It’s time to give stunt performers the recognition they deserve with a long-overdue category at the Oscars. These people work extremely hard and are incredibly talented at what they do. So when they’re represented in movies and TV shows, that well-earned attention is brilliant to see play out on screen.
Directors from around the world have dabbled in the art of bringing these usually back-seated performers into the spotlight, drawing on their impressive abilities to throw themselves headfirst into situations in which other people could get seriously injured. It takes a lot of skill to go to work, get into a car crash, blown up, shot, punched, kicked, stabbed, and thrown off cliffs, and that skill is evident in these ten movies. From noir-toned tales like 2011s Drive to the already impressionable action comedy The Fall Guy, these talented individuals don’t get a lot of media praise. But films like these certainly help propel them into the hearts of movie fans everywhere with a focal point on the action-packed lives these individuals lead.
10 ‘The Devil Dared Me To’ (2007)
Directed by Chris Stapp
Poorly received by many but loved by others, 2007’s The Devil Dared Me To is an Action Comedy from director Chris Stapp. It tells the fictionalized story of a born and bred New Zealander with big dreams to be the greatest stunt performer in the country.
The Devil Dared Me To is essentially the telling of a small-town boy with big-town aspirations. The film may not have won all the awards or praises, but it’s an entertaining watch and worthy homage to those who aspire towards a career in stunt work. Despite some cheesiness and mixed reviews, it’s well worth the view.
9 ‘800 Bullets’ (‘800 balas’) (2002)
Directed by Álex de la Iglesia
800 Bullets, or formally 800 balas in its country of release, is a twenty-two-year-old Spanish Western Comedy that serves as a tribute to the many stunt performers and their work on Spaghetti Westerns throughout the years.
The film centers on a group of former stuntmen who find themselves down on their luck now that the business has begun to dry up where they reside. To pass the time, they partake in stunt shows in the area as their best years are seemingly behind them. But when a young man arrives to join them, and his mother isn’t keen on the idea, it becomes a battle of wits as to who will reign triumphant as this Western Comedy with a twist ramps up its action. It may have been a commercial failure, but for many who saw it, 800 balas is a worthy tribute to the life of a stuntman.
8 ‘Hooper’ (1978)
Directed by Hal Needham
Hooper is a 1978 Action Comedy from the minds of screenwriters Thomas Rickman and Bill Kerby. It follows Burt Reynolds‘ character, Sonny Hooper, a man known within the film industry for his iconic stunts and ability to take anything thrown at him, from car crashes to explosions and more death-defying stunts.
Stunt performers aren’t praised enough for what they do, but forty-six years ago, it was barely even recognized as an adequate profession. Nowadays, working as a stunt performer may still not be as broadcast as the people they double for, but the career is certainly much more appreciated. Films wouldn’t be made without them, and Hooper does a brilliant job of showcasing the passion they put into their work.
7 ‘Ghost Rider’ (2007)
Directed by Mark Steven Johnson
Love it or hate it, 2007’s Nicolas Cage-starring Ghost Rider, is an action movie worth the watch either way. The superhero film centers on Cage’s character, Johnny Blaze, who inadvertently sells his soul to a demon and turns into a soul hunter known as a Ghost Rider.
Eva Mendes, Sam Elliott, Donal Logue, Wes Bentley, Peter Fonda, and Matt Long star alongside Nicolas Cage in the Sony/Marvel collaboration based on the human motorcycle stunt driver turned supernatural bounty hunter. Ghost Rider may have been a critical failure, but was commercially successful, having doubled its $110 million budget.
Ghost Rider
- Release Date
- January 15, 2007
- Director
- Mark Steven Johnson
- Runtime
- 114
6 ‘Ride On’ (2023)
Directed by Larry Yang
For those viewers who don’t like watching a movie with subtitles, this one may not be for them, but its physical comedy does wonders for its storytelling. Ride On is a Chinese action drama starring stunt icon and action legend Jackie Chan alongside his four-legged companion in the form of a stunt horse named Red Hare.
The two share some comedic scenes together as they entertain audiences after going viral. But the film primarily follows Jackie Chan’s character, Lao Luo, an old-school stunt performer, in an emotionally heartwarming story of companionship and loyalty, all while keeping stunt performers and the work they do at its heart. It’s one of Chan’s most underrated performances and deserves more widespread attention than it got.
