Action romance movies solve the eternal struggle of choosing a movie that likes both genres. Imagine you decide to watch a movie on date night. One likes the thrilling car chases and the action sequences’ glory.
Another person loves comfy feel-good love stories. Boom! Action romance movies to the rescue. Romantic action movies have the fluff of romantic movies and the crazy adventure side of action movies.
However, not all movies made in this action romance movies‘ genre are perfect. While some soared to become the best romantic action movies of their time, some failed badly. But don’t worry, we are here to save you from making the blunder of choosing the wrong one!
Best Action Romance Movies
We have curated a well-researched and detailed list of the five best romantic action movies and the five worst ones that you should steer clear off. Read on:
1. The Night Comes for Us
- Director: Timo Tjahjanto
- Cast: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle
- IMDb: 6.9
- Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu
About The Night Comes for Us:
This Indonesian film is in the background of drug deals and mafia gang activities. Murder and love go hand in hand in this one. It is the story of a criminal neck deep in the world of illegal deals and what happens when he falls in love with a girl he was supposed to kill.
This is the first Netflix-produced Indonesian film. It became so popular that the director decided to make it into a trilogy.
2. Baby Driver
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Cast: Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal
- IMDb: 7.6
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Baby Driver:
This action movie has a love story at its heart. A post office robbery gets botched, and a murderous goon gets loose. But the movie shows how the power of love can make you tolerate even the worst of predicaments, like a 25 years prison sentence.
There is a foot chase scene in the movie, which was almost on the verge of being cut due to budgetary issues. The director took a pay cut to include the scene as he felt it was necessary for the narration.
3. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Director: Doug Limon
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie
- IMDb: 6.5
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About Mr. and Mrs. Smith:
This movie has a very interesting plotline and will be a favorite if one loves spy thrillers. It is a love story between two spies of enemy organizations. They meet, fall in love, and get married together, only to find out they have been employed to hunt each other down. The female lead in the movie played by Jolie is flawless.
Did you know before Jolie was cast; the role was given to Nicole Kidman? When Kidman dropped out, Brad Pitt left the project and only returned when Jolie was signed.
4. Out of Sight
- Director: Steven Soderbergh
- Cast: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez
- IMDb: 7.0
- Streaming on: Hulu, Vudu
About Out of Sight:
This 90s film has a classic ‘cop and thief love story’ where a famed bank robber falls in love with a US Marshall. This crime comedy captures the crackling chemistry between the gorgeous leads. Author Elmore Leonard wrote the novel from which it is inspired.
Did you know Michael Keaton graced the movie with a cameo as a character in another film based on an Elmore Leonard novel?
5. Mr. Right
- Director: Paco Cabezas
- Cast: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick
- IMDb: 6.3
- Streaming on: YouTube
About Mr. Right:
Do you know when you meet someone who checks all your criteria perfectly and seems too good to be true, so you start looking for the hidden red flags?
The character of Anna Kendrick faces something like this. The red flag is that her Mr. Right is a ruthless mercenary on the run! If you like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, you would love this one too and it is easily available on YouTube. Win-win!!
Worst Action Romance Movies
Now comes the part for the worst films. This list is to warn you from clicking and committing to any of the worst ones! Read on:
1. Twilight
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson
- IMDb: 5.3
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Twilight:
Okay, yes, this one spawned one of the most popular fandoms and did a lot of business. But unless you are in your teens or watching it as a parody, steer clear of this mess of a vampire movie that wasted the acting skills of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Did you know Pattinson voiced regret in having acted in the Twilight movies in multiple interviews?
2. Boned
- Director: Laura Lee Bahr
- Cast: Bai Ling, Josh Randall
- IMDb: 3.0
- Streaming on: Hulu
About Boned:
This 2015 film about an actress trying to save an adorable puppy from some goons promised a quirky comedy and fun action sequences. But unfortunately, it delivered bad acting and just a lot of skin, leaving nothing to the imagination. It would have been fine if a plot had accompanied it. Skip it if you don’t want to be bored.
3. In Dangerous Company
- Director: Ruben Preuss
- Cast: Cliff De Young, Tracy Scoggins
- IMDb: 3.2
- Streaming on: YouTube
About In Dangerous Company:
A beautiful young woman fakes love and gets in a relationship with a hitman. But it turns out she has an ulterior motive. (Surprise, surprise!) This 1980s piece of the pseudo-noir film neither shines as an action movie nor as a romantic movie. The leads have bad chemistry and worse acting skills!
4. The Thieves Code
- Director: Alex Power
- Cast: Odelia San Diego, Baraka Noel
- IMDb: 3.2
- Streaming on: Vudu, Hulu
About The Thieves Code:
There is a thieving hero in the film, there is his wife, the love interest, there is the mafia and there is a life-threatening conflict. And a lot of chases. This 2021 film had all the ingredients to become a fun romantic action movie was fails spectacularly. There is a shortage of story, acting skills, and direction.
5. Double Duty
- Director: Stephen Eckelberry
- Cast: Mimi Lesseos, Tom Sizemore
- IMDb: 3.3
- Streaming on: YouTube
About Double Duty:
Tom Sizemore looks like he stumbled upon the set of this movie as all the actors around him flailed in their roles. The plotline of a female marine adjusting to normal life back at home is very purely executed. The lead actress delivers an amateurish performance and is bound to make you switch off the movie in a few minutes.
Although you can play a game of dares by daring each other, how long can one tolerate these bottom-of-the-barrel movies without getting their brains fried?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. What are some best action romance films?
Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Romancing the Stone (1984), The Fountain (2006), The Bodyguard (1992), Charade (1963), Australia (2008).
Q2. What are some worst action romance films?
Killers (2010), Mr. Right (2015), Fool’s Gold (2008), Ride Him, Cowboy (1932), Cool as Ice (1991).
Q3. What are some latest action romance films?
Silver Skates (2020), The Worst Person in the World (2021), The Lost City (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), The King’s Daughter (2022).
