Who doesn’t love a good ol’ fashioned cheesy action movie?
Similar to the horror and sci-fi genres, there’s a tendency for many action films to contain a fair bit of corniness, implausibility, and over-the-top bombast. While there are plenty of more well-crafted, nuanced movies that fall under this umbrella, there’s certainly no shortage of what can be considered “guilty pleasures.”
These are essentially films that are simply fun to watch, despite being recognized as some combination of weak premises, silly, “low brow” themes, or generally poor quality.
With that said, let’s take a look at 10 of the best examples of these delightful guilty pleasures in the action genre.
Vertical Limit
Martin Campbell, who’s largely known for directing two of the most renowned Bond films in GoldenEye and Casino Royale, is no stranger when it comes to action-laced cheese. The 2000 survival thriller known as Vertical Limit reaffirms this with its flashy nitro-fueled explosions and gargantuan avalanches.
The idea of our heroes strapping themselves up with the hazardous nitroglycerine while mountain-climbing has invoked plenty of facepalms. Still, the movie has received some acclaim for its fun action and its slew of colorful characters. There are plenty of “edge of your seat” moments as Peter and his band of (mostly) amateur climbers scale the treacherous K2 in an attempt to save their loved ones.
X-Men: The Last Stand
This thrilling superhero romp from 2006 features plenty of cool moments and grandiosity. Mutant is pitted against mutant in a chaotic civil war following the release of a “cure,” which some accept far more than others.
While it veers into bombastic campy territory, this third installment of the popular franchise stands out amongst the populated X-Men saga. The large-scale battles of the mutants, in addition to stellar performances by Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, and Famke Janssen, make for an exciting watch for longtime fans and series newcomers alike. The onslaught of unique mutant powers being unleashed ensures that there’s rarely a dull moment to be had.
Waterworld
When it comes to post-apocalyptic action films, you generally have to suspend some disbelief. Such is the case when it comes to this campy Kevin Costner romp, which didn’t quite live up to the massive hype it received following its 1995 release. A plot involving an ocean planet with humanity residing on run-down ships proved tough for viewers to accept, especially one with gill-laden fish people.
Still, despite the absurd premise, many found it easy to get lost in the fun, imaginative setting that comprises Kevin Reynolds’ Waterworld. Regardless of its silliness, it has reached something of a cult status, spawning various video games, comic books, and a novelization by Max Allan Collins.
Anaconda
Eerie, desolate swamplands and giant snakes are sure to make for a fun premise, right? Well, yes and no. Fans and critics remarked that this 1997 action flick is full of “hokey” special effects, lack of exposition, and overall silliness. Still, those who love thrilling “creature features” should find plenty to enjoy about this, even if there are some head-shaking moments of goofiness.
While the visual effects of this large man-eating anaconda may seem dated now, it’s certainly fun to watch, as is the star-studded cast that makes up the film. Any flick that includes Ice Cube, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight, and Owen Wilson is at least worth a look.
Face/Off
This delightfully goofy film brings new meaning to the concept of a “role reversal.” John Travolta and Nicolas Cage star in 1997’s Face/Off, a movie rife with over-the-top action and much of that cheesy brand of acting these two actors are known for. We’re set up for quite the wild premise when an FBI agent and terrorist end up swapping faces - which apparently transform their physical figures as well.
Despite - or perhaps because of - the absurd premise, several action fans have regarded Face/Off as a uniquely entertaining watch. Not only do you have some intense action scenes, but you’ve also got the novelty of Cage and Travolta essentially overtly reprising each other’s roles.
Resident Evil
Paul W. S. Anderson’s Resident Evil film series - loosely based on the more renowned video games - has since spawned five even crazier sequels, ending with 2016’s The Final Chapter. Yet this original from 2002 still has at least a small following. While the series at large has been criticized for its campy nature and divergence from the source material, many have found some appeal in this somewhat more subdued first entry.
There’s plenty of delicious action to be had in this zombie-slaying romp starring Milla Jovovich, coupled with a slew of absurd death scenes and overt flashiness. It’s wacky and fun enough to be filed in the “guilty pleasure” category, without getting too off-the-wall like some of its sequels.
The Running Man
As you might expect from a testosterone-laden sci-fi romp with Arnold Schwarzenegger, there are plenty of silly, and even cringe-worthy moments to be had in The Running Man. Yet, there’s much to find entertaining about this zany dystopian action flick. And it makes sense, given the fact that this is based on a novel by the great Stephen King.
Though the cinematography of this 1987 film comes off as somewhat dated and crude, The Running Man possesses a timeless sense of imagination and atmosphere, which was ahead of its time in some ways. It feels very “Hunger Games” with its premise revolving around an extreme made-for-TV competition under a totalitarian regime.
The Matrix Reloaded
Following the massive success and appeal of The Matrix, the Wachowskis soon went to work creating a duo of follow-up films meant to further flesh out this epic and inventive dystopian world. As it happened, these more tepid sequels brought far more of a mixed reception. Criticisms included the leaning on heavier bouts of action and exposition, as well as more nonsensical plot-points.
Still, looking past the initial backlash and unfulfilled expectations of many fans, Reloaded seems to be increasingly viewed in a slightly more positive light, at least compared to the final film of the trilogy. While the first movie balanced nuance with action, this one is more unapologetically campy and over-the-top, but no less fun to watch visually. There’s still much for Matrix fans to be tickled by, namely scenes like the highway chase and Neo’s skirmishes with the Smith army.
Independence Day
The ’90s really did seem to be the golden era for silly action flicks and “popcorn movies,” and the 1996 disaster film, Independence Day, is emblematic of this.
Alien invasion stories can lend themselves to feeling rather stock, though they can also produce some particularly fun action - and Independence Day largely resides in both of these realms. It’s tough not to be at least somewhat entertained by an action film starring Will Smith, who always exudes a palpable sense of no-nonsense “coolness.” And while they aren’t quite as cutting edge now as in the mid-’90s, the visual effects provide tons of enjoyably epic eye candy.
Titanic
It’s tough to find a movie more polarizing than James Cameron’s Titanic, a well-crafted film that was ironically somewhat a casualty of its own hype. The distinct shift in marketing this as more of a “Romeo & Juliet” love story, rather than an action-thriller, turned off quite a few moviegoers. It was tough not to associate this film with Celine Dion’s sappy love song.
Still, despite the creative liberties taken compared to the real 1912 tragedy, and the slew of corny moments, there really is much to enjoy and appreciate here. Some marvelous set pieces, awesome action, and emotional moments comprise this 3-hour epic. Cameron’s commitment to authenticity and detail does shine through in this classic.
