Can You ID the Action Movie From a Screenshot?

ENTERTAINMENT

By: Lauren Lubas

7 Min Quiz

Image: Gordon Company / Silver Pictures

About This Quiz

Action movies have come a long way in the last 30 years. These days, we see heroes with well-developed backstories that explain how they became so intense and ready to fight pretty much anyone. Back in the day, you were lucky to get a quick scene of an action hero's best friend dying in his arms, and then you were supposed to understand why he held a grudge for years after that. In the end, any fan of action movies will tell you that they don't necessarily have to have a great plot, as long as they have some excellent fight scenes, intense explosions and perhaps even the complete and total destruction of a major city.

If you love action movies, chances are you've seen some of the greats, with your favorites like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jackie Chan and Bruce Willis. Additionally, there's no doubt that you've done your best to keep up with the onslaught of superhero movies that have been released over the last decade or so — but do you think you can name them all from a picture? 

Take this quiz to see just how action-packed your movie lexicon is. Go ahead ... it'll make your day.

Can you name this movie that may or may not be a Christmas action film?

The debate as to whether "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie or not is still going strong and lights up the internet every year around the holidays. If everyone could just agree that it's an excellent movie, no one would have to wonder if it is specifically for the holidays.

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Do you recognize this 1999 visual masterpiece?

One thing that made "The Matrix" a fan favorite was the stunning visual effects that had not been seen up to that time. It was one of the first movies made specifically for digital viewing, showing the power of imagery on DVD.

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Tom Cruise stars in this movie that was based on an old television show. Can you name it?

The Mission: Impossible movies might be difficult to follow if you're not paying attention. However, after you watch the first one, you realize that as long as you don't trust anyone who talks to Tom Cruise, you can pretty much figure out the mystery.

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In this action film, we see multiple action stars team up to take on aliens. Do you know what it's called?

It's only fair to put movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on this list. After all, these movies were some of the biggest action films of the last 15 years, and they're still incredibly popular today.

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Will Smith fights aliens in what 1996 film?

The hype that built up "Independence Day" really made the movie a blockbuster success. The special effects allowed some of the most famous monuments in the world to be completely destroyed, and this was one of the first movies that did so.

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Can you name this action movie about the Naval Air Force?

Those who grew up in the '80s can probably recite "Top Gun" by heart. If you are one of those people, you'll be excited to know that a sequel will make its way to the big screen in 2020, with your favorite "Maverick" and all.

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Which movie, pictured here, is full of action and mystery at the same time?

Every movie about Jason Bourne shows us two things: Matt Damon kicks butt and takes names, and everybody loves super awesome fight and chase scenes. Some of the best action of the early 2000s was seen throughout these films, and we loved watching every second.

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What is the name of the Indiana Jones film that includes stopping the Nazis from finding an ancient artifact?

Although archaeology is a focused, time-intensive science, there are ways of making it interesting and action-packed. The Indiana Jones movies did this with ease ... and added a little comedy as well.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in this spy comedy with Jamie Lee Curtis. Do you know what it's called?

"True Lies" is one of those movies that you watch when you want action but you also want a good laugh. In the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife learns that he's a spy in the worst way possible, and hilarity ensues.

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This action film series turned into comedy, but the first installment was a little dark. Do you know the name of this movie?

The Lethal Weapon films focus on two odd-couple cops: Riggs and Murtaugh. Although the two don't really like each other in the first film, they learn how to work together to get the job done, and Riggs finds a new reason to live.

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While a father tries to build a relationship with his daughter, she is kidnapped. Do you know what movie this is?

Although it delivers a meme that just won't quit, "Taken" is an intense thriller with quite a bit of action. In the end, we learn that you don't mess with a former government operative.

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Can you name this action film that stars Keanu Reeves?

If you're going to kill someone's dog, make sure that person isn't one of the best assassins in the entire world. He will most likely come out of retirement just to kill you, and he will use every resource he has to do so.

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Some people think this film is called "Rambo," but it's not. Can you tell us the name?

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed at odds with one another in the 1980s and '90s. The actors released films close in plot and a little similar, but each of their action films was great in its own way. "First Blood" was one of the most intense and action-packed movies that Stallone was in.

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This superhero has a dirty mouth, but he gets the job done. What is this movie called?

When filmmakers started writing "Deadpool," they realized one thing was essential: the movie would have to be rated R. It didn't follow the tone of other Marvel movies, but it did follow the tone of the Deadpool comic books.

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In which action film do the heroes drive really fast to save the day?

"The Fast and the Furious" franchise made muscle cars cool again. Everyone wanted to be a stunt driver, and everyone wanted to get behind a powerful machine. With a whopping nine movies and more in the works, it is one of the most successful action franchises to date.

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Do you know the name of this film about a bunch of strong men who go to a jungle to fight an alien?

Jesse Ventura and Carl Weathers star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in this film about hired soldiers who have no idea what they're up against. The film can be brutal at times, but that adds to the thrill of watching Arnold take on the unknown.

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In which Star Wars film do we see Luke seek the teachings of Yoda?

If you had to face Darth Vader, you'd probably want all the help you could get. In this installment of the Star Wars franchise, we see Luke Skywalker faced with the decision to join the dark side or not.

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Do you know the name of this movie about an assassin who kills other assassins?

Quentin Tarantino is the kind of director who wants to pull out all the stops in his films, and the Kill Bill movies were no different. You can see his love for the classics in some of the imagery and the storyline in this first film of the series.

