Twenty years ago,action moviespushed boundaries. Gripping plots, larger-than-life characters, and groundbreaking stunts paved the way for the current age of action storytelling.Films likeBatman BeginsandSin Cityare time capsules of 2005,with a slightly nostalgic yet still generally modern cinematic style complementing the era’s signature grit. As shown through modern-day storytelling in this genre, a good action film can embrace both complexity and spectacle. This norm wouldn’t exist if thesemovies essential to understanding the 2000sdidn’t pave the way for everyone else.
2005 was also the yearStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sithhit theaters,concluding George Lucas’s prequel trilogy with the most fiery, emotionally magnetic installment yet.Films from this era reflect the genre’s transition to include themes of internal exploration, while otherover-the-top action movies from the 2000s, likeWar of the WorldsandKing Kong,showcase insane visual conflict that is just as vivid on the screen now as it was two decades ago. The influence of these productions still echoes in themost anticipated action movies of 2025, proving the lasting appeal of these aging masterpieces.
Elektra
Cast
Elektra is a 2005 film featuring Jennifer Garner as the titular character who survives a near-death experience and becomes an assassin-for-hire. The film follows Elektra as she attempts to protect a single father and his young daughter from a group of supernatural assassins.
Elektralands at the bottom of the barrel when compared to other renowned action pieces from 2005,but its adjacent significance to Marvel’s early cinematic era remains undeniable.Jennifer Garner brought the assassin to life in a sleek, action-packed bomb that heavily leans into martial arts at times. It didn’t make waves critically but went on to make a lasting mark in the MCU universe with Elektra making her return inDeadpool & Wolverine.
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This movie serves as a time capsule for pre-MCU experimentation. Despite the low ranking,Elektrawill be forever appreciated for its unapologetically dark tone and aesthetic with revenge and redemption themes complimented by intense one-on-one conflict.It definitely wasn’t a box office juggernaut, but its cult following and surprisingly powerful legacy have kept it afloat for twenty years. Today,Elektrais a standing symbol of Marvel’s growing pains prior to superhero domination. It’s an undeniably important look into the making of an empire.
War of The Worlds
As extraterrestrial invaders ravage Earth, divorced father Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) must protect his estranged children, Rachel and Robbie. Evading destruction and aliens, they encounter harrowing scenes of devastation in their desperate bid for survival. As the invaders' weaknesses are revealed, Ray fights to reunite his family and find refuge amidst the crumbling world.
War of the Worldsbrought H.G. Wells’ iconic 1898 novel into the 21st century with Tom Cruise as the action-driving mast of the ship. Scale and suspense push it beyond many other alien films. Its use of visceral, chaotic set pieces, like the unforgettable tripod attacks, is visually iconic. Interestingly enough, Steven Spielberg and theMission Impossible Starworked together under an incredibly tight production schedule, with filming beginning in November 2004 and the movie being released in June 2005.This timeline is almost unheard of in Hollywood,especially for a blockbuster heavy in special effects.
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Stark depictions of panic and societal breakdown areWar of the Worlds’ bread and butter. Cruise perfectly portrays the role of an everyman caught in an unimaginable crisis with a stunningly executed backdrop of CGI behind him. Despite all these incredible qualities, this film does feel synthetic at points, with Cruise perfectly standing out in a computerized landscape of reality. However, for the many people who are entertained by industry giants like Cruise and Spielberg,War of the Worldsis a film to remember.
King Kong
Peter Jackson’s King Kong is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name. When enterprising filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) decides to travel to the mysterious skull island, he hires naive young actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) to star in the film he intends to make. Denham’s crew of actors discovers the island’s big secret: Kong, a 25-foot-tall giant ape. Denham’s ambition gets the better of him, and he exploits Darrow’s bond with Kong to kidnap him, bringing him back to New York to exploit him for profit.
Peter Jackson’sKing Kongis a towering achievement in both cinema and pop culture. Its 2005 release birthed an epic modernization of the original 1933King Kong, stemming waves of influence- fans, endless merchandise, roller coasters, and much more.King Kongwas an early 2000s powerhouse, with Naomi Watts’ heartwarming yet tragic layer adding a beautiful melody to the film’s action-packed rhythm despite some of her moments feeling infuriating.From Skull Island’s terrifying creatures to the all-time Empire State Building finale,King Kongshowcases a range of trademark elements of the mythology.
