List of action film directors
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Action film directors guide the filming and creative elements in action movies, a film genre where action sequences, such as fights, shootouts, stunts, car chases or explosions either take precedence or, in finer examples of the genre, are used as a form of exposition and character development. Action movie directors may also blend other genres into their films, such as romance, science fiction, or even comedy (e.g., Rush Hour). The genre is closely linked with the thriller and adventure film genres.
The names in bold are names whose techniques used in film are significant and recognizable.
Notable directors
- Aaron Norris
- Akira Kurosawa
- Albert Pyun
- Andrei Konchalovsky
- Andrew Davis
- Andrzej Bartkowiak
- Ang Lee
- Antoine Fuqua
- Baldo Marro
- Billy Tang
- Brett Ratner
- Brian De Palma
- Brian G. Hutton
- Bruno Mattei
- Cesar Montano
- Chris Nahon
- Christopher McQuarrie
- Christopher Nolan
- Chuck Russell
- Cirio H. Santiago
- Corey Yuen
- Dante Varona
- Doug Liman
- Dwight H. Little
- Eddie Rodriguez
- Enzo G. Castellari
- F. Gary Gray
- Fernando Poe Jr.
- George Miller
- George Pan Cosmatos
- Guy Hamilton
- Guy Ritchie
- Henry Bean
- Irvin Kershner
- J.J. Abrams
- J. Lee Thompson
- Jack Sholder
- James Cameron
- James Glickenhaus
- Jan De Bont
- Jennifer Lynch
- Jess Lapid, Jr.
- Joe Carnahan
- Joe Johnston
- John Carpenter
- John Ford
- John Frankenheimer
- John Glen
- John McTiernan
- John Milius
- John Singleton
- John Sturges
- John Woo
- Jon Favreau
- Jonathan Hensleigh
- Jonathan Liebesman
- Jose Balagtas
- Joseph Merhi
- Joseph Zito
- Josh Trank
- Justin Lin
- Kathryn Bigelow
- Kevin Reynolds
- Kinji Fukasaku
- Lee Tamahori
- Len Wiseman
- Lewis Gilbert
- Lito Lapid
- Louis Leterrier
- Luc Besson
- Marc Webb
- Mark L. Lester
- Martin Campbell
- McG
- Michael Apted
- Michael Bay
- Michael Mann
- Michael Winner
- Mimi Leder
- Neil Blomkamp
- Neveldine/Taylor
- Nico Mastorakis
- Oliver Stone
- Patrick Hughes
- Paul Greengrass
- Paul Verhoeven
- Paul W.S. Anderson
- Pete Travis
- Peter Berg
- Peter Hyams
- Peter Jackson
- Peter MacDonald
- Peter Weir
- Peter Yates
- Pierre Morel
- Quentin Tarantino
- Renny Harlin
- Richard Donner
- Richard Marquand
- Ridley Scott
- Ringo Lam
- Rob Cohen
- Robert Hiltzik
- Robert Kurtzman
- Robert Rodriguez
- Roger Spottiswoode
- Roi Vinzon
- Roland Emmerich
- Ronnie Ricketts
- Ronny Yu
- Sam Firstenberg
- Sam Peckinpah
- Sam Raimi
- Sammo Hung
- Sergio Leone
- Sheldon Lettich
- Simon West
- Sonny Parsons
- Stephen Sommers
- Steve Carver
- Steven Spielberg
- Ted Kotcheff
- Terence Young
- The Wachowskis
- Tony Scott
- Tsui Hark
- Walter Hill
- William Friedkin
- Willie Milan
- Wilson Yip
- Wolfgang Petersen
- Zack Snyder
Action stars who have directed their own action movie(s)
- Bruce Lee: Way of the Dragon (1972)
- Clint Eastwood: High Plains Drifter (1973), The Eiger Sanction (1975), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), The Gauntlet (1977), Firefox (1982), Sudden Impact (1983), Pale Rider (1985), The Rookie (1990)
- Dolph Lundgren: The Defender (2004), The Mechanik (2005), Missionary Man (2007), Diamond Dogs (2007), Command Performance (2009), and Icarus (2010)
- Jackie Chan: The Fearless Hyena (1979), The Young Master (1980), Dragon Lord (1982), Project A (1983), Police Story (1985), Armour of God (1986), Project A Part II (1987), Police Story 2 (1988), Miracles (1989), Armour of God II: Operation Condor (1991)
- Jean-Claude Van Damme: The Quest (1996), Full Love (TBA)
- Jet Li: Born to Defence (1986)
- Mel Gibson: Braveheart (1995)
- Steven Seagal: On Deadly Ground (1994)
- Sylvester Stallone: Rambo (2008), The Expendables (2010)