The lights dim. The screen flickers to life. We curse the one emergency light shining right our way. But before long, we’re immersed in the sounds and visuals of a night at the movies.
My husband is a lucky man. We never fight over what movie to go and see because he has a wife who loves action movies. I like to feel exhilarated, excited and left a little breathless. That said, I like my action movies to have more than just fights and explosions. I also want a great story, characters I care about and if I can find it…a satisfying romance.
Today I’m sharing my personal list of the 10 very best Action Romance movies. Here they are:
- Speed
- Iron Man 3
- The Fifth Element
- The Princess Bride
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Trek into Darkness
- The Thomas Crown Affair
- Underworld
- Romancing the Stone
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
Want some more…these didn’t make my Top 10 but these action romances are absolutely still worth a watch:
- This Means War
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Man of Steel
- Mask of Zorro
- Casino Royale
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- King Solomon’s Mines
- Sahara
- Avatar
- Terminator
And just in case you stumble across people telling you this movie has action and romance, please steer well clear of the worst action romance movie of all time:
Knight and Day
If anyone has any others to add to the list, let me know! Now, if you need a good date night movie to keep you and your other half happy, then pick one off the list.
Image by Kennymatic
Ooh, some good ones there, Anna. Some very important old-school inclusions, there.
And more to add to the TBW pile…
Hi Em — glad to hear you found some to add to your list. Some of those old-school ones are the best! You and G. can enjoy them together.
You have some good ones on your list. I would add “The Last of the Mohicans” and “The Abyss ( the director’s cut)”.
Excellent suggestions, Heather! Thank you. I absolutely loved The Abyss (oh, the drowning scene…so gut wrenching and so many feels). Thanks for passing those two on.
If you like a grittier movie but still have a romantic vibe try “Eastern Promises” starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. Warning, it gets violent at times and the subject matter is tough but the interaction between Watts and Mortensen is lovely.
Hi Susana — I don’t mind a gritty movie now and then. And I love Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts, so I’ll definitely check it out. Thank you!
Great list. I would highly recommend these quirky movies:
Big Trouble in Little China – must see “B” movie with Kurt Russell.
Demolition Man – you love Sandra Bulleck? Here she is again.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – who doesn’t love Val Kilmer and Robert Downy Jr.?
Hi Patti! Thanks for the great suggestions. First off, I LOVE Demolition man. Hmm, I might have to add that to my post. And it’s sci-fi romance, so that’s a bonus (-:
I’ve seen Big Trouble at some stage, I think, but not Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Thanks for the recs, I’ll check them out!
Very good list, all of them favorites. I would add The Matrix trilogy, The Saint, Out of SIght, The Bourne Identity, Australia, Desperado, Braveheart, Dead Again and Grosse Point Blank…just a few more of my favs…
Cheers!
Some excellent additions, Angela! I think I’ve enjoyed almost all of those — esp. Matrix, Bourne Identity, Out of Sight, Braveheart… A couple I don’t think I’ve seen, so I’ll have to check those out. Thanks!
Love all the ones on the list, but sometimes I like humor added into the list. My other half calls me the more annoying half because of my silly sarcasm, so sometimes humor is also a must. True Lies is one of those that is full of romance, action and more than a little humor.
Hi Aj — I like some humor now and then! I LOVE True Lies — you are spot it, it is a great mix of action, romance and humor. And you tell your other half that there is nothing wrong with a little sarcasm (-:
Has anyone seen the newer movie The Man From Uncle. Wow tons of romantic tension! There was actually a video on youtube of all the scenes in the movie between two characters: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FLBOoIck_x5KyvSo7gy2v1Jw
I haven’t seen that yet, Melissa. I remember hearing about it but for some reason, never got the chance to see it. I’m going to suggest to Mr H that we check it out. Thanks for the rec.
I love the Man from Uncle movie! I agree! There was a ton of romantic tension there. It was brilliantly done.
Okay, now I am super excited to watch The Man from Uncle. You both have me convinced (-:
Glad to see The Princess Bride on there! Have you seen Ladyhawke?
Love the Princess Bride, Janet (I might be due for a re-watch!) No, I pretty sure I haven’t seen Ladyhawke, but I have heard of it. I’ll investigate (-:
Anna, Ladyhawke, with Michelle Phiffer, is one of my all time faves along with Princess Bride..
Definately keepers.
Oh, good additions, Sally! I love Princess Bride!!
OMG Ladyhawke!!!! Yes! Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfieffer, Knights, damsels and magic. Oh, and Matthew Broderick as a wisecracking thief. What is not to love?
Excellent addition to the list, Fatima!!
Agree about the Princess bride. It was great. Ladyhawke is also quite awesome and loved the cast.
Cheers, AJ! Ladyhawke has Michelle Piefer, right? Now I’m wondering why I’ve never seen it. Will have to rectify that…
Went to watch The Man from Uncle on Friday night, but Mr H saw it on a plane ride recently. Will need to wait for him to be away on his next trip!
I liked your list, but am sorry you didn’t like Knight and Day. Casino Royale with Sean Connery was amazing, but with Daniel Craig sucked. Danny Scott.
Hi Danny. I liked Casino Royale with Daniel Craig…but Sean Connery is my favorite Bond.
hy anna, great list but you missed one of my all-time-favorite-could-watch-it-on-endless-repeat: the mummy (1&2) with Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser!!! here you’ve got it all action, humor abd romance.. ??
OMG, Cat! I *love* the Mummy and I loved those two together. Perfect addition to the list!
Hi, Anna, great list, but there is one movie that I can’t believe is not on it. Have you not seen Die Hard? One of the best action romances of all time, imho. I hope they never film a remake of it, as they could never equal the cast of the original movie. Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald Veljohnson, and the incomparable Alan Rickman! They show it every Christmas, and, even though I would never class it as a Christmas movie, I can’t help myself, I watch it every time! If you haven’t seen it, by all means do so, and please let me know your opinion.
Ray
Hi Ray! I love Die Hard! A great action movie. I didn’t include it because there isn’t quite enough romance for this list 😀 But it is the best Christmas movie out there.
One of my top tens is True Lies. The scene with Jamie lee Curtis seducing her husband is great!
Oh, I love True Lies! So much fun.