Twenty years ago, action movies pushed limits. Thrilling storylines, larger-than-life characters and innovative stunts paved the way for today's era of action storytelling. Films like Batman begins and Sin City are time capsules from 2005, with a cinematic style that is slightly nostalgic but still generally modern, complementing the grittiness characteristic of the era. As shown through modern storytelling in this genre, a good action film can encompass both complexity and spectacle. This norm wouldn't exist if these films essential to understanding the 2000s didn't pave the way for everyone else.
2005 was also the year Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith arrived in cinemas, concluding George Lucas' prequel trilogy with the most fiery and emotionally magnetic installment yet. Films from this era reflect the genre's transition to include themes of internal exploration, while other campy action films from the 2000s such as War of the Worlds and King Kong, show insane visual conflicts that are as vivid on screen now as they were two decades ago. The influence of these productions still resonates in the most anticipated action films of 2025, proving the enduring appeal of these aged masterpieces.
10
Elektra
The stealthy origin story of a ninja assassin
Elektra is a 2005 superhero film directed by Rob Bowman, featuring Jennifer Garner as the titular character, Elektra Natchios. The film follows Elektra, an assassin for hire who struggles with her dark past and embarks on a journey of redemption. As she takes on a dangerous mission, she must face powerful enemies and her deepest fears. Elektra is a spin-off of the 2003 film Daredevil, also starring Garner.
Elektra falls into the deep end when compared to other renowned action pieces of 2005, but its significance adjacent to the beginning of Marvel's cinematic era remains undeniable. Jennifer Garner brought the killer to life in a stylish, action-packed bombshell that sometimes leans heavily into martial arts. It didn't make a critical impact, but it left a lasting mark on the MCU universe, with Elektra making her return in Deadpool and Wolverine.
This film serves as a time capsule for pre-MCU experimentation. Despite the low rating, Elektra will forever be appreciated for its unapologetically dark tone and aesthetic, with themes of revenge and redemption complemented by intense one-on-one conflict. It was definitely not a box office juggernautbut his surprisingly powerful cult and legacy kept him afloat for twenty years. Today, Elektra is a permanent symbol of Marvel's growing pains before superhero domination. It's an undeniably important insight into empire building.
9
War of the Worlds
A modern version of the alien apocalypse
As extraterrestrial invaders ravage Earth, divorced father Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) must protect his estranged children, Rachel and Robbie. Avoiding destruction and aliens, they encounter harrowing scenes of devastation in their desperate bid for survival. As the invaders' weaknesses are revealed, Ray struggles to reunite his family and find refuge amid the crumbling world.
War of the Worlds brought HG Wells' iconic 1898 novel into the 21st century, with Tom Cruise as the ship's action masthead. The scale and suspense take it beyond many other alien films. The use of visceral and chaotic scenarios, such as the unforgettable tripod attacks, is visually iconic. Interestingly, Steven Spielberg and the Mission Impossible Star worked together under an incredibly tight production schedule, with filming beginning in November 2004 and the film being released in June 2005. This timeline is almost unheard of in Hollywood, especially for a special effects-heavy blockbuster.
Sharp depictions of panic and social collapse are War of the Worlds'bread and butter. Cruise perfectly portrays the role of an everyman trapped in an unimaginable crisis with an incredibly executed CGI set behind him. Despite all these incredible qualities, this film feels synthetic at points, with Cruise standing out perfectly against a computerized backdrop of reality. However, for many people who enjoy industry giants like Cruise and Spielberg, War of the Worlds It's a film to remember.
8
King Kong
An epic adventure forever
Peter Jackson's King Kong is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name. When enterprising filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) decides to travel to the mysterious Skull Island, he hires naive young actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) to star in the film he plans to make. Denham's team of actors discover the island's big secret: Kong, a giant 7.5 meter tall ape. Denham's ambition gets the better of him, and he exploits Darrow's bond with Kong to kidnap him, bringing him back to New York to exploit him for profit.
Peter Jackson King Kong is a huge achievement in both cinema and pop culture. Its release in 2005 led to an epic modernization of the 1933 original. King Kongspawning waves of influence - fans, endless merchandise, roller coasters and more. King Kong was an early 2000s powerhouse, with Naomi Watts' poignant yet tragic layer adding a beautiful melody to the film's action-packed pace, despite some of its moments feeling grating. From the terrifying creatures of Skull Island to the Empire State Building's all-time ending, King Kong features a number of trademark elements of mythology.
