With some of the mega-blockbuster hits coming out in recent years, it’s easy to overlook some of the classic action movies from decades past. The 1980s were a golden age for the action genre, focusing on unstoppable action stars, witty dialogue, and fast-paced action that left no time for reflection. With iconic franchises starting like Rambo with First Blood in 1982, some films got lost in the shuffle and, while maybe not impressing or gaining widespread acclaim at the time, more than deserve another watch to appreciate their true brilliance.
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The 1980s produced some of the best action films of all time, such as Midnight Run and Heartbreak Ridge, that demonstrate the versatility of the genre, showing a combination of humor, emotion, and heart-pumping action. From paranormal martial arts quests like The Last Dragon to gritty police slashers like Maniac Cop, these films all have a unique hook that makes them some of the best action films of the ’80s. Waste no time in revisiting these classic films to get a full appreciation of the characters and plots that helped innovate and elevate the genre for future generations.
10 Red Heat (1988)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
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8/10 Red Heat RActionComedyCrimeThriller
Ivan Danko is a tough Russian cop who is forced to work alongside extrovert detective Art Ridzik. The pair investigate a major international criminal involved in drug trafficking who has fled Russia for the United States.
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*Availability in US Director Walter Hill Release Date June 17, 1988 Writers Walter Hill , Harry Kleiner , Troy Kennedy-Martin Runtime 106 minutes Main Genre Action
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Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Soviet police officer Ivan Danko, who follows a case to the United States, where he is tasked with joining forces with Jim Belushi’s fast-talking, jovial Chicago detective. The two must work together in order to trace and apprehend a drug lord responsible for the death of Danko’s partner, in a culture clash for the ages that sees many miscommunications and differences in policing styles. It’s a classic buddy cop action comedy with a Cold War-era twist, co-written and directed by the acclaimed Walter Hill (48 Hrs).
Related 10 Biggest 1980s Action Stars, Ranked
The leading figures of action movies of the 1980s were larger-than-life icons. The biggest stars of the 1980s stand as some of cinemas’ greatest.
Red Heat made the interesting and inventive choice of having a Russian cop come over to the U.S. and become a likable Soviet hero at a time when there was still some political unrest in the East versus West conflict. The combination of Schwarzenegger’s stoic and stern delivery contrasted with Belushi’s over-the-top and comical style is the perfect mix, and their chemistry really drives the film forward. Though overshadowed by the release of Schwarzenegger’s other 1988 comedy, Twins, this film still offers a great watch, with an inventive plot that is punctuated with intense and brutal action.
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9 Maniac Cop (1988)
Starring Bruce Campbell
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Maniac Cop RHorrorActionCrime
Maniac Cop is a 1988 action-horror film directed by William Lustig. It follows a series of brutal murders in New York City, sparking fear as the assailant is rumored to be a uniformed police officer. Against this backdrop, a detective and a wrongfully accused cop team up to uncover the truth behind the killings, leading them into a web of corruption and vengeance within the police force.
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*Availability in US Director William Lustig Release Date May 13, 1988 Writers Larry Cohen Cast Tom Atkins , Bruce Campbell , Laurene Landon , Richard Roundtree , William Smith , Robert Z’Dar , Sheree North , Nina Arvesen Runtime 85 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
William Lustig’s Maniac Cop is an epic combination of horror and action that sees a sadistic, rogue police officer go on a blood-soaked rampage through the department and the city of New York. Starring Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins as the officers on the case, they uncover the story of Matthew Cordell (Robert Z’Dar), an ex-officer who uncovered corruption in the local government and was subsequently arrested and set up to be murdered and silenced in Sing Sing prison. Thought to be dead, he has come back to haunt and terrorize the system and those who betrayed him.
Maniac Cop
was successful enough to spawn two sequels,
Maniac Cop 2
(1990) and
Maniac Cop 3
:
Badge of Silence
(1993).
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The film deals with sensitive and culturally relevant topics about police abuse and misconduct, and though it is wrapped up in a lower-budget, exploitative slasher, it still has a relatively nuanced social commentary on some of these darker topics. The action is violent, gory, and long-lasting, with some brutal scenes of death and murder that don’t shy away from bloodshed. Though it could be quickly labeled as a 1980s horror with little substance, the narrative, and performances have aged well and promoted it to a firm cult favorite of 1980s action lovers.
