Can You ID the Action Movie From a Screenshot?

By: Lauren Lubas
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You ID the Action Movie From a Screenshot?
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.

Die Hard
Gordon Company / Silver Pictures
Can you name this movie that may or may not be a Christmas action film?
"Die Hard"
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
"The Bourne Identity"
"Aliens"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Matrix
Warner Bros. / Village Roadshow Pictures / Groucho II Film Partnership / Silver Pictures
Do you recognize this 1999 visual masterpiece?
"Terminator 2"
"The Matrix"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Raid: Redemption"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Mission Impossible
Cruise/Wagner Productions
Tom Cruise stars in this movie that was based on an old television show. Can you name it?
"Looper"
"Mission: Impossible"
"The Transporter"
"Top Gun"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Avengers
Marvel Studios
In this action film, we see multiple action stars team up to take on aliens. Do you know what it's called?
"Guardians of the Galaxy"
"Justice League"
"The Avengers"
"Suicide Squad"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Independence Day
Centropolis Entertainment
Will Smith fights aliens in what 1996 film?
"Mars Attacks"
"Independence Day"
"Rush Hour"
"Ronin"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Top Gun
Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Can you name this action movie about the Naval Air Force?
"Tango and Cash"
"Missing in Action"
"48 Hrs."
"Top Gun"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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the bourne identity
Hypnotic / Kennedy/Marshall
Which movie, pictured here, is full of action and mystery at the same time?
"Olympus Has Fallen"
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
"Gladiator"
"The Bourne Identity"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Raiders of the Lost Ark
Lucasfilm Ltd.
What is the name of the Indiana Jones film that includes stopping the Nazis from finding an ancient artifact?
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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True Lies
Lightstorm Entertainment
Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in this spy comedy with Jamie Lee Curtis. Do you know what it's called?
"Last Action Hero"
"True Lies"
"Inception"
"Spies Like Us"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"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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Lethal Weapon
Silver Pictures
This action film series turned into comedy, but the first installment was a little dark. Do you know the name of this movie?
"Lethal Weapon"
"Beverly Hills Cop"
"Terminator"
"Escape From New York"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Taken
EuropaCorp / M6 Films / Grive Productions / Canal+ / TPS Star / M6
While a father tries to build a relationship with his daughter, she is kidnapped. Do you know what movie this is?
"Casino Royale"
"Avatar"
"Gladiator"
"Taken"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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John Wick
Thunder Road Pictures / 87Eleven Productions / MJW Films / DefyNite Films
Can you name this action film that stars Keanu Reeves?
"Commando"
"Speed"
"John Wick"
"Point Break"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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First Blood
Anabasis Investments, N.V.
Some people think this film is called "Rambo," but it's not. Can you tell us the name?
"Commando"
"Predator"
"Alien"
"First Blood"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Deadpool
Marvel Entertainment / Kinberg Genre / The Donners' Company / TSG Entertainment
This superhero has a dirty mouth, but he gets the job done. What is this movie called?
"Spider-Man: Homecoming"
"Deadpool"
'The Dark Knight Rises"
"John Wick"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Fast and the Furious
Universal Pictures
In which action film do the heroes drive really fast to save the day?
"John Wick"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"Looper"
"The Fast and the Furious"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"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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Predator
Lawrence Gordon Productions / Silver Pictures / Davis Entertainment
Do you know the name of this film about a bunch of strong men who go to a jungle to fight an alien?
"First Blood"
"Predator"
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
"Cobra"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Empire Strikes Back
Lucasfilm
In which Star Wars film do we see Luke seek the teachings of Yoda?
"Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope"
"Return of the Jedi"
"The Empire Strikes Back"
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Kill Bill - Volume 1
A Band Apart
Do you know the name of this movie about an assassin who kills other assassins?
"From Dusk Till Dawn"
"True Romance"
"Kill Bill: Volume 1"
"Minority Report"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Dirty Harry
The Malpaso Company
Clint Eastwood stars in this action film about a cop trying to find the rooftop killer. Do you know what it's called?
"The Warriors"
"The Spy Who Loved Me"
"Drunken Master"
"Dirty Harry"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Black Panther
Marvel Studios
Do you know the name of this action film starring Chadwick Boseman?
"The Avengers: Infinity Wars"
"Snowpiercer"
"Black Panther"
"Thor: Ragnarok"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Enter the Dragon
Warner Bros. / Concord Production Inc.
Bruce Lee was a popular action star, and this was one of his most popular movies. Can you name it?
