Best Cult Action Movies on HBO Max (May 2023)

Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Director: Ishirō Honda

Cast: Akira Kubo, Jun Tazaki, Yoshio Tsuchiya

Half a century before the Avengers assembled for Endgame, Ishirō Honda achieved one of the most ambitious franchise cross-overs in film history with Destroy All Monsters. When a legion of aliens liberates all of the most famous kaiju — including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and more — from their home on Monster Island, chaos ensues across the world. Combining the tactile appeal of early monster movies with the rip-roaring ensemble action of contemporary superhero films, Destroy All Monsters captures an essential era in action cinema history with vibrant production design and incredibly energetic pacing.

Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Sydney Penny

Pale Rider is a traditional Western film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Pale Rider is the story of a mysterious drifter called Preacher (Eastwood), whose appearance in a small town leads to a lasting impact. When a greedy mining company threatens to encroach on the denizens of a mining town, Preacher protects the humble citizens. Co-starring Michael Moriarty (Courage Under Fire) and Carrie Snodgress, as well as Richard Kiel (Happy Gilmore) and Sydney Penny, Pale Rider features all the horses, cowboys, and other classic Western tropes audiences love from an Eastwood flick. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: F. Gary Gray

Cast: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb, Regina Hall, Viola Davis

Law Abiding Citizen is an action-packed, heart-pumping crime thriller starring Gerard Butler (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jamie Foxx (Spider-Man: No Way Home). Butler deviously plays a man seeking revenge on everyone responsible for his wife and daughter’s death, including the prosecuting attorney who made the deal, allowing the murderers to go free. Featuring masterfully crafted yet absolutely gruesome murders, Law Abiding Citizen is an intense cat-and-mouse game of wits across the city of Philadelphia. Director F. Gary Gray (Men in Black: International) builds tension as chaos ensues while shining a light on America’s corrupt justice system. With standout performances from a stellar cast, Law Abiding Citizen is an exciting and thought-provoking adventure. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 3 min | Director: Irving Pichel, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Cast: Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Leslie Banks, Robert Armstrong

Based on the classic story The Most Dangerous Game, this 1932 film comes from directors Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack, who craft a suspenseful cinematic adventure during a time of practical effects. The Most Dangerous Game is the mysterious story of how a luxury yacht filled with passengers finds itself stranded on a remote island with an unstable hunter who reveals his preferred prey is humans themselves. The Most Dangerous Game is an exciting return to classic cinema with stars Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Leslie Banks, and Robert Armstrong frolicking vigorously through the scenes, chasing and being chased while allowing the story to unfold around them. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 8 min | Director: Carl Rinsch

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki

In 47 Ronin, Keanu Reeves (Bill and Ted Face the Music) stars as a man abandoned, enslaved, and later enlisted for a mission to avenge a death. When a samurai master is murdered dishonorably by a savagely ruthless, evil warlord shogun, forty-seven of his followers embark on a journey of revenge, bringing Reeves with them. Director Carl Rinsch remakes a popular Japanese tale with a gorgeous mystical aesthetic and stunning action choreography. Masterfully shot, 47 Ronin utilizes close combat and precision sword fighting intermingled with larger action sequences, whimsical elements, and blazing explosions to engulf the screen with an enormous visual spectacle. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Director: Arthur Penn

Cast: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael Pollard, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons

Based on the real-life ruthless robbers, Bonnie and Clyde stars Warren Beatty (Bulworth) and Faye Dunaway (Chinatown) as the infamous criminal couple. Following their journey of passion and mischief, Bonnie and Clyde explores the couple from their fateful meeting to their ultimate demise. Sandwiched between shootouts and car chases, Bonnie and Clyde focuses on both the crime spree these young people embark on, as well as their whirlwind romance. Beatty and Dunaway’s playfulness in these characters is palpable on screen, supported by an incredible cast, including Gene Hackman as Buck Barrow. A beautifully crafted film from Arthur Penn, Bonnie and Clyde brings history to life. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Director: Don Siegel, Clint Eastwood

