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The 15 Best Character-Driven Fight Scenes In Movies

By Rob Payne | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (91)

Princess-Bride-560-thumb-560xauto-28905.jpg

Last week we saw a pretty badass scene from Haywire (opening today, don’t forget to read Dan’s review), wherein star Gina Carano proceeded to beat the everloving spud out of Charming Potato. Some of you guys commented how great the fight was in particular because director Steven Soderbergh presented it without chopping it all to hell in the editing room, allowing us to clearly see Mallory’s character behind each punch, kick, and pistol whip. This prompted a brief interlude in the comments with suggestions of other such fight scenes in movies, those that focused on developing or re-establishing who these people we’re supposed to be rooting for are, as opposed to action for action’s sake. BierceAmbrose claimed it could make a good list, and I whole heartedly agree.

Some of the scenes mentioned in those comments are included below, and if not those specific fights, then other fights from those movies. And this is far from an exhaustive list — for instance, some of you might say its invalid purely because I didn’t include any scene from any Rocky movie, and there’s only three movies listed prior to the 1980s (meaning Douglas Fairbanks is totally unrepresented) — but there’s only so much bandwidth in a day. So, I encourage you to include your own favorite fight scenes below. Just remember, these aren’t merely fun action sequences that blow your individual skirt up, these are moments that indelibly matter to the characters involved, or tell us more about them than a simple description would. This is story told predominantly through motion, which is what movies excell at far better than any other medium. These scenes don’t detract from the narrative like those in a Baynis production, but actually serve to make their films more memorable.

Without further ado, I give you the 15 Best Character Driven Fight Scenes In Movies. Enjoy!

The Princess Bride


Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon


Casino Royale


Sanjuro


Kill Bill


Enter the Dragon


Grosse Point Blank


The Bourne Supremacy


Cowboy Bebop: The Movie


The Karate Kid


Sherlock Holmes

pajiba15bestfightscenessherlockholmes.jpg
Could not find an embeddable video, but check out the very Holmesian take on fisticuffs here.


Oldboy


Cool Hand Luke


They Live


The Empire Strikes Back


And now, just for poops and chuckles, here’s Inigo Montoya vs. Count Rugen… with lightsabers!


Rob Payne also writes the indie comic The Unstoppable Force, tweets on the Twitter @RobOfWar, and his ware can be purchased here (if you’re into that sort of thing). He’s certain he probably forgot your favorite scene, and he’s sorry for that, but he also certain that he doesn’t care.









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Comments

That last one is the one that my brothers and I always recreate when we get foam swords from the dollar store.

Posted by: Me at January 20, 2012 1:06 PM

I'm not sure if it falls in the parameters of character driven, but my favorite fight scene EVER is Edward Norton verses himself in Fight Club. I think it actually says quite a lot about the Narrator's character.

Posted by: lillie at January 20, 2012 1:09 PM

Shouldn't Inigo's lightsaber have gone through Count Rugen?

As for omissions:

- Neo vs Agent Smith in The Matrix
- Mal vs The Operative in Serenity
- The Narrator vs Tyler Durden in Fight Club

Posted by: Fredo at January 20, 2012 1:11 PM

Liam Neeson vs Tim Roth {characters} in "Rob Roy".

Posted by: Ms MoMo at January 20, 2012 1:16 PM

Great idea for a list. If I could change one thing, I'd change the Kill Bill fight scene to the one between the Bride and O-Ren Ishii. I just like it better, is all.

Posted by: Jelinas at January 20, 2012 1:18 PM

On a niche site, for a niche market, I think this might be the ultimate niche list.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at January 20, 2012 1:19 PM

I will argue that the Westley/Inigo Montoya sword fight is the best scene. Ever. However, I also like lillie's suggestion!

On a different note, I have been unable to visit this site using Firefox since last week - I can get to the sites, but none of the links are dynamic, can't click on anything. Anyone else experiencing this?