The tops of innovative CGI War of the Worlds with practical effects, further consolidating it as a technical marvel. Despite this merit, King Kong It still has its disadvantages. With a total running time of three hours and 21 minutes, it feels like it could have been nominated Long King instead of. Dramatic close-ups of CGI apes feel extremely unnecessary, dragging the film to comical lengths at some points. Many good scenes make up for this, but King Kong There is a lot of material that could have been discarded in the final presentation of the film.
7
Jarhead
A soldier's war, without the battlefield
Jarhead is a war drama directed by Sam Mendes, based on Anthony Swofford's memoir about his experiences as a Marine sniper during the Gulf War. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, the film explores the psychological challenges faced by soldiers amid the monotony and expectation of combat. The film also features performances from Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, capturing the often forgotten emotional turmoil of military life in a desert war.
Jarhead It takes away the typical glamor of war films, presenting an austere and introspective look at the life of a soldier. It's different from most action movies, which are glamorous on a grand scale, involve CGI, and are exchanged for consequences. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as Anthony Swofford brings a delicate vulnerability to the psychological impact of military service, and the film's overarching themes of waiting, frustration, and existential dread provide the most intense kind of conflict: internal conflict. Jarhead it feels like a liminal fever dream, altogether scarier in the sense that real people live lives similar to Swofford's.
The film's lack of battlefield chaos is deliberate, which emphasizes the soldiers' internal struggles, but also makes the film feel like a joke without a joke. The visually complex oil field scenes are deeply impactful as something deliberately happens in front of the viewer's face, but other scenes in Jarhead lack of movement. This can also be perceived in a deeply metaphorical way, highlighting once again the tension and discomfort. Jarhead can be perceived in two different ways, but it's without a doubt a legendary 2005 action film thanks to its incredibly unique approach.
6
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
The darkest turning point in the saga
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise and chronologically the third in the Skywalker Saga. Set three years after the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker is tasked with keeping an eye on Chancellor Palpatine as other Jedi fight across the galaxy. In the background, however, a mysterious Sith lord begins to act to destroy the Jedi once and for all.
While films like Jarhead, Elektraand King Kong certainly left their mark on pop culture, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithis simply a universal gem thanks to the franchise behind it and the fans who fuel it. The most impactful part of George Lucas' prequel trilogy chronicles Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness, with the film culminating in a fiery battle of brotherly love turned to hate. This operatic duel on Mustafar will forever be an iconic moment in cinema.
The tragedy of Anakin's transformation gives the film an emotional weight unseen in its predecessors, as Palpatine's evil plans finally come to fruition. This franchise-defining attachment to Star Wars franchise mixes action and tradition with heartbreak, keeping it a fan favorite, especially when only discussing the prequel trilogy. While this film had everything it needed to be the best action film of 2005, the acting just wasn't there. Some scenes are a little hard to fully connect with, but no matter what, Revenge of the Sith It will always be a great option for a movie night.
5
Batman begins
The Dark Knight's Gritty Rebirth
Christopher Nolan's take on Batman's origin story sees Christian Bale take on the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, grieving the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization that intends to destroy Gotham with the help of the villain Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.
With Nolan's Batman trilogy reaching a major milestone in 2025, Batman begins darkened the mood of 2005 with its character-focused superhero movie energy drink. Christian Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne presented a much more brooding protagonist who became part of a generation in the Dark Knight trilogy. The film sets the perfect tone for its next two episodes, doing Batman begins the masterpiece that started it all.
The origin story balances epic set pieces with personal stakes, becoming a blueprint for modern superhero cinema, still as fresh and iconic today as it was 20 years ago. Cillian Murphy's disturbing portrayal of Scarecrow is yet another reason to love this film, with Hans Zimmer's brilliant score complimenting it all. While most of this film deserves a chef's kiss, it's not for everyone. Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne is painful and grave. The film is perpetually washed with sadness, and many may argue that it is in the second and third installments that the real story is made.