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In 1933, King Kong left his mark on Hollywood and the misunderstood ape has starred in many films. Here are all the King Kong movies, in order.
The groundbreaking CGI topsWar of the Worldswith practical effects, further cementing it as a technical marvel. Despite this merit,King Kongstill has its downsides. With a total runtime of three hours and 21 minutes, it feels like it could have been namedKing Longinstead. Dramatic close-ups of CGI apes feel extremely unnecessary, dragging the film to comedic lengths at points. Plenty of good scenes make up for it,butKing Kongdoes have a lot of material that could have been shed from the film’s final presentation.
Jarhead
Jarhead is a war drama directed by Sam Mendes, based on Anthony Swofford’s memoir about his experiences as a Marine sniper during the Gulf War. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, the film explores the psychological challenges faced by soldiers amidst the monotony and anticipation of combat. The movie also features performances by Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, capturing the often-overlooked emotional turmoil of military life in a desert war.
Jarheadstrips away the typical glamor of war films, presenting a stark and introspective look at a soldier’s life. It’s different from most action films, which are large-scale, CGI-encompassing, glamour traded for consequence. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Anthony Swofford brings a delicate vulnerability to the psychological toll of military service, and the movie’s encompassing themes of waiting, frustration, and existential dread provide the most intense type of conflict: internal conflict.Jarheadfeels like a liminal fever dream, altogether more chilling in the sense that real people live a life similar to Swofford’s.
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The film’s lack of battlefield chaos is deliberate, which emphasizes soldiers’ internal struggles but also leaves the film feeling like a joke with no punchline. The visually complex oil field scenes are deeply impactful as something is deliberately happening in front of the viewer’s face, but other scenes inJarheadlack motion. This can also be perceived in a deeply metaphorical way, once again highlighting tension and unease.Jarheadcan be perceived in a couple of different ways,but it is undoubtedly a legendary action movie from 2005, thanks to its incredibly unique approach.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
While films likeJarhead,Elektra, andKing Kongcertainly made their mark in pop culture,Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, is simply a universal gem thanks to the franchise behind it and the fans that fuel it. The most impactful installment of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy chronicles Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness with the film climaxing in a molten-hot battle of brotherly love turned to hate.This operatic duel on Mustafar will forever be an iconic moment in cinema.
The tragedy of Anakin’s transformation gives the film an emotional weight unseen in its predecessors, with Palpatine’s evil plans finally coming to fruition.This franchise-defining attachment of theStar Warsfranchise blends action and lore with heartbreak,keeping it a fan favorite, especially when discussing solely the prequel trilogy. While this film had everything it needed to be the best action film of 2005, the acting just wasn’t fully there. Some scenes are a little hard to fully connect with, but no matter what,Revenge of the Sithwill always be a great choice for movie night.
Batman Begins
Batman Begins is the inaugural film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, featuring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. Released in 2005, it follows Wayne as he transforms into Batman to combat the pervasive corruption in Gotham City, creating a new identity to fight crime outside the system.
WithNolan’s Batman trilogy hitting a major milestone in 2025,Batman Beginsdarkened the mood of 2005 with its character-driven, razor-sharp energy drink of a superhero film. Christian Bale’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne showcased a much more brooding protagonist that went on to make a generational run in the Dark Knight trilogy. The film sets the perfect tone for its next two installments,makingBatman Beginsthe masterpiece that started it all.
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The origin story balances epic set pieces with personal stakes, making it a blueprint for modern superhero cinema, still as trendy and iconic today as it was 20 years ago. Cillian Murphy’s unsettling portrayal as Scarecrow is yet another reason to love this film, with Hans Zimmer’s genius score complimenting it all. While a majority of this film deserves a chef’s kiss, it’s not for everyone. Bale’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne is pained and gravelly.The film is perpetually washed with gloom,and many may argue its second and third installments are where real history is made.
Sin City
Based on the original graphic novel by Frank Miller, Sin City is a dark and gritty crime-noir action movie that tells several different stories, all set at the same time in the same city. The lines of good and evil are blurred, with vigilantism being the new norm, as a city rife with corruption slowly swallows its citizens whole. Each protagonist is loosely connected to one another’s stories as the movie paints a bigger picture through each new point of view.
