Action-packed films have a reputation for being some of the biggest money-makers in cinema history, and it’s no wonder why – especially with the recent explosion of superhero movies. But action flicks aren’t just about caped crusaders and superpowers. They can also feature everyday heroes like John McClane from the Die Hard series or brawny super soldiers like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his adrenaline-pumping films. And let’s not forget the contributions of Sylvester Stallone and Dwayne Johnson, who have given us some epic moments in their respective movies.
While action movies may seem straightforward and purely focused on making a quick buck, there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye. Fans often have no idea about the hidden gems tucked away in their favorite action films. No matter how many times you’ve watched classics like First Blood, John Wick, or The Dark Knight trilogy, there’s always a surprise waiting to be discovered. Even if you were part of the crew behind these movies, there are still plenty of secrets left to unravel.
This compilation unveils some mind-blowing facts about the greatest action movies ever made. From interesting tidbits about the actors who brought the heroes to life, to behind-the-scenes insights into the production process itself, even the most die-hard action movie buffs are guaranteed to learn something new and exciting.
1. Indiana Jones’ Exists Because Steven Spielberg Wasn’t Allowed To Direct A ‘James Bond’ Movie
Steven Spielberg, a renowned and highly successful director, faced an unexpected setback when he expressed his desire to direct a James Bond film but was denied the opportunity. Disappointed by the rejection, Spielberg confided in his close friend and fellow director, George Lucas, during a conversation they had on a beach.
Lucas recalled their discussion, stating that Spielberg had approached the owners of James Bond to express his interest in directing a film in the franchise. Unfortunately, his request was turned down. Wanting to offer support, Lucas shared an alternative idea with Spielberg. He described a story about an archaeologist who finds himself embroiled in thrilling adventures, akin to the excitement of a Saturday-matinee serial. Spielberg was immediately captivated by this concept and exclaimed, “Fantastic, let’s do this!”
And thus, the iconic character of Indiana Jones was born. Spielberg went on to bring this adventurous archaeologist to life in the film “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” which went on to become one of the most beloved action-adventure movies ever made. The success of the film led to the creation of sequels, including “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Interestingly, this sequel included a subtle reference to the James Bond franchise that initially inspired Spielberg.
In a particular scene, Indiana Jones is seen donning a white tuxedo with a red flower, mirroring the costume worn by James Bond (portrayed by Sean Connery) in the classic film “Goldfinger.” This nod to the Bond franchise served as a playful acknowledgment of Spielberg’s initial aspiration. Decades later, the same outfit made an appearance in the Bond film “Spectre,” worn by Daniel Craig, further connecting the two iconic characters in cinematic history.
2. The Nazi Uniforms In ‘The Last Crusade’ Are 100% Legit From WWII
The historical accuracy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade may not be high, even though it incorporates real-world events. However, given that it is a fictional story, it is not surprising that accuracy is not the main focus. Nevertheless, it is still important to strive for historical accuracy in costumes in order to present a realistic portrayal of events.
In the movie, The Last Crusade, the attention to detail in the uniforms is commendable, especially in the scene depicting the “book burning” by the Nazis. Not only were the Nazi uniforms historically accurate, but they were also completely authentic. Costume designer Anthony Powell went to great lengths to find these uniforms in Germany, as the scene required a large number of extras. Through his efforts, he managed to acquire hundreds of genuine World War II Nazi uniforms, making them some of the very few authentic ones used in a major feature film production.
3. Carrie Fisher Worked On The Scripts For ‘Lethal Weapon 3,’ ‘Hook,’ And The ‘Star Wars’ Prequels
Carrie Fisher was not only a talented author and playwright, but she also had a significant role as a script doctor. In case you’re wondering, a script doctor is basically someone who comes in to improve and refine an existing script. They work on things like enhancing the structure, fine-tuning the pacing, developing characters, and fixing any other issues.
Fisher’s expertise in script doctoring was highly regarded, yet many people were unaware of her involvement in various projects. Since the work of a script doctor goes uncredited, she often remained behind the scenes. However, her contributions were truly remarkable.
Fisher lent her skills to a number of well-known films. She worked on Sister Act, Last Action Hero, Anastasia, Hook, Lethal Weapon 3, The Wedding Singer, and even all three Star Wars prequel films. Her abilities as a script doctor were so highly regarded that Entertainment Weekly hailed her as “one of the most sought-after doctors in town.”
