (Morjana Alaoui), who set out to take down the people who had kidnapped and tortured Lucie as a child. But as the plot progresses, it descends into a terrifying exploration of pain and suffering, pushing the boundaries of on-screen violence. The less you know about the plot going into Martyrs, the better, but be prepared for a cinematic experience that's harrowing and deeply disturbing.

10. Kill List (2011)

Kill List is a British film that merges elements of crime, horror, and action to deliver an intensely brutal film. Directed by Ben Wheatley, Kill List tells the story of Jay (Neil Maskell), an ex-soldier turned contract killer. When he takes on a new assignment to eliminate three targets (the 'kill list'), he's drawn into a nightmarish world that becomes increasingly violent and bizarre. Much like Martyrs, the film's potency lies in its mystery, and it's best watched with as little prior knowledge as possible.