15 B-List Action Movies from the 2000s That Became Unlikely Cult Classics

Sometimes the best action movies aren't the ones with the biggest budgets or the most famous stars; they're the hidden gems from the 2000s that flew under the radar when they first hit the screens but ended up gathering a bunch of fans who just can't get enough of their unique charm and adrenaline-pumping scenes.

1. Merantau (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Audience score: 62%

In "Merantau," a young man from rural Sumatra, Yuda, embarks on a traditional rite of passage to the city of Jakarta, only to find himself in a brutal fight against human traffickers while protecting a young girl, Astri, and her brother, revealing his mastery of Silat martial arts as he battles to save them and himself.

2. Ninja (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Audience score: 29%

American martial artist Casey Bowman travels to Japan to inherit the mantle of the Ninja but finds himself embroiled in a deadly conflict with a rival dojo and a dangerous arms dealer, using his skills to protect an ancient armor and seek vengeance for his murdered sensei.

3. Blood & Bone (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Audience score: 71%

Isaiah Bone, a mysterious ex-con, enters the underground fighting world of Los Angeles, using his unmatched skills to take down the reigning champ and a criminal empire for a friend's honor and a promise of freedom.

4. Dog Soldiers (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

A British squad on a training mission in the Scottish Highlands falls prey to werewolves, barricading themselves in a farmhouse in a desperate fight for survival through the night, blending military tactics with horror survival.

5. District B13 (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

In a future Parisian ghetto, an undercover cop and an ex-thief reluctantly team up to infiltrate a gang-controlled sector to defuse a neutron bomb, showcasing high-octane parkour and martial arts in a race against time.

6. The Descent (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

A group of women spelunkers become trapped in an uncharted cave system, facing off against a horrifying breed of subterranean creatures, testing their friendship, survival instincts, and will to live in the claustrophobic depths.

7. Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%

Smith, a mysterious drifter, delivers a woman's baby during a shootout and becomes the child's protector against an army led by a ruthless hitman, Hertz, uncovering a deadly conspiracy while evading relentless gunfire and bizarre situations.

8. Running Scared (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

After a drug deal gone wrong, low-level mobster Joey Gazelle finds himself on a frenetic chase to find a missing gun that a young boy used to shoot his abusive stepfather, leading him through a night of violence, corruption, and redemption.

9. Crank (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%

Professional hitman Chev Chelios is poisoned with a drug that requires him to keep his adrenaline flowing to stay alive, leading him on a frenzied quest through Los Angeles to find his antidote and enact revenge on those responsible.

10. Planet Terror (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

In Robert Rodriguez's gory zombie tale, a biochemical release turns townspeople into ravenous creatures, leading a group of survivors, including go-go dancer Cherry and her ex-boyfriend Wray, to band together for a blood-soaked battle for survival.

11. Smokin' Aces (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 31%

FBI agents and assorted hitmen converge on a Lake Tahoe hotel to capture or kill Buddy "Aces" Israel, a magician turned mob informant, with each party using their unique skills in a chaotic showdown of bullets and betrayal.

12. Unleashed (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 66%

Danny, a human attack dog for a Glasgow loan shark, finds a chance for a new life when he escapes and is taken in by a blind piano tuner and his stepdaughter, who teach him about love, music, and life beyond violence.

13. The Art of War (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 16%

Shaw, a UN operative framed for the murder of a Chinese ambassador, must use his martial arts and espionage skills to uncover the real killer and prevent a conspiracy that threatens a peace agreement.

14. Romeo Must Die (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 32%

In a tale of modern-day Romeo and Juliet, Han, a former Hong Kong cop seeking revenge for his brother's death, and Trish, the daughter of an African-American crime lord, unite to uncover a web of corruption and betrayal between their warring families.

15. Kiss of the Dragon (2001)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 52%

Liu Jian, a Chinese intelligence officer, is framed for murder in Paris and must use his formidable martial arts skills to evade the police and gangsters while protecting a key witness who can clear his name.