Summary
One of the most famous and beloved actors of all time,Keanu Reeveshas charmed audiences for decades ever since his hilarious smash hit in 1989 withBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Keanu Reeves has experimented with multiple different roles, through romance, horrors, and thrillers. Yet, there is one genre that Keanu Reeves truly excels in thanks to his dedication to the craft, and that’s within the best action movies.
Keanu Reeves' action movies are always a success with both audiences and critics alike. Some of his films have become instant classics, and Keanu Reeves has enjoyed a healthy career in Hollywood. Yet, out of his large portfolio of movies, what are his best action movies, and how do they rank among themselves to provide the audience with tense thrills and fighting extravaganza?
9Chain Reaction
IMDB rating: 5.6
Thanks to Keanu Reeves, audiences can find new life inChain Reaction, which follows the story of two scientists that finds themselves on the run from a government conspiracy. The film upon release wasn’t the most loved of Keanu Reeves' best movies, but it works.
The conspiracy itself leaves questions that both cast and audience desperate for answers, with a framed crime of murder and treason leading the chase. It’s definitely worth a watch, but it’s certainly not the best film in Keanu Reeves' library of roles.
8Johnny Mnemonic
IMDB Rating: 5.6
Johnny Mnemonicwas also not exactly the most successful film in Keanu Reeves' belt of roles, but it’s still a riveting sci-fi movie that seems more relevant now than what it was back in 1995. Keanu Reeves plays the protagonist, a courier tasked with transporting data in his head. Yet, when that data seems entwined in a criminal plot, he is forced on the run against himself and the Yakuza that’s after him.
The excitement ofJohnny Mnemoniccomes from its genre, as it’s more cyberpunk than action. This is a genre that Keanu Reeves would become familiar with, decades later, with his role asJohnny Silverhand inCyberpunk 2077. Yet, going back toJohnny Mnemonic, the film does suffer somewhat from its script and its dated CGI, but it’s definitely still a defining watch of his career.
7Man of Tai Chi
IMDB Rating: 6.0
The directorial debut of Keanu Reeves himself,Man of Tai Chidoes a few things differently for cinema-goers, and one of those things is that it’s a multilingual film, with none other than Keanu Reeves himself as the antagonist, a rare role to cast himself in, especially with his time in the sun as a protagonist and beloved hero of many.
The film takes a more traditional approach to martial arts, and it makes for a well-choreographed watch thanks to its many fight scenes. Yet, the very traditional action is also its failings, as the lack of commitment to risk can make for some safe action. The story itself centers around a martial artist who succumbs to the void of underground fight clubs, showcasing a darker and more violent world than what’s known on the surface as a 9-5 weekday job.
6Street Kings
IMDB Rating: 6.8
David Ayer’s second directorial feature,Street Kingsstars Keanu Reeves alongside Forest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie. The film tells the story of a disillusioned undercover cop, grieving the death of his wife, who finds himself caught up in a murder charge.
The setting ofStreet Kingsisn’t the most original, with corrupt cops, gangsters, and one man trying to clear his name. But the film is expertly shot, with a talented director behind it, who would go on to make the superiorEnd Of Watchand the war movieFury.
5Constantine
IMDB Rating 7.0
Based on theDC graphic novel,Constantinetells the story of a dying demon hunter attempting to buy his way into heaven by sending as many demons as possible back to hell. The film has an outstanding supporting cast alongside Reeves, who plays the tired and broken exorcist who refuses to accept his fate.
The film was released to mixed reviews but has since become a cult favorite with a sequel currently in production.Constantinehas a high production value and some great action scenes. It portrays a dark and grimy underworld of angels and demons that hints at a larger setting.
4Point Break
IMDB Rating: 7.3
Point Breakstands as one of the all-time best action movies, and for good reason. The story is engaging and exciting, with action around every corner. Keanu Reeves players an FBI agent this time around, who delves into undercover territory as he attempts to infiltrate a criminal group known as the Ex-Presidents, talented bank robbers who enjoy some surfing in their downtime. Will Keanu Reeves be able to infiltrate and take this gang down, or will he succumb to friendship?
Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze have electric chemistry together, and the protagonist and antagonist become good friends within Point Break, making their story entwined with crime and justice a tense and dramatic watch, only heightened by the thrills of action andextreme sportsthat are sure to roll adrenaline pumps.
3Speed
Speedwas a worldwide hit and received critical acclaim, making Keanu Reeves a household name in Hollywood. Whilst the premise of driving a bus doesn’t sound the most exciting, strapping that bus with bombs galore is sure to make audiences sit down and watch.
Speedtells the story of Keanu Reeves playing a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) bomb disposal officer, as he boards a bus in an attempt to disarm the bomb and save the people trapped inside. The catch is that if the bus goes below 50 miles per hour, it’ll blow. Whilst there is alack of shootinginSpeed, it’s still an absolute classic action film.
2John Wick
IMDB 7.4
When most people hit their mid-to-late 50s, they’ll slow down from an action-heavy lifestyle due to developing health problems in terms of fitness. Yet, for Keanu Reeves, the opposite seemed to happen, and it woke a phoenix ready to emerge in one of the most action-heavy roles in the 21st century thanks toJohn Wick. This intensive action movie started a beloved franchise with fans clamoring for more even still, especially with thecreative fun actioninvolved.
Audiences can find some ofKeanu Reeves' best work.inJohn Wick, a story that follows a retired hitman who is grieving the loss of his wife to cancer. After being gifted a puppy to look after and to express his grief un-alone, the dog is killed by Russian mobsters, forcing John Wick out of retirement to settle the score and channel his grief into vengeance.
1The Matrix
IMDB Rating: 8.7
The Matrixstands as one of Keanu Reeves' best movie roles and remains ever iconic thanks to the minds of the Wachowskis, who brought to screen some incredible CGI and thought-provoking ideals that changed the way some people view the world with Simulation Theory. Keanu Reeves truly stands out in this film as Neo, an average Joe who has his eyes opened to the truth around him, as he discovers if he truly is The One that can help end machines' oppression of humanity.
The Matrixhas been the topic of parody for generations for its iconic imagery, with the likes of simulation, Agent Smith, and of course, Bullet Time. Whilst sequels were never as good as the original, Keanu Reeves has always givenThe Matrixhis all, and the action scenes are worth an instant rewatch.
