While many of thebiggest action movie starsworking today consistently appear in straight-up carnage-filled blockbusters, lots of these performers have also tried their hands at other genres. Some of the most excitingheroes and heroinesin Hollywood have also taken to sci-fi and horror, as these types of movies allow them to explore deeper themes with strong characterization and narrative intrigue. This variety in their filmography makes these stars infinitely more interesting as viewers get to see them deliver performances that go deeper than a hero who simply saves the day.
Many of thebiggest action stars of the 1980shad incredibly diverse resumes, as films during that period and beyond often blended action with sci-fi and horror. While some action stars are intrinsically linked to other genres, as actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger became inseparable frommovies likeThe Terminator, even these performers have branched out and surprised viewers with their later parts. It’s always exciting to see actors expand out into other genres, andto see an action movie megastar trying their hand at sci-fi or horror is always interesting.
10Dwayne Johnson
Doom (2005)
Back when Dwayne Johnson was still primarily known under his wrestling ring name, The Rock, this WWE star tried his hand at horror with his villainous role inDoom. Although this film was a box office bomb at the time, audiences have since come to recognizeDoomas an effective video game adaptation that truly delivered. Johnson excelled in his role as Sarge Mahonin, the squad team leader infected with C24 serum and granted superhuman powers.
The most interesting thing about Johnson’s role inDoomwas the way he transformed from a hero to an antagonist throughout the film and was given a rare chance to showcase his darker side. WhileJohnson has starred in plenty of big-budget action movies in the years since,Doomwas an anomaly in his career as the only time he fully embraced horror in a real way.
Doom
Cast
Doom, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, follows a team of space marines known as the Rapid Response Tactical Squad who are dispatched to a Mars research facility after a security breach. They face alien threats and uncover the dangers of a mutagenic experiment led by Dr. Grimm.
9Keanu Reeves
The Matrix (1999)
While action movie lovers know Keanu Reeves today as the ruthless assassin John Wick in the neo-noir series that bore his name, this actor has been connected with sci-fi his entire career. From the hilarious time travel slacker energy ofBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventureto his iconic role of Neo inThe Matrixfranchise, Reeves has consistently embraced sci-fi themes of time, space, and existentialist philosophy. It’sReeves’ natural on-screen charisma that helps make these deeply complex topics feel accessible to mainstream audiences.
While Reeves is not as well known for his work on horror movies, he’s also had several notable roles in scary movies. Reeves gained cult appeal for his leading role in the supernatural comic book horror adaptationConstantine, and movies likeKnock Knockhint at his hidden horror talents. As an actor consistently willing to take risks with different genres, Reeves never hesitated to try his hand at both sci-fi and horror.
The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
8Harrison Ford
Blade Runner (1982)
Harrison Ford famously worked as a carpenter before his acting talents were discovered, and he became one of the biggest action movie stars of all time. From his iconic role of Indiana Jones to action classics likeAir Force One, Ford found success later in life, and much of his notoriety can be attributed to the sci-fi genre. While Ford has been notably dismissive in interviews aboutthe legacy of Han Solo, the truth is that his part inStar Warsturned him into a star himself and was the true beginning of his Hollywood career.
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It was not justStar Warswhere Ford’s sci-fi credentials ended because his leading role as Rick Deckard inBlade Runnerensured he would forever be tied to the genre. While everyone will be well aware of these parts, Ford has also had some far less spoken-about horror movie roles, such as the 1977 made-for-TV movieThe Possessed. Ford returned to horror in 2000 withWhat Lies Beneath, a thrilling supernatural story about a professor who suspects his wife is either losing her mind or their house is haunted by a ghost.
Blade Runner
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them - but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
7Kurt Russell
The Thing (1982)
As an actor, Kurt Russell has truly done it all. Having gotten his start at just 12 years old inIt Happened at the World’s Fair, Russell had already shared the screen with Elvis Presley by the time he’d made his very first movie. Russell’s action movie credentials include 1980s cult classics likeTango & Cash, acclaimed Westerns such asTombstone, and, of course, his impressive litany of movies with the auteur filmmaker John Carpenter.
Much of Russell’s association with the sci-fi and horror genres comes from his work with Carpenter. As the antihero Snake Plissken, Russell exuded a cool sense of dystopian charisma in Carpenter films likeEscape from New YorkandEscape from L.A. However, the wayThe Thingpowerfully blended sci-fi and horror in a deeply paranoid and claustrophobic storywhere anyone could be a deadly shapeshifting alien in disguise was the pair’s crowning achievement.
The Thing
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
6Jean-Claude Van Damme
Timecop (1994)
The Belgian martial artistJean-Claude Van Damme has been intrinsically linked to sci-fi movies his entire career. WhileVan Damme’s time as the titular alien in the originalPredatordidn’t work out, following his breakout performance in the fighting filmBloodsport,he had many notable sci-fi roles. This began with the release of the martial arts cyberpunk filmCyborgand continued into series likeUniversal Soldier.
One role that perfectly encapsulated Van Damme’s ability to blend his action movie persona into sci-fi concepts wasTimecop. As Max Walker, Van Damme played a time-traveling police officer traversing different periods as he uncovers the crimes of a crooked politician. WhileTimecopwas panned by critics at the time of its release, it’s since gained a reputation among viewers as one of Van Damme’s greatest movies.
Timecop
Timecop is a science fiction action film featuring an officer from a time travel regulatory security agency. He faces a treacherous pursuit by a corrupt politician with connections to his past, amidst a backdrop of temporal manipulation and intrigue.
