Best 15 Steven Seagal Movies

Born in Lansing, Michigan on April 10, 1952, Steven Frederic Seagal is an actor, screenwriter, and martial artist. Having a 7th-dan black belt in aikido, Seagal has also been a martial arts instructor managing his father-in-law’s dojo and later opened up his dojo in Los Angeles.

Also Read: Jackie Chan Movies

As an actor, his career started with his debut in the 1988’s Above the Law as  Sergeant Nicolo “Nico” Toscani. By 1991 he starred in Out for Justice, Marked for Death, and Hard to Kill. In 1992, he starred in Under Siege as a counter-terrorist expert, Casey Rayback. Thereon, Seagal starred in several action-genre movies. Besides his acting career, Seagal has also produced two studio albums as a guitarist.

top Steven Seagal Movies

Best 15 Steven Seagal Movies

  1. Out for Justice

    Director: John Flynn

    Writer: R. Lance Hill

    Stars: Steven Seagal, William Forsythe, Jerry Orbach

    Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

     Out for Justice (1991) on IMDb

    An elegant blend of machoness, action, and cop-in-action. The ponytailed action star has yet again taken his fans aback simply with his awesomeness. Out for Justice is a simple but entertaining revenge story about NYPD detective Gino Felino.

    Gino is committed to his neighborhood but things go wrong when his childhood friend and colleague Bobby is murdered in broad daylight. As Bobby’s family witnesses his death at the hands of Richie (a drug addict who grew up with Gino and Bobby), Gino has no choice but to bring the murderer to justice.

    As simple as it seems, Gino has yet to uncover the dark truth his best friend was hiding all along. The very underrated John Flynn made a decent attempt to direct an actioner.

  2. Under Siege

    Director: Andrew Davis

    Writer: J.F. Lawton

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Gary Busey, Tommy Lee Jones

    Genres: Action, Thriller

     Under Siege (1992) on IMDb

    Being a newcomer to Seagal’s fandom, it’s hard to decide on his film collection. Even if you are looking for a quick-actioner and are not a huge fan of Steven, Under Siege is the perfect go-to movie to change your mind. With Chicago Director Andy Davis creating the intense suspense and tension with every moving plot, Scagel has once again shown his brawn-build machoness, this time as Chief Petty Officer Casey Ryback.

    Ryback has been posted as a culinary specialist on the USS Missouri in the celebration of Commanding Officer Captain Adam’s birthday against the interests of Executive Commanding Officer Krill. After getting provoked, causing a brief brawl, Ryback is detained in a freezer by Krill.

    Subsequently, former CIA agent William Stranpix with Krill’s help successfully infiltrates and hijacks the battleship with a band of mercenaries (dressed as caterers). Later, Bybask is revealed to be a suspended Navy SEAL and was personally hired by Captain Adams, which Krill was completely unaware of.

    Heavily trained in counter-terrorism tactics, Ryback now has to use his skills to take back the ship and save others.

  3. Above the Law

    Director: Andrew Davis

    Writers: Andrew Davis, Steven Seagal, Steven Pressfield

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Henry Silva

    Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

     Above the Law (1988) on IMDb

    Nothing like the ponytail macho-man playing the typical soldier-soldier. Much like other “rogue cop giving up his badge to fight for justice” type movies, Above the Law features Steven Seagal as Sergeant Nico Toscani, a former CIA officer and Chicago policeman.

    As a dedicated officer, Nico and his partner Jacks bust in during a drug deal and apprehend both dealers. Nico becomes suspicious when the arrested criminals are released under the order of federal officials.

    After the priest of Nico’s parish is murdered in an explosion, he is informed that he and his family are not safe. Nico continues investigating the drug deal case whilst without his badge that was taken away by the higher-ups.

    Eventually, Nico learns that the man from his dark past, as a CIA officer, is behind everything and now, he has to go against the law to serve justice.

  4. Executive Decision

    Director: Stuart Baird

    Writers: Jim Thomas, John Thomas

    Stars: Kurt Russell, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller

     Executive Decision (1996) on IMDb

    A nerve-racking action thriller by Director Stuart Baird starring Steven Seagal alongside Kurt Rusell, Halle Berry, and more. Executive Decision has a simple yet engaging plot. Lieutenant Colonel Austin Travis (Seagal) and his black ops team return from an unsuccessful mission that was related to the Chechen mafia.

