Action films involve heroes facing challenges through physical feats and violence. Early action films included swashbuckling adventures and war/western movies. Iconic actors like Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood starred in popular action films of the 1960s-1970s, while the 1980s saw the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Various subgenres of action films developed, including those involving comedy, disaster scenarios, science fiction, and films focusing on a single location like a building or plane. Famous directors who made successful action movies include James Cameron, John McTiernan, and Michael Bay.

2. Definition
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a
series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and
frenetic chases. They occasionally have a resourceful character struggling
against incredible odds such as, life-threatening situations, an evil
villain, and/or being chased in several ways of transportation
(car, bus, truck, etc.), with victory achieved at the end after difficult
physical efforts and violence. Story and character development are
generally secondary to explosions, fist fights, gunplay and car chases.
source: Wikipedia

3. Early Action Movies
During the 1920’s and 1930’s, action films were often
“swashbuckling” adventure films. These were films that
included some sort of sword fighting scene.
Modern swashbuckling films are films such as Legend
of Zorro, Three Musketeers and Pirates of the
Caribbean.

4. Early Action Movies
In the 1940’s and 50’s we saw action films in the form
of war and cowboy movies.
A well known action/war film is ‘The Great Escape’
which starred Steve McQueen and Charles
Bronson, and a notable action/western film from the
1960’s is ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, which
starred Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach.

5. Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was a actor, producer and race car
driver.
He was most famous for films like The Magnificent
Seven, The Great Escape and Bullitt.
McQueen is a well known figure in pop
culture, appearing on t-shirts and fans doing concept
art of him.

6. Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood, actor, director, producer and
composer, is also a well known face in the western films
of the 1960’s.
He is also known for playing Police Inspector Harry
Callahan in Dirty Harry, a popular action movie in the
70’s.

7. “Bond Movies”
The 1960’s saw the arrival of “Bond Movies” which were
characterised larger-than-life characters, such as the
resourceful hero: a veritable "one-man army" who was able
to dispatch villainous masterminds (and their disposable
"henchmen") in ever-more creative ways, often followed by a
ready one-liner.
The Bond films also utilized quick cutting, car chases, fist
fights, a variety of weapons and "gadgets", and ever more
elaborate action sequences.
Source WikiPeda

8. 1970’s
In the 1970’s action films were getting more popular.
Bond saw competition with the rise of Bullitt, The
French Connection and Dirty Harry.
The 1970’s also saw the introduction of martial-art-
themed-action movies introducing iconic actors such as
Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee, in films such as Enter the
Dragon and A Force of One.

9. 1980’s
This decade was quite literally the “action era” of
movies. This took action movies to a whole new
level, popularizing actors such as Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis.
Well known action movies that were made in the 80’s
we films like The Terminator, Rambo: First Blood Part I
& II, Die Hard, Predator, Alien and Indiana Jones 1, 2 and
3.

10. 1990’s
The 90’s took a big leap in action movies. CGI was used
to make fantasy become reality. Bigger budgets unlike
never before were being used.
Tim Burton’s “Batman” led a string of financially
successful sequels almost single handedly making a
new sub-genre in the process; the comic-book movie.

11. Sub Genres – Action Comedy
A genre where action and comedy collide into one film.
It became a trend in the 80’s.
They are generally light-hearted and rarely involve
death or injury, and if it does it’s usually funny.
Examples of action comedies are Beverly Hills
Cops, Rush Hour, Charlie's Angles and Blues Brothers.

12. Sub Genres –
Die-hard scenarios
Usually a story that takes place in a limited
location, for instance a building, plane or a ship. The
location has been overrun by some sort of terrorist
organization and one single hero comes in a saves the
day, which usually has some sort of military
experience.
Examples of Die-hard movies are Die Hard
(obviously), Snakes on a Plane, Speed, Passenger
47, Derailed and Sudden Death.

13. Sub Genres - Disaster Film
Having elements of thriller, the main conflict is
either a geophysical or hydro meteorological
hazard e.g. A hurricane, volcanic
eruption, floods, earthquakes or just total
destruction general.
Example of disaster films are Independence
Day, The day after
Tomorrow, Armageddon, 2012, and Dante’s Peak.

14. Sub Genres - Sci-Fi Action
Many Sci-Fi action movies
emphasizes
gunplay, space
battles, made up
weaponry.
Examples of Sci-Fi action
films are the Terminator
series, The Matrix
series, Total Recall, Star
Trek, Aliens, Transformer
s, Robocop and Avatar.

15. Notable Actors
Actors from the 1950’s and
60’s like John Wayne and Lee
Marvin then gave the limelight
to the 70’s movies which
starred actors like Chuck
Norris, Charles Bronson and
Sonny Chiba.
Action film actors which were
popular in the 80’s were gun
wielding actors such as Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Sylvester
Stallone. Steven Segal made a
number a films and so did
Bruce Willis in Die Hard.

16. Notable Actors
Actors that were popular
in the 90’s and the 2000’s
were Asian actors such as
Jackie Chan and Chow
Yun-fat for movies such
as Rush Hour and Hard
Boiled.
Wesley Snipes and Vin
Diesel also had a range of
action movies like the
Blade series and Fast and
Furious series.

17. Notable Female actors
Not all films have
to have a male as
the lead role.
Successful films
such as Kill Bill
series that
starred Uma
Thurman and
Resident Evil
series starring
Milla Jovovich
took on action
movies at a
different
perspective.

18. Notable Directors
Famous directors that
made it successful on
the the screen are ones
like James Cameron
who produced movies
such as the first two
Terminator
films, Aliens and True
Lies.
John McTeirnan
directed Hollywood
blockbusters including
movies like Die
Hard, Predator and The
Last Action Hero.
Michael Bay known for
his action packed films
for instance Bad
Boys, The Rock and the
Transformers trilogy.