Action heroes are, by definition, meant to be young and athletic. But ask any movie buff to name their favourite tough guy and he will most certainly be 50-plus. Whatever the reason, it appears that these aged men are beating more baddies on the big screen than those who are decades younger than them. So what makes them so popular?
1. Minting Money
Schwarzenegger’s ‘Terminator Genisys’ got a lukewarm response at the US box-office, but crossed over the $ 435 million-mark globally. The same pattern was followed by Schwarzenegger and Stallone’s ‘Escape Plan.’ The 2013 movie earned just $25 million locally, leading many critics to label it a damp squib. But it went on to earn $110 million overseas. Likewise, the 2013 release ‘A Good Day to Die Hard’ (starring Bruce Willis) fizzled in the US with just $67 million, but raked in $237 million from foreign territories. And we are not even talking about the biggies of Hollywood — Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise — both of whom, are again, above 50.
2.The Rough-Tough Look
The wrinkles, grey hair and jokes about arthritis are not enough to deter the fans. We like to see our heroes vulnerable too. Weary and broken-down are favourable qualities because they add rawness and grittiness to the story. And if there is a hint of a paunch, so be it. There is less excitement in watching a 25-year-old hunk with a glamorous physique taking down baddies. We want Liam Neeson with his baritone voice warning goons about his “particular set of skills”. It’s these skills that allow us to believe a 63-year-old man can be a bona fide action hero. The audience never views aging as a disease or some sort of hindrance. In fact, it makes the stars look tougher. Aging is seen as a source of wisdom and endurance.
3.Character Lives On!
Apart from Jason Statham, Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), no new young action star has come along to replace the old ones. So we continue to have regular actors like Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Chris Evans and Daniel Craig who are a part of all the movies in their action franchise. Also, the action that we see nowadays is primarily driven by special effects – like we watch in numerous superhero flicks. There are only a handful of filmmakers who are giving the audience a taste of hand-to-hand combat. This vacuum gave an opportunity to actors such as Stallone to get back in the game. He responded by creating ‘The Expendables’ franchise. They don’t need fancy gadgets or healing powers – a never-say-die attitude coupled with an ordinary revolver will suffice.
4.Liam Neeson – The Man Who Started It All
Actors who didn’t start as action heroes suddenly developed a strong penchant for hard core action in their middle age. The trend began in 2008 with ‘Taken’. It starred a then 56-year-old Liam Neeson as a former CIA operative in search of his kidnapped daughter. The movie with a very basic storyline surprised everyone. The action thriller which was made on a shoestring budget of $25 million garnered more than $226 million at the box office. This was followed by ‘Taken 2’ (2012) and ‘Taken 3’ (2015). Both were huge hits. ‘Taken’ was a turning point in Neeson’s career. It established him as an international action icon. It’s worth noting that Neeson was earlier known for his acumen in drama-centric movies such as Oscar winning ‘Schindler’s List’, ‘Kinsey’ and ‘Michael Collins.’
Other actors who followed his cue are Denzel Washington (‘Book of Eli’, ‘Unstoppable’, ‘Safe House’, ‘2 Guns’ and ‘The Equalizer’), Sean Penn (‘The Gunman’) and Kevin Costner (‘3 Days to Kill’).
Students' Take
Actors such as Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone prove that there is no limit to an actor’s action career. These stars are brand names in the world of action and their charm endures from one generation to the next.
- Mridula Subramanyam, class IX, Apeejay School, Mumbai
I like watching Tom Cruise in the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise, as all the movies in this series provide a pure adrenaline rush. These stars keep you on the edge of your seat.
- Neel Mulay, class VIII, Greenwood High, Bengaluru
Senior actors like Schwarzenegger and Stallone cater to the changing tastes of teenagers who always expect something new from action movies. For example, Tom Cruise fulfils all our expectations and this is the reason why he is a leading action star even at the age of 53!
- Sreejeta Datta, class VIII, Indus Valley World School, Kolkata