10 action movies from the 1980s that were a lot of fun

The 1980s produced tons of great action movies, many of which have never been beaten in terms of sheer entertainment value. Big-budget blockbusters of the 1980s had a unique appeal. Years before overabundant CGI, long-running megafranchises and endless reboots took some of the shine off multiplex popcorn movies, the 1980s were a great decade for original stories with tons of crowd-pleasing action.

It’s no coincidence that some of the biggest action franchises of all time can trace their roots back to the 1980s, as Die hard, deadly weapon And Indiana Jones. These types of movies all combined fun ideas with charismatic movie stars. Most importantly, they also delivered the kind of hair-raising action that can still evoke a visceral response in audiences decades later.

10

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Danny Glover and Mel Gibson make an irresistible duo

Lethal weapon Could be the quintessential buddy cop movieAnd it remains one of the best almost four decades later. The movie gets most of its dramatic thrust from the pairing of its two heroes. Murtaugh is the trusted old hand, a cop who has seen and done it all, and is counting down every day until his retirement. Riggs, in contrast, is wild and irresponsible. In their own ways, Murtaugh and Riggs provide exactly what the other needs, and the chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson is genuine.

The crux of the criminal plot is largely unnecessary, as the most compelling human element of the drama comes from the relationship between the two heroes. As it happens, they’re chasing a gang of drug dealers, but the bad guys could just as easily be replaced by murderers, terrorists, or jaywalkers. The plot takes a back seat too Lethal weapons full-throttle action scenes. There is nothing particularly revolutionary about the car chases, hostage situations and shootouts, but director Richard Donner brings them to life. Lethal weapon 5 Is the legacy sequel nobody saw coming.

9

The Running Man (1987)

The Running Man revels in stylized violence

Before video game adaptations became a big Hollywood trend, The Running Man Delivered the same kind of joyous arcade experience. Arnold Schwarzenegger acts as player one, and he battles his way through a steady procession of extraordinary enemies. The bosses even have names that could have been plucked from arcade consoles in the 1980sIncluding Subzero, Dynamo and Fireball.

Besides arcade games, the other major influence on The Running Man Could be professional wrestling. Jesse Ventura stars as one of Arnie’s enemies, but he’s not the only one hinting at that The Running Man is dedicated to a sense of macho pageantry. It’s a lousy adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, but it’s a wonderful action romp nonetheless. Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man will star Glen Powell, and it promises to provide a more faithful vision of King’s dystopia.

8

Bloodsport (1988)

JCVD’s cheesy martial arts classic shows what he’s capable of

Blood sports is an interesting movie. There are countless valid criticisms—the bad acting, the ridiculous plot, the fact that the characters stop the splits every five minutes—but Blood sports is still a cult classic. Even the most ardent supporter of the movie must accept that it is a cheesy, nonsensical fantasy. This does little to deter their enthusiasm. Blood sports Knows what martial arts movie fans want to see, and delivers it in spades.

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as an American military man who falls off the map so he can compete in the world’s deadliest martial arts tournament. That’s all the setup needed for an onslaught of flying kicks and lightning-fast punches. Bolo Jung plays his role as the big bad admirably. He and Van Dam both have enough genuine martial arts skills to make up for it Blood sportsIt’s many shortcomings. It is a movie that has more muscles than sense, but fortunately the muscles are impeccable.

7

Die Hard (1988)

The difficulty is simple but effective

Die hard is one of the best pure action movies of all timeAnd it only got better with age. Die hard Follows a police officer who is caught in a hostage situation when terrorists take over a skyscraper. This simple premise is so effective that the first Die hard Sequel copies it almost entirely, and it’s another great action movie. The first Die hard But it remains the best, thanks to its originality and very strong execution.

One thing that helps Die hard Standing out from so many other action movies of the era is Bruce Willis’ performance as John McClane. It is McClane who gets the lion’s share of Die hards memorable quotes, and they help differentiate him from the indestructible action hero archetype of the 1980s. He suffers more than many characters played by the likes of Stallone and Schwarzenegger. also, Die hard Give him a villain who is just as iconic as he isBoosted by Alan Rickman’s performance.

6

Road House (1989)

Patrick Swayze’s Bareknuckle Thrill Ride is a guilty pleasure for many

Way house Pride trades in cheap thrillsAnd it has amassed a large cult following over the years as a result. Patrick Swayze stars as a stoic bouncer given a tough assignment in a rough roadside bar, where the bands play behind chicken wire and the rock and roll is punctuated by the sounds of breaking glass. Way house Seems to take place in a macho fantasy world. This is the only way to explain how a bouncer has a level of national fame, and he can rip someone’s throat out with his bare hands.

