2. Early action films
• First action films were filmed in 1920 and they
were adventure medieval films as well as
westerns in these films Douglas Fairbanks would
usually wield sword or guns and play main
characters. 1940s and 50s action movies were
based on war, in 1960 James bond was
introduced and action movies were seen as one
man army hero. The Bond films also utilized quick
cutting, car chases, fist fights, a variety of
weapons and "gadgets", and ever more elaborate
action sequences.
3. 1970
• More film directors started to copy The Bond series
and changing and adding their own views to it films like
Dirty Harry or The French Connection but instead they
added more drama and many more cuts in action like
car chases performed by stunt men etc. Clint Eastwood
out of his cowboy typecasting, and became the urban-
action film's first true archetype. Proving that the
modern world offered just as much glamour,
excitement, and potential for violence as the old west,
Dirty Harry signalled the end of the prolific "cowboys
and Indians" era of film westerns.
4. 1980
• This where most of biggest action films stars were
found actors like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Chuck Norris. These
actors become icons of action movies. Steven Spielberg
and George Lucas even paid their homage to the Bond-
inspired style with the mega-hit Raiders of the Lost Ark
In 1982, Nick Nolte and rising comedian Eddie Murphy
smashed box office records with the action-comedy 48
Hrs. Which is credited as the first "buddy-cop" movie.
That same year, Sylvester Stallone starred in First
Blood, the first instalment in the popular Rambo film
series.
5. 1990
• This is when computer generated imagery started
to work for most movies and real world scenes
were less used as computers could do anything.
Most films were shot in studios. The success of
the Dirty Harry and James Bond sequels had
proven that a single successful action film could
lead to a continuing action franchise which
worked in many cases. In 1990 more hybrid
genres started to be made like spy-action movies
and urban action movies were more common to
be made as it reached higher audience.
6. Now
• Action movies now are usually hybrid action films
like si-fi action movies etc. director started to use
comics as good inspiration for movies, movies like
Batman (DC Comics) and movies like spider-man
or x-men (Marvel Comics) were more appealing
for audience and because of technology
improvements many movies now are entirely
shot in studios and are made in green screen
which works good for action movies because of
explosions, flying hero's etc.
