Top Ten Best Nightclub Action Sequences
Nightclubs are a place to mingle, dance your ass off, make out or relax depending your preference. No matter what you choose though, if you happen to find yourself in the “Red Circle”, “Himmel und Hölle” or in one of Frost’s forbidden gatherings, you are in for the f(r)ight of your life. Floors where bodies are in close proximity to each other are used to stage violent, hyperkinetic action sequences and bloodbaths; an excuse to further indulge audiences on super cool (albeit electro) music during a vicious assault.
Interestingly enough, there has not been a huge number of films interested to craft a set piece within the limited setting of a nightclub mainly because such an endeavor involves a bigger budget to cover for many extras, the meticulously planned stuntwork and related logistics. Furthermore, it is hard for an actual club to be used as the stigma of a massacre might keep away actual patrons compelling filmmakers to create a fake one instead. But what makes a good club action moment any good? We delve into the best ones to find out; from the self-censored 80s all the way to 2020s. Brawls in bars (e.g., “Desperado“ (1995)”, “From Dusk till Dawn” (1996), “Serenity“ (2005)), pubs (e.g., “Kingsman: The Secret Service“ (2014)), or lounges (e.g., “Rush Hour 2“ (2001)) are excluded as well as any club scenes of limited length (e.g., “Scarface“ (1983), “Terminator” (1984)).
10. Exit Wounds (2001)
Soundtrack: Unable to find
The second from last of Steven Seagal flicks (the other being “Half Past Dead” (2002)) to be a commercial success before his theatrical release hiatus till Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete” (2010) nine years later finds the “stoic” and unbeatable Aikido grandmaster in the bizarre genre mix of urban rap and martial arts which dominated the early noughties (e.g., “Romeo Must Die” (2000), “Kiss of the Dragon” (2001), “Cradle 2 the Grave” (2003)). Although this bore some relative appeal to the audiences then, it has been forgotten by pretty much everyone. “Exit Wounds” might be mediocre at best but watching Seagal doing silly wire fu in Anthony Anderson’s (blunt) nightclub is more entertaining than it sounds; a last reminder of Seagal’s martial arts background even though his increasing weight, age and persistence to be taken as the ultimate fighting god tears down any chances to go easy on him. Who knew that ragdolling bouncers against the laws of physics makes for a hilarious indoor night with a slice of pizza?
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9. Tron: Legacy (2010)
Soundtrack: Daft Punk - End of Line/Derezzed
After an almost 30 year wait and before Hollywood started cashing in the legacy sequel trend, the second “Tron” (1982) film was a decent albeit dazzling stab to kickstart this series. Boasting sensational visuals this delicious style over substance movie deserves a lot of love. Amidst all the eye candy, there is an unexpected fight in the End of Line club run by the charismatic Michael Sheen who channels his inner David Bowie persona. With Sam Flynn attempting to contact this dubious algorithm, little does he know that programs these days have their own nefarious agendas. What begins as a beautiful introduction to a stunning display of production/costume design and cinematography with low-fi beats by the movie’s composers Daft Punk, quickly denigrates into a skirmish for survival as CLU’s loyal digits descent from above. Suddently, Quorra jumps into Sam’s rescue in a glorious slo-mo shot invoking Zeus’ mockery and wrath. Despite not being a standout choreography wise, Daft Punk’s musical landscape of superb pseudo 80s synth beats matches the scene’s notes perfectly.
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8. The Raid 2 (2014)
Soundtrack: Bonus club track/Original score/Handel - Sarabande
Opening in a long crane shot that captures the entire setting, Gareth Evans is invested in utilizing new locations for staging martial arts carnage and this time, a club seems to be the perfect candidate. Offering clear geographic awareness for the audience amidst a kick-ass techno track (courtesy of the film’s co-composer Fajar Yuskemal), we watch the conversation between Prakoso’s loyal assassin and soon-to-be-Judas Uco. As Uco excuses himself to go to the bathroom (a thing you do when you stage a coup), the camera lingers on Prakoso’s face to alter dynamically population wise the environment around him. Much to his surprise, Prakoso is alone and ambushed. Yayan Ruhian - the previous antagonist in “The Raid” (2011) - sells every vicious attempt to fight and kill an unlimited army of disposable goons under impeccable and brutal moves and nasty stuntwork. While the scene does not add much to the overall story, it is an entertaining break from the all the double and triple cross-overs occurring in the background culminating in a poetic death while Handel’s Sarabande lingers on the speakers.
