Summer is fast approaching, which means that it's once again time for Hollywood to overload - and probably underwhelm - us with all of the loudest, shiniest, explosion-iest films they can shake a stick of dynamite at. Because 'tis the season for big ol' action movies.

But during this fire sale of over-the-top actioners, keep your eyes peeled for some of the lower key action films that fly under the radar due to their lack of flashy trailers and big name stars. See if you can't get in on the ground floor of the next big blockbuster franchise before it actually becomes one.

Because, you see, not every big-time, action-packed, five instalment thrill ride comes out fully formed. Hell, sometimes, they weren't intended to be anything more than a modest little story that just happens to contain a car chase, some hand-to-hand combat, maybe a little espionage, and a relatable protagonist that audiences wouldn't mind seeing put through a series of escalating challenges that they must overcome against all odds.

A solid handful of our most beloved, epic action heroes started out as pretty small potatoes. And now they're really, really, really big... potatoes.