Top 10 Actors Who Always Save The Day

As she jump kicked zombies in a cocktail dress as Alice in the “Resident Evil” series, Milla cemented her position as one of the greatest action heroines of cinema. She’s always poised and graceful, but absolutely ruthless when duty calls. A successful supermodel who parlayed her presence in front of a camera to a successful film career, Jovovich has since been labeled ‘reigning queen of kick-butt’ by VH1. Whether she’s fighting a deadly virus, cutting through vampires or saving the entire planet from imminent destruction, she always knows how to kick butt, without ever smudging her makeup. Actually, scratch that: she’s a badass regardless of her gender.

“The Duke” is the iconic tough, rugged Western hero. Armed with a gun, a horse and a cowboy hat, he fights outlaws, corrupt officers and Native American warriors, not to mention he rescues pretty ranch girls. His performance as one-eyed, hardboiled former U.S. marshal Rooster Cogburn in “True Grit” even won him an Oscar. An American icon of strength and masculinity for the better part of 30 years, you know if Wayne aimed his cool and distinct voice at you, you were in for trouble. As the poster for “Rio Lobo” said: “Give ‘em hell, John.”

It’s not for nothing that they called him “The King of Hollywood”! His swashbuckling skills were best demonstrated when he stole from the rich to feed the poor, defended commoners against tyrannical lords, or protected the King of France from corrupt noblemen. But regardless, Douglas Fairbanks was always ready to save the day with a grace and joie-de-vivre that helped define our idea of the action hero. It’s particularly impressive because he not only did it in black and white, but also in complete silence!

Do you ever get the feeling that this guy just doesn’t give a rat’s ass? Well, he does, but he doesn’t want you to know that, and that’s what makes him the ultimate tough guy. In fact, with his laid-back attitude and cocky lines, Harrison Ford could probably take down evil Thuggee priests or theGalactic Empire based on his swagger alone. But between beating up Nazis, blasting storm troopers, shoving terrorists out of his plane or fighting aliens, he is always ready to kick ass and take names. He can even teach us how to save the day too:

This legendary actor has found himself stopping evil and all-out devastation countless times. These scenarios have included having to face down a false god keeping a meteor away from the planet, barring the Nazis from learning the secret of eternal life, stopping Professor Moriarty, preventing a chemical attack and notably fighting terrorists relentlessly as Agent 007. Above all else, Sean Connery certainly knows how to savethe day with style – with the exception, maybe, of “Zardoz.” That’s a strange one no matter how you look at it!

Even when he’s not defying gravity dressed in floor-length leather, Keanu Reeves manages to save the day an awful lot. Environmental crises or even Satan himself are no match for the great Keanu, as he plays his roles with a reserve and grace that is undeniably cool. Though he’s been criticized for his acting skills in his more dramatic or romantic roles, no one is questioning his ability to come to humanity’s rescue. He’s saved theworld so many times, sometimes we suspect he really is the Chosen One.

Arnie is the king of collateral damage, but that’s all part of the business of saving the day, which he does with brute strength and tons of yelling. And he’s done it all, from saving the future as a reprogrammed Terminator, to fighting the Devil, to taking on an evil cult as Conan the Barbarian, to stopping terrorists, to going against an army of clones! No matter what crazy scenario he faces, Arnie brings down the villains with countless unforgettable one-liners in an action packed thrill ride with a high body count.

He’s made his way through action, drama, comedy and sci-fi movies, always ready to kick ass and leave behind a trail of dead enemies. Seriously, in over half of his movies he saves all of humanity, and in most of the other half, he ends up saving at least one or two people. With his charismatic, quippy heroics, he makes every film undeniably epic, but he plays his characters with a depth of emotion that isn’t just about shooting guns and killing aliens. He certainly is a legend.

Bruce is the ultimate tough-as-nails good guy with a smartass attitude and a filthy mouth. He may be helping Milla Jovovich save the planet, travelling through time or dealing with asteroids, but he’s always ready with a wisecrack and the appropriate weapon. And that’s not even counting his role as John McClane! No matter what situation he finds himself in, Willis will save the day, even when the odds are stacked to thesky against him and he isn’t wearing shoes.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- William Shatner
- Hugh Jackman
- Chris Evans
- Chris Pratt
- Christopher Reeve

Cruise is the epitome of the cocky action hero, smooth and smart and an undeniable badass. Whether he’s infiltrating the CIA headquarters suspended on a wire, charging samurai warriors on a horse, riding on the roof of a speeding car, battling aliens or battling aliens again, Tom Cruise is just saving the day left, right and center. No matter how impossible the mission, we have no doubt he can pull it off.

Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite actor who always saves the day? For more exciting Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.