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Clint Eastwood stars in this action film about a cop trying to find the rooftop killer. Do you know what it's called?

In the 1970s and beyond, Clint Eastwood was known as the toughest actor to ever grace the big screen. In "Dirty Harry," he plays a no-nonsense cop who is on a mission to find a kidnapped girl before she is murdered.

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Do you know the name of this action film starring Chadwick Boseman?

Of all of the superheroes in the MCU, it is clear that Black Panther is one of the most important. He is the king of Wakanda, an African nation that is advanced in technology, warfare and intelligence.

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Bruce Lee was a popular action star, and this was one of his most popular movies. Can you name it?

The Bruce Lee movies of the 1970s were classics. Most of them were filmed in Mandarin and Cantonese and dubbed over, leaving them to be both intense and a little cheesy at the same time.

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Burt Reynolds was popular with both the ladies and the gentlemen in the '70s. Do you recognize this film he was in?

Not all action movies require a lot of fight scenes — some just need awesome car chases. "Smokey and the Bandit" is one of those movies that you love to watch over and over again, as a regular guy gets put into extraordinary circumstances.

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Female action heroes might be rare, but not in this film. Do you know the name of it?

The princess of the Amazons is no one to mess with, especially because she has some magical items to help her along the way. DC Comics created this movie as another installment of the Justice League franchise.

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What is the name of this movie about surfing bank robbers?

Movies of the early '90s loved shining a spotlight on California culture of the time, so it only made sense to create a few action movies that highlighted surfing and beach life. "Point Break" starred Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.

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Patrick Swayze helps clean up a rowdy bar and gets into some extra trouble in which '80s action film?

There was a call to make action movie characters a little more interesting in the late '80s. In "Road House," the main character isn't just one of the best bouncers in the world, but he also has a Ph.D., and he uses his intelligence to take down the crime and corruption in a small town in Missouri.

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Which action comedy stars Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan?

Most action fans like a little bit of comedy in their action movies, and "Rush Hour" delivers this in the form of two not-so-likely partners trying to solve a kidnapping case. Once they get over the language barrier, they begin to work together.

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What is the name of this movie about a young James T. Kirk?

In 2009, the new "Star Trek" movie came out, and audiences were skeptical at first ... after all, they were going to get someone who wasn't Leonard Nimoy to play Spock. Overall, the film received better reviews than expected from such intense fans.

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There are still cab drivers in New York in the 23rd century, according to which futuristic action movie?

Bruce Willis stars in "The Fifth Element," a film about powers in the future that are supposed to come together to prevent a darkness, or Great Evil, from annihilating the world. The Great Evil is a sentient creature approximately the size of the moon.

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This action movie includes time travel and assassins. Can you name it?

It can be difficult for an action movie to have such an intense plot without including a few plot holes, but "Looper" does a great job of explaining how time travel works. The movie also shows what happens when you mess with the wrong people and break the rules.

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This film, set in 480 B.C., is based on a comic book. Do you know what it's called?

The Spartans were no joke as warriors, and this film proves it. When the Persian army makes its way to Greece, the Spartans' only hope is 300 men who are in top fighting condition. It's one of the most intense battle movies of all time.

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A half-vampire fights the forces of evil in which action film?

Wesley Snipes plays Blade, a Dhampir — half human, half vampire. After his mother is killed, he vows to avenge her death ... leading him to learn about a brutal plot to kill off the entire human race.

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Can you name this Batman movie?

The "Dark Knight" trilogy was much different from any other Batman series we had seen in the past. It was incredibly dark and had some of the most terrifying villains in superhero movie history up to that point.

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What is the name of this movie in which Chuck Norris tries to take down Lebanese terrorists?

Everyone knows that Chuck Norris is one of the toughest guys in action history ... especially when it comes to martial arts. "The Delta Force" is one of his most popular movies, and it put him in the ranks with Schwarzenegger and Stallone.

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Do you recognize this movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in which he seeks vengeance for his injured brother?

In the late 1980s and early '90s, everyone loved to see Jean-Claude Van Damme on the big screen — his intense martial arts skills were like no other. In "Kickboxer" he showed his flexibility as well as his chest in several scenes.

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In which '90s film does a young boy get sucked into a movie?

It's always refreshing to see action movies that are a little self-aware. "Last Action Hero" plays off of many action movie cliches, and it doesn't mind making fun of itself a little bit.

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Can you name this movie that brings to light how the government can track us?

In "Enemy of the State," Will Smith is just a regular guy who accidentally gets slipped some top secret information. He then goes on the run while he tries to solve the mystery of what exactly is happening.

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Can you tell us the name of this sequel that sheds light on the future of machines and computers?

Once you find out that Neo is really "the One," you can't wait to see just exactly what he can do with his powers. In the second installment of the Matrix films, we get to see even more intense action scenes and physics-defying fighting.

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Two very powerful superheroes fight each other in this Marvel film. Do you know what it's called?

Throughout the Avengers movies, we see Captain America and Iron Man argue quite a bit, but it all comes to a head in "Civil War." In this movie, audiences get a taste of what happens when superpowers collide.

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Can you name this 1974 action film starring Charles Bronson?

There are many action movies about vigilantes that audiences can stand behind. In the case of "Death Wish," we see a vigilante ready to avenge his wife's murder and his daughter's assault.

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Do you recognize this fantasy action film about a guy who wants to save a child?

"Willow" combines fantasy and adventure to create an action movie that people still love today. When a man from a small village finds a child, he vows to protect her but has to leave his village to do so.

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