Posted by: Laura at January 20, 2012 1:27 PM

Uncas v Magua in that cliffside knife fight at the end of Last of the Mohicans.

Posted by: klingonfree at January 20, 2012 1:28 PM

It's nice to see Sanjuro on this list. I would also like to mention the final two duels between Shinzaemon and Naritsugu and his captain from 13 Assassins. There's some truly lovely character development there which makes the movie really pay off, in my opinion at least :)

Posted by: lubeg at January 20, 2012 1:30 PM

Uncas v Magua in that cliffside knife fight at the end of Last of the Mohicans.

Posted by: klingonfree at January 20, 2012 1:28 PM

Good call, though I would actually select Chingachkook and Magua. The entirety of Magua's supremacy and villainy is distilled down to nothing and we see who the real bad ass is in that movie. Uncas's father is on Magua and killing him faster than Magua can even react. That and the utter fear in Wes Study's eyes just make that scene so powerful. You get to see him rationalize that he is a lesser warrior before he dies and he has to go to his maker bearing that knowledge.

Posted by: lubeg at January 20, 2012 1:35 PM

John Wayne and Victor McLaglen in The Quiet Man.

Posted by: Tranjo at January 20, 2012 1:35 PM

Came for ESB.

Leaving satisfied.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 20, 2012 1:35 PM

Excellent list with one glaring omission - Rob Roy - Tim Roth and Liam Neeson - the rapier vs the claymore.
Also what about mordred vs arthur in Excalibur

Posted by: Keith at January 20, 2012 1:35 PM

The last gun fight in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

Posted by: Fudgcicle at January 20, 2012 1:36 PM

actually two glaring omissions - the above mentioned Uncas fight from LOTM is as beautiful as the smokey mountains they filmed in

Posted by: Keith at January 20, 2012 1:37 PM

On a niche site, for a niche market, I think this might be the ultimate niche list.

Them's fightin words.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 20, 2012 1:38 PM

Mickey's fight in Snatch that he's supposed to throw. I love the way he and the Pikeys put one over on the people trying to use him.

Posted by: Bert at January 20, 2012 1:38 PM

I think the steamroom fight scene in Eastern Promises could be included. Viggo's tattoos speak volumes for his character and they are all bared in this scene. I don't think the action is gratuitous either, so after the thrill of the scene is over we can think about the other meanings of the scene.

Posted by: pausner at January 20, 2012 1:38 PM

finally- Eastwood vs Hackman and his cronies in the Unforgiven

Posted by: Keith at January 20, 2012 1:39 PM

Pausner - you just like the meat and potatoes in that scene dont you?

Posted by: Keith at January 20, 2012 1:40 PM

There's a Korean flick, The Man From Nowhere, that is completely vindicated by its final knife-fight, in a truly epic, "did you just see that?" way.

Clip on Youtube

And, just about every fight scene for Ip Man.

Posted by: malikvlc at January 20, 2012 1:43 PM

I agree with you, Pausner, and I almost listed it, but I worried that I was not invested enough in the thugs who beat Viggo. I also worried that this was low-hanging fruit (o just stop) for me, given my penchant for Viggo.

Posted by: klingonfree at January 20, 2012 1:44 PM

"I want you to hit me as hard as you can." I'll third lillie's suggestion.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at January 20, 2012 1:46 PM

Maximus vs. Commodus in Gladiator. I don't care what anyone says, I will always love that movie and that final fight is so cathartic no matter how many times I watch it. Commodus is such a cowardly, slimy fuck and it makes my heart smile to see the light go out of his eyes as Maximus introduces his dagger to his throat.

Posted by: LaRhue at January 20, 2012 1:48 PM

Sean Penn in Bad Boys from 1983.

It's go the cheesy marketing of that kind of film from that time. But Penn's preparation in the lockdown, knowing there's an assassination attempt coming starts a visual sequence that's cheese-free.