8 Nighthawks (1981)
Starring Sylvester Stallone
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Nighthawks RActionCrimeThriller
Nighthawks is a 1981 action thriller featuring Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams as New York City detectives pursuing an international terrorist played by Rutger Hauer. Directed by Bruce Malmuth, the film follows the tense and perilous cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and the cunning fugitive, presenting a gritty portrayal of urban crime and counter-terrorism efforts.
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*Availability in US Director Bruce Malmuth , Gary Nelson , Sylvester Stallone Release Date April 10, 1981 Writers David Shaber , Paul Sylbert Cast Sylvester Stallone , Billy Dee Williams , Lindsay Wagner , Persis Khambatta , Nigel Davenport , Rutger Hauer , Hilarie Thompson , Joe Spinell Runtime 99 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
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Between the releases of sequels two and three of the iconic Rocky franchise, Sylvester Stallone found time to star as a gritty police detective who is part of an anti-terrorism squad on the case of an international terrorist and crime lord (Rutger Hauer). Nighthawks sees the cat-and-mouse game of life and death play out between the detectives, squad, and the evil antagonists hell-bent on causing destruction and mayhem. The dynamics work beautifully between the two leads as the narrative unfolds and reaches its climactic finish.
Related 10 Great 1980s Action Movies We’re Surprised Didn’t Become Franchises
The 80s was a movie era dominated by iconic action franchises, yet not every movie spawned a series. Some great movies are still awaiting follow-ups.
Nighthawks is packed full of action and drama, particularly the infamous chase sequences that take place in the underground subway, which holds up as a fun, well-choreographed scene even through today’s lens. Hauer gives one of the performances of his career as the haunting and sadistic terrorist whose depiction is genuinely frightening and realistic, with a simmering chemistry between himself and Stallone. Though the film wasn’t given the same fanfare or promotional push as some of Stallone’s other works at the time, leading to a quieter reception, it is still a quality ’80s action film.
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7 Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Starring Mel Gibson
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6.5/10 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome PG-13ActionAdventure Sci-Fi
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is the third film in George Miller’s sci-fi action series. This time, Max, after being exiled, joins a group of children to take down a strange town’s tyrannical queen. The film generally received positive reviews upon release and was followed up by Mad Max: Fury Road 30 years later in 2015.
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*Availability in US Director George Miller , George Ogilvie Release Date July 10, 1985 Studio(s) Kennedy Miller Entertainment Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers George Miller , Terry Hayes , Byron Kennedy Cast Mel Gibson , Tina Turner , Bruce Spence , Adam Cockburn , Frank Thring , Angelo Rossitto Runtime 107 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
George Miller’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome sees the Mad Max franchise return for a third time, with Mel Gibson returning to the titular role of the enigmatic former police officer Max Rockatansky. It follows Max as he continues his journey across the post-apocalyptic wasteland, as he needs to enter a lawless area ruled by the ruthless Aunty Entity (played by Tina Turner). This installment of Mad Max sees a more defined focus on the background and world of the Mad Max universe, with a deep look into the characters and their situations.
With the release of
Mad Max: Fury Road
in 2015, starring Tom Hardy, new life has been breathed into the series, and a fresh spotlight has been shone on the previous films.
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With the release of Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, starring Tom Hardy, new life has been breathed into the series, and a fresh spotlight has been shone on the previous films. Though Beyond Thunderdome does have exceptional character development and a dive into the personal and social dynamics of the time, it still has all the hallmarks of a Mad Max film, with epic stunts and wildly entertaining vehicular sequences. Often touted as the least popular and successful film in the franchise, it still holds up in its own right and does an excellent job continuing the series’ legacy.
6 Tango & Cash (1989)
Starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell
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8.7/10 Tango & Cash ActionAdventureComedyCrimeThriller
Two rival Los Angeles cops are forced to team up when a drug lord implicates them in a crime they didn’t commit. They end up in jail and their only option is to escape in order to bring the real culprit to justice.
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*Availability in US Director Andrei Konchalovsky , Albert Magnoli Release Date December 22, 1989 Writers Randy Feldman Cast Sylvester Stallone , Kurt Russell , Teri Hatcher , Jack Palance , Brion James , James Hong Main Genre Action
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Tango & Cash is a buddy cop action comedy starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell as rival cops in one of the most quintessentially sounding 1980s films in history. It follows the two officers as they are wrongly framed for murder by a criminal mastermind, who is conspiring to take them both down. Though the film did have its fair share of production issues, with the director swapping out part way through, it still managed to form a cohesive and entertaining piece of ’80s Americana media that is endlessly rewatchable.
