Vin Diesel remains a top-tier star capable of carrying entire franchises on his sturdy back but what are his best movies? After several decades, the man is still a box office draw and a bonafide action star audiences willingly pay to see on the big screen. His latest venture, Fast X, is poised to sell millions (if not billions) of dollars worth of tickets, and he has more Riddick and xXx features on the horizon. Diesel has managed to carve a respectable niche among the action elite, so enjoy taking a look back at the best Vin Diesel action movies.
xXx (2002)
After the one-two punch of Pitch Black and The Fast & Furious, xXx was something of a step down for Diesel in terms of quality. Separated from those early efforts, however, Rob Cohen’s early 2000s adventure satisfies as an old-fashioned piece of B-movie entertainment. The story, about extreme sports enthusiast and daredevil Xander Cage’s efforts to stop a Russian terrorist group, doesn’t always work, but the high-octane action sequences (including a James Bond-esque opening that sees our hero use a skateboard, snowboard, and motocross bike), adrenaline-fueled stunts, and Diesel’s charismatic performance offer enough for fans of the action genre to swoon over. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson and Asia Argento are terrific in supporting roles, which makes this a great start to our list of the best Vin Diesel action movies.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2001)
In Guardians of the Galaxy, Diesel supplies his voice for Groot, the massive, tree-like pal of Rocket, and utters just one line throughout the franchise — “I am Groot.” Yet, the actor still manages to stand out amidst the colorful cast. That’s my justification for featuring Guardians on this list. James Gunn’s original film is a delightfully quirky, action-packed adventure with terrific special effects, outlandish humor, and a surprising abundance of heart. It’s fair to call Guardians one of the best MCU entries. While I personally enjoy Vol. 3 the most, the consensus is that the original film offers the best combination of Gunn’s irreverent personality and the MCU’s plucky charm.
Pitch Black (2000)
If you can get past the schlocky special effects and thin characters, Pitch Black offers a unique, often terrifying, sci-fi experience. The 2000 creature feature follows a group of survivors stranded on a desolate planet after their spaceship crash-lands. Naturally, the planet is overrun with dangerous creatures, and only one man — the mysterious Riddick — can stop them. Directed by David Twohy, Pitch Black is fairly straightforward and a far cry from the bloated Riddick sequels that followed, but it still packs a wallop all these years later. Diesel is terrific as Riddick, another role that requires a lot of Dom-like glaring and grumbling. Hey, it’s what he does best, and is why it lands on our list of the best Vin Diesel action movies.
Fast Five (2011)
Those who read my Fast and Furious rankings piece earlier this week will already know that I love Fast Five — the best entry in the entire franchise. Without repeating myself too much, I’ll just say that everything in Justin Lin’s ridiculously entertaining action flick works. Here, Diesel’s star power is on full display. Dom is an anti-hero worth rooting for — charismatic enough to like but badass enough to fear. Diesel has a firm grip on the character, and it’s unfortunate that the series eventually toppled over the rails and turned Dom into a silly caricature. No matter, Part 5 is awesome from start to finish, leading to a wild finale involving a safe that stands as one of the better action set pieces of the last 20 years. Ridiculous fun.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
I mean, was there ever any doubt? Vin Diesel plays a small but significant role in Steven Spielberg’s World War II masterpiece, portraying the ill-fated Private Adrian Caparzo, or the one who gets hit by the sniper. The actor sticks around long enough to make us miss him when he taps out; his death hangs over the remaining picture.
Ultimately, Saving Private Ryan ranks among the great war movies, featuring some of the gristliest war sequences ever filmed. Starring Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, and Matt Damon, this is a classic through-and-through and a film that demands to be seen on the big screen to get the full effect, which is why it lands a spot on the list of the best Vin Diesel action movies.