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino

Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood’s most famous film, is an action-packed criminal mystery starring the beloved cowboy as a gritty and tough San Francisco detective determined to find and capture a psychopathic serial killer. Dirty Harry is a groundbreaking neo-noir that set the tone and style for the loose-cannon cop and rogue officer film genre, allowing Eastwood to continue creating goalposts for cinematic history. Eastwood not only starred in the movie but also directed a sequence alongside the film’s director Don Siegel (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and continued to play the role in the subsequent sequel films. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 33 min | Director: Ted Kotcheff

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna

The first installment of the Rambo franchise, First Blood, which was co-written by star Sylvester Stallone (The Expendables), is about a war veteran being hunted by police, military, and government officials. First Blood relies on gargantuan firefights, explosions, and bloodbaths to set the gratuitously exciting tone for the action series based on David Morrell’s novel. Director Ted Kotcheff (Weekend at Bernie’s) forms a monumental action film solidifying his vision with a young and animated Stallone as a strong-willed and testosterone-fueled commando bolstered by co-stars Brian Dennehy (Cocoon) and Richard Crenna. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 22 min | Director: Raoul Walsh

Cast: Errol Flynn, James Brown, William Prince

Objective, Burma is a moving military film starring Errol Flynn and James Brown (Lassie). Flynn and Brown play two paratroopers who land with their squad in the Japanese-occupied Burmese Jungle with a mission to sabotage the enemy’s radar station. Although they succeed in their mission, the special ops platoon is stranded when complications blunder their exit strategy. Raoul Walsh (The Roaring Twenties) transforms California into the jungles of Asia, constructing hard-hitting explosive action flanking visceral tedium as the troop treks through enemy territory. Objective, Burma is a thorough and thoughtful drama, revealing the heroic adventure with an acclaimed performance from Flynn. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 25 min | Director: Sang-ok Shin

Cast: Victor Wong, Don Shanks, Max Elliot Slade, Michael Treanor

Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum return in 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up, the critically despised sequel movie to a beloved early 90s comedy, 3 Ninjas. In Knuckle Up, the kick-butt kids are fighting to protect a Native American village that is being threatened by a toxic waste company. Kid-led martial arts films were at an all-time high during the 80s and 90s (The Karate Kid, for example), allowing this movie to blend into the scenery only to be discovered years later, earning it cult status. Knuckle Up is the ideal bridge between the original 3 Ninjas and the trilogy’s conclusion, 3 Ninjas Kick Back. Although bursting with outdated stereotypes about Indigenous cultures, this movie is also full of kicks, flips, and fun stunts, as the kids – played by Michael Treanor, Max Elliot Slade, and Chad Power – seemed to not only be enjoying themselves but looked quite confident with their hand-to-hand combat skills as well. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Director: Kar-Wai Wong

Cast: Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Faye Wong, Takeshi Kaneshiro

Primed to be a cult classic, Chungking Express is a uniquely experienced story. Serving as director, writer, and producer, Kar-Wai Wong crafts a fascinatingly haunting film following two loosely related tales. Both stories unfold as these two lugubrious Hong Kong police officers deal with love, passion, and heartbreak. Crossing a variety of genres, including romance, comedy, crime, and drama, Chungking Express reveals melancholy He Zhiwu as his path crosses with a mysterious and alluring woman (Brigitte Lin), who happens to be a drug smuggler. The other story follows Cop 663, played by Tony Leung (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), who loses his girlfriend, a flight attendant played by Valerie Chow, only to have his heart awoken by a waitress at his favorite haunt. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs | Director: Ang Lee

Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang

Academy Award-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a game-changer in cinematic history. Directed by multiple Oscar winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi) and starring Chow Yun-Fat, Ziyi Zhang, and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), this film introduced audiences to an international cast of actors of Chinese ethnicity. An ideal film for martial arts enthusiasts as well as for novice viewers, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a tale of warriors and warrior princesses in 19th-century Qing dynasty China. With incredibly choreographed action, slick sword fighting, and stunningly breathtaking effects, Crouching Tiger is a gorgeous and romantic adventure film. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: Richard Donner

Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey

Recognizable buddy-cop series Lethal Weapon stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as an odd couple forced to partner together who struggle to compromise their individual policing styles while attempting to take down a gang of drug smugglers. Also featuring Gary Busey (Point Break) and spawning a slew of sequel movies, as well as a three-season TV series, Lethal Weapon is a staple of late 80s movies with catchphrases that continue to thrive in pop culture. Written by Shane Black (The Predator) and with rumors of a fifth installment coming soon, Lethal Weapon holds steady as a cult classic .– Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 50 min | Director: Akira Kurosawa

