Top 10 Most Underrated Action Movies of The 2000s

The 2000s was truly the post-golden age of action movies. There were piles of blockbusters (Die Hard, The Terminator, Taken, and many others) attacking the big screen. Those are legendary masterworks that will be watched again and again even in a few upcoming decades. Besides, there were quite a number of widely acclaimed good action movies to watch.

They had amazing set-ups, excellent developments, eye-burning fighting scenes, and epic acting works that made them deserve their place among the favorite action films. However, they didn’t receive enough viewers’ attention and support to become everlasting titles. Indeed, they are never mentioned when talking about the greatest films in the genre.

If you are into heart-raving action movies and you like to thrive back to the 2000s, check out this list below and see if those flicks were actually underrated!

#1. The Taking of Pelham 123

Source: Sony Pictures

Release Date: June 12, 2009
Starring: John Travolta, Denzel Washington, Luis Guzman
The movie is an intense stand-off on an NYC subway train between a dispatcher and a criminal mastermind. John Travolta plays the bad guy well in this flick.

#2. Never Die Alone

Source: 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures

Release Date: March 26, 2004
Starring: DMX, David Arquette, Michael Ealy
This action movie was written off because of its C-list cast. It is a poetic take on villainy and revenge that contains violent gun battles from start to finish.

#3. The Rundown

Source: Universal Pictures

Release Date: September 26, 2003
Starring: The Rock, Seann William Scott, Christopher Walken
The Rundown is generally a fantastic action movie with great fight scenes and cool ideas, mixed with a little bit of comedy. Surprisingly, Seann William Scott and The Rock actually work well on screen together.

#4. 16 Blocks

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Sony Pictures

Release Date: March 3, 2006
Starring: Bruce Willis, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), David Morse
16 Blocks ’s a unique concept about the task of transporting a convict from jail to a courthouse just 16 blocks away, but a lot can happen (and it does), especially when the convict is expected to testify against a police officer and the entire NYPD wants him dead.

#5. Smokin’ Aces

Source: Universal Pictures

Release Date: January 26, 2007
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta
Smokin’ Aces had a few close-quarters shootouts, brutally violent scenes, and one of the best final scenes in an action movie. It is one of Ryan Reynolds’s most amusing films that no one really watched.

#6. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Release Date: September 14, 2005
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan
Even though the movie was highly rated, it only grossed $4.2M in its initial theatrical run and was widely considered one of the most underrated action films of all time.

#7. 3:10 to Yuma

Source: Lionsgate

Release Date: September 7, 2007
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster
If you love western style and cowboys, you’ll love 3:10 to Yuma. The 2007 reboot has tons of action and all the cast put on stellar performances.

#8. Law Abiding Citizen

Source: Overture Films

Release Date: October 16, 2009
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney
There’s a lot to love about Law Abiding Citizen, but it mostly received mediocre to low ratings because of its ending (which is notably bad). But up until the end, it’s a thrilling action movie.

#9. The Score

Source: Paramount Pictures

Release Date: July 13, 2001
Starring: Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando
This heist-gone-awry movie’s a suspenseful crime movie that was well-written, well-directed, and extremely well-acted. Unfortunately, it didn’t explode as expected.

#10. Defiance

Source: Paramount Pictures

Release Date: January 16, 2009
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell
The movie’s a good history-based story about brothers vowing to avenge the death of their parents. Although some of its events are historically inaccurate, it’s a great action movie to watch.

Do you have any favorite action features that are underrated too? Let’s talk about them in the comment section below! Then, hit the like-share button and move to another interesting post on our site!