During the fight, Penn physically transitions between forbearance and absolute viciousness several times. It's also not the cliche "gentle man fighting because he has to." Nor is it all communicated by Speilberg-face.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 20, 2012 1:50 PM

Man, it's so difficult to choose with Fight Club! I love the fight betweeen the narrator and Jared Leto if only for the statement, "I wanted to destroy something beautiful." It's such an honest admission. Who has never felt that way?

Posted by: lubeg at January 20, 2012 1:54 PM

What if I get really DEEP on you guys? :)

The final showdown between Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgin and Morbius's monster from the id in Forbidden Planet. It's not a conventional fight scene, but it is an interesting conflict/struggle which really gets to the core of Pidgin's Morbius.

Posted by: lubeg at January 20, 2012 1:58 PM

I was starting to get a little peeved that Viggo vs the mobsters in Eastern Promises wasn't on there. As well as the bar room fight in Shane. But then Karate Kid was on there and my insides squealed with joy and all was forgiven.

Posted by: Lucas at January 20, 2012 2:03 PM

It's hard to choose a particular one from Clockwork Orange.

I think I'll go with the second half of the opening scene. There's music and voice over and other film-y stuff, BUT there's a real and escalating physical menace among all the characters the whole time. It's a fight without a lot of hitting.

/spoilers/ Alex finally thwacks Dim with his cane but they've been "fighting" all along. The crew has also been physically menacing the other folks in the bar. The way the characters respond physically it's clear this is a pack of predators, despite the sophisto setting and articulate narration.

The actual droog fight later is just "the continuation of politics by other means."

Thing is, there's a lot about character in nearly every bit of the old ultra-violence in that movie. The two home assaults and the rumble aren't that interesting because we already know all that. You learn something from the way the homeless herd becomes a pack when they can or the thorough opportunistic violence of Alex's former droogs become police.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 20, 2012 2:03 PM

Re: Keith - I thought I wouldn't have to add that detail. It should go without saying that everybody likes the meat and potatoes in the scene

Re: klingonfree - a lotof the scenes that made the cut are one-sided character baring fights. The intro scene in Casino Royale, for example, shows nothing of the character of the opponent of Bond (or I've forgotten the context of the scene)

Posted by: Pausner at January 20, 2012 2:05 PM

I was scared there for a minute that you'd failed to include the lightsabre duel from Empire; but, of course, my fears were totally unfounded.

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at January 20, 2012 2:07 PM

Bittersweet Life fight was pretty cool.

Posted by: googergieger at January 20, 2012 2:08 PM

*making my way through the list*

*thinking to myself: "Uh huh...uh huh...Where is it?"*

*thinking: "It's still not here!"*

*prepping fingers for obligatory comment outrage at worst omission in Pajiba list history*

*internal relief: "SIGH. It's here."*

Just one minor outrage - Youtube pulls my ten-second extremely innocuous clip but leaves five whole minutes of the film's most famous scene available for the world? Bah.

And besides Empire Strikes Back, great list!

Although I do agree with a couple comments above: replace Sherlock Holmes with Rob Roy.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at January 20, 2012 2:09 PM

Viggo in the bathhouse in Eastern Promises ane the entire town in Blazing Saddles.

Posted by: Bob Frapples at January 20, 2012 2:12 PM

Pausner, you are so right. I sit corrected.

One more: Com Meaney beating the shit out of Mr. X in Layer Cake. He beats him with the help of the chest freezer filled with fish and ice. And you love BOTH of these guys and you understand why they are fighting. And in the next scene, Mr. X's face is a mess.

Actually Layer Cake has a couple good ones.

Posted by: klingonfree at January 20, 2012 2:12 PM

And thank you for the Cowboy Bebop shoutout. *tingles with a case of the warm fuzzies*

Posted by: Bob Frapples at January 20, 2012 2:17 PM

These are all great choices. I suspect we will need a few lists, however.

BierceAmbrose, Bad Boys is a fantastic movie. That scene is amazing. Clancy Brown is always great.

Posted by: Sean at January 20, 2012 2:48 PM

The multiple versions of the sword fight from Rashomon are interesting as well, as the different views of the fight itself are driven by how the characters saw themselves & others.

