Nate

Nate

Harrison Ford in a scene from the film 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom', 1984. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)

A lot goes into the making of a movie or TV show. The plot must be interesting, with twists, turns, and great drama or action. The best movies and TV shows always have epic moments worth waiting for. Not all TV shows or movies have action-packed scenes, as that’s not what all shows are about. But there always needs to be a healthy mix when it comes to the movies and shows with tons of action. These always lead to epic moments throughout.

The best movies and shows have captivating storylines that make you care about more than just the conflict itself. These pieces pull this off because they have decisive and rewarding epic moments. The greatest movies make you want to see the fight! Some fantastic moments in cinema occur due to masterful storytelling and visuals. Some of the greatest TV shows and movies tend to do a lot of visual storytelling, which I believe is crucial to fully captivating a viewer.

Epic Moments in Iconic Franchises

Throughout sagas like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, there are countless examples of heroic saves that come just at the right time. We live for the thrill of these epic moments. Highly rated-TV shows and award-winning movies are the best when it comes to this. One amazing trope in TV shows and movies is the heroic save.

Epic Moments
(Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)
LONDON – MAY 7: \A Poster is seen at the photocall promoting new epic movie “Troy” at The Dorchester Hotel on May 7, 2004 in London. Troy has it’s European premiere in Berlin on May 9, US on May 10 and World premiere in Cannes on May 13. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The Heroic Save

Heroic saves are epic moments that truly change the entire outcome of a movie or show. For instance, A battle is taking place, it’s visually spectacular, and the main protagonist is at a disadvantage. While the viewer has to watch for an uncomfortable amount of time before the tides turn. This is when the ultimate heroic twist of fate takes place. The epic moment occurs, and the good guy rides in at the last second, or the leader pulls off something mystical, or some crazy otherworldly force intervenes and completely changes the entire script.

The long-drawn-out build-up makes epic moments much more powerful in these scenes. The viewer is so incredibly invested in the characters and fears for their demise. This is why the heroic save is one of the best epic moments. These intense action scenes define certain films and shows, certainly those that center on action and drama. 

Gladiator
(Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 23: Virginia Cavaliers gladiator helmet with spikes resting on the sidelines prior to a college football game between the SMU Mustangs and the Virginia Cavaliers on November 23, 2024, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA. (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Blend of Action, Drama and Fantasy

Action and drama are my favorite combination of genres because they can potentially leave the most emotional impact on the viewer. Of course, when talking about action and drama films, I think a hint of fantasy or historical fiction at the core breathes life into the on-screen product. People who love seeing all of these intense action scenes know how incredibly rewarding it is to see a fight scene bring an entire movie, episode or even season all together at once.

For instance, in a series like Game of Thrones, you spend many real-life hours sitting and watching all the characters squabbling and setting up incredibly intricate plot lines. Some people may think it’s drawn out and tiresome, but to the true cinema buffs out there, we realize it makes or breaks everything!

Game of Thrones
(Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: A dragon skull is on display at the “Game Of Thrones” Mother Of All Auctions at Heritage Auctions on September 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The List

Now, I have created a master list of the greatest fights and epic saves ever released to the big screens. I made sure to include TV and streaming series to give the proper full array of epic scenes. These fights were drawn up perfectly, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats and not disappointing when it came time to commence. Scroll to view the most epic moments on-screen in the world of 21st-century cinema!

  • Gladiator

    Gladiator is one of the most iconic war movies ever made. At its core, it’s a story about a man who had everything taken away from him, regained his strength, and fought for what was right again. The “are you not entertained” and “My name is Maximus” scenes are truly epic.

    Gladiator (2000) - Are You Not Entertained? Scene | Movieclips

    Gladiator (2000) - My Name is Maximus Scene | Movieclips

     

  • Vikings

    The Bjorn death scene is probably the most epic moment in the entirety of the Viking series. He solidifies the legend of how he is much more than a mere man. Even after suffering mortal wounds hours earlier, he still summons the strength to lead his army into battle one more time. Much to the fear of his opposition.

    Bjorn Goes Into Battle One Last Time | Vikings | Prime Video

  • Darth Maul

    When Darth Maul first turns on the legendary double-sided lightsaber in Phantom Menace, every fan went absolutely crazy. As if that was it, we also got the debut of the “Duel of fates” background music which elevates this scene to another planet.

    Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan vs Darth Maul - Duel of the Fates | Star Wars The Phantom Menace (1999) Movie Clip

  • Godzilla Takes Down Ghidorah

    Godzilla finishing off his legendary rival King Ghidorah after their first meeting in over 30 years of cinema is truly epic.

    Nuclear Godzilla vs King Ghidorah | Godzilla: King of the Monsters [4k, HDR]

  • Jurassic World

    The ending fight of Jurassic World is unbelievable. Nothing seems to stop the Indominus Rex, except the original T-Rex that Jurassic Park has held onto for so long. It was truly an awesome moment for any fan of the franchise who has been there since the beginning.

    Final Battle Scene | Jurassic World

  • Troy

    The battle for the City of Troy and revenge for Hector killing Achilles’s close comrade by mistake is legendary. The reason it’s so epic is how high the stakes are for this scene.

    Troy | Achilles Revenge | ClipZone: High Octane Hits

  • Braveheart

    Braveheart has to scenes that standout above the rest. The legendary speech that William Wallace gives about Freedom and his refusal to confess at the end of the movie by calling out for “Freedom” one last time.

    Braveheart: William Wallace Freedom Speech [Full HD]

    Freedom! - Braveheart (9/9) Movie CLIP (1995) HD

     

  • Lord of The Rings

    (Skip ahead to 3 minutes for the full effect) A true “heroic save,” the Ride of Rohirrim is one of the greatest movie moments in history! I truly get goosebumps and a little teary-eyed from how awesome it is each time I watch it.

    Return of the King: The Ride of the Rohirrim [4K]

  • Game of Thrones

    This scene in Game of Thrones is magnificent. For the first time in real-time, we see the Dragon Queen march into battle on the back of her largest dragon, Drogon. The opposing commander, Jamie Lannister, states, “We can hold them off,” until Daenerys Targaryen makes a stunning and dramatic entrance. This was the culmination of six seasons of waiting for her to ride in like this. As a fan, it was such a tremendous payoff for waiting that long!

    Mother Of Dragons Queen & Lannisters Battle Daenerys Targaryen First Battle in Westeros Dothraki GOT

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