Top 30 Action-Adventure Thrills: From Crime to War in 2012
30 titles
Prepare to embark on a thrilling cinematic journey through the year that was 2012. The top 30 action films of this year showcase a diverse range of combat styles, gripping storylines, and unforgettable heroes who refuse to back down in the face of danger. From martial arts masterpieces to high-octane explosions, these movies will leave you breathless with anticipation and relentless excitement. Get ready for an adrenaline rush as we explore this action-packed collection that redefined cinematic thrills in 2012.
- 1
The GuardiansMovie · 2012 · 133m · Drama, Action, ThrillerFifteen-year-old Nina witnesses a violent crime and is forced to flee for her life. With no one she can trust as an orphan, she becomes the target of five assassins sent by corrupt businessman Thomas Backer. Witness protection officer Max, a former special forces soldier, is assigned to protect her. Initially distant, they develop a bond as they evade Backer's relentless pursuit. Along the way, Rudi, a comrade from Max’s past, repeatedly intervenes to help them escape perilous situations. Even Max’s ex-girlfriend, Sara, a federal prosecutor, offers assistance. As the danger escalates for Nina, Max finds himself increasingly reliant on her, suggesting he may need a guardian angel as much as she does.IMDb 5.7TMDB 6.1 - 2
CM Punk: Best in the WorldMovie · 2012 · 109m · Action, Drama, DocumentaryCM Punk: Best in the World offers an unprecedented look at the career of CM Punk. This two-hour documentary follows his journey from the independent wrestling scene to his rise as a highly outspoken and popular champion in WWE, featuring exclusive footage never seen before.IMDb 8.3TMDB 8.2 - 3
One Piece: Episode of Luffy - Hand Island AdventureMovie · 2012 · 102m · Action, Animation, AdventureWhile being attacked by multiple Marine warships, Luffy and his crew use a powerful technique to escape. They crash-land on an island and begin exploring while making repairs to their ship. They encounter a wax artisan who reveals the island's secrets. Luffy then offers his assistance.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.7 - 4
I Declare WarMovie · 2012 · 94m · Action, Comedy, DramaA summer of war games among the neighborhood kids takes a dark turn when jealousy and betrayal escalate. This black comedy, blending humor and horror, echoes the themes of both *Lord of the Flies* and Roald Dahl.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.1 - 5
7 BoxesMovie · 2012 · 105m · Action, ThrillerFriday night in Asunción: the temperature is 104°F. Seventeen-year-old Víctor, a wheelbarrow boy, dreams of fame and wants a cell phone from Mercado 4. He's offered $100 to deliver seven boxes with mysterious contents. It seems simple, but things quickly become complicated. Something inside those boxes is highly valuable. Víctor and those pursuing him become entangled in a crime they don't understand.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.7 - 6
Hamilton 2: But Not If It Concerns Your DaughterMovie · 2012 · 86m · Action, Drama, ThrillerWhen Carl Hamilton's 7-year-old goddaughter, Nathalie, is kidnapped, the Swedish authorities take a cautious approach. Faced with this inaction, Hamilton takes matters into his own hands, using his international connections to find a way forward. He and a team of military colleagues then devise a risky plan to rescue her.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.9 - 7
Dragon EyesMovie · 2012 · 88m · ActionSt. Jude is a neighborhood ravaged by drug dealers and corrupt police. A newcomer named Hong, with exceptional fighting skills and a strong sense of right and wrong, may be the only one who can save the community from its self-destruction.IMDb 4.4TMDB 5.3 - 8
Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin LadenMovie · 2012 · 90m · Thriller, Action, DramaWhen information surfaces about the possible location of Osama bin Laden, the CIA assembles a team of experienced U.S. Navy SEALs for a critical operation. Despite uncertain evidence placing bin Laden within the compound, and disregarding potential consequences to Pakistan, the Pentagon authorizes the raid. The SEAL Team unites to carry out their mission.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.9 - 9