4. Keanu Reeves Learned Judo And Jiu-Jitsu To Prepare For ‘John Wick’
Keanu Reeves is known for his dedication to preparing for roles. In The Matrix, when he delivered the famous line “I know kung fu,” he didn’t just say it, he actually learned kung fu. Throughout the entire Matrix trilogy, he learned approximately 200 martial arts moves in order to execute his blocks and attacks accurately in every scene.
But Reeves didn’t stop there. He delved even deeper into preparation for his role as John Wick. Although the character primarily uses firearms, when it comes to close combat, the retired assassin relies on judo and Jiu-Jitsu to take down his adversaries. Reeves dedicated a solid four months solely to learning judo for the role. His efforts were recognized when he was awarded an honorary black belt, presented to him by the esteemed three-time Olympic champion, Nomura Tadahiro. In fact, in the movie, John Wick even performs one of Nomura’s signature moves, the ippon seoi nage.
5. The Special Effects In ‘Jurassic Park’ Revolutionized The Film Industry
If you take the time to sit down and watch the original Jurassic Park, you’ll be amazed by the special effects that still hold up today. Keep in mind that this film was released way back in 1993, and yet its groundbreaking effects continue to make a huge impact on the industry. The ability to create realistic dinosaurs that didn’t look overly animated or fake was truly eye-opening for many filmmakers of that era. It showed them that there were new possibilities they hadn’t even considered before. This inspiration from Jurassic Park had a significant influence on the film industry as a whole.
Among the filmmakers who were greatly influenced by Jurassic Park were George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, and Peter Jackson. After seeing the film, George Lucas finally decided that the time was right to bring his long-teased Star Wars prequels to life. As for Stanley Kubrick, he was inspired to invest in a project that he had always wanted to see become a reality. This led to the collaboration with Spielberg on the film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, which serves as a tribute to the late filmmaker. And of course, there’s Peter Jackson, who probably never thought that creating a realistic Lord of the Rings film or trilogy would be feasible. But we all know what happened with that little project – it became a massive success.
6. The Normandy Landing Scene In ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Is Widely Considered The Best Battle Scene Of All Time
War movies have been a part of the film industry for a long time, showcasing incredible examples across various conflicts and time periods. While most of these movies strive for accuracy, it’s challenging to recreate combat with complete precision. Even those who have experienced it may have gaps in their memories, making it difficult to recreate the exact reality.
However, there is one scene in particular that is widely regarded as the most accurate combat depiction ever filmed. Steven Spielberg achieved this feat in Saving Private Ryan, specifically in the opening scene portraying the Normandy invasion of Operation Overlord. The authenticity of this scene was so intense that it caused some issues. Some veterans who had actually been present on D-Day experienced flashbacks after watching it.
As a result, the Veteran’s Administration in the United States established a hotline for veterans to call if they needed support after viewing the movie. The hotline was overwhelmed with calls from traumatized veterans struggling with the realism of the scene. It’s worth noting that this remarkable scene alone cost $12 million to produce. With over 1,000 extras involved, including members of reenactment groups and the Irish Reserve Defence Forces, the goal was to make it as realistic as possible.
Tom Hanks, one of the film’s stars, vividly described his experience shooting the scene. He was positioned at the back of the landing craft and witnessed the first few rows of soldiers being torn apart. Despite knowing that it was special effects, the impact was overwhelming. The air turned pink, the noise was deafening, and debris fell all around him. It was a truly horrifying experience.
In summary, while creating a completely accurate depiction of combat is extremely challenging, Spielberg managed to achieve it in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. The realism of the scene had a profound impact on both viewers and the veterans who had lived through similar situations, leading to the establishment of a support hotline for those in need.
7. Keanu Reeves Was The Studio’s Last Choice To Play Neo In ‘The Matrix’
Keanu Reeves has had a bunch of amazing roles in his career, like John Wick, Chevalier Danceny, John Constantine, Ted Logan, Johnny Utah, and more. But one of his most iconic film roles was in 1999 when he played Neo in The Matrix. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role now, but surprisingly, the studio didn’t initially want him.
At first, the studio looked at other actors who could have potentially nailed the role. They reached out to a whole bunch of big names in Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio actually accepted the role but later changed his mind. Brad Pitt did the same, but the studio wasn’t ready to give up just yet. That’s when they turned to Keanu Reeves. Other actors they considered were Will Smith, Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise, David Duchovny, Nicolas Cage, and Johnny Depp. Keanu Reeves was actually the last choice for the studio.
