Join us as we dig into 10 of the coolest, most iconic (and of course, best sounding) fight scenes in Recent Cinema. We rank these entires based on combat, cinematography and of course, sound design!
For more cinematic breakdowns, check out case studies like our Dune Part 2 Sound ReDesign, and witness the high‑impact SFX used in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 thanks to Krotos Studio.
Synonymous with fight scenes, pistol wielding, people whacking, man of few words John Wick is the reigning action hero of the 2010s. Each film features slick choreography, stunning cinematography, a grungy soundtrack and awesome sound effects that combine to wow us as we watch him exact revenge on the gangsters that took his dog.
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
Uma Thurman as The Bride is as iconic an action hero as any. Landing on our screens armed with revenge and a samurai sword, Thurman hacks and slashes her way through a list of people who wronged her in trademark Tarantino style.
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
Mr Reeves is back on this list, this time as Neo; Bored office type who is greeted by the enigmatic morpheus and given an opportunity to change his trajectory. The result? A stylish, sci-fi & action film that changed how we experienced cinema for the better
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
Krotos Studio has a bunch of presets for combat scenes. Swords, Guns, Melee, and much more are ready for you to explore, perform, tweak, and add to your own projects. Try Krotos Studio today with a 7 day free trial! Now back to the list…
Maximus definitely had us entertained in this Ridley Scott classic. Arena fighting, with seminal performances by Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix and Oliver Reed, Gladiator is one of the most iconic films of the 21st Century
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
Whilst we’re spoilt for choice on this front, we'll go with Star Wars Episode III’s showdown between Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. This fire-soaked epic of a scene has all of the lightsaber wielding and emotion you could ask for in a Star Wars sequel/prequel
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
Another stylish and powerful moment from recent cinema would be the iconic Church Scene in Kingsmen: Secret Service. The close quarters shooting, combined with a really interesting pace and point of view makes you sit up and watch as Colin Firth unwillingly takes out the entire congregation.
• Combat - 9
• Cinematography - 10
• Sound Design - 8
That concludes our list of some of the best fight scenes, but how wrong were we? What did we leave out that makes you want to fight us? Leave your suggestions in the comments for what you think had some of the best sound effects!