List of action film directors

Action film directors guide the filming and creative elements in action movies, a film genre where action sequences, such as fights, shootouts, stunts, car chases or explosions either take precedence, or, in finer examples of the genre, are used as a form of exposition and character development. Action movie directors may also blend other genres into their films such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, comedy, drama, horror, etc... This genre is closely linked with those of thriller and adventure films.

Notable directors

Action stars who have directed their own action movies

Jackie Chan = The Fearless Hyena (1979), The Young Master (1980), Dragon Lord (1982), Project A (1983), Police Story (1985), Armour of God (1986), Project A Part II (1987), Police Story 2 (1988), Miracles (1989), Armour of God II: Operation Condor (1991), etc...
Clint Eastwood = High Plains Drifter (1973), The Eiger Sanction (1975), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), The Gauntlet (1977), Firefox (1982), Sudden Impact (1983), Pale Rider (1985), The Rookie (1990)
Mel Gibson = Braveheart (1995)
Sammo Hung = Enter the Fat Dragon (1978), Knockabout (1979), Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980), The Prodigal Son (1981), Wheels on Meals (1984), Millionaire's Express (1986), Eastern Condors (1987), Dragons Forever (1988), Pedicab Driver (1989), etc...
Lau Kar-leung = The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Dirty Ho, Drunken Master II^[3]
Bruce Lee = Way of the Dragon (1972)
Jet Li = Born to Defence (1986)
Dolph Lundgren = The Defender (2004), The Mechanik (2005), Missionary Man (2007), Diamond Dogs (2007), Command Performance (2009), Icarus (2010)
Steven Seagal = On Deadly Ground (1994)
Sylvester Stallone = Rambo (2008), The Expendables (2010)
Jean-Claude Van Damme = The Quest (1996), Full Love (TBA)
Donnie Yen = Legend of the Wolf (1997), Ballistic Kiss (1998), Shanghai Affairs (1998)
Biao Yuen = Peacock King (1989), A Kid from Tibet (1992)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Moore, Tom (2022-08-15). "10 Directors That Are Ruling the Action Genre Right Now". Collider. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Aldredge, Jourdan (June 22, 2021). "The Best Action Movie Directors (and What You Can Learn from Them) | No Film School". nofilmschool.com. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j LoVerde, Vincent (2023-07-31). "10 Greatest Action Movie Directors, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2024-11-04.

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Moore, Tom (2022-08-15). "10 Directors That Are Ruling the Action Genre Right Now". Collider. Retrieved 2024-11-04.

[:1-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Aldredge, Jourdan (June 22, 2021). "The Best Action Movie Directors (and What You Can Learn from Them) | No Film School". nofilmschool.com. Retrieved 2024-11-04.

[:2-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j LoVerde, Vincent (2023-07-31). "10 Greatest Action Movie Directors, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2024-11-04.

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