8. The Plot Of ‘Die Hard With a Vengeance’ Got The Attention Of The FBI
In Die Hard With a Vengeance, Detective John McClane faces challenging puzzles and threats involving explosive devices throughout the city. He teams up with Zeus Carver, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and they endure a series of intense situations. Eventually, it is revealed that the purpose of these troubles was to distract the police, enabling the criminals to rob the Federal Reserve building in New York City.
The plan is quite clever and successful, until our heroes confront the villains and emerge victorious. The screenplay, written by Jonathan Hensleigh, was so well-crafted that it caught the attention of the FBI. Hensleigh shares his experience with the FBI during the film’s commentary track:
“One day, I received a call from the FBI. They were highly concerned about my extensive knowledge of the Federal Reserve and its close proximity to a subway spur, as well as the logistics of the aqueduct tunnel, among other things. I explained that my information came from the Federal Reserve itself, which had allowed us access to their vault and shared the plans and layout with us. Additionally, I had read about the aqueduct tunnel in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. So, I assured them that I had no secret or unauthorized knowledge.”
Despite his reasonable explanation, the FBI felt compelled to enhance security measures and alter their operational plans regarding the Federal Reserve building. Hensleigh even worried that he might be arrested by the FBI. Nevertheless, he viewed the investigation as a compliment to his skills as a writer, given that his methods were entirely plausible, according to the agents he spoke to during production.
9. Robert Downey Jr. Hid Food On ‘The Avengers’ Set And Ate It In Several Scenes
It seems that Robert Downey Jr. has a unique habit while working on superhero movies – he hides food all over the set. This practice is not limited to just the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as his castmates revealed during a live interview with HuffPost for the movie The Judge. Vincent D’Onofrio shared that Downey continues this food-hiding tradition outside of the MCU, but he didn’t disclose the reason behind it. Nevertheless, he mentioned that it makes perfect sense to Downey.
Apparently, this peculiar habit of Downey’s is well-known among those he works with, and it’s even accepted by his directors. In fact, it often brings some lightheartedness to the long hours of filming. In certain scenes of The Avengers, where Downey’s character is seen eating, the food he consumes is actually from his secret stash. For instance, there’s a scene where he eats blueberries and even offers one to Captain America. Surprisingly, those blueberries were from Downey’s hidden supply, and the line he delivered wasn’t part of the script; it was just classic RDJ being himself.
10. A US Senator Has Appeared In More ‘Batman’ Movies Than The Actors Playing Batman
Patrick Leahy is not just a US senator from Vermont, he’s also a die-hard Batman fan. Since 1974, he has held his position as a Democrat in the Senate. But what sets Leahy apart is his love for the Caped Crusader. Despite being a fan, he has managed to make appearances in more Batman movies than any actor who actually played Batman.
Leahy’s dedication to Batman goes beyond just watching the movies. He has contributed to the Batman literary world as well. He has written the forward for The Dark Knight Archives, Vol. 1 and a preface essay for Batman: Death of Innocents, among other related books.
In addition to his literary contributions, Leahy has made on-screen appearances in several Batman films. He appeared in Batman Forever, voiced a character in Batman: The Animated Series, played himself in Batman & Robin, and even had a memorable scene in The Dark Knight. In this scene, he defiantly tells the Joker, “We’re not intimidated by thugs,” which doesn’t sit well with the supervillain. Leahy also made an appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Despite his involvement in the movies, Leahy doesn’t keep the money he earns. Instead, he selflessly donates all of his earnings to various charities. The majority of his donations go to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in his hometown of Vermont. This library holds a special place in his heart as it is where he used to read comic books as a child. Leahy’s generosity is a testament to his gratitude towards the people and places that shaped his love for Batman.
11. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Cast Had To Attend Pirate School
During the filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, the cast had to attend “Pirate School” taught by Bob Anderson, an expert swordsman. While not everyone may recognize his name, he is highly regarded by Star Wars fans. Anderson is responsible for creating various forms of lightsaber combat.
At Anderson’s school, the actors learned the proper techniques for handling cannons and swords. The focus was on ensuring their safety while making their performances as realistic as possible on the movie sets.
Unfortunately, Anderson passed away in 2012. He was an Olympic fencer and a master swordsman, and his contributions to the worlds of science fiction and fantasy are remembered fondly. He even had the opportunity to battle against Luke Skywalker while wearing the Darth Vader costume. This is just one of his many impressive credits. Anderson also worked on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and collaborated with renowned actors like Errol Flynn and Antonio Banderas, among others, in numerous other projects.