The 2024 Way house Remake has its charms, including a weird performance from UFC star Conor McGregor, but the visceral thrills of the original remain hard to beat. The practical stunts bring a level of kinetic danger to the bar fights. With a dash of sex appeal and some raunchy one-liners, Way house Ticks all the boxes of schlocky 1980s action. It’s low on emotion and lacking in complexity, however Way house is undeniably fun to watch.

5

48 hours. (1982)

A delightful cocktail of action and comedy

48 hours remains one of Eddie Murphy’s best movies, even though it was the comedian’s film debut. It is often credited as one of the movies that helped create the buddy cop genreAnd the dynamic between Murphy and Nick Nolte set the playbook for countless imitators. Nolte plays a hardened detective, while Murphy is the fast-talking criminal who gets a chance at freedom if he assists in an investigation.

48 hours Sets the standard for the buddy cop genre’s love of mismatched comic dynamics. Nolte and Murphy are a consistently entertaining duoHowever 48 hours Nor neglect his duty to fight. Striking the right balance between action and humor can be tricky for buddy cop movies, however 48 hours Has plenty of car chases and action scenes that convey a real sense of danger.

4

Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun takes the audience along for a death-defying ride

Top GunIts political motivations have been dissected and debated since 1986, but its vague gestures toward military power are only one way to understand it. A more lighthearted approach would be to simply estimate Top Guns spectacular flight scenes and its knucklehead flyboy charms. Top GunThe biggest achievement may be the way director Tony Scott puts the audience in the cockpit with Maverick.

Positive reviews from Top Gun Often do stylistic elements like the iconic soundtrack or the bromance between the male leads. These compliments highlight the kind of movie that Top Gun Is. It’s a head-banging good time that tries and often succeeds in pulling its audience along for the ride. Top Gun Its sequel in 2022 may have been surpassed in most ways, but it has still stood the test of ​​time as an icon of 1980s big-budget blockbusters, Full of style, originality and sheer movie star magic.

3

RoboCop (1987)

Paul Verhoeven’s subversive satire still delivers frenzied action

Robocop is a great sci-fi thriller, but it also works as a darkly hilarious satire of corporate America. The one-liners and the overblown characters are one way that Robocop Avoids many of the awkward clichés of dystopian sci-fi. The world of Robocop is no less horrifying, but Paul Verhoeven approaches it with enough wit to keep the movie light and entertaining. This sets the stage for some beautifully chaotic violence.

The other positive of The satirical humor of the movie is that it positions RoboCop as a character who is fun to spend some time with, rather than a cold-blooded embodiment of corporate overreach and unjust law enforcement. Robocop Seems to be inspired by another ’80s action classic, The TerminatorBut it’s more subversive and much funnier while still being just as obsessed with mechanized carnage.

2

Predator (1987)

Predator has many ways to keep the audience entertained

Predator Follows an elite tactical unit as they face an unknown threat in the jungle. It is often seen as an allegory for the Vietnam War, but this layer does not have anything to do with the sheer entertainment value. Predator Has a lot going for him even before the iconic alien hunter makes his first appearance. of Predators endlessly badass quotes to be explosive firefighters, It’s a celebration of the action genre’s most self-indulgent tropes.

near the beginning, Predator Kicks things off in fairly traditional fashion, as the Dutch team infiltrates a guerilla base in the dense jungle. After this exciting fight, Predator Takes a right turn in horror, as the soldiers begin to be picked off one by one. The mixing of genres underlines the fact that Predator Will do everything to entertain his audience. The franchise’s sequels have struggled to replicate the success of the originalPartly because nothing can replace the impact of seeing the Predator for the first time.

1

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Indy’s third outing is a lighthearted romp

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Gets pretty dark at times, though The Last Crusade Returns the franchise to brighter territory. Although Indy is swept up in another battle with the Nazis, The Last Crusade is a relentlessly entertaining delight that doesn’t try to get too deep. There will always be a debate as to whether this is the best movie in the world Indiana Jones Franchise, while Raiders of the Lost Ark also stakes a claim to the title, but there is no denying that it is the funniest.

The addition of the former James Bond Star Sean Connery as Indy’s father introduces a fresh comic dynamic to The Last Crusade. This simple change suddenly puts the usually savant Indy on the back foot, and he regresses to the stage of a moody teenager. The Last Crusade Pairs this comedy with some of the franchise’s best action sequences. The motorbike chase is a highlight, as is the opening scene, which shows how a young Indy gets his first taste of adventure.