    Three months later, a Boeing plane flying from Athens to Washington D.C. is hijacked mid-flight by a group of Islamic terrorists who demand their leader to be released. The Pentagon calls in for Dr. David Grant (Rusell) of the U.S.

    Army Intelligence consultant to plan out a counter-terrorism operation. Travis and his team are called in for the mission with Grant and DARPA engineer Dennis Cahill accompanying them.

    Using a mid-air docking system, the operatives managed to infiltrate but in the process, Travis sacrifices himself to save one of his squad mates. The tactical approach and every moment that ticks with the bomb on the plane provide the ultimate suspense and thrill to the audience.

  5. Marked for Death

    Director: Dwight H. Little

    Writers: Michael Grais, Mark Victor

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Joanna Pacula, Basil Wallace

    Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

     Marked for Death (1990) on IMDb

    With Seagal’s convincing martial arts and boneheaded formula, Marked Death is one of his bona fide classics. The R-rated action film directed by Dwight H. Little has contributed a little more than what the macho-man is used to. This time as DEA agent and decorated soldier John Hatcher, Seagal puts up a solid unit of performance for the action star he is.

    John retires as a DEA agent after his partner is killed during a drug dealing operation. He returns to his hometown in Chicago where he learns about a Jamaican drug lord called Screwface from his veteran buddy and gym teacher Max Keller. With Screwface controlling the drug trafficking, many including Max’s best student and nephew have been heavily exposed to drugs.

    During a bar fight, John gets involved with one of Screwface’s henchmen and endangers his family’s lives. With his sister’s daughter gravely injured and hospitalized, John comes out of retirement alongside Max to bring down Screwface and his drug empire.

  6. Hard to Kill

    Director: Bruce Malmuth

    Writer: Steven McKay

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Kelly LeBrock, William Sadler

    Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

     Hard to Kill (1990) on IMDb

    A well-choreographed actioner that gives the 80s’ feels. No less subtle than its title, Hard to Kill is another of Seagal’s belabored revenge odyssey. LAPD detective Mason Storm infiltrates and records a mob meeting. He escapes before anyone could notice him but little did he know that he was being monitored by the corrupt police.

    Mason hides the videotape in his house but two corrupt officers enter and kill his wife. They shoot and kill him while his son Sonny manages to escape. Later, they frame him in charge of murder-suicide. Mason is first declared dead at the hospital but later found out to be in a coma.

    Seven years later, when Mason wakes up from the coma, the corrupt officers intercept a call and learn that he is still alive. With his nurse’s help, Mason makes it out in time before the corrupt officers can get to him.

    Having evidence of a powerful political figure being involved with the mob, Mason has to fight through all odds to bring the criminals to justice and avenge his wife’s death.

  7. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

    Director: Geoff Murphy

    Writers: Richard Hatem, Matt Reeves, J.F. Lawton(characters)

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Eric Bogosian, Everett McGill

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller

     Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) on IMDb

    Not the best but a decent, well-paced sequel to one of Seagal’s hits. Directed by Geoff Murphy, Seagal reprises his role as Casey Ryback in the action thriller Under Siege 2: Dark Territory. In the present day, the retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer runs a restaurant in Denver, Colorado.

    After the unfortunate death of his brother in a plane crash, Casey and James’s daughter Sarah board a train to attend his funeral in Los Angeles. En route, while crossing the Rockys, the train gets hijacked by a group of terrorists. The leader of the terrorists, Travis Dane is a former U.S. Army tech genius who worked on Grazer One (a highly advanced tectonic weapon) but was later fired by the Army.

    Seeking his revenge, Dane fakes his death and takes over the Grazer. With terrorists offering him $ 1 billion to blow up a nuclear reactor under the Pentagon, Dane has drawn the attention of the U.S. government.

    He is on the move but unaware that counter-terrorism expert Casey Ryback was boarding the train. With his exceptional skillset, Ryback, once again, has to save the casualties and stop the terrorists.

  8. Exit Wounds

    Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

    Writers: Ed Horowitz, Richard D’Ovidio, John Westermann

    Stars: Steven Seagal, DMX, Isaiah Washington

    Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller

     Exit Wounds (2001) on IMDb

    A distractingly enjoyable and refreshingly action-packed film. Seagal is once again at it with the cops and drugs, violence, and explosions in the 2001 actioner Exit Wounds directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. Detroit police detective Orin Boyd (Seagal) is transferred to Detroit’s worst precinct for disobeying the orders to save the Vice President from being assassinated.