Posted by: Brendan at January 20, 2012 3:07 PM

Mickey from Snatch all 3, but most especially the when he knocks out Gorgeous George.

Posted by: Alexis at January 20, 2012 3:09 PM

Blade Runner! The fight scene between Deckard and Batty.

Posted by: MRod at January 20, 2012 3:53 PM

Holy shit, malikvlc, you're not kidding. That fight scene was some serious shit. Is the movie any good?

Posted by: Ghisent at January 20, 2012 4:04 PM

Another vote for Viggo in EP.

Posted by: sasha at January 20, 2012 4:11 PM

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

High-five for including this.

Posted by: Lauren at January 20, 2012 4:21 PM

Really? No one is going to say Raiders of the Lost Ark?

The scene when Indy fights the hulking German (stunt man Pat Roach) under the Flying Wing. One of the greatest fight scenes on film. Indy starts off going in to it with some confidence then gets his ass handed to him when he gets knocked to the ground. As the fight continues, and the danger to Marion grows, Indy gets more and more desperate and enraged. What starts as just another fight for Indy becomes a life and death struggle that perfect encapsulates everything great about the character; he won't quit, and he won't give up. And this in turn seems to piss off the mechanic who seemed to think this was going to be an easy fight and has been anything but.

Those final 3 punches Indy throws portray Indy as the most ferocious we've yet seen him in the movie. He is putting everything he has left into them and when he gets hit AGAIN and knocked down, he still gets ready to get up just before the propellar takes care of it for him. Rather than watch his enemy get pureed he buries his face into the ground so he doesn't have to see it.

You going to tell me that's not a character driven fight?

Posted by: TylerDFC at January 20, 2012 4:46 PM

Nolte. Murphy. 48 Hours.

(SMH with a garbage can, FFS)

Posted by: bsmechanic at January 20, 2012 5:01 PM

How could I forget Blade Runner?!? Thanks for the reminder MRod.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 20, 2012 5:41 PM

FUCK YEAH Cowboy Bebop! Gets no love 'round these parts. Till now!

Posted by: ChristianH at January 20, 2012 5:51 PM

Am I really the only person who hated the fight scene in The Bourne Supremacy? Tightly shot, shaky cam, and both characters in black. A close quarter, kill or be killed fight between two killers should be great but the way it is shot is just terrible.

I also agree that the Snatch fight should be on the list. Without it you don't have the Sherlock Holmes fight.

Posted by: PB3 at January 20, 2012 5:53 PM

Gotta agree with Fredo:

"- Neo vs Agent Smith in The Matrix
- Mal vs The Operative in Serenity
- The Narrator vs Tyler Durden in Fight Club"

Methinks Sanjuro fails at your list requirements. Though I understand the whole 'unable to commit' non-fight says a lot about both, there was a lot of talking going on there.

Posted by: Protoguy at January 20, 2012 5:54 PM

Jet Li versus his alternate universe ego in The One

Posted by: Feynmangroupie at January 20, 2012 6:06 PM

Nice, one, Tyler! I always take that fight scene for granted, but you're 100% right!

This thread is [awesome].

Posted by: lubeg at January 20, 2012 6:30 PM

So glad you included They Live.
I was going to hurt somebody if it weren't there.

Posted by: The Kilted Yaksman at January 20, 2012 7:10 PM

Five minute uncut fight scene, anyone? Nobody will know this movie, I'd guess, and I haven't seen it myself, but the fight scene is really something. It's like ballet, just with more dislocated shoulders.

One high five each for Bob Frapples, Lauren and ChristianH, and thanks to Rob for the inclusion of Spike Spiegel. There can never be too much Cowboy Bebop love.

Posted by: Rooks at January 20, 2012 8:07 PM

In Sanjuro, Mifuni did not know about the blood bladder in his opponents chest. Kurosawa wanted a real reaction when it burst, and that is what he got. A lesser man and actor would have jumped and screamed. All hail two geniuses at their crafts.

