#1 The Killer (1989) 98% #1 Adjusted Score: 100514% Critics Consensus: The Killer is another hard-boiled action flick from John Woo featuring eye-popping balletic violence and philosophical underpinnings. Synopsis: Mob assassin Jeffrey (Chow Yun-Fat) is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession... [More] Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kenneth Tsang Directed By: John Woo #2 The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 97% #2 Adjusted Score: 102529% Critics Consensus: A classic blend of satire and political thriller that was uncomfortably prescient in its own time, The Manchurian Candidate remains distressingly relevant today. Synopsis: Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the... [More] Starring: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury Directed By: John Frankenheimer #3 13 Assassins (2010) 95% #3 Adjusted Score: 99198% Critics Consensus: Takashi Miike's electric remake of Eiichi Kudo's 1963 period action film is a wild spectacle executed with killer, dizzying panache. Synopsis: In this remake of a 1963 film based on historical events, Shinzaemon Shimada leads a team of assassins in 19th-century... [More] Starring: Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Goro Inagaki Directed By: Takashi Miike #4 No Country for Old Men (2007) 93% #4 Adjusted Score: 104093% Critics Consensus: Bolstered by powerful lead performances from Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones, No Country for Old Men finds the Coen brothers spinning cinematic gold out of Cormac McCarthy's grim, darkly funny novel. Synopsis: While out hunting, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) finds the grisly aftermath of a drug deal. Though he knows better, he... [More] Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen #5 Looper (2012) 93% #5 Adjusted Score: 103666% Critics Consensus: As thought-provoking as it is thrilling, Looper delivers an uncommonly smart, bravely original blend of futuristic sci-fi and good old-fashioned action. Synopsis: In a future society, time-travel exists, but it's only available to those with the means to pay for it on... [More] Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano Directed By: Rian Johnson #6 Sicario (2015) 92% #6 Adjusted Score: 102390% Critics Consensus: Led by outstanding work from Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, Sicario is a taut, tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces. Synopsis: After rising through the ranks of her male-dominated profession, idealistic FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) receives a top assignment.... [More] Starring: Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber Directed By: Denis Villeneuve #7 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 92% #7 Adjusted Score: 102233% Critics Consensus: The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent, finely tuned non-stop thrill ride. Another strong performance from Matt Damon and sharp camerawork from Paul Greengrass make this the finest installment of the Bourne trilogy. Synopsis: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues his international quest to uncover his true identity. From Russia to Europe to northern Africa... [More] Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn Directed By: Paul Greengrass #8 Pulp Fiction (1994) 92% #8 Adjusted Score: 98884% Critics Consensus: One of the most influential films of the 1990s, Pulp Fiction is a delirious post-modern mix of neo-noir thrills, pitch-black humor, and pop-culture touchstones. Synopsis: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions. In this... [More] Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel Directed By: Quentin Tarantino #9 John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum (2019) 89% #9 Adjusted Score: 108533% Critics Consensus: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum reloads for another hard-hitting round of the brilliantly choreographed, over-the-top action that fans of the franchise demand. Synopsis: After gunning down a member of the High Table -- the shadowy international assassin's guild -- legendary hit man John... [More] Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne Directed By: Chad Stahelski #10 John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) 89% #10 Adjusted Score: 107941% Critics Consensus: John Wick: Chapter 2 does what a sequel should -- which in this case means doubling down on the non-stop, thrillingly choreographed action that made its predecessor so much fun. Synopsis: Retired super-assassin John Wick's plans to resume a quiet civilian life are cut short when Italian gangster Santino D'Antonio shows... [More] Starring: Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio Directed By: Chad Stahelski #11 La Femme Nikita (1990) 89% #11 Adjusted Score: 91475% Critics Consensus: A zany out-of-control