    His rowdy behavior earned him an anger management class after getting transferred. He steps into the dark alleys and learns about the drug deals that take place in the locality. Moreover, there are several corrupt cops involved. A huge heroin deal is about to take place between the corrupt police and big-time gangster Latrell Walker.

    Walker (who is a computer expert and billionaire) is faking the deal to bring the criminals to justice. Boyd persuades Walker to help him bring down the corrupt law enforcers.

  9. Machete

    Directors: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez

    Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Álvaro Rodríguez

    Stars: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal

    Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller

     Machete (2010) on IMDb

    Playing the good guy seemed too generic for the martial arts master. This time Seagal takes up the villainous role of a drug lord and former Federal, Rogelio Torrez in Machete starring Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, and others.

    Machete Cortez (Trejo) is a Mexican Federal who loses his wife and partner to the hands of Torrez after getting betrayed by his corrupt Chief. Three years later, a local businessman, Michael Booth, approaches him. He offers Machete $ 150,000 to kill corrupt Texas State Senator John McLaughlin who is planning to send back Mexican immigrants.

    Initially refusing, Machete reluctantly agrees after being threatened. Machete is ready to snipe McLaughlin during a rally but notices Booth’s henchman aiming at him. Double-crossing Machete, Booth (who is working for McLaughlin) planned to set up the Mexican Federal to prove McLaughlin’s motive of sending back the immigrants.

    His henchmen shoot Machete in the shoulder and then shoot at McLaughlin’s leg to make it appear as if the Mexican immigrants were trying to silence the Senator and are a threat. Machete manages to escape after getting hospitalized. Now, he has to join hands with the Network (an illegal immigrant-aiding movement) to bring down his present as well as past enemies.

  10. On Deadly Grounds

    Director: Steven Seagal

    Writers: Ed Horowitz, Robin U. Russin

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Michael Caine, Joan Chen

    Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller

     On Deadly Ground (1994) on IMDb

    On Deadly Grounds is reviewed as Seagel’s most ambitious film. After all, he made huge contributions to the script and co-produced the film. The action-adventure thriller directed by Seagel himself is aimed at spreading environmental awareness most entertainingly.

    Aegis Oil is a large oil refinement and manufacturing corporation. Aegis is planning to compromise the lives of the local tribe and the environment to meet the deadline of constructing its largest refinery, Aegis One. A blowout occurs at the rig for faulty and cheap parts during construction.

    Firefighter Forrest Taft (Seagel) subsides the flames in time. With Foreman Hugh Palmer making attempts to inform the Environmental Protection Agency, Aegis tries to silence both Palmer and Taft to tie loose ends. Palmer is murdered but Taft escapes, aided by Silook’s (local tribe chief) daughter.

    Recovering from his wounds, Taft has visions of Aegis’s corruption. Aegis security tracks Taft down to the village and shoots Silook when a fight breaks out. Silook delivers his last words in Taft’s arms who vows to avenge his death. Taft’s commitment to making the corrupted pay for their evil deeds, turning into a one-man army, and gunning down everyone and everything adds-on to the thrill of the movie.

  11. The Glimmer Man

    Director: John Gray

    Writer: Kevin Brodbin

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bob Gunton

    Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller

     The Glimmer Man (1996) on IMDb

    A classic buddy cop action comedy film starring Steven Seagal as LAPD detective and former CIA operative (during which he was named The Glimmer Man for his speed and stealth) Jack Cole. With his new detective partner Jim Campbell who cannot tolerate Cole’s humor, both the detectives have to set their differences aside to capture the mysterious serial killer The Family Man.

    Notoriously known for killing families, The Family Man’s fresh victims are Jack’s ex-wife and her new husband. On further investigation, the duo suspects Jack’s former CIA superior to be connected to the serial killings.

    They also find out that the recent killings are done by someone else who is using The Family Man’s name. With two homicides on the loose, can the not-so-friendly duo figure out and apprehend the suspects?

  12. Mercenary for Justice

    Director: Don E. FauntLeRoy

    Writers: Steven Collins, Joe Halpin, Danny Lerner

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Jacqueline Lord, Roger Guenveur Smith

    Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller

     Mercenary for Justice (2006) on IMDb

    An emerging story about honor, betrayal, revenge, and full-on guns and action. John Seager (Seagal) and his band of mercenaries are hired by the CIA to safely rescue and aid the local population on a French-occupied South African Island. After a few of his soldiers go against his orders and blow up the French Ambassador and his family, John’s plan falls apart.

