When you look around the multiplex today, you see a roster of action heroes that look nothing alike. When you went to see an action flick in the ’80s or ’90s, no matter who was starring in the film, you saw the same oiled pecks belonging to a tall, dark, and generally silent square-jawed white male. The prototypical action hero in those days rose up from the ranks of bodybuilding, martial arts, and B-movies to seize their moment basking in the glow of exploding high-rises.
Today’s action heroes are defined by their difference. Not only do they look nothing like one another, but they come from wildly differing backgrounds. 2014’s action heroes come from some strange places indeed. If at the dawn of the 21st century, you predicted that the next batch of action stars would come from films like Ghost World, Schindler’s List, Chaplin, and Good Will Hunting, you would have been laughed out of the comment thread. A look at the world of today’s action movies, with its rich variety of performers, offers some interesting lessons about the action genre, film, and the world around us. Here are 10 Lessons to Learn From the Next Generation of Action Heroes.