The Action Genre - Narrative structure

Action films are full of exciting twists and turns, which create excitement and tension for the audience through their fast-moving plots. Action films typically follow a three-act structure, a narrative framework which was invented by Aristotle (though they can also follow Todorov's slightly more complex five-act structure). 

Either way, the structures follows a simple plan which allows the audience to understand to a degree how the film may play out.

The structure begins with the setup which is when the audience are introduced to the protagonist and their personality, so the audience can connect with them instantly. 

An inciting incident is then revealed to the audience which is something that the protagonist has to overcome. 

This leads to the 'rising action' which is when the protagonist faces this obstacle (therefore this is where the action sequences, fraught with peril, take place), and finally the 'resolution' is when there protagonist's journey comes to an end after a climatic scene which usually sees the protagonist win and “save the day”. 

Therefore, the narrative patterns of action films are usually easy for audiences to understand and follow as they always involve the protagonist (often reluctant at the start) working towards a final goal in tough situations (and succeeding in the film's final act). 

Theorist Claude Levi-Strauss suggested that narratives are full of binary oppositions as they contribute to conflict that is important in making narratives engaging for the audience, and setting up the action set-pieces that audiences expect from the genre. In action films, we see the binary opposition of good vs evil and therefore we witness epic fight/chase scenes which gives the audience adrenaline and immerse them in the film.