Top 10 action movie quotes that hit harder than a double-edged knife in the gut - a second unranked list, where to find them, and why they’re iconic

Yes, one list of the top 10 quotes from action movies would never be enough. These one-liners from great action movies cut deeper than a double-edged blade. They are the kind of quotes that don’t just sound cool. They carve entire characters, scenes, and sometimes even the whole damn movie into cinematic history.

Whether it’s a razor-sharp threat, a cold-blooded taunt, or the ultimate power move before a fight, these lines aren’t just spoken. They slice, and in some cases, they leave wounds that never heal—and not only in the characters.

Disclaimer: This is a personally curated list of unranked best one-liners from action movies. Because ranking these cuts? Might as well try dodging a knife in mid-air—it’s just not happening.

Kick-Ass (2010)

“Okay, you c*nts… let’s see what you can do now.” – Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz)

(Why is it badass?) Because it’s coming from a 12-year-old, who’s about to wipe the floor with an entire gang of grown men. Most action heroes talk big before a fight, but Hit-Girl? She backs it up with blades, guns, and the kind of brutality that makes veteran assassins flinch.

Written by: Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn

Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Hit-Girl steals every scene with a mix of insane combat skills, brutal efficiency, and zero f*cks given.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

“Trust me. I’m worth it.” – Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron)

(Why is it badass?) Because she says this while bleeding, bruised, and still taking people down. Lorraine isn’t just a spy—she’s a walking hurricane in high heels, breaking bones and outsmarting entire intelligence agencies.

Written by: Kurt Johnstad

Directed by: David Leitch

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because Charlize Theron proved she’s one of the best action stars of this generation, delivering some of the most realistic fight choreography ever put on screen.

The Raid: Redemption (2011)

“Pulling a trigger is like ordering takeout. It’s quick, easy, and you don’t really have to think about it.” – Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian)

(Why is it badass?) Because it’s coming from a guy who refuses to use guns—he wants to kill you with his bare hands. This line is the perfect embodiment of what makes The Raid brutal: fists, knives, and sheer endurance over bullets.

Written and directed by: Gareth Evans

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it has some of the most intense, bone-crunching action sequences in cinematic history, with fights so visceral they make you feel every hit.

Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

“Those of you lucky enough to still have your lives, take them with you. But leave the limbs you’ve lost. They belong to me now.” – The Bride (Uma Thurman)

(Why is it badass?) Because she just turned an entire room into a massacre and still lets the survivors walk out—because she’s that confident. The Bride doesn’t just win fights—she makes sure everyone in the room knows exactly who just wrecked them.

Written and directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Where to watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it’s a blood-soaked masterpiece with samurai swords, insane choreography, and the most stylish revenge story ever filmed.

John Wick (2014)

“You can either hand over your son, or you can die screaming alongside him.” – John Wick (Keanu Reeves)

(Why is it badass?) Because it’s the moment John stops holding back. This isn’t about negotiations—it’s about a man who’s lost everything, and now he’s making sure his enemies lose even more.

Written by: Derek Kolstad

Directed by: Chad Stahelski

Where to watch: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because Keanu Reeves redefined action movies with a mix of tactical gunplay, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and a revenge story that never lets up.

Charlie’s Angels (2019)

“Did you know that it takes men an additional seven seconds to perceive a woman as a threat compared to a man? … Poor guy.” – Sabina Wilson (Kristen Stewart)

(Why is it badass?) Because she drops this fact right before completely destroying a dude who underestimated her. Sabina uses her charm, humor, and intelligence to get her enemy’s guard down before proving exactly why he should have taken her seriously seven seconds ago.

Written and directed by: Elizabeth Banks

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it takes the classic Charlie’s Angels energy and injects it with modern fight choreography, slick humor, and Kristen Stewart having the time of her life kicking ass.

Wonder Woman (2017)

“What I do is not up to you.” – Diana Prince (Gal Gadot)

(Why is it badass?) Because Diana shuts down every attempt to control her. This moment isn’t just about defiance—it’s a declaration. She isn’t here to wait for permission or follow someone else’s plan. She’s Wonder Woman. She makes the plan.

Written by: Allan Heinberg

Directed by: Patty Jenkins

Where to watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it’s one of the most powerful origin stories of a (female) superhero ever made.

Hackers (1995)

“Mess with the best, die like the rest.” – Acid Burn (Angelina Jolie)

(Why is it badass?) Because it’s the ultimate hacker mic drop. It’s cocky, it’s bold, and it’s a verbal headshot to anyone foolish enough to challenge Acid Burn. In an era where hacking was still mysterious and cool, this line turned cyberpunk into a battlefield.

Written by: Rafael Moreu

Directed by: Iain Softley

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it’s a neon-soaked, 90s cyber-thriller where Angelina Jolie plays a hacker who’s just as dangerous with a keyboard as she would be in a fistfight.

The Matrix (1999)

“Dodge this.” – Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss)

(Why is it badass?) Because she doesn’t waste words—just bullets. The Agent thinks he has the upper hand, dodging every shot Neo fires. Then Trinity calmly places a gun to his head and delivers the last thing he’ll ever hear. It’s short, brutal, and utterly perfect.

Written and directed by: Lilly Wachowski & Lana Wachowski

Where to watch: Max, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because it revolutionized sci-fi and action with a mix of philosophy, bullet-time shootouts, and existential dread wrapped in leather.

The Avengers (2012)

“This moron is giving me everything.” – Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson)

(Why is it badass?) Because Natasha is tied to a chair, seemingly at the mercy of Russian mobsters—and then, mid-interrogation, she casually tells Coulson she’s actually in control. The bad guys think they’re breaking her, but she has been playing them the whole time.

Written and directed by: Joss Whedon

Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy), Apple TV

Why the movie is worth watching: Because Natasha Romanoff proved she wasn’t just an Avenger—she was the master of psychological warfare, outmaneuvering her enemies before even throwing a punch.

The flying knives that never miss

Then, just like with the first part, this list is unranked. Because how do you choose between Hit-Girl’s psychotic confidence and The Bride calmly claiming her enemies’ severed limbs?

Maybe it’s John Wick giving Russian mobsters one final, deadly choice. Maybe it’s Diana Prince stepping onto a battlefield with nothing but a shield and an unstoppable sense of justice. These lines don’t just exist—they linger, they define, and they echo long after the credits roll.

Some action movies throw knives. These? They leave scars.