Top 5 Shane Black films that prove he’s Hollywood’s king of quippy action

Shane Black has donned many hats in his life in Hollywood. He has been an actor, a scriptwriter, and a director in his long career. However, Black is mostly known for his ability to perfectly blend action with comedy, making him Hollywood's king of quippy action.

Given his vast body of work, it might be difficult to navigate and find out what should watch. So we have come up with a list of five of his work that especially touches upon the action comedy genre he is known for. Let's take a look at this list, which includes names like The Nice Guys.

Top 5 Shane Black films that capture his action comedy tropes

5) Play Dirty (2025)

Play Dirty is an action thriller that revolves around a heist, and it's a screen adaptation of Donald E. Westlake's series of books called Parker. The film has all the directorial trademarks of Black, and it is a must-watch for people who have enjoyed his work. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

4) Iron Man 3 (2013)

Iron Man 3 was one of the initial entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Black had the task of taking the lore of Tony Stark forward, and he manages to do that. This superhero story takes place after the events of The Avengers and has the typical humorous touch that Black is known for. It can be rented on Apple TV and Prime Video.

3) The Predator (2018)

With The Predator, Shane Black got his hand into a popular science fiction franchise. This sixth entry in the franchise is darker than humorous and follows a team of soldiers fighting the namesake aliens. It is the second IP film in Black's career that is worth giving a watch. Interestingly, Black played the role of Rick Hawkins in the first Predator film. It can be enjoyed on Hulu and Disney+.

2) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang marked the directorial debut of Black. Before that, he was working as an actor, and this can be seen as a second phase of his career. The film put Black's signature imprint on Hollywood with the slick blend of action and comedy. It's critical and commercial success cemented his name as a director. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

1) The Nice Guys (2016)

The Nice Guys has to top any list regarding action comedy flicks. This film, which also blends the action comedy genre with neo-noir elements, made Black's directorial style universal. Despite positive reviews, the film was not able to become a profitable venture. Luckily, viewers have discovered it on the internet over the years, and it has achieved a cult status. It can be enjoyed on Netflix.

Besides being the director, Shane also wrote or co-wrote all the above-mentioned films. This ensures that all these names have the enjoyable action comedy elements.

Which is your favorite Shane Black film?