4
Sin City
A comic book brought to life
Based on the original graphic novel by Frank Miller, Sin City is a dark and gritty crime-noir action film that tells several different stories, all set at the same time in the same city. The lines between good and evil are blurred, with vigilantism the new norm as a city rife with corruption slowly swallows its citizens whole. Each protagonist is loosely connected to each other's stories, as the film paints a broader picture through each new point of view.
Sin City burst onto the scene in 2005 as a visually stunning adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel. Its striking black and white aesthetic, accented with pops of color, makes the film feel like comic book pages are leaping straight onto the screen. Sin CityThe anthology-style narrative and interconnected tales of revenge, love and corruption keep you fully engaging throughout the film's two hour and 27 minute running time. Miller's panels are also recreated scene by scene, adding depth to the dialogue, characters, and pacing.
The film also features a star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke. These standout performances embody the film's gritty noir tone, with stylized violence and harsh dialogue. With such a stimulating and unique visual portrait, Sin City It's an instant classic. Surprisingly, some action movies from 2005 still top this piece, but Sin CityThe bold visual flair and genre-defying storytelling will forever influence filmmakers while captivating audiences around the world.
3
Fantastic Four
Marvel's first family hits the big screen
Fantastic Four (2005) tells the story of four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Ioan Gruffudd stars as Reed Richards, who becomes Mr. Fantastic, alongside Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, the Thing. Together, they must learn to harness their new powers to thwart the plans of the nefarious Dr. Doom.
Fantastic Four, By far, it's one of the most memorable action films of 2005. It takes an unapologetically bright and bold approach to superhero movies, and while it has received mixed reviews, Fantastic Four will always remain true in the hearts of action movie fans. The most important thing about this film is the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously. While Christian Bale's Batman spits sadness and War of the Worlds revolves around imminent destruction, Fantastic Four floats above the competition as a fun yet action-packed ride that won't leave audiences' heads spinning.
Leaning on comic book roots without blatantly giving them away, as in Sin City, Fantastic Four it is an illustrious and vibrant tour. The cast and character chemistry between Marvel's first "family" is something to behold, and the CGI is perfectly executed with characters like the Thing and the Human Torch, making this film easy to watch. Overall, although extremely simple in its formula, Fantastic Four He nailed his intentions.
2
Ruin
First-person action meets the big screen
Doom, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, follows a team of space marines known as the Rapid Response Tactical Squad, who are sent to a research facility on Mars after a security breach. They face alien threats and discover the dangers of a mutagenic experiment led by Dr. Grimm.
Based on an iconic video game, Ruin brought the demon-slaying mayhem to theaters in 2005, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Karl Urban. No matter what the critics may say, This film's remarkable first-person sequence is a tip for gamers around the world. It brought fans exactly what they wanted to see in 2005, perfectly meeting the audience's demands. The scene perfectly portrays the game's mechanics, a defining moment of video games and cinema coming together to form a cohesive piece of entertainment. The memorable experiment in action films can only be appreciated for breaking genre boundaries.
Although critically divisive, Ruin It delivers exactly what everyone expected and it really doesn't disappoint. Its unapologetic approach to adapting the source material is absolutely stunning, and its transcendence into a cult-like state of fan favoritism is no surprise. With relentless action and horrific monsters, Ruin is a wild ride that embodies the spirit and essence of early 2000s action and gaming culture, arguably making it the second best action film of 2005.
1
The Dukes of Hazzard
Southern shenanigans in full swing
Surprisingly, at the top of the list is The Dukes of Hazzard. This rambunctious, action-packed comedy brought a beloved TV series to the big screen, with wild car chases and bizarre stunts providing exactly the kind of fun fans were hoping for. Johnny Knoxville's portrayal of Luke Duke adds a hilarious touch to the film, which is deeply reminiscent of Idiot culture, doing The Dukes of Hazzard as exciting as it is fun.
This movie is the best because of its entertainment value. Of course, the other films on this list are well made, entertaining, and perfectly edited. They have intense stories and compelling characters. However, The Dukes of Hazzard it just has certain qualities that can leave viewers absolutely hooked. It's full of memorable moments, and his irreverent tone and nonstop energy have kept him a fan favorite. With just a little southern charm and a lot of horsepower, The Dukes of Hazzard prides itself on not only being the perfect action comedy, but also being the best action movie 2005.