The 1980s were a fantastic time for action movies, as campy, over-the-top releases that didn’t take themselves too seriously dominated the box office. With incredible franchises like Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Rambo churning out fantastic releases year after year, there were so many beloved series and original movies for viewers to enjoy.
Some of the best action movies of all time were made during the 1980s, which were bolstered by slick production methods and catchy synth soundtracks. Whether for their hilarious one-liners, darkly sinister villains, or just outrageous stuntwork, any action movie lover worth their salt should be sure to check out each and every one of these films.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
As the very first movie based on sketches from Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers was a landmark comedy that many will remember primarily for its great music and incredible cameos from the likes of Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. However, this John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd two-hander was also an excellent action movie packed with fantastic stunts.
The Blues Brothers was a chaotic and intense journey of two brothers “on a mission from God” to save their childhood orphanage that featured the wreckage of dozens of police cars through its high-octane chase sequences. With behind-the-scenes antics arguably even more outrageous than the film itself, everything about The Blues Brothers was wild.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
While Han Solo in Star Wars turned Harrison Ford into a global star, it was playing the globetrotting archaeologist Indiana Jones that made him an action movie legend. As the first in its franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of the greatest action movies of all time, as it blended serial adventure stories with modern sensibilities.
As one of the most iconic heroes cinema has ever seen, Indiana Jones holds a special place in popular culture, and Raiders of the Lost Ark stands as his greatest adventure. With a legendary opening scene where Indy is chased by a boulder, Raiders stands as a highlight in the career of not just Ford but also Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
First Blood (1982)
Sylvester Stallone may have created the greatest sports movie hero with Rocky Balboa, but he became a true action star as John Rambo in First Blood. This film offered a gripping look at Vietnam veterans’ PTSD through the story of a Special Forces operative whose clash with small-town police erupts into a tense and tragic confrontation in the Washington countryside.
First Blood was a tense and thrilling action movie that not only kept viewers on the edge of their seats throughout but also explored important themes around the societal neglect of veterans. While later entries in the Rambo series devolved into over-the-top violence, First Blood struck the perfect balance and remains a compelling and thought-provoking action movie.
Octopussy (1983)
Everyone will have a different answer for who the greatest James Bond was, but it’s clear that Roger Moore did an excellent job portraying the MI6 agent 007 in Octopussy. With the perfect blend of action and humor, this was one of the most fun Bond films ever made, and it represented a decisively 1980s imagining of this spy with a license to kill.
Maud Adams did an excellent job portraying the villainous Bond girl Octopussy, and the stuntwork was on par with anything previously seen in the series. Although it’s true that there might have been better Bond movies than Octopussy throughout the 1980s, when compared to other pure action movies released this year, like Uncommon Valor, it comes out on top.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
As Eddie Murphy’s breakout performance, Beverly Hills Cop was one of the most important action movies of the 1980s. Telling the story of the cop Axel Foley going rogue as he tries to solve the case of his murdered best friend, the mixture of incredible action sequences paired with Murphy’s unmatched timing was truly a sight to behold.
With great performances and a unique style, the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop was also a major part of its appeal, and the title theme tune from Harold Faltermeyer became a major synth music hit. Beverly Hills Cop turned Murphy into a household name and remains perhaps his best film in an extraordinary career.
Police Story (1985)
While there were plenty of great American action movies in 1985, like Commando or Witness, it’s the Hong Kong action classic Police Story that stands as the year’s best. With co-writer, director, and star Jackie Chan firing on all cylinders, this martial arts hit captured everything great about its star in one feature film.
Whether it was its impressive stunts or jaw-dropping action sequences, everything about Police Story just worked. From watching Chan hanging off the side of a speeding bus to showcasing his fighting skills in its iconic shopping mall scene, Police Story just might be the greatest movie Chan ever made.
Top Gun (1986)
Few action movies from the 1980s have had as much enduring impact as Top Gun. This was the film that turned Tom Cruise into a bona fide global star, as its story of friendship between aviators Maverick and Anthony Edwards’ Goose not only struck a chord with viewers but also actively raised recruitment levels in the US Navy and Air Force.
Top Gun was a character-driven action movie that was bolstered by Cruise’s charismatic charm and Val Kilmer’s unique appeal as the rival pilot LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. As one of the biggest box office hits of the 1980s, Top Gun maintained its success with the long-awaited and equally acclaimed legacy sequel Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Lethal Weapon (1987)
Telling the story of two mismatched LAPD officers, Lethal Weapon was an incredible buddy cop action movie that understood these kinds of films lived and died on the chemistry between its two stars. With Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs and Danny Glover as his partner Roger Murtaugh, this runaway success grossed $150 million against its $20 million budget.
Lethal Weapon had an undeniable impact on the action movies that followed it, as everything from Bad Boys to Rush Hour attempted to replicate its appeal. With impressive stunts, fast-paced action, and enough jokes to keep audiences laughing throughout, Lethal Weapon struck the perfect balance of action and comedy.
Die Hard (1988)
The action movie landscape of the 1980s saw a noticeable shift following the success of Die Hard, as muscle-bound heroes like Stallone and Schwarzenegger were replaced by more grounded heroes like Bruce Willis’s John McClane. As a one-location film that condensed the action genre down to its barest essentials, McClane’s one-man face-off against a group of terrorists was truly iconic.
While the argument still rages all these decades later about whether Die Hard can be considered a Christmas movie or not, nobody can deny its place as one of the most impactful action movies ever made. From Alan Rickman’s legendary portrayal of Hans Gruber to quotable phrases like “Yippee ki yay,” Die Hard was an important release.
Tango & Cash (1989)
The 1980s came to a close with Tango & Cash, an underrated classic that featured Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell as a pair of mismatched cops. While this movie was criticized at the time for being full of tropes, looking back, that’s part of its charm, as the straight-laced Lieutenant Tango and cowboy cop Cash made the perfect duo.
With this pair of crime-fighting heroes framed by their arch-nemesis, Tango & Cash forced the two to put their differences aside and take down this brutal crime baron. There was a satirical edge to Tango & Cash that was badly received at the time, as its blatant embrace of genre clichés felt ahead of its time.