A good action sequence is genuinely impressive to watch, as it can be as expansive as explosions crashing across the screen or more intimate, like a duel between two people. This gives the best action scenes such a range, and in 2023, we were given some unique spectacles.

For me, the best action scenes excel in every element, whether that be live actions, special effects, digital effects, or animation, and bring every facet to shine. It is also the category that looks at some of the department’s people don’t often fully understand, like stunt coordination or the 2^nd unit.

2023 was the year of action. From personal punch-ups to climatic brawls, we got it all and more.

Our Highly Commended in 2023 are Bring Him To Me, Extraction 2, Godzilla Minus One,  Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant & The Killer

Our Best TV Action in 2023 are Ahsoka: Season 1, The Last of Us: Season 1, Letterkenny: Season 12, The Night Agent: Season 1 & Twisted Metal: Season 1

So, without further ado, these are the moments of action that awed us in 2023. Be warned that there may be slight spoilers for the films in question.

The Nominees Are –

Creed III

Final showdown between Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) and Dame (Jonathan Majors)

The Equalizer 3

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) raids the Maffia villa.

John Wick: Chapter 4

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) Dragon Breath Shotgun Battle shot from a bird’s eye view.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) first jumps onto a Train and then battles through a catastrophe.

Sisu

Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) begins the decapitation of a Nazi tank column.

And the Winner is!!!!!

Creed III

Directed by – Michael B. Jordan
Second Unit Direction – Clayton J. Barber
Stunt Coordination by – Clayton J. Barber, Eric Brown & Mark R. Miscione

A lot of action scenes in 2023 had an impact, but few also had the same kind of emotional impact as this film. The whole build-up of the film was primed towards this showdown, and that is a lot of emotional and thematic payoff that you have to achieve. However, Michael B. Jordan and his team make it look easy, which tells you just how hard it was.

This was a fight that paid homage to the past, which was necessary in the first Rocky film without Sylvester Stallone. But it also charted a new future with Michael B. Jordan’s long-held anime influences, making the dual feel fresh and have an impact. There was a moment that took my breath away, and I still think about it today. Bright, vibrant, personal, and impactful, everything you want in an action scene, and more.        

    

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2023?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studios and artists of each film