The 10 Best Action & Adventure Movies Of The Decade (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

Though films of all genres have their own draw, none are quite as exciting as those that fall into the action and adventure category. Because of this, we thought it was time to discover the best movies of this kind by turning to Rotten Tomatoes.

The review aggregation website features a list entitled “Top 100 Action & Adventure Movies.” Here, the greatest films in this genre are lined up by their Adjusted Tomatometer Score. This rating is calculated by factors including a film’s release year, the number of reviews a film has, and the standard Tomatometer Score (a percentage based on the positive and negative reviews of critics) it has been assigned. The 10 movies at the top will show up here.

With the logistics explained, it’s time to look back at the greatest action and adventure movies to jump onto the big screen.

10 Thor: Ragnarok (2017): 93%

The third installment in Thor series has the God of Thunder becoming a prisoner on the eclectic garbage planet of Sakaar. Here, he is forced to compete in the Grandmaster’s Contest of Champions for the resident’s entertainment. However, he must find a way to get back to Asgard before his long lost sister Hela unleashes her revenge on the Asgardian people.

In addition to upping the humor and adventure, Thor: Ragnarok featured interesting new characters and colorful visuals. This tonal shift left critics applauding.

9 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017): 91%

Though every Star Wars film has gained much attention, none received as high of a critical review as The Last Jedi.

The eighth episode in the Skywalker Saga sees Rey disrupting Luke Skywalker’s island solitude in hopes of getting him to rejoin the Resistance. Meanwhile, Leia, Poe, and Finn attempt to sort things out on their end as they prepare to defend themselves against Kylo Ren and the First Order.

Though The Last Jedi upheld the feel of a Star Wars film, it added in fresh twists and action that kept viewers engaged.

8 Coco (2017): 97%

Don’t think the “Action & Adventure” tag is only designed for live-action films because Pixar’s Coco definitely fits the bill.

This 2017 computer-animation follows a 12-year-old-boy named Miguel who has a passion for music. Though his family banned all songs years ago, he’s hoping to reverse this fate — especially after falling into the Land of the Dead and learning that his great-great-grandfather is his musical idol.

The film’s imagination, warmth, and themes of family and death made this one stand out among its animated counterparts. Additionally, the visuals were beautifully crafted.

7 Dunkirk (2017): 93%

This 2017 war film has a group of French, British, Belgian, and Dutch soldiers attempting to escape the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940s France. This mission is shown from the perspectives of land, air, and sea.

Dunkirk was praised for its cinematography, screenplay, direction, music, and more. The cast’s strong performances also helped create a sense of urgency.

6 Wonder Woman (2017): 93%

Though Wonder Woman made her big-screen debut in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the superhero received her own film a year later in 2017.

Wonder Woman tells the story of Amazon princess Diana, who is raised on a secluded island full of female warriors. However, after an American pilot washes onshore, Diana sets out to help him, believing her people are linked to World War I.

Critics loved the chemistry between stars Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. That, in combination with a compelling story and strong action sequences, had Wonder Woman quickly earning a sequel. Wonder Woman 1984 is set to premiere on June 5.

5 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): 97%

Though the late-70s, early-80s dystopian action series known as Mad Max had concluded decades ago, it came back to the silver screen with the fourth installment in 2015. Thankfully, it delivered.

Fury Road follows Imperator Furiosa on her mission to escape slave master Immortal Joe alongside his five wives. She decides to team up with Max Rockatansky as they speed through the Wasteland.

The acting, stunts, and screenplay impressed. Fury Road was loaded with edge-of-your-seat action that immersed viewers.

4 Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018): 97%

Coco isn’t the only animated film to score high critical acclaim; Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse left theaters with even more admiration.

This 2018 superhero film has Brooklyn teen Miles Morales discovering that he has special powers after being bitten by a spider. Though he is unprepared to take down the evil Kingpin, he won’t have to do it alone; After all, a series of Spider-People from other dimensions have been transported to his world. He must also find a way to return them home.

The unique animation style helped Into the Spider-Verse stand out. Additionally, it blended emotion, action, and humor in a way that few films before it had.

3 Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018): 97%

Tom Cruise jumped back into action to star in the sixth Mission: Impossible film.

The 2018 action spy movie has Ethan Hunt, the IMG team, and CIA assassin August Walker teaming up to take down terrorists, who are planning a nuclear attack. After the group’s weapons go missing, Ethan and his crew must keep them far away from the bad guys.

Mission Impossible: Fallout was applauded for its quick, entertaining plot and big-budget action. Its sequels will arrive on July 23, 2021, and August 5, 2022.

2 Avengers: Endgame (2019): 94%

The final installment in the Avengers series brought all the action, emotion, and heart of the series to an epic conclusion.

Picking up in the aftermath of Thanos’ destruction on earth, the remaining Avengers plot to reverse fate after learning Scott Lang was able to escape the quantum realm. This has the group going back in time to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos can.

In addition to becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, Endgame also became one of the most highly regarded movies in existence. The film paved a compelling path from start to finish.

1 Black Panther (2018): 97%

Our grand finale is none other than Marvel’s Black Panther.

This 2018 superhero story follows T’Challa on a mission to reclaim the Wakandan throne. Though he becomes the rightful ruler of the African nation after his father passes, he is met by a cruel challenger that must be overcome.

Black Panther became an instant success, loading in fully developed characters, high-energy action, and a gripping narrative. The direct sequel, Black Panther 2, is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022.

About The Author