I love action movies and TV shows, and in this genre, big plot points often revolve around crucial fights. These can be exciting and keep you on the edge of your seat until the thrilling victory or tragic loss, or they can end up being boring and drag on for too long. Not all fight scenes are created equal, so I’ve decided to share my five favorites (in no particular order because they’re all fantastic). Let’s get ready to rumble!
Warning: This article does contain spoilers for several popular action series. Read at your own risk!
- Avengers Endgame—Captain America with Mjonir
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I think we were all with Thor in celebrating when Cap revealed that he was worthy of Mjonir all along. Just when things look bleakest for the god of thunder, Steve summons the hammer to his side. I mean, come on, we all knew he could… it just felt nice to be proven right. And seeing Steve wield his shield along with some shocking new abilities was thrilling after Thanos’ arrogant monologuing.
- John Wick 3—The Knife Shop
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The John Wick trilogy (so far) is action-packed as-is, but this fight took it over the top. John has to fight off an entire group of men trying to kill him, and both sides have a seemingly unlimited supply of weapons in cases lining every wall. The fight goes on until John is exhausted, and it devolves into chaos, with everyone grabbing and throwing knives with expert precision. It’s absolutely insane, and a lot of fun to watch. Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight, unless you’re John Wick.
- NBC Hannibal—Hannibal vs. Jack
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NBC’s Hannibal is the only TV show to make it onto this list and it more than earns a spot with the intense fight sequence that takes place in the first and last episodes of season 2. Hannibal Lecter doesn’t often come up against an opponent who can give him a run for his money, but Agent Jack Crawford is more than a match for the cannibal. Their fighting styles are very different, and they seem evenly matched, skill-wise. Jack’s brute strength is intimidating, and the two exhaust themselves destroying Hannibal’s lovely kitchen. But, as Hannibal himself, actor Mads Mikkelsen, puts it, “If I want to win, I have to cheat.”
- Mad Max Fury Road—Furiosa vs. Max
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Furiosa and Max may get along just fine after a while, but their first meeting was anything but friendly. Max was off his rocker and desperately in need of water, and Furiosa had a water tank and no reason to share with a dangerous stranger. She fights brutally, coming at him with all she has and fighting dirty until the two reach a sort of stalemate, with him unwilling to shoot her and her letting him go because she knows something that he doesn’t…
- The Last Jedi—Kylo Ren and Rey vs. The Praetorian Guards
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I am loath to give this movie too much credit because of what it did to Luke Skywalker’s character (where are his morals, I ask you? Where?!) but credit where credit is due: the ending fight scene wherein Rey and Kylo have to fight together is breathtaking. The colors in the room, deep red and black, the two of them fighting and protecting one another back to back, throwing both lightsabers back and forth… it is truly a thing of beauty.
And there you have it! If you haven’t already seen them, I highly recommend all of these sources for their great action. The individual scenes are avaliable to watch on YouTube as well! I love a good fight scene, and these are just some of my favorites. If you’d like to share your favorite scenes, you can tweet @HerCampusUNCW !
(Gifs courtesy of giphy.com)