10 Of Our Favorite Hard-Boiled Fight Scenes

There is no stronger weapon than the human will to win, and/or the ability to punch. Check out some of the most tense situations in cinema history, from the grit of Cool Hand Luke to the psychosis of Tyler Durden. This collection of rugged fisticuffs is brought to you by Banshee, a new series premiering January 11th at 10PM on Cinemax. Visit the Banshee GIF Shop for some hard-boiled action from the show.

1. Face/Off

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The movie ends with -- you guessed it -- a face-off. The final showdown between Sean Archer and Castor Troy is one for the ages. There's a church standoff, a boat chase, and one final round of fist-fighting on a beach.

2. Old Boy

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Oldboy is perhaps the most emotionally disturbing movie of all time, which only adds to the tension of this grueling hallway battle. Oh Dae-Su fights through being stabbed in the back (literally!), bashing fists with countless antagonists.

3. Fight Club

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Our nameless narrator (played by Ed Norton) completely dismantles Angel Face (Jared Leto) in one of the film's most grizzly fight clubs. But we're not supposed to talk about it.

4. The Protector

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The Protector features a particularly impressive single-shot scene of the main character fighting his way up a staircase. It's almost four minutes of non-stop hard-boiled fighting. Just look at that swagger!

5. The Bourne Identity

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Director Steven Soderbergh is known for his hard-boiled shakey cam, and the Bourne series best epitomizes the idea of the Übermensch hero. Jason Bourne, automated fighting robot, takes this guy out with a pen. WITH A PEN.

6. Die Hard 2

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John McClane has found himself in several pretty ridiculous situations, but this fight on the wings of a moving airplane, and the subsequent blowing up of said airplane, are some of his most hardcore moments in the series.

7. Bloodsport

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Frank Dux is so hardcore, when his opponent blinds him with quicklime at the end of Bloodsport, he winds up beating him anyway, while temporarily blind. Sure he misfires once or twice, but he uses his other super senses to land the sweet roundhouse seen here.

8. Cool Hand Luke

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Luke is boxing this dude in the yard and no matter how hard he gets hit, he just keeps getting up. It's insane.

9. From Russia With Love

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Connery's iconic performance in From Russia With Love almost erases the years of goofy Bond shenanigans. The film contains a pretty rough battle with the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent Red Grant, and the fight occurs entirely in a tiny train compartment.

Rocky IV

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Some might credit Reagan, others might credit the dissolution of the Soviet Union. But we all know it was Rocky who single-handedly ended the Cold War -- with his fists.

Check out a few intense scenes from Banshee below. Nothing says hard-boiled like a fork in the hand!

Tune in on Friday, January 11th at 10PM for the series premiere!