Top 10 Best Movie Fights By Non-Professional Fighters
#10: Maximus vs. Tigris of Gaul
“Gladiator” (2000) Claiming our tenth spot is this epic sword fight between the imposing Tigris of Gaul and Russell Crowe’s Maximus. For his Oscar-winning performance as the Roman General turned reluctant gladiator, Crowe lost an astounding 40 pounds while honing his sword-fighting skills and working on a farm. And it shows in this nearly four-minute long bout where he manages to fend off tigers and man alike. The clanking of the heavy metal swords, combined with the emotions from the Coliseum crowd ravenous for blood, make this battle a feast for the senses. Given its crucial timing and importance in the story, this fight turns out to be one of the most memorable moments in a film filled with them.
#9: Train Fight
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“From Russia With Love” (1963) The fact that this fight scene barely looks dated after roughly 60 years is testament to Bond’s timelessness. Of course, this was back when James Bond could break a sweat, shed a little blood, and kill a man, yet still look fashionable and suave as hell adjusting his tie seconds later. Having said that, the fight is as real as they come, with both men desperately grappling with each other in the tight quarters of the train cabin. The intensity of the fight, the dynamic, and Connery’s calm coolness both before and after make this an iconic standoff between hero and villain.
#8: Bull Fight
“Raging Bull” (1980) From De Niro’s dramatic body transformation, to the beautiful camera movement, to the use of silence, right on down through the fast paced, artful editing, this fight scene has it all. Never has having the literal snot beaten out of you looked so good, so poetic. It’s a scene that perfectly captures Jake’s disintegration throughout the rest of the film. We watch as De Niro’s Jake LaMotta descends into darkness and oblivion, and all we’re left to wonder is, how did this movie lose Best Picture to Ordinary People? OK we’re only kidding, Ordinary People had us in tears, but any other year and it would have been a crime!
#7: Jason Bourne is Born to Fight
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“The Bourne Ultimatum” (2007) It’s rare to have fight scenes that don’t need music to amp up the intensity, but in some scenes, masterful choreography and adept actors sparkle all on their own. That’s precisely the case with our seventh entry, from 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum. Though it only lasts about two minutes, Jason Bourne’s fight with Desh is so fast, and so well-orchestrated that it becomes immediately engrossing. The use of household items as dangerous weapons just adds to the cool factor, but it’s the pure, undoctored sounds that make this scene so visceral. And to think that Matt Damon wasn’t even the first choice to play the role.
#6: Elevator Ass-Kicking
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“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) What’s more badass than single-handedly taking out a pack of Hydra agents in a glassed-in elevator? Well, apparently five more things; but still, this fight from 2014’s “Captain America: Winter Soldier” is pretty awesome. From Chris Evans’ self-assurance, to great sound effects and high-tech gadgets, this fight pulls no punches and hits all the right notes. Evans had to pack on about thirty pounds of muscle for the role, training twice daily for months, and we’re glad he did, because legend has it that Dane Cook at one point auditioned for the part, and John Krasinski was also seriously considered … and let’s face it, Chris Evans embodied the role like no-one else could!
#5: The Bride vs. Crazy 88’s
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“Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) What do you get when you cross Kung Fu with Uma Thurman? Kung fUma! … Yeah, we couldn’t help ourselves … Tarantino’s homage to martial arts movies was a blood-soaked bonanza that wowed critics and audiences alike. And much of the film’s success is thanks to this scene, where the Bride faces off against henchgirl Gogo, then takes on every member of the Crazy 88 in a spectacularly bloody fashion. Sure, there might not actually be 88 of them, but a LOT of fake blood was shed on set that day, and Uma Thurman looks pretty boss wielding a Hattori Hanzo blade.
#4: Out for Revenge
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“Oldboy” (2003) Oldboy is a strange, mind bending trip through one man’s journey from utter despair to bittersweet vengeance. No scene encapsulates the dark, almost surreal tone of the film like the infamous ‘hammer’ fight. Messy, bloody, yet rhythmic and smooth in its choreography, the scene plays as if in slow motion. Who knows how many takes ended up on the cutting room floor, but for what it’s worth, a lone man murdering a group of so many thugs with a freaking hammer in some dingy corridor never looked so artful.
#3: This is For My Dog
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“John Wick” (2014) We already knew Keanu Reeves looks good fighting. But until John Wick came around, we didn’t fully understand just how good. The final fight scene in this film proves that sometimes, nailing the colors and fight choreography is enough to push a simple story to great heights. Of course, it helps that director Chad Stahelski is a former stuntman and martial arts fighter. The deliberate movements, the very human stakes, the pouring rain … it all comes together in a way that we’re pretty sure even Keanu Reeves must have been pleasantly surprised by.
#2: Dojo Fight
“The Matrix” (1999) It should be no surprise that Reeves appears twice on this list. There’s just something about the soft-spoken Canadian actor that makes him a believable ass-kicking force. Morpheus v Neo changed cinema fight scenes for better and for always. In fact the entire Matrix movie practically wrote a new road map. For this pick, it all comes down to the camera, and the combatants, who were trained by none other than martial arts master Yuen Woo-ping. Watching the dojo fight is like watching two figure skaters at the height of their game. There’s a flow to the fight that borders on dance. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Bathroom Fight “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” (2018) STEM Unleashed “Upgrade” (2018) Line Brawl “Slapshot” (1977) Lopsided Tussle “Neighbors” (2014) Fight at Red’s House “Pineapple Express” (2008)
#1: Church Brawl
“Kingsman: The Secret Service” (2014) British actor Colin Firth is best known as a romantic lead, or for playing men of quiet dignity. Well, turns out, all that calm reserve hid quite the action hero. This frenetic fight scene pits Firth’s character Harry Hart, a Kingsman agent, against an enraged, mind-controlled mob, to the Lynyrd Skynyrd anthem “Free Bird”. The consecutive long-takes have to be seen to be believed, as Hart weaves through the crowd, shooting and turning ordinary objects into lethal weapons. Even though Hart has also been affected by the evil Valentine’s “neurological wave”, he still retains all his training, and DESTROYS his opponents. Firth trained extensively for the scene, and it really shows in his impeccable timing - making this an easy number one!
