These four action franchises have kept audiences on the edge of their seats for years. Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible, John Wick and James Bond each have their own style, from car stunts to spy gadgets. This One Gotta Go card asks which franchise you would end for good.
Think about the series you never miss in theaters, the one you'd watch on a long flight, and the one that's had more sequels than it needs. Then make your pick and see who at movie night agrees.
Fast & Furious vs Mission: Impossible vs John Wick vs James Bond
A. Fast & Furious
Fast & Furious started with street racing and grew into a globe-trotting series about family, wild car stunts and over-the-top action. Fans love how big it gets. The case against it is that the physics stopped making sense a long time ago.
Keep it if: You love big car stunts, family speeches and action that gets more over the top every time.
B. Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, and the series is famous for Cruise doing many of his own dangerous stunts. Fans love the practical action. The case against it is that the plots can be hard to follow.
Keep it if: You love real stunts, clever spy missions and watching Tom Cruise hang off something huge.
C. John Wick
John Wick stars Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman pulled back in, with stylish action and a secret world of assassins and hotels. Fans love the choreography. The case against it is that each movie is mostly one long action sequence.
Keep it if: You love stylish, carefully choreographed action and the strange world of the Continental hotel.
D. James Bond
James Bond is the longest-running spy series on this card, with many actors playing 007 over the decades. Fans love the gadgets, the cars and the theme songs. The case against it is that so many versions exist that it can feel like it never ends.
Keep it if: Bond's gadgets, theme songs and classic spy style are what action movies mean to you.
Our take
We'd cut Fast & Furious. It's a blast, but it's the franchise on this card that has drifted furthest from where it started, while Mission: Impossible keeps raising the bar on stunts, John Wick has its own unique world, and James Bond is a true classic. Expect the most fun debate between the Fast & Furious family and the Mission: Impossible fans. For a bonus round, ask everyone to name the single best stunt across all four series. Whoever picks the winning stunt gets to choose the next movie night.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which action franchise is running mostly on name recognition at this point?
- Which series has the best single stunt?
- Who is the best James Bond actor?
- Which action franchise deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Action Movie Franchises: quick answers
What is the best action movie franchise?
Mission: Impossible, John Wick, James Bond and Fast & Furious are some of the most popular action franchises, each with a different style: practical stunts, stylish action scenes, classic spy adventure and huge car action. Which one is best depends on what kind of action you enjoy most.
Does Tom Cruise do his own stunts in Mission: Impossible?
Tom Cruise is well known for performing many of his own stunts in the Mission: Impossible movies, including scenes with planes, motorcycles and tall buildings. That commitment to real stunts is a big reason fans love the series and keep showing up for each new movie.
