Fans Rank 'The Dark Knight' as the Greatest Action Movie, Surpassing Iconic Classics
A recent ranking of the best action movies of all time named a 2008 film as the greatest that the beloved genre has to offer. The Dark Knight was ranked over other iconic titles like Die Hard, Predator, The Matrix, Speed, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Rock, John Wick, and more.
Who Named ‘The Dark Knight’ the Best Action Movie of All Time?
In April 2026, Collider updated its ranking of the "35 Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb." The latter website bases its ratings on reviews from users, which means the ranking reflects fan feedback.
After reading the list, many readers may have been surprised to see that The Dark Knight topped the list. While there is no doubt that it features a lot of action, many fans think of it as a comic book movie first. However, it is a truly beloved film that features some wildly compelling action scenes that have passed the test of time. That makes its No. 1 ranking a lot easier to understand upon deeper reflection. It is also worth noting that IMDb has a looser definition of what an action movie is than many fans do.
The Dark Knight's mind-blowing action scenes include an amazing chase and the adrenaline-pumping moment the Joker tries to goad Batman into running him over. Easily the most compelling action moment in the film comes during the truck flip that was so expertly filmed that you can really feel the danger and destruction as a viewer. In November 2025, Collider published an article about the best action movie scene from every year of the 21st century and focused on the truck flip for 2008. That reflects how amazing that moment remains all these years later.
The Top 10, Collider's Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb:
- 10: Seven Samurai (1954) - IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- 9: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- 8: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) - IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
- 7: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- 6: The Matrix (1999) - IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
- 5: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) - IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
- 4: Inception (2010) - IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
- 3: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) - IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
- 2: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) - IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
- 1: The Dark Knight (2008) - IMDb Rating: 9.1/10