Top 20 Action Movies That Needed More Action

Sometimes films are sold as big thrill rides but spend most of their time on quieter world building or character drama. That is not wrong, but it can surprise viewers who go in expecting set pieces every few minutes. The titles below leaned into genre elements like mystery, romance, or mythology while keeping major clashes to a minimum. Here is a quick tour of when marketing promised fireworks but the stories mostly took their time instead.

‘Superman Returns’ (2006)

Bryan Singer’s take centers on Clark Kent’s return to Metropolis and his relationship with Lois Lane. Much of the story focuses on emotional fallout and newsroom scenes rather than extended combat. The film is rated PG-13 and emphasizes large scale rescue moments over sustained battles. Its runtime gives significant space to Lex Luthor’s real estate scheme and Kryptonite setup before a brief final confrontation.

‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)

Josh Trank’s reboot builds its first half around a science project and a teleportation experiment. The team spends long stretches in a government facility working through tests and internal politics. The only major clash with Doctor Doom arrives near the end and lasts only a short stretch. The production is known for heavy reshoots that reshaped the final act and trimmed spectacle.

‘The Bourne Legacy’ (2012)

This entry follows Aaron Cross on the run while a government program shuts down. Large sections track pharmaceutical subplots and travel logistics. Set pieces appear sporadically with a focus on foot chases and a motorcycle pursuit near the finish. The narrative expands the franchise mythology but keeps firefights limited compared to earlier installments.

‘Godzilla’ (2014)

Gareth Edwards highlights scale through cutaways and human perspective. The title monster has limited on screen presence as the plot follows a Navy officer and a scientist tracking events. Several teased clashes are shown briefly or from distant viewpoints. The film saves most creature combat for the finale.

‘Eternals’ (2021)

Chloé Zhao’s ensemble spends considerable time on introductions, history, and debates about intervention. The narrative structure moves between locations as the group reunites. Action beats appear intermittently with brief encounters against Deviants. Much of the runtime explores mythology and relationships within the team.

‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)

Guy Ritchie’s spy caper emphasizes style, banter, and espionage setups. The story follows agents infiltrating a criminal operation with focus on undercover work and gadget play. Car chases and fights are short and carefully staged rather than lengthy sequences. The tone leans on witty exchanges and fashion forward set pieces.

‘The Last Airbender’ (2010)

This adaptation spends long stretches on exposition about nations and bending traditions. Training and travel scenes dominate the middle of the film. Confrontations often resolve quickly with minimal stunt driven conflict. The PG rating and focus on world lore keep large scale battles brief.

‘Assassin’s Creed’ (2016)

The plot divides time between a modern lab and historical memories accessed through the Animus. Many scenes focus on scientific procedures and discussions about free will. Parkour and fights appear in short bursts within memory segments. The story prioritizes secret society mythology over extended action runs.

‘Power Rangers’ (2017)

The team’s origin tale devotes much of its runtime to small town life and character bonding. Training montages and personal struggles take precedence over battles in suits. The group morphs late in the story and the Zord sequence closes things out. Most confrontations before that point are brief and grounded.

‘The New Mutants’ (2020)

This spin off confines characters to a single facility with a psychological horror approach. Scenes revolve around therapy sessions and visions rather than continuous fights. Powers are revealed in contained moments with a final creature showdown. The modest scale keeps spectacle minimal for much of the film.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

The adaptation modernizes settings and high school elements with a focus on quest collection. Training and dialogue propel the plot between short skirmishes. Energy attacks and wire work appear sparingly until the closing battle. The film uses a compact runtime that limits extended tournament style sequences.

‘Green Lantern’ (2011)

Large stretches explore Hal Jordan’s selection, fear theme, and relationship drama. The Corps and Oa world building receive significant screen time. Construct based fights arrive in short scenes with a final confrontation against a cosmic threat. The movie balances origin beats with limited earthbound action.

‘Cowboys & Aliens’ (2011)

The story blends Western mystery with sci fi abductions and search parties. Much of the runtime follows a posse tracking clues across the frontier. Skirmishes with the invaders are quick and spaced out. The film concentrates on character alliances and town tensions.

‘Prometheus’ (2012)

Ridley Scott’s prequel focuses on exploration, archaeology, and corporate agendas. The crew investigates ancient clues and debates creation myths. Action spikes during containment breaches but resolves quickly. The emphasis stays on questions about origins rather than continuous combat.

‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)

The plot spends time on political hearings, media coverage, and investigations. Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent pursue parallel inquiries before meeting in conflict. Major fights are concentrated in the final stretch with a short title bout and a climactic creature battle. Earlier sequences lean on detective work and setup for future stories.

‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021)

The narrative revisits Thomas Anderson’s life with meta commentary and romance threads. Exposition about new systems and returning characters occupies many scenes. Action scenes are present but shorter and less frequent than earlier entries. Much of the film explores identity and memory within a reconfigured digital world.

‘RoboCop’ (2014)

This reboot places emphasis on corporate maneuvering and media spin. Alex Murphy’s transformation and public rollout take center stage. The PG-13 rating results in restrained shootouts compared to the original template. Several confrontations are brief and occur on controlled sets.

‘The Mummy’ (2017)

Universal’s reboot introduces a franchise setup with secret organizations and artifacts. Investigation scenes and lore explanations drive the middle of the story. Action pops up in a plane crash and short urban chases. The overall focus remains on myth building and character fate.

‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ (2010)

The adventure follows palace intrigue and a conspiracy around a dagger. Many sequences cover travel, puzzles, and dialogue within desert settings. Parkour and swordplay appear in contained bursts. The plot gives considerable time to royal politics and artifact rules.

‘Ender’s Game’ (2013)

Training simulations and classroom strategy dominate the narrative. The protagonist advances through ranks in a military academy setting. Combat appears as tactical exercises and a final reveal rather than ongoing battles. The film emphasizes ethics and command decisions over constant firefights.

Share which titles you would add to the list in the comments.