Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are high-performance polymer materials composed of liquid crystal units that exhibit excellent elasticity and reversible deformation through liquid crystal orientation transitions. This reversible deformation closely mimics the behavior of natural muscles, making LCEs an ideal material for artificial muscle fabrication. In recent years, extensive research has focused on LCE-based artificial muscles. This review provides an overview of the preparation methods and actuation modes of LCE-based artificial muscles. It emphasizes a comparative analysis of the actuation performance of LCE-based artificial muscles versus natural muscles and methods for enhancing the actuation performance of LCE-based artificial muscles through chemical modification and structural optimization. Additionally, this review discusses the future prospects for the development of LCE-based artificial muscles in soft robotics and intelligent medical devices.