English actor Scott Adkins is best known for his role as Russian prison fighter Yuri Boyka in the Undisputed franchise. The actor, who made a name for himself after appearing in a number of Hong Kong films, mainly appears in action films due to his background in martial arts.
Although he has appeared in several blockbuster films in supporting roles, most of his leading roles have been in direct-to-video films. Here are his best films according to IMDb.
14. Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear (2013) – 6.1
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear is a sequel to the 2009 film Ninja. “Shadow of Tears” follows Scott Adkins’ returning character, Casey Bowman, as he seeks revenge after his pregnant wife is murdered by a group of gunmen. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but proved generally popular among Adkins’ fans. Shadow of Tears managed to eclipse the original film in quality, but another installment in the franchise has yet to be announced.RELATED:
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13. American Assassin (2017) – 6.2
American Assassin is a 2017 action film based on the Vince Flynn book of the same name starring Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, and Taylor Kitsch. Therein, Scott Adkins appears as Victor, a member of the same black ops team as O’Brien’s protagonist. While anticipation for American Assassin was high, the film underperformed. Nevertheless, Adkins had the opportunity to prove to a wider audience that his action skills were still top-tier, paving his way for future appearances in big-budget films.
12. Accident Man (2018) – 6.2
In Accident Man, Scott Adkins plays Mike Fallon, a killer who specializes in making his murders look like accidents. Everything soon changes when his pregnant girlfriend Beth is killed by one of his team members. Enraged, he goes on a path of revenge and leaves several bodies in his wake. The film received generally mixed reviews from critics, but demanded a sequel, which was released in October 2022.
11. The Brothers Grimsby (2016) – 6.2
Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong, The Brothers Grimsby is a severely misguided action thriller following two brothers on a covert mission for MI6. Adkins has a supporting role in the film as a hitman by the name of Pavel Lukashenko, who attempts to kill the two brothers before they can accomplish their mission. The Brothers Grimsby ultimately flopped both among critics and at the box office, doing little to bolster the careers of anyone involved in the project.
10. Criminal (2016) – 6.3
Criminal is an often forgotten action-thriller with a star-studded cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, and many more big-name actors. Starring alongside this impressive cast is Scott Adkins, who portrays a CIA agent named Pete Greensleeves. Criminal failed to catch on with the general public, with critics complaining that the film was ultimately unimpressive and droll. Nevertheless, the film gave Adkins some much-necessary face time with several impressive stars that he had never worked with before in his career.
9. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) – 6.5
X-Men Origins: Wolverine covers Wolverine’s childhood, back when he was James Howlett. It was the first of the solo films focusing on Wolverine. Scott Adkins plays Wade Wilson/Weapon XI, the film’s version of Deadpool. Adkins provided the stunts for Wilson’s character in each fight scene, while Ryan Reynolds played the character in other scenes. Overall, Adkins’s character and the film as a whole would be critically panned.
8. Avengement (2019) – 6.6
Avengement is a 2019 action B-movie sporting Adkins as its leading man. Directed by Jesse V. Johnson, the film stars Adkins as Kane Burgess, a convicted criminal who takes matters into his own hands to exact revenge on those who put him in prison. Revenge was received fairly well by its target audience, with Adkins’ performance earning significant praise. To this day, the film remains one of the actor’s biggest hits, leading him to more starring roles in similar projects over the past few years.RELATED:
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7. The Expendables 2 (2012) – 6.6
This action-packed film features a host of famous stars, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis. Scott Adkins plays the henchman of the film’s antagonist, Jean Villin (Jean-Claude Van Damme). His character proved to be as skilled as Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), but he eventually met his death when he was hit directly in the tail rotor of a helicopter.
6. Boyka: Undisputed (2016) – 6.9
Adkins returns as Russian fighter Yuri Boyka in the fourth installment of the popular Boyka franchise. In the film, the eponymous character strives to meet the greatest names in the MMA industry and become a true legend. However, his dreams are threatened when he accidentally kills his opponent in the ring. Boyka is overcome with guilt when he learns that the wife of the man he killed is in trouble because she owes money to a bandit. This turns him against dangerous people and he is soon forced to kill again, ending up back in prison. The deep character development and relentless action make this one of Adkins’ best films.
5. Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) – 7.0
In the fourth installment of this popular martial arts franchise, kung fu master Ip travels to America after his student Bruce Lee upsets the local community by opening a martial arts school in San Francisco. Adkins plays Barton Geddes, a gunnery sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Upon its release, the film became the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time. The action sequences received praise, with many recognizing Donnie Yen’s dedication to his role. The film’s success also benefited Adkins, who has since continued to land leading roles in action films.
4. Unleashed (2005) – 7.0
In the action movie, a fighter named Danny (Jet Li) finds himself being used by a man named Bart (Bob Hoskins) to make money from illegal fights. Adkins plays only a minor role in this film, portraying a nameless fighter with whom the main characters have to fight in a drained swimming pool. While the film may not have boosted Adkins’ career as much as some other projects in his filmography, it certainly gave him the opportunity to work with some big names in the industry.
3. Zero Dark Thirty (2012) – 7.4
This thriller/espionage film tells the story of the lengthy search and eventual killing of the infamous Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan. Scott Adkins plays a CIA field operative named John. The film was nominated for five Oscars despite generating controversy due to its intense depictions of torture. In general, the film was well-received by fans and critics, giving many audiences their first chance to see Adkins in a mainstream role.
2. Doctor Strange (2016) – 7.5
Doctor Strange is a film set in a cinematic universe that follows neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, who finds himself in a world of mysticism and strange dimensions after suffering a serious career-ending injury. Adkins played Lucian Aster, a follower of Kaecilius and a graduate of the Masters of the Mystic Arts. He fought against fanatics with the goal of defeating the Ancient One. This is by far Adkins’ most popular film to date, although his character has very little screen time.RELATED:
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