JEREMY RENNER: At 42, he's just starting to bring big business to the box office with action-packed hits like "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," "The Avengers" and "The Bourne Legacy." And like Stallone's acting in "Rocky," Renner scored an Oscar nom for "The Hurt Locker" to launch his leading man status.

TOM HARDY:  He beefed up after "Inception" to become a rough-and-tough MMA fighter -- what Rocky would have been today -- in 2011's "Warrior." After that, he broke Batman's back as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises" and recently wrapped "Mad Max: Fury Road," replacing another tough guy: Mel Gibson.

Jennifer Lawrence: An Oscar nominee who can take her career in any direction, she proved she can take a punch in "Winter's Bone," then went on to play Mystique in "X-Men: First Class." And, of course, there's her Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games." One thing for sure: She's a killer at the box office with a weapon in her hand.

Chris Pine: He breathed new life into "Star Trek" as Captain Kirk and hopes to rejuvenate another franchise this year as the new Jack Ryan in, well, "Jack Ryan." And though he doesn't have the expected tough-guy persona, he took a page out of Sly's playbook by teaming up with another action star (Tom Hardy) in "This Means War."  

Chris Hemsworth: He's shown a preference for hammers and axes over firearms, but his biceps pack enough heat to rival the Young Governator's. Thanks to a long career with Marvel as Thor and Universal's interest in a "Snow White and the Huntsman" sequel (or a spinoff), we see him beating up bad guys for years to come.

Chloë Grace Moretz: She's only 15, she's already got a good start, playing a lonely vampire in "Let Me In" and Hit Girl in "Kick-Ass," whose sequel hits theaters this summer. If the new "Star Wars" franchise is looking to cast a young, female Jedi to do some damage with a lightsaber, J.J. Abrams need not look any further.

Henry Cavill: The new "Man of Steel" has already beefed up his action resume by slaying an army of "Immortals" before co-starring with Bruce Willis in "The Cold Light of Day." And not to mention: He's one of the few action heros that'll bring the gals into theaters.

Ryan Gosling: An action hero for the art house crowd. Two years ago he crushed a skull in "Drive," he can currently be seen shooting up bad guys in "Gangster Squad" and will return to action as stunt motorcycle rider-turned-bank robber in "The Place Beyond the Pines" and a kick boxer in "Only God Forgives." 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: The scrawny "3rd Rock From the Sun" kid is on the action fast track. He fought through dreams in 2010's "Inception," turned out to be Robin in "The Dark Knight Rises," took on a dirty cop in "Premium Rush" and even shared a character with another action icon, Bruce Willis, in "Looper." Next up? "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For."