The 1980s were an incredible era for Action movies And were the inception point for some of the greatest franchises of all time. With major stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone dominating the box office, the action franchises of this decade had a unique aesthetic and energy that meant, even after all these years, they are still loved and rewatched by hordes of action movie lovers. What’s most impressive about the best action franchises of the 1980s was their longevity, as many have continued to this day through sequels, prequels, revivals and reboots.
As a truly revolutionary decade for action movies, the 1980s boasted some of the biggest action heroes of all time, as icons like John McClane became a one-man army trying to put an end to a terrorist takeover. The action movie genre also played with many other styles, like series like Beverly Hills Cop Helped revive the buddy cop genre, and The Terminator Heavily attached to cyberpunk and sci-fi concepts. With so much variety and so many incredible movies, The 1980s was truly a treasure trove for action franchises.
8
Police Story (1985 – 2013)
Seven movies: three sequels, one spin-off, two reboots
While Hollywood productions often dominate the conversation when discussing 1980s franchises, the Hong Kong action series Police Story Also deserves a mention. As a definitive release in Jackie Chan’s career, Police Story Strong combined Chan’s incredible talent as a stuntman with his unique sense of slapstick humor. With many elaborate stunts and large-scale action sequences, the first Police Story Saw Chan embroiled in car chases, hanging off a speeding bus, and even participating in an iconic shopping mall fight with shattered glass panes.
More than any other franchise, Police Story Solidified Chan’s reputation as one of the greatest kung fu movie stars of all time. With such incredible charisma, Police Story Helped build Chan’s reputation in the West and was an important contributor to his later Hollywood movie roles. As the perfect combination of action and stunts, the Police Story The franchise’s influence can be felt in almost every modern action movie that tries to blend awe-inspiring stunts with laugh-out-loud humor.
7
Predator (1987 – present)
Seven movies: three sequels, one prequel and two spin-offs
A brand new action movie franchise was born with the release of Predator In 1987. However, rather than the catalyst for countless adventures with its protagonist Arnold Schwarzenegger as main Dutch creator. Predator Series went in a different direction by focusing on its evil villains, the race of extraterrestrial trophy-seeking hunters known as the Yautja. The alien creatures utilize advanced technology, camouflage and a whole host of otherworldly weapons to take out their prey in a franchise that blends action, horror and science fiction.
The first Predator Starring Schwarzenegger, it was one of the definitive action movies of the 1980s, as quoted as “Get to the chappa“have become just as iconic as The Terminator “I will come back.” Although the series only had one unique entry in the 1980s, interest has not waned in the decades since, as the franchise has continued to this day. With the recent success of Dan Trachtenbergs Predator Prequel preyAn eighth movie titled Predator: Badlands is now at work.
6
Robocop (1987 – 2014)
Four movies: two sequels, one remake
While Robocop Might initially sound like a typical mindless action movie, when you look beneath the surface, it’s actually one of the most thematically fascinating franchises of the 1980s. Focusing on ideas around the nature of humanity, personal identity, corporate greed and corruption, Robocop was a direct reflection of the era’s Reaganomics policies. Like the story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop fatally wounded in the line of duty who is then transformed into a powerful cyborg, Robocop highlighted the commodification of humanity itself.
From director Paul Verhoeven, the first Robocop The film explored the power of corruption, but also asked pressing questions about what humanity is and how much of it was left in Alex after he was turned into a machine. By probing deeper into the ethical dilemmas posed by the existence of RoboCop, this has become a series that is rich in analysis while also providing non-stop action. In an era where action movies often presented those in authority as the good guys taking on the criminal baddies, Robocop was a more nuanced look at moral ambiguity.
5
Lethal Weapon (1987 – 1998)
Four movies
While the Buddy Cup formula was around long before Lethal weaponThe combination of LAPD detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh felt like it perfected it. With Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the lead roles, the two played off each other perfectly and imbued the franchise with a real sense of heart and humor. Like a quintessential 1980s action movie, Lethal weapon was packed with quips, featured lots of shootouts, and had enough explosions to keep viewers wanting more.