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7. The Crow (1994)
Soundtrack: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult - After the Flesh
The tragic “Crow” became a 90s defining motion picture and a testament of gothic style of substance. Needless to say a story taking place solely at night involving gangs, revenge, murder, industrial looks and a powered up metal soundtrack does require some sort of set piece to occur within the confinements of a club. The club in question is under the villain’s - Top Dollar - headquarters and it looks exactly what you expect from a lair that features live performances from Medicine and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. The latter is responsible for the musical dressing of Eric Draven’s battle with all of Top Dollar’s henchmen in his exquisitely designed monochromatic warehouse loft. After a superb monologue filled with zingers and one liners (“Greed is for amateurs; disorder, chaos, anarchy…now that’s fun!“), guns, Uzis and swords are all available for the “unwilling” participants to kill Eric. It’s not a technical marvel like other entries but the film’s complementing elements (e.g., characters, music) elevate it remarkably. While technically it does not take place inside the club, the music from below is cool enough to give the ongoing action momentum.
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6. In the Line of Duty II (Royal Warriors - 1986)
Soundtrack: Romeo Diaz - Original Score
By far the best entry in the “In the Line of Duty” (1986-1991) franchise seen as an ambassador of the girls with (lots of) guns subgenre, it sees Michelle Yeoh teaming up with (a very young) Hiroyuki Sanada to take down a quadrant of buddies. And of course one of the much anticipated face-offs happens - you guessed it - into a club/bar. Coming with an semi-automatic gun in a place of dry martinis and whiskeys is never not a good idea resulting to some pretty horrifying public mayhem as patrons are notoriously (and mercilessly) gunned down. When everyone runs out of ammo amidst a sea of bodies and shattered glass, the appealing Yeoh/(especially)Sanada duo conduct some pretty nifty feats of body work to take this bastard down once and for all in a now destroyed environment. While it might be banal in terms of direction and music lacking the panache of American filmmaking, it packs a visceral sentiment in its pitch perfect editing. It is peak Hong Kong cinema with an always reliable action staging which made this industry the legend that is today.
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5. Collateral (2004)
Soundtrack: Paul Oakenfold - Ready Steady Go (remix)
It’s been a decade since Tom Cruise played a villain - the vampire Lestat - in Neil Jordan’s “Interview with the Vampire” (1994). Vincent is the polar opposite of Lestat, a methodological hitman burdened by a morally ambiguous philosophy invoking the right balance of menace and charisma. Towards the middle act, Vincent has to enter a packed L.A. crowd pleaser to assassinate his target. Mann shoots at disorienting close ups in appropriately dark cinematography showcasing all the key players - FBI, security detail, Vincent, Max, the target - in this incoming crash while Oakenfold’s “Ready Steady Go” is engulfing the sound design. Mann distances himself from flashy shenanigans focusing instead on the human and more realistic element. As we wonder whether Vincent will succeed, we can’t help but root for him. He dispatches effortlessly bodyguards through three hit combos surrounded by a sea of dancing unknowns which obscures his lethal activities. Mann makes us work for the incoming action sequence by seeing the (relentless) devil at work but it all goes south and a bloodbath quickly ensues.