Cast: Toshirô Mifune, Eijirô Tôno, Tatsuya Nakadai

Highly rated and regarded as one of Akira Kurosawa’s greatest films, Yojimbo is the pinnacle of Japanese samurai films. Both critically revered and beloved by generations of audiences, Yojimbo introduces Toshirô Mifune as Kuwabatake Sanjuro, a ronin warrior and drifter who frees a town from the criminal gangs who rule over them by pitting the rivals against each other. Kurosawa’s signature touches are felt throughout the film, as he directed, produced, edited, as well as co-wrote it with Ryûzô Kikushima. With old-school practical effects and realistically grounded stunts, Yojimbo is heart-pumping and earnestly touching, making it a much-watch for anyone who loves Samurai stories. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hr 10 min | Director: Kihachi Okamoto

Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Atsuo Nakamura, Tadao Nakamaru

Rendering the traditional samurai as an entirely farcical figure, Kill! plays out as a parody of the seemingly endless onslaught of samurai films that pervaded midcentury Japanese cinema, providing a postwar critique of an older generation’s adherence to imperial tradition. Starring samurai icon Tatsuya Nakadai (Harakiri) in a role that smartly subverts his leading man image, Kill! is a necessary entry into the canons of samurai cinema and action-comedy.

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min | Director: Toshiya Fujita

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Kō Nishimura

Serving as one of the primary influences on Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films, Lady Snowblood towers above the majority of swordplay and revenge films from its era through its highly stylized set design and beautifully rendered action sequences. Based on a manga of the same title, the emphasis on intricate framing throughout the cinematography as well as the aestheticized use of blood more closely resembles comic book illustrations, anchoring the film in direct dialogue with the literary genre from which it came. Culminating in an often-replicated yet never surpassed snowy showdown, time has been kind to Lady Snowblood, allowing it to surpass its initial obscurity through recent rereleases by Arrow Video and the Criterion Collection.

Run Time: 1 hr 25 min | Director: Kenji Misumi

Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kayo Matsuo, Akiji Kobayashi[

Based on a manga series of equal popularity as the Lady Snowblood series, Lone Wolf and Cub 2: Baby Cart at the River Styx is doubtlessly the most exhilarating entry in the six-part saga from the 1970s centered on a middle-aged ronin and his young son. Capturing the cataclysmic attack on communal values by a band of traitorous ninjas, Lone Wolf and Cub 2 is a taut and tight fable of the importance of unified order in the face of violent chaos. By blending the heart and humor of the titular father-son dynamics with the historicized brutality of inter-community fighting, Kenji Misumi’s masterfully balanced sequel exists in a category of its own as a deeply affecting family drama and a deeply effective action story.

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: Russell Mulcahy

Cast: Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice-T, Lindsay Wagner, Kevin Pollak

The second underrated crime thriller starring Denzel Washington on this list, Ricochet is an over-the-top examination of personal guilt and unprocessed pain projected through creative action set-pieces and a fast-talking screenplay. Fusing the narrative of false accusations from Murphy’s Law with the police mystery plotting of The Mighty Quinn, Ricochet is a marvelous culmination of cult aesthetics. Placing Denzel’s ex-cop attorney against John Lithgow as a Joker-like maniac that he locked away years ago, Ricochet is a quintessential 90s midnight movie that delivers on expertly crafted action scenes and bonkers antics throughout this tightly plotted tale of betrayal.

Run Time: 1 hr 22 min | Director: Monte Hellman

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Millie Perkins, Will Hutchins, Warren Oates

Although Monte Hellman’s acid western is more of an anti-action movie than a pure adrenaline rush like other entries on this list, The Shooting is an essential hangout movie that helped establish many of the themes that characterized the cult action genre for decades to come. From themes of vengeance and betrayal to meditations of communal honor and personal stakes, The Shooting brilliantly captures the absurdism of action cinema with purgatorial patience rather than showstopping punching matches. Starring cinematic icons Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson just before the peak of their careers, this meditative mood piece is a perfect palate cleanser in the midst of the cult action canon.