Sin Cityburst onto the scene in 2005 as a visually stunning adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel. Its striking black-and-white aesthetic, accented with splashes of color, makes the film feel like the comic pages are leaping straight onto the screen.Sin City’s anthology-style storytelling and interconnected tales of vengeance, love, and corruption keep it thoroughly gripping throughout the film’s two-hour, 27-minute runtime. Miller’s panels are also recreated shot for shot, adding depth to the dialogue, characters, and pacing.
The movie also features a star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, and Mickey Rourke. These standout performances embody the film’s gritty noir tone, with stylized violence and hard-boiled dialogue. With such a uniquely stimulating visual portrayal,Sin Cityis an instant classic. Surprisingly, a couple of 2005 action films still top this piece,butSin City’s bold visual flair and genre-defying narrative will forever influence filmmakers while captivating audiences all over.
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four follows four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after a space mission goes awry. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm transform into superheroes tasked with combating Dr. Doom’s malevolent schemes, marking their debut in facing global threats with newly acquired powers.
Fantastic Four,by far, leads as one of 2005’s most memorable action movies.It takes an unapologetically bright and bold approach to superhero movies, and while it received mixed reviews,Fantastic Fourwill always remain true in the hearts of action movie fans. The most important thing about this film is the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. While Christian Bale’s Batman spits out straight grief andWar of the Worldsrevolves around impending doom,Fantastic Fourfloats above its competition as a fun but action-packed ride that won’t leave audiences’ heads spinning.
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The Fantastic Four have been through many looks over the years, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps being the latest to contribute to them.
Leaning into its comic book roots without blatantly giving it away like inSin City,Fantastic Fouris an illustrious, vibrant ride. The casting and character chemistry between Marvel’s first “family” is something to look out for, and the CGI is perfectly executed with characters like the Thing and the Human Torch, making this film an easy rewatch. Overall, while extremely simple in its formula,Fantastic Fournailed its intentions on the head.
Doom
Doom, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, follows a team of space marines known as the Rapid Response Tactical Squad who are dispatched to a Mars research facility after a security breach. They face alien threats and uncover the dangers of a mutagenic experiment led by Dr. Grimm.
Based on an iconic video game,Doombrought demon-slaying chaos to theaters in 2005, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Karl Urban. No matter what critics may say,this movie’s standout first-person sequence is a hat-tip to gamers all over.It brought the fanbase exactly what they wanted to see in 2005, perfectly fulfilling audiences’ demands. The scene perfectly portrays the game’s mechanics, a standout moment of video games and cinema coming together to form one cohesive piece of entertainment. The memorable experiment in action filmmaking can only be appreciated for breaking boundaries in the genre.
While critically divisive,Doomdelivers exactly what everybody expected, and it really didn’t disappoint. Its unapologetic approach to adapting to source material is downright impressive, and its transcendence to a state of cult-like fan favoritism isn’t a surprise at all. With relentless action and gruesome monsters,Doomis a wild ride that embodies the spirit and essence of early 2000’s action and gaming culture, without a doubt making it the second-best action film of 2005.
1The Dukes of Hazzard
Southern mischief at full throttle
Surprisingly enough, at the top of the list isThe Dukes of Hazzard. This rambunctious, action-packed comedy brought a beloved TV series to the big screen, with wild car chases and outlandish stunts delivering the exact kind of fun fans expected. Johnny Knoxville’s portrayal as Luke Duke adds a hilarious edge to the film, deeply reminiscent ofJackassculture,makingThe Dukes of Hazzardjust as exhilarating as it is entertaining.
This film is the best due to its sheer entertainment value. Sure, the other films on this list are well done, entertaining, and edited to perfection. They have intensive storylines and compelling characters. However,The Dukes of Hazzardjust has certain qualities to it that can leave viewers absolutely hooked. It’s packed with memorable moments,and its irreverent tone and nonstop energy have kept it a fan favorite.With just a little Southern charm and a ton of horsepower,The Dukes of Hazzardboasts itself as not only the perfect action-comedy, but also the bestaction movieof 2005.