"Enter the Dragon"
"The Big Boss"
"Marlowe"
"The Kid"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Smokey and the Bandit
Rastar
Burt Reynolds was popular with both the ladies and the gentlemen in the '70s. Do you recognize this film he was in?
"Five Deadly Venoms"
"Coffy"
"Smokey and the Bandit"
"Gator"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Wonder Woman
DC Entertainment / RatPac Entertainment / Atlas Entertainment / Cruel and Unusual Films / Tencent Pictures / Wanda Pictures
Female action heroes might be rare, but not in this film. Do you know the name of it?
"Super Woman"
"Super Girl"
"She's All That"
"Wonder Woman"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Point Break
Johnny Utah Productions / Largo Entertainment
What is the name of this movie about surfing bank robbers?
"Point Break"
"The Fugitive"
"Seven Samurai"
"Skyfall"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Road House
Silver Pictures
Patrick Swayze helps clean up a rowdy bar and gets into some extra trouble in which '80s action film?
"Road House"
"Above the Law"
"The Delta Force"
"The Living Daylights"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Rush Hour
Roger Birnbaum Productions
Which action comedy stars Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan?
"Rush Hour"
"Time Cop"
"The Long Kiss Goodnight"
"Starship Troopers"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Star Trek
Spyglass Entertainment / Bad Robot Productions
What is the name of this movie about a young James T. Kirk?
"Star Wars"
"Mission: Impossible"
"Star Trek"
"Starship Troopers"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Fifth Element
Columbia Pictures / Gaumont
There are still cab drivers in New York in the 23rd century, according to which futuristic action movie?
"Passenger 57"
"Sudden Death"
"Marked for Death"
"The Fifth Element"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Looper
Endgame Entertainment / DMG Entertainment / FilmNation Entertainment
This action movie includes time travel and assassins. Can you name it?
"Looper"
"Mission: Impossible"
"Taken"
"Inception"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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300
Legendary Pictures / Virtual Studios / Atmosphere Pictures / Hollywood Gang Productions
This film, set in 480 B.C., is based on a comic book. Do you know what it's called?
"300"
"The Transporter"
"Quantum of Solace"
"District 9"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Blade
Marvel Studios / Amen Ra Films / Imaginary Forces
A half-vampire fights the forces of evil in which action film?
"Blade Runner"
"Desperado"
"From Dusk Till Dawn"
"Blade"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Dark Knight
Warner Bros. Pictures / DC Comics / Legendary Pictures / Syncopy
Can you name this Batman movie?
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"The Dark Knight"
"Batman Begins"
"Batman v Superman"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Delta Force
Golan-Globus Productions
What is the name of this movie in which Chuck Norris tries to take down Lebanese terrorists?
"Lone Wolf McQuade"
"The Delta Force"
"An Eye for an Eye"
"Code of Silence"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Kickboxer
Kings Road Entertainment
Do you recognize this movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in which he seeks vengeance for his injured brother?
"A Better Tomorrow"
"Invasion U.S.A."
"Kickboxer"
"Above the Law"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Last Action Hero
Columbia Pictures / Steve Roth Productions
In which '90s film does a young boy get sucked into a movie?
"Last Action Hero"
"Hard Target"
"Die Hard 2"
"Universal Soldier"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Enemy of the State
Touchstone Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer Films / Scott Free Productions
Can you name this movie that brings to light how the government can track us?
"The Bourne Supremacy"
"Sudden Death"
"Enemy of the State"
"The Net"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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The Matrix Reloaded
Village Roadshow Pictures / Silver Pictures / NPV Entertainment
Can you tell us the name of this sequel that sheds light on the future of machines and computers?
"Mission: Impossible III"
"District 9"
"Bad Boys II"
"The Matrix Reloaded"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Captain America- Civil War
Marvel Studios
Two very powerful superheroes fight each other in this Marvel film. Do you know what it's called?
"Captain America: Civil War"
"Batman v Superman"
"Logan"
"Black Panther"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Death Wish
Dino De Laurentiis Corporation
Can you name this 1974 action film starring Charles Bronson?
"White Lightning"
"Death Wish"
"Breaker! Breaker!"
"The Street Fighter"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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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Willow
Lucasfilm Ltd. / Imagine Entertainment
Do you recognize this fantasy action film about a guy who wants to save a child?
"Fanboys"
"Solo: A Star Wars Story"
"Willow"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"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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You Got:
/40
Gordon Company / Silver Pictures