    He loses his best friend when the French troops arrive and attack the mercenaries. John’s spy informs him about the CIA’s involvement in the mission. John, who has involved himself in something much deeper and darker, is rehired to break out the son of a big-shot arms dealer from a tough prison in Cape Town. Seager has entered an unavoidable trap that threatens his life but he needs to survive to avenge his best friend.

  13. Belly of the Beast

    Director: Siu-Tung Ching

    Writers: Thomas Fenton, Steven Seagal, James Townsend

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Byron Mann, Monica Lo

    Genre: Action

     Belly of the Beast (2003) on IMDb

    Belly of the Beast is a 2003 Americana action film co-written and co-produced by Seagal and directed by Ching Siu-tung. Seagal plays the role of retired CIA operative Jake Hopper. Ten years ago, Hopper was stationed in Thailand and during his tenure, his partner accidentally killed a woman and fled the scene.

    Jake resigned and went back to the USA after his wife died and is now successfully running a private security business. Hoppers’ retirement is put on hold when his daughter and her friend are kidnapped during hiking. A group of Islamists claims to have done it and demand the release of 20 of their men from prison.

    The CIA starts investigating but Hopper, as a father, can’t sit and watch. He goes out on his own to find and rescue his daughter. Reuniting with his old friend, Hopper has to go against an enemy with supernatural abilities who have kidnapped his daughter.

  14. Half Past Dead

    Director: Don Michael Paul

    Writer: Don Michael Paul

    Stars: Morris Chestnut, Steven Seagal, Matt Battaglia

    Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller

     Half Past Dead (2002) on IMDb

    Unusual to see Seagal’s character go behind the bars. Well, they managed to maintain his hero status in Half Past Dead with Don Michael Paul as the director and Seagel himself as a co-producer. The plot stays faithful to the title with the thrill and suspense while maintaining a few generic elements of the movie.

    A revenge story about FBI agent Sascha Petrosevitch who goes undercover as a car thief to get on the good side of gangster Nick Frazer. Frazer had killed Sascha’s wife and now he plots to take his revenge. FBI Special Agent Ellen Williams makes the matter complicated after she mistakenly shoots Sascha during the apprehension of the gangster.

    Sascha, after recovering from his wounds, gets jailed in with Nick. The newly opened jail has been well-known for its innovative ways of executing criminals. Lester Mckenna, the man behind a gold heist worth $ 200 million is getting executed.

    Unfortunately, the execution is intervened by a group of terrorists who demand the location of the gold. The terrorists hold everyone hostage and the clock is ticking. Sascha has to make his move and save everyone simultaneously avenging his wife.

  15. Into The Sun

    Director: mink

    Writers: Steven Seagal, Joe Halpin, Trevor Miller

    Stars: Steven Seagal, Takao Osawa, Juliette Marquis

    Genres: Action, Thriller

     Into the Sun (2005) on IMDb

    Directed by Christopher Morrison, Into The Sun is Seagal’s attempt to get down to Tokyo for some samurai action. CIA agent Travis Hunter and his new partner Sean Mac are assigned to investigate the Yakuza (Japan’s most dangerous crime syndicate) that are suspected to be responsible for the murder of Tokyo’s governor.

    Hunter has a hard time because of his rookie partner who does not know the CIA procedures nor Japanese culture. Growing up in Japan, Hunter utilizes his connections to dig out information. Hunter’s constant persuasion of the Yakuza’s dealing leads to the death of his fiancee and Mac.

    The newly formed gang who are achieving great power under the Yakuza title and conducting unspeakable crimes are responsible for Hunter’s loss. The investigation has become personal and Hunter is willing to walk into death’s door to annihilate every single perpetrator who took away his beloved and partner.

Conclusion

A list that has more action, more violence, and more machoness. People who love mindless shooting and gruesome violence will be delivered the perfect kick from Steven Seagal’s top filmography. His best 15 is dedicated to fans and audiences who have loved the likes of James Bond, Arnold & Stallone-action from the 80s-90s. The blood-bathed Hollywood martial arts star is one of those who choose the more flimsy and entertaining production of an actioner rather than a more constructive and serious one.

Kierra Rowsey
Kierra Rowsey

Kierra Rowsey is a freelance TV, Film and anime critic for over 12 years, living in Arkansas with her husband and three kids. She graduated from NYU College of Arts & Science in 2008.

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