EscapeMovie · 2012 · 76m · Action, HistoryA decade after the Black Death ravaged the land, a poor family journeys in search of a better life. While traveling through a deserted mountain pass, they are attacked by a brutal gang of thieves. Nineteen-year-old Signe is the sole survivor of the attack, captured and taken back to the gang's camp. There, she discovers a horrifying destiny awaits her and realizes escape is her only chance.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.9 - 10
The Viral FactorMovie · 2012 · 122m · Action, Crime, ThrillerAgent Jon is considering leaving the agency when he discovers his brother is now a mercenary working for a former colleague who betrayed their team.IMDb 5.9TMDB 5.8 - 11
A Dark TruthMovie · 2012 · 106m · Action, ThrillerDeep in the Ecuadorian jungle, a massacre has occurred, orchestrated by a powerful multinational corporation working with a ruthless military government. Only rebel leader Francisco Franco and his wife Mia have the evidence to expose the truth. Former CIA agent Jack Begosian accepts a freelance mission to rescue them, risking everything in a dangerous fight to uncover the cover-up and settle an old score.IMDb 5.6TMDB 5.6 - 12
Unit 7Movie · 2012 · 95m · Drama, ActionAngel, a bright and compassionate young woman, aspires to become a police inspector. She clashes with Rafael, a quick-witted, assertive, and arrogant officer. Simultaneously, Miguel and Mateo are members of Group 7, a band of unconventional cops willing to do whatever it takes to reach their objectives.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.1 - 13
So UndercoverMovie · 2012 · 94m · Action, ComedyHired by the FBI for an undercover assignment at a college sorority, Molly Morris must reinvent herself from a hardened private investigator into a polished university student. Her mission: protect the daughter of a former Mob boss. As she investigates a list of potential threats, Molly begins to realize that appearances are deceiving – and that includes her own.IMDb 5.0TMDB 6.1 - 14
One for the MoneyMovie · 2012 · 91m · Action, Comedy, CrimeA jobless lingerie buyer persuades her bail bondsman cousin to let her try bounty hunting. Her first case involves tracking a fugitive former police officer wanted for murder – the same man who once hurt her. With assistance from friends and an experienced bounty hunter, she gradually discovers the realities of the profession.IMDb 5.3TMDB 5.6 - 15
ThuppakkiMovie · 2012 · 170m · Action, ThrillerIntelligence officer Captain Jagadish is on vacation in Mumbai when he's drawn into a dangerous mission after witnessing a bus bombing. He discovers a network of sleeper cells plotting attacks throughout the city. Without official support, he teams up with his trusted colleagues to hunt down the leader and dismantle the cells, ensuring they remain inactive. Determined to succeed, even if it costs him his life, Captain Jagadish undertakes this final mission. Will he succeed, and what will be the price?IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.2 - 16
The AvengersMovie · 2012 · 143m · Science Fiction, Action, AdventureWhen a new, unforeseen threat endangers global safety, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., must assemble a team to avert disaster. A worldwide search for capable individuals ensues.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.9 - 17
The TowerMovie · 2012 · 121m · Action, DramaThe Tower Sky, a high-end residential complex, hosts an extravagant Christmas party for its elite residents. The celebration turns disastrous when a fire erupts, putting thousands of lives at risk.IMDb 6.5TMDB 7.0 - 18
Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1Movie · 2012 · 160m · Action, Thriller, CrimeIn 1970s India, Sardar Khan dedicates himself to avenging his father's death, which occurred many years prior at the hands of a specific individual.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.1 - 19
White TigerMovie · 2012 · 105m · Action, Adventure, Fantasy1945, World War II. Following a harrowing encounter with an unusual, ghostly white German Tiger tank that he narrowly escapes, Red Army Sergeant Ivan Naydenov becomes consumed by a desire to destroy it.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.7 - 20
On the Other Side of the TracksMovie · 2012 · 96m · Comedy, Action, CrimeA cynical veteran detective is forced to partner with an idealistic rookie cop to investigate the death of a wealthy businessman's wife.IMDb 5.8TMDB 5.6 - 21
