The best action movies of 2011 managed to combine thrills, feats of strength, a few pretty amazing car chases and explosions, a few impressive gun fights and, most importantly, heroes who managed to fight against overwhelming odds (including some really bad, bad guys) for the greater good. I've tried to list all of the best action films of 2011, but I am sure I've left off more than a few. If your favorite is missing, add it! And if your personal fave did make the cut, vote it up. See an action movie on this list that you thought was terrible? Vote it down!
2011 brought us some pretty good superhero action movies, like 'Thor' and 'Captain America: The First Avenger' (I thought both of these were fantastic, but I still can't wait for the 'Avengers' movie in 2012!). Moviegoers also got their fill of sci-fi action movies like 'Super 8,' 'Cowboys & Aliens' and 'Attack the Block.' The absolute best action drama movie of the year, in my humble opinion, was 'Drive' starring Ryan Gosling, but there were many others (hint: Add them if they aren't already on this list). Other standouts, to me, were '30 Minutes or Less' (great action comedy), 'Immortals,' 'Warrior' and 'Real Steel' (really, how can you screw up with fighting robots, right?). And of course, no list of great 2011 action movies would be complete without the final Harry Potter movie: 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II.'
For movie fans, 2011 offered a little bit of everything. Can't remember some of the great movies you saw? Check out this list of the best movies of 2011, along with lists of the best comedies and horror movies of the year. Sometimes, it's easier to recall the worst movies of the year, so check that list as well (and make sure to add your personal worst if it's not already on the list). So what was the best action movie of 2011? That's up to you to decide.
1333205Fast Five
Vin Diesel, Paul WalkerReleased: 2011
Directed by: Justin Lin
Fast Five is a 2011 American action film directed by Justin Lin, and the fifth installment in... more
2787256X-Men: First Class
Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh JackmanReleased: 2011
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
X-Men: First Class is a 2011 American superhero film, based on the X-Men characters appearing... more![Captain America: The First Avenger]()
3335248Captain America: The First Avenger
Samuel L. Jackson, Chris EvansReleased: 2011
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel... more![Transformers: Dark of the Moon]()
4338230Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Shia LaBeoufReleased: 2011
Directed by: Michael Bay
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a 2011 American science fiction action film directed by... more![Source Code]()
5233163Source Code
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle MonaghanReleased: 2011
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Source Code is a 2011 science fiction film directed by Duncan Jones, written by Ben Ripley,... more![Cowboys & Aliens]()
6171171Cowboys & Aliens
Olivia Wilde, Harrison FordReleased: 2011
Directed by: Jon Favreau filmography
Cowboys & Aliens is a 2011 American science fiction Western film directed by Jon Favreau and... more![Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol]()
7336223Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Tom Cruise, Paula PattonReleased: 2011
Directed by: Brad Bird
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a 2011 American action spy film directed by Brad... more![Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2]()
8467292Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Emma Watson, Daniel RadcliffeReleased: 2011
Directed by: David Yates
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a 2011 fantasy film directed by David Yates,... more![Super 8]()
9227187Super 8
Elle Fanning, AJ MichalkaReleased: 2011
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction horror film written, co-produced, and directed by... more![Drive]()
10233180Drive
Christina Hendricks, Ryan GoslingReleased: 2011
Directed by: Nicolas Winding
Drive is a 2011 American neo noir arthouse action directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring... more![I Am Number Four]()
11149148I Am Number Four
Dianna Agron, Teresa PalmerReleased: 2011
Directed by: D. J. Caruso
I Am Number Four is a 2011 American teen action science fiction film, directed by D. J.... more![Rise of the Planet of the Apes]()
12308238Rise of the Planet of the Apes
James Franco, Freida PintoReleased: 2011
Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
Rise of the Apes is in pre-production as of May 2010. This origin story for a new franchise... more![Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides]()
13207169Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Johnny Depp, Penélope CruzReleased: 2011
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides a 2011 action adventure film directed by Rob... more![Thor]()
14390265Thor
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie PortmanReleased: 2011
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Thor is a 2011 American superhero film directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on the Marvel Comics... more![The Adventures of Tintin]()
1568102The Adventures of Tintin
Daniel Craig, Simon PeggReleased: 2011
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
The Adventures of Tintin, also known as The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn,... more![Real Steel]()
16193166Real Steel
Hugh Jackman, Evangeline LillyReleased: 2011
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Real Steel is a 2011 film directed by Shawn Levy.... more![Warrior]()
17193166Warrior
Jennifer Morrison, Tom HardyReleased: 2011
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Warrior is a 2011 American sports drama film directed by Gavin O'Connor and starring Tom Hardy... more![Drive Angry]()
184385Drive Angry
Nicolas Cage, Amber HeardReleased: 2011
Directed by: Patrick Lussier
Drive Angry is a 2011 American supernatural action film starring Nicolas Cage and Amber Heard,... more![Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]()
19312309Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr.Released: 2011
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a 2011 British-American action mystery film directed by... more![Conan the Barbarian]()
2038103Conan the Barbarian
Morgan Freeman, Rose McGowanReleased: 2011
Directed by: Marcus Nispel
Conan the Barbarian is a 2011 American sword and sorcery film based on the character Conan the... more![Green Lantern]()
21148183Green Lantern
Blake Lively, Ryan ReynoldsReleased: 2011
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Green Lantern is a 2011 action fantasy film written by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc... more![Attack the Block]()
2290138Attack the Block
Nick Frost, John BoyegaReleased: 2011
Directed by: Joe Cornish
Attack the Block is a 2011 British science fiction comedy film directed by Joe Cornish On a... more![Super]()
2367114Super
Liv Tyler, Ellen PageReleased: 2010
Directed by: James Gunn
Super is a 2010 American superhero dark comedy-drama film written and directed by James Gunn.... more![The Mechanic]()
24191172The Mechanic
Jason Statham, Donald SutherlandReleased: 2011
Directed by: Simon West
The Mechanic is a 2011 American action thriller film starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster.... more![Immortals]()
25138164Immortals
Mickey Rourke, Freida PintoReleased: 2011
Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Immortals is a 2011 3D mythology fantasy film directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Henry... more
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