Posted by: Chuck Vekert at January 20, 2012 10:05 PM

I'd say the definitive Bourne fight scene is the one where he escapes Italian customs ... purely business and very efficient.

I would also offer these:

- the 'bring your son to work' saber duel from Return of the Jedi

- say what you will about the rest of the movie, but Ray Park was amazing at the end of Star Wars Episode I

- and let us not forget Big Daddy conveying to Frank D'Amico that anything between them was fair game

Posted by: Johnnyboy at January 20, 2012 10:20 PM

Oh yeah ...

and Liam Neeson's airport arrival in Taken:

also known as Not Without My Daughter ... Bad Muthafucka edition

Posted by: Johnnyboy at January 20, 2012 10:23 PM

I decided to tick everyone off and introduce some lighter fare - Zorro (Antonio Banderas) vs Elena. Dance sequence AND sword fight. I dare ANYONE to tell me that dance wasn't a frickin' battle!

AND to add more irritation to the pot - Achilles vs Hector in "Troy". Beautiful stuff. G'night folks!

Posted by: Four Eyes at January 20, 2012 11:10 PM

Excellent choice rooks. from the same film, I present
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bizrduWSCDI&feature=related
wherein our hero must fight some giants and in order to even the odds makes use of some elephant bones.
Any other description would be an injustice.

Posted by: AngelArm45 at January 21, 2012 1:23 AM

Hey Rooks that is Tony Jaa in The Protector He is definitely worth watching. He is a Thai superstar. He is probably best known in the States for Ong-Bak. The Wu Tang Clan are big fans. The Protector was released here as a Quentin Tarantino Presents I do believe. Great one to bring up.

Posted by: PB3 at January 21, 2012 1:43 AM

Props for putting up the Cowboy Bepop fight scene. In Anime the character dont need to pull their punches nor do we need the tricky camera angles. And I also loved the Old Boy fight scene. All taken in one long continuous shot.

Posted by: Muteki at January 21, 2012 2:35 AM

My daughter's name is Mallory. Innit pretty?

Posted by: kirbyjay at January 21, 2012 6:14 AM

The final battle in Children of Men. Sure, Clive Owen wasn't directly involved in the fighting, but the presence of the baby and reaction of the soldiers was pretty incredible.

Posted by: Waelsch at January 21, 2012 11:19 AM

You left out a great one:

Ed Norton, "Fight Club": Jack beats the shit out of HIMSELF in front of his boss and walks off with a cartload of cool gear.

Posted by: , at January 21, 2012 11:53 AM

ACK! lillie was on it way up there.

Memo to self: Read comments before posting.

Posted by: , at January 21, 2012 11:54 AM

... wherein our hero must fight some giants and in order to even the odds makes use of some elephant bones.

That's not realistic. Any white belt Karate student knows, you don't hand your opponent an elephant in the middle of a fight.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at January 21, 2012 12:17 PM

The Battle of Rock Ridge scene from Blazing Saddles. Great characters, beating the snot out of each other.

Gabby Johnson killing one baddie with his breath.

The parson kneeing one guy in the cojones and screaming, "Forgive me, Lord!"

Madeline Kahn and the Germans, singing.

And then the movie breaks the fourth wall -literally, and crashes into Dom de Luise's production of 'The French Mistake.'

Posted by: The Wanderer at January 21, 2012 2:30 PM

I third Mal vs The Operative in Serenity
As for other lists: Best character-driven fight scenes in TV shows? (To include Buffy vs. Angelus season 2 finale) (eat it Cindy).
Off to drink some more Whedon-aid.

Posted by: kucheza at January 21, 2012 3:09 PM

Definitely have to second the Mickey vs. Gorgeous George fight from Snatch. Great build up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG_Nwp0wZc0

Also, Bond vs. Red Grant in From Russia With Love.