With three direct sequels, Lethal weapon Continued to find great success throughout the 1990s, and the characters were even recast for a 2016 TV reboot. Discussion has been ongoing for decades about a potential Lethal weapon 5But despite everyone involved expressing interest, it has yet to get off the ground. While Murtaugh has long said he is “Getting too old for this shit“That never stopped audiences from wanting to see more of Lethal weapon.
4
Beverly Hill Cop (1984 – present)
Four movies
The first Beverly Hill Cop Movie was the film that catapulted Eddie Murphy into international superstardom and quickly became one of the most successful action movies of the 1980s. Packed with humor, Murphy excels as the fast-talking underdog cop who made his way into a rich man’s world, Axel Foley. As the perfect mix of intense action, hilarious humor and one of the greatest synth movie scores of the decade, Beverly Hills Cop had a unique identity That helped it stand out in the buddy cop genre.
While it’s hard to beat the original movie, which saw Murphy’s street-smart Detroit cop travel from his jurisdiction to Beverly Hills to investigate the murder of his best friend, the first two sequels in 1987 and 1994 added to the concept when Axel returned To Los Angeles to take out criminals again. The series got a new life in 2024 with the legacy sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F On Netflix, with Murphy himself revealing (via Variety) A fifth film is already in development.
3
Rambo (1982 – 2019)
Five movies
Although Sylvester Stallone achieved his breakout role with Rocky in 1976It wasn’t until the 1980s that he turned into a bona fide action movie star. Like the Vietnam War veteran John Rambo in First bloodStollone showed his talent as an action movie star capable of directing major Hollywood blockbusters. A very influential film, First blood was the first blockbuster released in China (by CS monitor), and with 76 million tickets sold, it became the most successful foreign Hollywood film in the country until 2018.
As a fast-paced and well-acted action movie, First blood Has extra resonance due to Rambo’s PTSD caused by his traumatic experiences as a Special Forces officer in the war. The Rambo Franchise continued throughout the 1980s and beyond as the former Green Beret’s adventures became increasingly intense as he returned to Vietnam to free POWs in Rambo: First Blood Part II. The Rambo Series has its potential final installment in 2019 with the release of Rambo: Last Blood.
2
The Terminator (1984 – 2019)
Six movies: three main timelines
The style and aesthetic of 1980s action movies can be summed up by the iconic images of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 Cyborg in The Terminator. As a sunglasses-wearing, leather-clad killing machine, The Terminator Inspired a whole lot of copycat films, as its insightful blend of action movie tropes, cyberpunk aesthetics, and technological anxiety earned it a special place in the cultural era. As the story of ​​a post-apocalyptic war between a synthetic intelligence known as Skynet, the time travel nature of The Terminator The franchise’s litany of sequels, soft reboots and reimaginings made for a confusing chronology.
With the release of the original James Cameron movie in 1984, The Terminator Quickly established itself as one of the best action movies of the 1980s. In many ways, the sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day Exceeding the original as it subverted Schwarzenegger’s character to become the story’s hero. Although subsequent releases have varied in quality, the franchise’s legacy has not diminished, and The Terminator remains a cornerstone of modern popular culture.
1
Die Hard (1988 – 2013)
Five movies
Die hard is about as close as a film can get to the perfect action movie, and upon its release, Bruce Willis as John McClane became one of the definitive action heroes of cinema. Known for his hilarious one-liners and ability to keep his cool under intense pressure, McClane’s first outing revolutionized the action movie genre, as his story of a lone man taking on a litany of criminals in an enclosed space was mimicked in everything from Under Sig to John Wick.
The first Die hard was released in the last years of the 1980s and signaled the way forward for the action genre in the 1990s and beyond. From Willis’ incredible characterization of McClane to Alan Rickman’s iconic portrayal of Hans Gruber, Die hard Felt like something new and exciting, because his more grounded approach was in stark contrast to the invincible, muscle-bound men like Schwarzenegger and Stallone, who defined the decade. When later movies like Cliffhanger can be simply described as ‘Die hard On a mountain, it is clear how all-encompassing the influence of the movie was.
Sources: Variety, CS monitor