[Film] Who is the GOAT Action Hero?

[Fungus]

Frank Spencer. Did all his own stunts, I’m told.

 

[Quebec Seagull]

Every single one of those actors on that list will tell you that the undisputed action/stunt masters were Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Douglas Fairbanks.

NOT. EVEN. CLOSE.

Willis, Schwarzenegger, Chan et al. were amateurs by comparison, and they'll readily admit it. And none of their movies was anywhere near as innovative or entertaining, or blended story, character and action as effectively and, often, touchingly.

Until that list is revised to include action stars from the teens to the sixties, what's the point of the survey? It's like affirming that the best pop music was created in the 21st century, when that is blatantly, ear-bleedingly false.

.

 

[Easy 10]

There's a case to be made for many, but for me, it has to be Cruise. He's been great in the 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's, and I just watched Top Gun: Maverick again last night, which is just a magnificent slab of pure Hollywood action, drenched in nostalgia, a total thrill-ride. And he delivers. Again. The Mission Impossible franchise somehow still keeps going from strength to strength, he does most of his own stunts. And he's 60 ffs.

For park-your-brain action hero stars, Tom Cruise has been nailing it for decades. He's phenomenal.

 

[The Clamp]

Matt Damon was outstanding in the Bourne films.