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Poll: Best Action Movie by a First-Time Director?

A poll by JackSlater4.
When it comes to action cinema, it's typical that a director with a lot of experience is brought on board who can be trusted to helm the complicated stunts, fights, chases, explosions, pratfalls and what have you that make up the genre. Just occasionally, however, we get to see a filmmaker come right out of the gate with an action movie and, if not always a classic, it's pretty much guaranteed to be a fascinating watch. Which is the greatest action debut?

Please discuss here.

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Make Your Choice

  1. Vote!

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

    First film directed by Peter R. Hunt
  2. Vote!

    The Hammer of God (1970)

  3. Vote!

    Get Carter (1971)

    First film directed by Mike Hodges
  4. Vote!

    The Way of the Dragon (1972)

    First and only film directed by Bruce Lee
  5. Vote!

    Super Fly (1972)

    First film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr.
  6. Vote!

    Dolemite (1975)

    First film directed by D'Urville Martin
  7. Vote!

    The Enforcer (1976)

    First film directed by James Fargo
  8. Vote!

    Mad Max (1979)

    First film directed by George Miller
  9. Vote!

    For Your Eyes Only (1981)

    First film directed by John Glen
  10. Vote!

    Action Jackson (1988)

    First film directed by Craig R. Baxley
  11. Vote!

    Lionheart (1990)

    First film directed by Sheldon Lettich
  12. Vote!

    New Jack City (1991)

    First film directed by Mario Van Peebles
  13. Vote!

    El Mariachi (1992)

    First film directed by Robert Rodriguez
  14. Vote!

    Harry Brown (2009)

    First film directed by Daniel Barber
  15. Vote!

    Demolition Man (1993)

    First film directed by Marco Brambilla
  16. Vote!

    On Deadly Ground (1994)

    First and, so far, only film directed by Steven Seagal
  17. Vote!

    Speed (1994)

    First film directed by Jan de Bont
  18. Vote!

    Bad Boys (1995)

    First film directed by Michael Bay
  19. Vote!

    Executive Decision (1996)

    First film directed by Stuart Baird
  20. Vote!

    The Quest (1996)

    First film directed by Jean-Claude Van Damme
  21. Vote!

    Con Air (1997)

    First film directed by Simon West
  22. Vote!

    The Replacement Killers (1998)

    First film directed by Antoine Fuqua
  23. Vote!

    The Boondock Saints (1999)

    First film directed by Troy Duffy
  24. Vote!

    Dog Soldiers (2002)

    First film directed by Neil Marshall
  25. Vote!

    District B13 (2004)

    First film directed by Pierre Morel
  26. Vote!

    V for Vendetta (2005)

    First film directed by James McTeigue
  27. Vote!

    Layer Cake (2004)

    First film directed by Matthew Vaughn
  28. Vote!

    Brick (2005)

    First film directed by Rian Johnson
  29. Vote!

    Mission: Impossible III (2006)

    First film directed by J.J. Abrams
  30. Vote!

    Crank (2006)

    First film directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
  31. Vote!

    Merantau (2009)

    First film directed by Gareth Evans
  32. Vote!

    John Wick (2014)

    First film directed by Chad Stahelski (co-directed with an uncredited David Leitch)
  33. Vote!

    Atomic Blonde (2017)

    First (credited) film directed by David Leitch
  34. Vote!

    Den of Thieves (2018)

    First film directed by Christian Gudegast
  35. Vote!

    Extraction (2020)

    First film directed by Sam Hargrave

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