The ’80s were known for being a visual spectacle, and that bled perfectly into the decade’s action films. The New Hollywood films of the ’70s were brushed aside for more action-oriented fare that benefited from VHS and a desire for style over substance. The best action movies of the ’80s all shared certain qualities that made them stand out, like big explosions, quip-filled one-liners, and over-the-top violence as the action hero reigned supreme.
Action heroes like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger dominated the box office with their adrenaline-fueled flicks. Of course, they weren’t the only ones at the top of their action game in the ’80s. The decade was so dominated by action films both good and bad. In fact, the so-bad-it’s-good action flick won over just as many fans as the top critical productions. The crown for best ’80s action movie is certainly a Battle Royale with plenty of contenders. Some films just barely missed the cut while others drifted too far into other genres to be considered at the top. The battle was brutal, but these ’80s action movies stand out from the rest.
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Updated on July 31st, 2023 bySean Shuman:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20License to Kill (1989)
License to Kill, the last Bond film of the 1980s, is also one of the franchise’s darkest.Played by Timothy Dalton, this iteration of Bond finds himself acting independently of MI6 on a mission for revenge, all while infiltrating the ranks of a notorious drug lord.
Taking notes from contemporary action flicks,License to Killis still held in high regard by Bond enthusiasts for the bold risks it took with the character. The film introduced a freshness that the series was desperate for at the time.
19The Running Man (1987)
Despite being based on the Stephen King story of the same name,The Running Manhas little to do with it. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as police officer Ben Richards,The Running Manis an incredibly over-the-top action flick that takes place during a worldwide economic collapse.
Convicted criminals are sentenced to death in a tense manhunt styled after a prime-time game show. When Richards is framed and convicted after defying a cruel order, he finds himself working with an underground resistance group to escape the deadly game show with his life and freedom.
18Midnight Run (1988)
Midnight Runhas a lot of different ingredients that, surprisingly, mesh together into a compelling action flick. An action-road-trip-buddy-comedy starring both Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin,Midnight Runfollows a bounty hunter and a bail bondsman on a cross-country journey.
Instead of finding friendship, they’re on the hunt for fifteen million dollars in embezzled funds. With plenty of laughs in between the action,Midnight Runis easily one of the better action comedy films that came out in the late ’80s.
17Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Big Trouble in Little Chinais as odd as it is entertaining. Starring Kurt Russell and Dennis Dun, this fantastical action adventure film places a trucker in a not-so-typical “fish out of water” story.
Caught in the crosshairs of the supernatural sorcerer Lo Pan, an inept trucker and his quick-witted friend are tasked with rescuing his fiancée from outlandish thugs in San Francisco’s Chinatown district. While it bombed at the box office,Big Trouble in Little Chinahas sincebecome a cult classicin John Carpenter’s filmography.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warriorwas easily the best in theMad Maxfranchise prior to the release ofFury Road. Featuring a returning Mel Gibson, the titular Australian loner continues his unending search for gasoline before making himself known to the masked madman Lord Humungus.
A film whose influence can be felt in just about every post-apocalypse story since its release,Mad Max 2is a direct improvement over its predecessor in every way. The sequel upped the action, the ante, and the absurdity to new highs.
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15Police Story (1985)
Widely regarded as one of Jackie Chan’s best movies,Police Storysees the acrobatic action star attempting to clear his own name after a drug lord’s arrest sparks a high-profile murder.
With more than half a dozen elaborate stunts featured throughout, including one that nearly killed Jackie Chan outright,Police Storywas a film designed around action first and foremost. On top of the action, there are also plenty of chuckles to be had in between all the punches and kicks.
14Escape from New York (1981)
Kurt Russell is always a reliable action film star. In John Carpenter’s 1981 masterpieceEscape from New York, Russell stars as Snake, our eyepatch-wearing protagonist at the center of the story, which is set in an alternate-reality 1997. The U.S. has been completely decimated by crime.
Manhattan Island has since been converted into a maximum security prison, and trouble arises when Air Force One makes a crash-landing into the area. Russell’s scene-stealing hero is given 24 hours to help the President escape the city, and if he succeeds, he’ll earn a pardon for his troubles. The film was such a hit thatCarpenter and Russell teamed upfor a worthy sequel,Escape from L.A.
13Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
The ’80s wasn’t just the decade of action movies, it was the decade of Eddie Murphy. He tookSaturday Night Liveby storm and his success translated to film immediately. His first movie role was another ’80s classic action flick,48 Hoursin 1982.
However, it was his second action film that really placed Murphy atop the list of greatest ’80s action heroes. 1984’sBeverly Hills Copstarred Murphy as Axel Foley, a Detroit cop trying to solve his friend’s murder in Beverly Hills. Murphy’s comedic timing paired with some top-notch action sequences turnedBeverly Hills Copinto a blockbuster. Not bad for a film that was originally meant to be a straight-dramatic film starring Sylvester Stallone.
12Top Gun (1986)
Tony Scott’sTop Gunabsolutely oozed coolness upon its release. Tom Cruise, fresh off hit films like Ridley Scott’sLegendandRisky Business, kicked off his long career in the action genre withTop Gun.Cruise played Maverick, a hot-shot Navy pilot that broke the mold when it came to coolness and recklessness.
However, Maverick soon discovered that dogfight battles in the air were a little more dangerous than training exercises. The film had some of the most amazing in-air camera shots in Hollywood at the time. And while it was nominated for its effects and sound,Top Gunsadly only took home an Oscar for Best Original Song for Berlin’s hit tune “Take My Breath Away.” Tom Cruise later returned to the role for the record-breakingTop Gun: Maverickin 2023.
11Bloodsport (1988)
Bloodsportwas a fever dream of ’80s action cinema. It relied on the acting talents of martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme, was inspired by a too-unbelievable-to-be-true story, and had a soundtrack so emblematic of the decade that it may as well have been wearing Jordache.
Based on the alleged exploits of Frank Dux,Bloodsportfollowed Van Damme’s portrayal of Dux as he entered the secret martial arts tournament known as The Kumite. While the movie is incredibly light on plot, the hard-hitting action was enough to placeBloodsportas one of the greatest action movies of the ’80s and propel Van Damme to stardom.