|
The 10 Best Forgotten 1980s Action Films On This List: |
IMDb Rating: |
|---|---|
|
Red Heat (1988) |
6.1/10 |
|
Maniac Cop (1988) |
6.0/10 |
|
Nighthawks (1981) |
6.3/10 |
|
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) |
6.2/10 |
|
Tango & Cash (1989) |
6.4/10 |
|
The Adventure Begins (1985) |
6.4/10 |
|
Licence To Kill (1989) |
6.7/10 |
|
The Last Dragon (1985) |
6.8/10 |
|
Heartbreak Ridge (1986) |
6.8/10 |
|
Midnight Run (1988) |
7.5/10 |
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Needless to say, the main highlight of the film is the electric chemistry and bond between Russell and Stallone, both delivering high-octane action scenes combined with moments of emotion and witty banter. The film is packed with explosive sequences and over-the-top set pieces that truly encapsulate the 1980s, with the climactic finale being the jewel in the crown of the over-the-top drama. Tango & Cash represents a true time capsule into the 1980s aesthetic, with larger-than-life performances and an easy-to-follow plot that makes it an invaluable watch for any action film fan.
5 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Starring Fred Ward And Joel Grey
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8.5/10 Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins PG-13ComedyActionAdventure
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins is an action-comedy film directed by Guy Hamilton. It stars Fred Ward as a former New York City cop who is recruited into a secret government organization and trained by a Korean martial arts master (Joel Grey). The film follows his journey as he adopts the new identity of Remo Williams to combat high-level corruption.
Director Guy Hamilton Release Date October 11, 1985 Writers Richard Sapir , Warren Murphy , Christopher Wood Cast Fred Ward , Joel Grey , wilford brimley , J.A. Preston , George Coe , Charles Cioffi , Kate Mulgrew , Patrick Kilpatrick Runtime 121 Minutes Main Genre Comedy Expand
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Guy Hamilton’s Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins stars the underrated Fred Ward as Officer Sam Makin, a hard-nosed New York City cop and Vietnam veteran who is recruited to become a deadly assassin for US division CURE. The plot follows Sam as he turns into ‘Remo Williams’ after having his death faked and being given surgery to look completely different, while also being trained to become an unemotional killing machine. The character of Remo Williams is based on the star of the1971 paperback series The Destroyer by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir.
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The film fully and, in some ways, perfectly leans into many classic 1980s film tropes, seeing incredible action, training montages, and martial arts senseis. Ward and his co-star Joel Grey understand and nail their briefs, with Ward realistically playing both versions of his role and Grey, impressively, being nominated for a Golden Globe for his depiction. Though the film was overshadowed by some heavy-hitting releases with similar themes like First Blood and Commando, it still stands on its own as a solid 1980s action film that is fun and entertaining to watch.
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4 Licence To Kill (1989)
Starring Timothy Dalton
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Licence to Kill PG-13ActionAdventureThriller
James Bond seeks vengeance against the ruthless drug lord Franz Sanchez after his friend Felix Leiter is viciously attacked and left for dead. Going rogue and stripped of his license to kill, Bond infiltrates Sanchez’s organization, posing as a mercenary. As he earns Sanchez’s trust, Bond strategically undermines the drug empire from within, leading to a series of intense confrontations and high-stakes action sequences.
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*Availability in US Director John Glen Release Date July 14, 1989 Writers Michael G. Wilson , Richard Maibaum , Ian Fleming Cast Timothy Dalton , Robert Davi , Carey Lowell , Talisa Soto , Anthony Zerbe Runtime 133 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
After his first appearance as James Bond in The Living Daylights, two years prior, Timothy Dalton reprises his role as the world’s most famous spy. The plot for License to Kill sees Bond forced to go rogue, a slightly unfamiliar route at the time, to take down a brutal drug lord (Robert Davi). Rather than playing into some of the more whimsical and lighter elements of the Bond character, Dalton plays a darker, intense version that is a refreshing change from some of the earlier depictions.
The film’s original title was
Licence Revoked
, however, test audiences believed this sounded like something to do with a driving licence, so it was changed to something more provocative.
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License to Kill was the first ever Bond film to change its title away from the original Ian Fleming Novel, and that was only the beginning of the changes. The film saw Dalton’s portrayal stand up against the test of time much better than some earlier versions, and the action sequences, like the explosive finale, are still some of the series’ best. The film had a genuine impact on the Bond franchise as a whole, showing a new look to Bond that would be mirrored by Daniel Craig, producing a significant cultural impact for the series going forward.