Tai Chi ZeroMovie · 2012 · 100m · Action, DramaIn the renowned Chen Village, martial arts are a way of life, practiced through the powerful Chen Style Tai Chi. Lu Chan arrives seeking training, but the villagers, protective of their tradition, resist his attempts to learn, challenging him to fights. Everyone, young and old, defeats him with their Tai Chi. However, the return of a villager from the past, bringing a dangerous steam-powered machine and plans to build a railroad through the village, forces the villagers to reconsider. They may have to rely on Lu Chan, who possesses a hidden ability.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.0 - 22
Premium RushMovie · 2012 · 91m · Crime, Action, ThrillerIn New York City, a bicycle messenger unknowingly picks up an envelope that draws the attention of a corrupt police officer. The officer then relentlessly chases the messenger across the city.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.3 - 23
Maximum ConvictionMovie · 2012 · 97m · Action, Adventure, ThrillerFormer black ops operative Cross and his partner Manning are tasked with shutting down a deserted prison. They're responsible for the arrival of two enigmatic female prisoners. Soon after, a highly skilled team of mercenaries attacks the prison looking for the new inmates. As the women's true identities are revealed, Cross discovers he's involved in a much larger situation than he initially thought.IMDb 4.7TMDB 5.0 - 24
Detective Conan: The Eleventh StrikerMovie · 2012 · 110m · Animation, Mystery, ActionConan's detective agency receives a warning about a bomb via phone, along with a code. If Conan can solve the riddle, he can prevent the explosion. This sets Conan and the Detective Boys on an adventure at a soccer match between Hideo Akagi of the Tokyo Spirits and Ryusuke Higo of Big Osaka.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.9 - 25
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 1: The Wyvern ArrivesMovie · 2012 · 51m · Action, Science Fiction, AnimationIn 2017 a.t.b., between the rise of the Black Knights and Zero's reappearance, the European Union is under invasion by the Holy Britannian Empire. Facing defeat, the E.U. army creates a special unit called "W-0," which includes a young pilot named Akito Hyuga. Leila Malkal, a former Britannian aristocrat, joins the E.U.'s efforts, leading the "Wyvern" Knightmare corps made up of Japanese teenagers. They enter extremely dangerous battles with a survival rate of only 5%, fighting for freedom and a place to call home.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.2 - 26
Act of ValorMovie · 2012 · 110m · Action, Thriller, WarA secret mission to save a captured CIA agent reveals a terrifying scheme. A specialized U.S. SEAL team then travels rapidly to dangerous locations worldwide, trying to prevent a devastating terrorist attack before it happens.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.5 - 27
Armour of God 3: Chinese ZodiacMovie · 2012 · 123m · Action, AdventureAsian Hawk leads a mercenary team on a mission to retrieve several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace. These are the bronze heads of the twelve Chinese Zodiac animals, taken by French and British armies during the sacking of the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860. With the help of a Chinese student and a Parisian woman, Hawk pursues the mission relentlessly.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.2 - 28
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: OriginsMovie · 2012 · 134m · Adventure, Action, FantasyFollowing the end of the Bakumatsu war in 1868, Kenshin Himura, a former assassin, journeys across Japan wielding his sword reversed. He dedicates himself to protecting the vulnerable, striving to do so without taking lives.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.5 - 29
One Piece Film: ZMovie · 2012 · 108m · Animation, Fantasy, ActionZ, a powerful pirate known as Z, is determined to eliminate all pirates and their ambitions of becoming King of the Pirates. When Luffy and his crew meet him at sea, they are soundly defeated. Z’s minion, Ain, then ages Nami, Robin, and Chopper ten years younger. Driven by a fierce desire to defeat Z, Luffy overlooks Z's master plan, which could result in the loss of many lives.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.5 - 30
Alex CrossMovie · 2012 · 101m · Action, Thriller, CrimeAlex Cross, a brilliant homicide detective and psychologist, battles crime in Detroit while protecting his family. As he considers a new position with the FBI, he learns a friend has been murdered, prompting him to hunt down the killer. He and his team then confront a dangerously obsessive contract killer who is determined to complete every assignment.IMDb 5.2TMDB 5.1
