18. Wanted (2008)
Universal PicturesTimur Bekmambetov made his Hollywood debut with this adaptation of Mark Millar's miniseries, which largely ignored the source material in favor of creating a kinetic and fast-paced action movie. Despite suffering from an unnecessarily convoluted plot, Wanted overcomes this thanks to strong performances and a string of inventive action sequences. Unlikely action hero James McAvoy convinces as the office drone turned super-assassin, backed by a never-sultrier Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman putting a fresh spin on his 'wise old mentor' routine. Moving at a frantic pace, Wanted sprints from one high-octane set-piece to the next, providing a bullet-ridden and balletic series of car chases and gunfights. Bekmambetov never takes things too seriously, handling the proceedings with a confidence and unrestrained vigor of a director reveling in the opportunity of making a violent, R-rated blockbuster debut.