# What are your favorite action movies of the 1980s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366 "2009-10-11T02:03:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/1 "2009-10-11T02:03:03Z")
The thread about Predator reminded me what a golden age the 1980s was for bad-ass, over-the-top action cinema. So what action flicks from the 1980s do you think are capable of giving straight men boners? Here’s my top 10: The Terminator Robocop Scarface Aliens Predator Raiders of the Lost Ark Commando Rocky IV Die Hard Delta Force (truly the high point of Chuck Norris’ career) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/2 "2009-10-11T02:08:29Z")
_Bloodsport_, I love that movie for exactly what it is, an action film. ETA: _Aliens_ is the best action film of the lot. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/3 "2009-10-11T02:09:42Z")
I agree with most of your list, but I’d take out Scarface and put in First Blood. I also think The Road Warrior is better than Delta Force. Just because Delta Force was the high point of Chuck Norris’ career doesn’t mean it was that good. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/4 "2009-10-11T02:13:09Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > I also think The Road Warrior is better than Delta Force. Just because Delta Force was the high point of Chuck Norris’ career doesn’t mean it was that good. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/5 "2009-10-11T02:13:29Z")
**Sharky’s Machine** , the last truly great Burt Reynolds action flick. Featuring Rachel Ward at the peak of her babe-a-liciousness! ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/6 "2009-10-11T02:16:33Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > **Sharky’s Machine** , the last truly great Burt Reynolds action flick. Featuring Rachel Ward at the peak of her babe-a-liciousness! God damn it, you’ve just made me want to watch something that will almost assuredly suck. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/7 "2009-10-11T02:22:54Z")
Die Hard. I don’t think it’s every been topped. It remains the bar for that perfect mix of dry cool wit, and action sequences believably strung together under a great premise. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/8 "2009-10-11T03:16:35Z")
In addition to those mentioned in the OP, I’d add: Clint Eastwood Heartbreak Ridge Pale Rider Any Which Way You Can - bad, but fun Mel Gibson The Road Warrior - definitely Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 Schwarzenegger Conan The Barbarian The Running Man - not as good as the other Arnold movies mentioned, but not bad. Kurt Russell Escape From New York Big Trouble In Little China Harrison Ford The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade Others: Batman Clash of the Titans - I’m hoping the upcoming remake will spur a blu-ray release of the original. They Live - “I have come here to kick ass and chew bubblegum. And I’m all out of bubblegum.” Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/9 "2009-10-11T04:32:55Z")
Willis Die Hard Segall Above the Law Van Damme Bloodsport Kickboxer Swayze Road House Red Dawn Next of Kin Schwarzenegger Commando Predator The Terminator The Running Man Conan Stalone First Blood Rocky IV Bronson Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Russell The Thing Big Trouble in Little China Escape from New York Norris Invasion USA The Octagon The Delta Force Misc Young Guns They Live Enter the Ninja Revenge of the Ninja Ninja III: The Domination Iron Eagles There are actually a shitload of films from the 90s too. If I may hijack the thread for a moment. Apparently there is what I have to assume is an action film coming out next year called [“The Expendables”.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320253/)The cast is currently listed as: Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/10 "2009-10-11T04:46:23Z")
It really is a tie between **Aliens** and **Die Hard**. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/11 "2009-10-11T06:29:24Z")
Add **Tango and Cash** with Stallone and Russell. On the other hand, I wouldn’t list **Terminator** nor **The Thing** as action movies. They’re more horror/suspense films, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/12 "2009-10-11T09:52:34Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > God damn it, you’ve just made me want to watch something that will almost assuredly suck. It’s being remade for a 2012 release; Mark Wahlberg is attached to it! I’ll never forger the DC theater I saw it in. Some black guys up front were talking to the screen: “He loves you, Victor!” “Yeah. he loves you so much he’s gonna kill you!” Good times! ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/13 "2009-10-11T10:06:17Z")
Die Hard is still in my mind the greatest action movie and Christmas movie ever. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/14 "2009-10-11T13:36:39Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Bronson > Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Death Wish 4, had it’s moments, but for a pure, unrestrained, “shoot every bad guy in sight” romp, I’d go with Death Wish 3. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/15 "2009-10-11T14:55:20Z")
[_To Live and Die in L. A._](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090180/) One of the best car chase sequences ever! Check it out: [Part 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDK8OtjE7O4&feature=related) and [Part 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ_39lxlDAg). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/16 "2009-10-11T15:08:46Z")
It’s a little known movie that might be more “sports” than “action”, but I recommend 1989’s [_The Blood of Heroes_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blood_of_Heroes) for an honourable mention. Of the OP’s list, _Aliens_ wins, though the battle is hard fought. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/17 "2009-10-11T22:42:20Z")
Maybe its just me, but I am a little bit surprised that neither “48 Hours” or “Beverly Hills Cop” has been mentioned yet. I am no longer much of an Eddie Murphy fan anymore, but these were two pretty solid (not to mention popular/profitable) movies that really launched his career into superstardom… ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/18 "2009-10-11T23:59:22Z")
I can genuinely say one of my favorite moments in a movie theater in the 1980s was during _Commando_. The scene where Matrix is holding Sully over the cliff: Matrix: Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last? Sully: That’s right, Matrix! You did! Matrix: I lied. There’s actually a lot of over-the-top moments in Commando. For example when Matrix _lifts a telephone booth with a man inside of it over his head and throws it_. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/19 "2009-10-12T10:45:02Z")
The existential _Runaway Train_ (1985), with Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, and Rebecca De Mornay. Based on a screenplay by Akira Kurosawa. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366/20 "2009-10-12T12:33:03Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Death Wish 4, had it’s moments, but for a pure, unrestrained, “shoot every bad guy in sight” romp, I’d go with Death Wish 3. Actually you’re right. If it’s the one where he sets the booby trap that knocks the guys teeth out and then mows down the gang with an old Browning machinegun, I was thinking of DW3. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-action-movies-of-the-1980s/513366.md?page=2)