5Charlize Theron
Prometheus (2012)
Since the 1990s, Charlize Theron has built up a reputation as one of the most sought-after actresses working today. As a star who is equally comfortable in compelling dramas as she is leading major action movies, Theron’s talents saw her excel in everything fromThe Italian Jobto theFast & Furiousfranchise. With the ability to seamlessly fit in with every genre she tries her hand at, it’s no surprise that Theron has had plenty of amazing sci-fi roles.
One of Theron’s greatest sci-fi roles came in Ridley Scott’sAlienprequelPrometheus.Charlize Theron played Meredith Vickers, a Weyland Corporation employee sent to monitor the expedition to LV-223. As a cunning and layered character, Theron brought the same energy that made her a great action movie star to this role, although her character was killed off and was unable to appear in the sequel,Alien: Covenant.
Prometheus
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
4Arnold Schwarzenegger
End of Days (1999)
After an astounding bodybuilding career that saw him named Mr. Universe at the age of 20, the Austrian icon Arnold Schwarzenegger became one of the biggest action movie stars the world has ever seen. While audiences will recognize Schwarzenegger from his signature roles as Conan the Barbarian and the Terminator, he also branched out even further into horror movies with his turn inEnd of Days. With Schwarzenegger as the alcoholic former New York police detective Jericho Cane, things took a sinister turn as he was embroiled in a Satanic conspiracy involving a plan to conceive the Antichrist.
End of Dayswas a uniquely dark turn from Schwarzenegger, who, although he maintained his action-hero bravado, delved into sinister, interesting territory. However,End of Dayswas slated by critics who bemoaned its narrative as idiotic and incoherent. While this foray into horror may not have worked out,Schwarzenegger received widespread acclaim when he returned to the genre in 2015 for the zombie filmMaggie, a surprisingly poignant story about a father trying to protect his infected daughter.
End of Days
End of Days is a supernatural action thriller directed by Peter Hyams and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Released in 1999, the film follows ex-cop Jericho Cane, who must protect a woman from Satan, who intends to conceive a child with her to usher in the apocalypse as the millennium approaches. The cast includes Gabriel Byrne as Satan and Robin Tunney as the woman targeted for the unholy ritual.
3Bruce Willis
The Sixth Sense (1999)
It’s truly hard to understand just how much Bruce Willis’ portrayal of John McClane inDie Hardchanged the game when it came to action movies. While before this time, action stars were usually gigantic muscle-clad men like Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, Willis paved the way for a more everyday kind of hero who used stealth skills and cunning ingenuity to save the day. WhileWillis could have easily continued makingDie Hard-type films for the rest of his career, he branched out in 1999 with a career-defining turn in the psychological horrorThe Sixth Sense.
Willis’ role in M. Night Shyamalan signaled the dawning of a new era in his career as the film’s surprise ending shocked viewers and led to a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars.The Sixth Sensewas unlike anything Willis had previously done, and this unique ghost story was one of his biggest successes. While Willis would continue making action movies right up until his retirement in 2022,The Sixth Senseproved a hidden depth to his dramatic talent that was previously untapped.
The Sixth Sense
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
2Sylvester Stallone
Demolition Man (1993)
Sylvester Stallone’s career has been filled with many incredible roles across a vast array of genres. While most will associate Stallone with the underdog triumphs of Rocky Balboa or the guns-blazing action hero bravado of John Rambo, he’s never been afraid to try something new and test his talents in different kinds of movies. This was clear from Stallone’s directorial debut,Paradise Alley,which, although a commercial failure, hinted at an artistry far beyond his action star credentials.
Stallone brought this willingness to broaden his horizons to sci-fi with his leading role inDemolition Man, a satirical story about a cop and his archenemy waking from a cryogenically frozen state in a utopian, crime-free society.Demolition Mancleverly predicted many things about the future world, as it featured self-driving cars, virtual meetings, and non-contact social greetings. This would not be Stallone’s only foray into sci-fi, as he also appeared in the likes ofJudge Dredd,Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Demolition Man
In the 1993 action movie Demolition Man, Sylvester Stallone stars as time-displaced police officer John Spartan, who struggles to adapt to the year 2032 after being cryogenically frozen for messing up a job. However, his old-school skills come in handy for innocent cop Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) and the futuristic city of San Angeles when the criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is thawed and the complacent authorities don’t know how to react.
1Tom Cruise
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
While Tom Cruise has exclusively made action and franchise films in recent years, the early part of his career was characterized by variety. From breakout roles like the coming-of-age filmRisky Businessto collaboration with auteurs such as Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson, Cruise wasn’t always such a one-trick pony. One prime example of Cruise’s willingness to take chances was his performance asLestat de Lioncourt inInterview with the Vampire.
Interview with the Vampireshowcased just how different Cruise could be from the action hero stylings of Ethan Hunt inMission: Impossible. As a gothic horror story with an eerie atmosphere and a deep sense of sadness, the emotional core of this film highlighted the depth of Cruise’s acting capabilities. While Cruise looks set to continue his trend of only making action movies in the upcoming years, audiences shouldn’t lose hope that he’ll one day return to the horror genre he once did so well.
Interview with the Vampire
Based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel, Interview with the Vampire tells the story of two vampires, Lestat and Louis, and their complicated relationship after Lestat turns Louis in 1791. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt star as Lestat and Louis respectively, with a cast that includes Kirsten Dunst as Claudia, the two men’s young charge who Lestat also turns in an attempt to keep a disillusioned Louis from leaving. Christian Slayter rounds out the cast as Daniel Molloy, a reporter to who Louis tells his story in the mid-1990s.