5 ‘The Stunt Man’ (1980)
Directed by Richard Rush
This multi-Oscar nominated cult classic follows a fugitive by the name of Cameron (Steve Railsback), who disguises himself as a stunt double to evade capture. But he gets more than he bargained for when the line between movie magic and real life blurs, and he finds himself in genuine danger.
Set against the backdrop of a World War I film set, 1980s The Stunt Man revolves around Cameron as he works under a director, played by Peter O’Toole, who hides him from the police as he works as a stuntman following his previous double’s death on set. It was criminally underrated, thanks to a short release window. But now, with more of a following, it serves as a brilliant look into the world of a stuntman despite the underlying subject of its main character hiding from a murder accusation.
4 ‘Stuntman’ (2018)
Directed by Kurt Matilla
Stuntman is a six-year-old documentary film that pays tribute to stunt performer Eddie Braun and the time he recreated the Skycycle X-2 jump that Robert “Evel” Knievel attempted unsuccessfully in 1974. The film was released on Disney+ in 2018 to positive feedback from those who saw it, but was removed in 2023 after a five-year run on the platform.
Many people may not realize just how many credits Eddie Braun has as a stuntman, both in TV and in movies. He has lent his skill as a performer to big-name films like the Rush Hour franchise, The Avengers, and Transformers, and TV shows like Two and a Half Men, Prison Break, and the early 2000s Walker: Texas Ranger. This documentary serves as a fitting homage to his skill as a stuntman and is more than deserving of the success it received.
Stuntman is not available to watch or stream.
3 ‘Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Director Quentin Tarantino has garnered quite a reputation as a man of vivid depictions on screen. His movies contain some of the most graphic violence in recent cinema, and he’s become known for the brutality he brings to his projects. Westerns like The Hateful Eight and Django Unchained and the war story Inglorious Basterds are some of his iconic graphic success stories. But his 2019 dramedy Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood took a lesser approach than his fans were accustomed to.
There may not have been as much violence, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t successful. The film is based on the behind-the-scenes world of moviemaking and follows fading actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his World War II veteran stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) in and around Hollywood’s Golden Age. A different perspective on movie stunts, as well as a background plot of the Tate Murders, makes this a unique and entertaining BTS film that everyone can enjoy.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Release Date
- July 24, 2019
- Runtime
- 165
2 ‘Drive’ (2011)
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
The first of two films on this list to feature Ryan Gosling in the lead role comes with the 2011 release of the gritty and raw action drama Drive. It’ll have new viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish, and with a slow burn beginning shrouded in mystery, audiences won’t be able to pull themselves from the screen.
Ryan Gosling stars as a man without a name. Known only as The Driver, he works as a stuntman during the day and moonlights as a getaway driver for anybody who pays. No matter the task, for five minutes and not a second more or less, he lends his unique skill set to any situation in exchange for the right price. This thirteen-year-old noir story is one of the best movies of 2011 to many critics worldwide. From its Academy Award-nominated sound editing to endless praise for its performances and action sequences, Drive was a success all-round for everyone involved.
Drive
- Release Date
- August 6, 2011
- Director
- Nicolas Winding Refn
- Runtime
- 100
1 ‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)
Directed by David Leitch
The Fall Guy officially releases on May 3rd, but the early reception it’s already received has paved the way for what’s looking to be a complete success. The Guinness Book of World Records-breaking movie from director David Leitch tells the story of a stuntman by the name of Colt Seavers (played by Ryan Gosling) after he must step up to find the action star he doubles for when he suddenly goes missing.
Mixed up with some bad people, The Fall Guy turns into an epic action movie with all the explosions, car chases, physical comedy, a charming performance from its leads, Gosling and Emily Blunt, and just about everything else. The film is based on the 1980s TV show that starred Lee Majors as Colt. Ryan Gosling excels in any role, but his comedy chops are something fans wish he would do more often, given his natural talent for comedic timing. The Fall Guy has some fantastic fight choreography, and thanks to David Leitch making it a tribute to the traditional way of stuntwork and using his professional experiences, it’s undoubtedly one of the best movies out there dedicated to stunt performers.