Shows the brutal side of Bond. Love how he fixes his tie afterwards and drops the one-liner, regaining his suave composure. One of the best fight scenes in cinema period:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b10MvNfvoWM

Posted by: nur_i at January 21, 2012 3:13 PM

Very nice list.

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Posted by: albert at January 21, 2012 5:04 PM

Bruce Lee vs the Japanese Dojo - Chinese Connection

Ripley vs The Queen Alien - Aliens

The final fight scene in Legend of the Drunken Master

Superman vs General Zod and his minions

Hit Girl's first appearance - Kick Ass

Battle of the Pelennor Fields - LOTR - Return of The King

The Highlander vs The Kurgan

Freddy vs Jason

Posted by: John W at January 22, 2012 1:54 AM

This list was fantastic, but I agree with the others when they argue about Eastern Promises not being on there. That's the greatest fight scene of all time. Rob Roy and Fight Club (Norton fighting with himself) are great ones too.

Posted by: Theseus at January 22, 2012 2:34 PM

Good call on Rob Roy.

The fight between Ivanhoe and de Bois-Guilbert in the BBC series around '96 was great. That series was around 5 hours capped by this great duel...

Posted by: JJ at January 22, 2012 10:30 PM

Ralphie vs. Scut Farkas.

Posted by: , at January 23, 2012 1:56 AM

Great props for mentioning Cowboy Bebop.

In addition to Fight Club and The Matrix, I'd like to add these:

13 Assassins - Shinzaemon vs Hanbei & Lord Naritsugu
Ninja Scroll - Jubei vs Himuro Gemma

Both are truly climactically epic character driven fight scenes.

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Posted by: Emma at January 23, 2012 8:47 AM

merlin vs. mim :-)

Posted by: superkind at January 23, 2012 12:52 PM

No "Kung Fu Hustle" love, y'all? Bummer.

Posted by: Sara at January 23, 2012 3:42 PM

Swordfight between Tony Curtis and Ross Martin towards the end of "The Great Race".

Tony = Good Guy
Ross = Bad Guy

Awesome with foils and then sabres.

-Ralphie

Posted by: Ralphie at January 23, 2012 4:38 PM

Also glad to see Cowboy Bebop getting some love on the site.

And I hate the prequels as much as anyone but I still really enjoyed the Obi-Wan vs. Anakin fight. (You were the chosen one!)

Posted by: Coltrane at January 23, 2012 6:29 PM

"The Big Country," in which Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston beat the crap out of each other on the open prairie for what is probably hours. Also one of Burl Ives's best performances, for those of you who think he's just a talking snowman.

Posted by: KateNonymous at January 23, 2012 7:11 PM

Yeah, I'm gonna include V for Vendetta here.

Posted by: PP Matter at January 24, 2012 6:18 AM

How about character-driven sex scenes as the next list? I nominate the sex scenes in A History of Violence between Viggo and Maria Bello

Posted by: Jay at January 24, 2012 8:38 AM

King Kong versus the T-Rex (original, of course)

Posted by: sherlockzz at January 24, 2012 1:10 PM

Paul Newman vs. George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke.

Posted by: Eukodol at January 24, 2012 2:21 PM

Never mind. There it is!

Posted by: euko at January 24, 2012 2:22 PM

The barroom fight in Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a real standout. Hasn't anyone on this list seen that great film?

Posted by: Martimus Maximus at January 24, 2012 8:14 PM

OK, How about -

The final fight scene in Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze.

Posted by: Fletch at January 26, 2012 1:41 AM

Also, what about -

Blind Fury with Rutger Hauer playing a blind swordsman.

Posted by: Fletch at January 26, 2012 2:08 AM

You have finally forced a sentence:

The greatest sword fight ever? Rathbone and Flynn from Adventure of Robinhood. It has never been matched. Especially the shadows.

Posted by: Zigzagzoot at January 28, 2012 11:05 AM

The 15 Best Character-Driven Fight Scenes In Movies - just great!

Posted by: world clock at February 7, 2012 7:42 PM