3 The Last Dragon (1985)
Starring Taimak And Julius Carry
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The Last Dragon is a cult classic martial arts film directed by Michael Schultz, which is a melting pot of action, combat, comedy, and music. Its narrative follows the story of a young martial arts student, Leroy Green, who is obsessed with achieving combat mastery and is in search of ‘the glow,’ a mystical power that one obtains when one reaches their final skill level. Set against the background frenzy of New York, the iconic and unforgettable antagonist, Sho’nuff is the perfect foil in a film that masterfully blends so many elements together.
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2
With its cast of unique, wacky characters, genuine martial arts skills, and memorable ’80s soundtrack that perfectly scores the film, The Last Dragon is a certified classic from the era. Like many 80s films, the tension is built up until a final fight scene that expertly culminates the film, in this case, seeing Leroy finally achieve the mystical ‘glow’ becoming an unstoppable force. The film, its creators, and performers all do a stellar job weaving the various elements together and even though upon release, it was deemed as weird and niche, these very characteristics are what make it stand out so much today.
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2 Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
Starring Clint Eastwood
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10/10 Heartbreak Ridge RWarDrama
Heartbreak Ridge, directed by Clint Eastwood, follows a tough Marine gunnery sergeant who deals with conflict with his superiors and his ex-wife while leading an undisciplined recon platoon. Released in 1986, it portrays the challenges of instilling discipline and unity within a diverse group of soldiers.
Director Clint Eastwood Release Date December 5, 1986 Writers Joseph Stinson , Dennis Hackin , James Carabatsos Cast Clint Eastwood , Marsha Mason , Everett McGill , Moses Gunn , Mario Van Peebles , Eileen Heckart , Bo Svenson , Boyd Gaines Runtime 130 Minutes Main Genre War Expand
The always-reliable Clint Eastwood stars as Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway in Heartbreak Ridge, a film that he also produced and directed. The story follows the Gunnery Sergeant as he is tasked with training an ill-disciplined, inexperienced group of soldiers for a reconnaissance mission, a task deemed suitable for him as he is known to be aggressive and confrontational. The film really highlights Eastwood’s commanding presence and plays into a lot of war tropes, with the grizzled veteran near retirement who has to give his all in one final assignment.
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The film’s title comes from the infamous Battle of Heartbreak Ridge during the Korean War, the conflict that saw Highway gain his Medal of Honor. Though obviously not as well-known or critically acclaimed as Eastwood’s most popular Westerns or more popular, later films like Dirty Harry, Heartbreak Ridge still shows an incredible story with a tense rescue and exceptional character development throughout. Eastwood’s portrayal of a veteran with an attitude would set him up for many of the future roles that he would go on to play so masterfully in the future.
1 Midnight Run (1988)
Starring Robert De Niro And Charles Grodin
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Midnight Run RActionComedyCrime
Midnight Run is a 1988 action-comedy film directed by Martin Brest. It stars Robert De Niro as a bounty hunter tasked with capturing and transporting a former mob accountant, played by Charles Grodin, across the country. The film follows their unpredictable journey, filled with comedic and thrilling moments, as they evade both the mob and law enforcement while forming an unlikely bond.
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*Availability in US Director Martin Brest Release Date July 20, 1988 Studio(s) City Light Films , Universal Pictures , City Lights Writers George Gallo Cast Robert De Niro , Charles Grodin , Yaphet Kotto , John Ashton , Dennis Farina Runtime 126 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
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In one of the most underappreciated and underrated films of the decade, Midnight Run sees Robert De Niro play a hardened bounty hunter who is bringing in his latest fugitive, an accountant (Charles Grodin), who embezzled $15 million from a Chicago mob boss. The film follows the duo as they cross the country together on a journey that is anything but straightforward. It is an impeccably paced and written film that allows the main characters to run wild and produce a fascinating display with humor, action, and a genuine connection.
Related 10 Classic 1980s Action Movie Moments That Aged Poorly
The iconic action movies of the 1980s usually have at least one scene that hasn’t aged well, due to changing social norms or poor special effects.
Though the film was a critical and commercial success during its release, it’s a film that is rarely, if ever, mentioned. It’s a film that expertly combines comedic moments with heartfelt scenes, and the chemistry between the two leads as they develop an unexpected bond is truly incredible to watch. It failed to achieve significant cultural impact at the time, with several other big-name releases in the same year, like Bloodsport and Die Hard. However, it is a film that combines every amazing element of a 1980s action film and should be celebrated as some of De Niro’s work.
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