Summary
- Attack on the War Rig in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga wows with thrilling chaos, demonstrating impressive cinematic feats.
- The Meaning Of P.A.C.E in Rebel Ridge reveals a character’s danger, sending chills down the audience’s spines.
- The sniper scene in Civil War showcases the absurdity of war by highlighting snipers’ lethal intent in a mostly quiet setting.
Action movies thrive on unforgettable moments—the kind that make audiences gasp, cheer, or sit on the edge of their seats in awe. In 2024, the genre delivered an abundance of these cinematic highlights, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen. From jaw-dropping stunts that defied physics to emotionally charged showdowns that elevated the stakes in some of the best action movies of 2024. This year’s best action movie moments reminded us why we flock to theaters for adrenaline-fueled escapism.
The best action scenes don’t just rely on spectacle; they resonate because they’re anchored in storytelling and character stakes. Whether it was a meticulously choreographed hand-to-hand combat sequence, a pulse-pounding car chase, or a moment of quiet tension that exploded into chaos, the standout moments of 2024’s action films captured the essence of the genre. This article highlights the scenes that left audiences breathless and secured their place in action movie history.
Related
Civil War came with no shortage of sharp, witty, and comedic lines that are guaranteed to stick with viewers. Here are the best of them.
Attack on the War Rig In Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was not rewarded with an impressive box office, but his return to the wasteland was impressive as a cinematic feat. A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, the movie explores the origins of Furiosa (this time played by Anya Taylor-Joy after she was originally portrayed by Charlize Theron), the strong heroine who will one day become an Imperator. Unlike Fury Road, Furiosa is not a chase movie. However, the prequel does include a few chase sequences that rival its predecessor’s best scenes.
In one of the best moments of the year, Furiosa hides on the War Rig when the Citadel’s lead driver, Praetorian Jack embarks on a supply run. Jack and the War Boys run into trouble when The Octoboss, the leader of the Mortifiers biker gang, launches a surprise attack on the War Rig. It’s a crazy scene that’s loud, exciting and genuinely gets the audience’s pulse pounding.
The Meaning Of P.A.C.E In Rebel Ridge
This scene is when both the corrupt cops and the audience learns why Aaron Pierre’s character in Rebel Ridge is so dangerous. He’s first dismissed because he was an instructor and didn’t see combat when he was in the military, but it’s then revealed that he was held out of combat because he was so good at teaching others how to essentially turn their bodies into deadly weapons.
As the reason is explained over the cops’ walkie talkies and Pierre stands there, staring into Don Johnson’s face, the audience can actually hear the entire police force gulp and start to try and get away from the person they badly outnumber and yet know they will lose to in a fight. It’s also the first time the audience realizes the good guy might actually win this whole thing.
That Kill Scene In Gladiator II
Paul Mescal might be the “star” of Gladiator II, but Denzel Washington chews up the scenery when he’s in the film and there’s one moment that stands out from the pack.
During a particularly blood-soaked power play, Washington’s Macrinus talks Caracalla into killing his twin brother Geta so that Caracalla can rule the Roman Empire all by himself. However as the audience likely guessed when the interaction began, Marinus wasn’t taking a hands off approach. In fact, Macrinus holds his hand — literally — as he pushes the blade’s tip through Geta’s jaw. The moment is made even better because Macrinus’ determination to get this done isn’t just a power play it’s clearly a revenge plot that he’s thought about and worked on.
The Sniper Scene In Civil War
There are several different moments in Civil War that are clearly meant to demonstrate the absurdity of war in general and especially in a civil war that is fought on American soil. However one of the things that the movie does so well is never really make it clear what side the troops that are shown are fighting on. Because the main characters are members of the media, it’s possible that either side is simply abiding by the rules of combat by leaving them relatively unmolested.
In one particular scene the group of photographers happen across a kind of Santa’s village that has been long abandoned. That is except for a couple of sniper troops, who are both waiting and trying to kill an enemy sniper who has taken up refuge in a nearby house and shooting at anyone he or she sees. The photographers try to figure out why the two sides are exchanging fire, while the soldiers explain that it doesn’t matter whose side they’re on. They’re trying to kill him and he’s trying to kill them. It’s a very succinct (and mostly quiet) explanation of war in a movie with tons of explosions and running and dying.
What Kind Of American Are You? In Civil War
The other scene that is geared to explain like no other just how horrible war in general is, uses Jessie Plemons to drive the point home. Fresh off killing civilians, Plemons’ soldier runs across the photographers and begins grilling them on which side they’re on.
Of course, one of the responses is “I’m an American” but in a civil war with many apparent sides, simply being an American doesn’t help. It’s an incredibly tense scene because Plemons is clearly unhinged and in the end, wants to kill them. It’s also Plemons’ only scene in the action-heavy movie, but he makes the most of it.
Related
Gladiator II Might Be Ridley Scott’s Final Shot At Redemption
Gladiator II is Scott’s biggest chance to prove to many that he is far from a spent force and can still craft groundbreaking movies.