thriller that gives lead Anne Parillaud a big character arc and plenty of emotional room to work within. Synopsis: Convicted felon Nikita (Anne Parillaud), instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained to be a... [More] Starring: Anne Parillaud, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Tcheky Karyo, Jeanne Moreau Directed By: Luc Besson #12 Collateral (2004) 86% #12 Adjusted Score: 94305% Critics Consensus: Driven by director Michael Mann's trademark visuals and a lean, villainous performance from Tom Cruise, Collateral is a stylish and compelling noir thriller. Synopsis: A cab driver realizes his current fare is a hit man that has been having him drive around from mark... [More] Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo Directed By: Michael Mann #13 John Wick (2014) 86% #13 Adjusted Score: 94278% Critics Consensus: Stylish, thrilling, and giddily kinetic, John Wick serves as a satisfying return to action for Keanu Reeves -- and what looks like it could be the first of a franchise. Synopsis: Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) retired from his violent career after marrying the love of his life. Her sudden... [More] Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe Directed By: Chad Stahelski #14 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) 85% #14 Adjusted Score: 92855% Critics Consensus: Kill Bill is admittedly little more than a stylish revenge thriller -- albeit one that benefits from a wildly inventive surfeit of style. Synopsis: A former assassin, known simply as The Bride (Uma Thurman), wakes from a coma four years after her jealous ex-lover... [More] Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen Directed By: Quentin Tarantino #15 The Villainess (2017) 85% #15 Adjusted Score: 90238% Critics Consensus: The Villainess offers enough pure kinetic thrills to satisfy genre enthusiasts -- and carve out a bloody niche for itself in modern Korean action cinema. Synopsis: Honed from childhood to be an elite assassin, Sook-hee embarks on a rampage of violence and revenge to finally earn... [More] Starring: Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung-joon, Kim Seo-hyung Directed By: Jeong Byeong-gil #16 Prizzi's Honor (1985) 85% #16 Adjusted Score: 87520% Critics Consensus: Disturbing and sardonic, Prizzi's Honor excels at black comedy because director John Huston and his game ensemble take the farce deadly seriously. Synopsis: For Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), life in the Prizzi family is good as long as he honors the wishes of... [More] Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Anjelica Huston, Robert Loggia Directed By: John Huston #17 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) 84% #17 Adjusted Score: 92566% Critics Consensus: Kill Bill: Volume 2 adds extra plot and dialogue to the action-heavy exploits of its predecessor, while still managing to deliver a suitably hard-hitting sequel. Synopsis: The Bride (Uma Thurman) picks up where she left off in volume one with her quest to finish the hit... [More] Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah Directed By: Quentin Tarantino #18 In Bruges (2008) 84% #18 Adjusted Score: 91726% Critics Consensus: Featuring witty dialogue and deft performances, In Bruges is an effective mix of dark comedy and crime thriller elements. Synopsis: After a particularly difficult job, hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) head to Belgium to hide out... [More] Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ciarán Hinds Directed By: Martin McDonagh #19 The Bourne Identity (2002) 84% #19 Adjusted Score: 89914% Critics Consensus: Expertly blending genre formula with bursts of unexpected wit, The Bourne Identity is an action thriller that delivers -- and then some. Synopsis: The story of a man (Matt Damon), salvaged, near death, from the ocean by an Italian fishing boat. When he... [More] Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen Directed By: Doug Liman #20 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) 83% #20 Adjusted Score: 86712% Critics Consensus: An innovative blend of samurai and gangster lifestyles. Synopsis: Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp... [More] Starring: Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva Directed By: Jim Jarmusch #21 The Bourne Supremacy (2004) 82% #21 Adjusted Score: 88685% Critics Consensus: A well-made sequel that delivers the thrills. Synopsis: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is living in India when he is framed by Russian agent Kirill (Karl Urban) for the... [More] Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles Directed By: Paul Greengrass #22 Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) 82% #22 Adjusted Score: 85683% Critics Consensus: A high-conce
top of page

.png)
Beyond Life, Awakening Your Root
bottom of page