The Top 15 Manliest Movies Ever Made

1. Directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick, Spartacus was his fourth major studio film, but what many film critics to be his first truly great movie. The Kirk Douglas lead film of the 70 BC slave uprising against the Roman empire was grand in scope and vision, and became the archetype for all historical dramas that came after it. .....

Starship Troopers

2. Is there any director more manly than Paul Verhoeven? (Maybe Paul Schrader, but thats a debate for another time) Based on Robert A. Heinleins juvenile (thats what they used to call YA novels back in the day, kids) novel of the same name, Starship Troopers is equal parts action movie and social satire, albeit its a very sneaky social satire that most casual viewers wont pick up on. (If youre familiar with Nazi propaganda films youll catch onto it .....

Gladiator

3. Here come the gladiators again! (Yeah, theyll be making more than a few appearances on this list). Ridley Scotts Academy Award winning epic is far from Scotts best effort as a director (I think that we can all agree that Blade Runner has that title tied up), or Russell Crowes best moment as an actor (Personally, Im of the opinion the academy simply felt guilty about passing him over for both L.A. Confidential and The Insider), but what it lacked .....

Braveheart

4. Who likes revisionist history as much as I do? Obviously if you enjoy most of the historical films on this list, you really dont mind the filmmakers fudging up actual facts a little bit. But, really, who cares as long as theres nonstop action! And Mel Gibsons Academy Award winning film of the short, violent Scottish uprising against the English throne led by William The Pretender Wallace is the epitome of nonstop action and constant male bonding. .....

300

5. More gladiators! The film based off of Frank Millers ridiculously over the top graphic novel was the perfect for director Zack Snyders over the top, CGI rich filming style. The story of 300 spartans defending their nation against a barbarian horde of thousands launched what seems like thousands of other stop motion action film (along with spawning one of the worst sequels ever made) imitators. Much like Braveheart, Snyder was far from concerned f .....

Shaft

6. Hes one bad mother Shut your mouth! The granddaddy of the socalled blacksploitation films is an absolutely terrible film. But its terrible in that quirky way film buffs like. You know, its goofy, grandiose bad, but not badbad. Shaft is a private detective in the same vein as Mickey Spilanes Mike Hammer. Hes a take no prisoners, take no sh*t kind of man that all the ladies love. And much like Spilanes novels, Shaft is chock full of obvious plot ho .....

The Clash Of The Titians

7. I swear this is the last gladiator film on the list. Ill be blunt, Clash Of The Titians is not a good film. The acting is stiff, the script is lackluster, and the monsters all look like they were all crafted out of playdough. But theres just something about it that gets you blood pumping, especially when Sir Laurence Oliver trumpets, Release the Kraken! .....

True Grit

8. You cant not include a John Wayne film on a list of the manliest movies of all time. and while True Grit isnt exactly Waynes finest moment as an actor (Yeah, I know, I know, they gave him an Oscar for it. But, really, they gave it to him for all the MILLIONS of dollars his movies made for the film industry), but you cant help but get a chill down your spine whenever you hear the line: Thats bold talk for a oneeyed fat man! .....

The Good The Bad and The Ugly

9. You could really include any of Sergio Leones socalled spaghetti westerns on this list. But the cast of Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach simply exudes machismo and dread with each frame. The story of rival bounty hunters joining forces to track down stolen confederate army gold is an intense ride. Plus, you get to see Clint Eastwood take on an entire army of bandits with a canon. .....

The French Connection

10. What makes The French Connection so manly? Two things: Steve McQueen and Gene Hackman. And really, that should be enough of an explanation for you to consider this classic film of two New York city cops attempting to thwart the European drug trade. But if you need a bit more reason, all you need to do is watch the car chase scene midway through the film. .....

The Rocky Franchise

11. No list of manly movies would be complete without Sylvester Stalones best known creation. The Rocky films are equal parts moving character dramas and hard hitting boxing films. the first two films in the series could easily be described as two of the best films about boxing ever made. (But not the best, that one will be coming along a little later in the list) The later entries into the series verged into the category of being badbad films. But t .....

The Rambo Franchise

12. Nope, no list of manly without Sylvester Stalones second best known franchise, either. The story of Vietnam veteran John Rambowhich was originally based on David Morrells bestselling novel, First Bloodstarted out as being an intense melodrama that soon degenerated into nothing more than wholesale antiSoviet Union propaganda. But theres no denying the overall visceral reaction you get from Stalones Rambo taking on entire armies in filmafterfilm. .....

Fight Club

13. I want you to hit me as hard as you can. Has there ever been a movie about unchecked mental illness more entertaining and manly as Fight Club. The answer, of course, is no. The movie based on Chuck Palahniuks best selling novel of the same name is perhaps director David Finchers most stylized and accomplished films, and is an utter bloodbath chock full of manly antiauthoritarianism. .....

Raging Bull

14. Easily the greatest boxing film of all time, The story of the rise and fall of middle weight boxing champ Jake Lamotta is an absolute masterpiece of filmmaking from director Martin Scorsese. Its also one of the greatif not the greatestRobert DeNiro roles. Denier portrayed Lamotta as a beast among men; utterly driven to win no matter the cost to himself physical or emotionally. Along with the graphic fight scenes, Scorsese crafted a brilliant char .....

Die Hard

15. Was there any doubt in your mind that John McTiernans classic adaptation of Roderick Thorps novel, Nothing Lasts Forever, would be 1 on the most manly movies of all time? Super cop John McClane is one of the true iconic action roles of the 20th century and catapulted Bruce Willis into movie stardom. What sets Die Hard apart from the rest of the pack is that the film is almost 100% action with very little filler to slow it down. Plus, Willis McCla .....