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4. Havoc (2025)
Soundtrack: Gesaffelstein - Obsession/Pursuit/OPR/Hate or Glory
Another Gareth Evans’ entry, the much delayed “Havoc” might seen as a rather underwhelming crime flick considering its potential. Nevertheless, it still boasts an incredible action moment inside a massive club, easily the movie’s highlight. Following a similar pattern to number 8, Evans’ camera accompanies Tom Hardy’s cop in a lengthy shot in an underground techno dungeon until it pans to the girl everyone is after. Through some of the greatest Gesaffelstein’s hits, the triad and the corrupt cops arrive to “deal” with the witness and this is when Evans finally lets loose. While the character dynamics are meagre, the action is sensational and visceral, an orgy of violence through meticulous crafted body combat and horrifying stunt work that reaches pornographic levels of gratuity - people become Swiss cheese sculptures, meat cleavers severe arteries and bodies fly through glasses and tables. The army of henchmen and available ammo is at a videogame level (i.e., it never ends) dressed by a hypersaturated cinematography that gives “Havoc” a further visual edge against other contemporary crime films.
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3. John Wick (2014)
Soundtrack: Le Castle Vania - LED Spirals/Shots Fired
The movie which reinvented the action genre in the 2010s along with “The Raid”, Keanu Reeves’ slick and cosy neo noir revenge tale exploded on the big screens. Its lead had faded away from the public light until he wore the gorgeous suit that granted him another pop culture icon (the other being Neo), the stoic and puppy loving assassin. This rather poignant tale of grief, sorrow and vengeance unfolds an outworld full of mobsters and assassins inside a gorgeously lit New York City. As John tracks Joseph in the dance floors of the Red Circle, things changed action cinema forever. What starts with stealthy kills becomes the film’s key set piece where John plows his way through an army of bodyguards efficiently. Le Castle Vania’s “LED Spirals” is an indicator of greater things to come continuing with “Shots Fired” which is nothing sort of a perfect for wide-framed headshot gunplay and awesome jiu-jitsu in real time without any no stunt doubles. Keanu is really John Wick in every way possible supported by a marvel of pragmatic choreography paying homage to 80s Hong Kong cinema as opposed to the lazy crap US blockbusters do.
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2. John Wick Chapter 4 (2023)
Soundtrack: Le Castle Vania - Blood Code/A long way to go/Wetwork
Just when you thought the “John Wick” (2014-2023) franchise might be running out of steam, “Chapter 4” put these doubts to rest by receiving critical acclaim and worldwide success. By far, it is the best in the series featuring incredibly ambitious sequences. One of these includes a massive set piece inside a spectacularly designed club named “Himmel und Hole” overseen by Killa (a Scott Adkins in a fat suit). As John pursues his opponent in this nefarious lair under again Le Castle Vania’s “Blood Code” (which can cause the speakers to explode), Stahelski’s camera reveals in glorious slo mo Killa’s kingdom in all of its glory, captured in stunning and hypersaturated cinematography by Dan Laustsen: waterfalls, neoclassic statues, industrial fans, flames and night owls who continue to dance despite the ongoing mayhem around them. Of course Killa won’t go down without a fight, thus leading to a clash full of axes, guns and a surprisingly agile for his weight mini-boss. The creators do not opt out from creative kills gracing us with gorgeous shot after gorgeous shot of visceral stuntwork and choreography cementing the reputation of “Chapter 4” as the most beautiful action film ever made.
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1. Blade (1998)
Soundtrack: New Order - Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction mix)/Junkie Xl’s Dealing with the Roster
Stephen Norrington’s “Blade” was something unexpected. Taking its source material seriously while mocking any established vampire mythos that came before, “Blade” was cool before “The Matrix” (1999) used leather capes, slo-mo, bullet time and techno soundtrack. Norrington does not mince his words and right off the start, goes for the jugular. A couple enters a secret and dodgy meat factory (?) to go to a rave party. For some inexplicable reason, New Order’s Confusion does exactly what its name suggests disorienting the viewer and pushing us to ignore subtle clues. Under a hypnotic cinematography by Theo van de Sande, the actual party reaches a climax that sees sprinklers spraying blood. The reveal of this vampire “nest” revolutionized the monster’s lore remaining to this a day a powerful R-rated image. Our introduction to this bloody mess ends abruptly when Blade comes in and s**t hits the fan. Norrington switches gears to action with shotguns, silver stakes, semi-auto pistols, a sword and a lethal boomerang will have you breathlessly staying in your seat. While its dusty special effects are a bit old, they became a staple of movie visuals for the years to come, implemented to this day.
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