Not Only 'The Terminator' & 'Die Hard': 5 Best Action Movies From the 80s, Ranked by IMDb
From cold-blooded cyborg killers to charismatic lone cops.
The 1980s are rightfully considered the golden age of action cinema – it was then that we received the movies that entertained and shaped entire genres, creating hero archetypes that would last for decades.
Cult classics like The Terminator and Die Hard have long been synonymous with quality action flicks, but the decade gave us many more masterpieces.
5. 'Conan the Barbarian', 1982
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
The former slave Conan sets out to find the merciless Thulsa Doom and his cultists. Seeking revenge on the sorcerer for killing his parents, the mighty warrior embarks on a journey filled with incredible adventures. Along the way, he slays numerous foes and meets loyal allies.
Despite the many attempts to bring Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories to the screen, viewers still find it difficult to imagine anyone other than Arnold Schwarzenegger portraying the character.
This is unsurprising, as Schwarzenegger and director John Milius accurately conveyed the feel of the brutal Hyborian Age tales, where steel and magic reign supreme and bloodshed never stops.
4. 'Big Trouble in Little China', 1986
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
When sinister events begin to unfold in San Francisco's Chinatown, trucker Jack Burton is immediately called in. He can solve any problem, even one involving an elderly sorcerer who seeks to marry a green-eyed woman in order to lift an ancient curse.
In Big Trouble in Little China, John Carpenter delivers a brilliant parody of tough-guy heroes, and viewers are treated to excellent action, humor, and striking special effects. However, the film performed poorly at the box office, a typical fate for cult classics that find a second life on home screens.
3. 'RoboCop', 1987
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
The near-future city of Detroit is engulfed by a crime wave. The regular police can no longer cope with the flood of criminals on the streets – the city's only hope is RoboCop, the latest creation from OCP designed to end the chaos.
Beneath its metal shell, the perfect law enforcement machine still has the heart of Alex Murphy, an honest cop.
RoboCop skillfully combines social satire and bloody action: it simultaneously entertains viewers and leaves them with food for thought.
2. 'Lethal Weapon', 1987
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Martin Riggs, a hot-tempered former Special Forces soldier, suffers from suicidal tendencies after the death of his wife. In contrast, Roger Murtaugh is a seasoned homicide sergeant and devoted family man who is accustomed to playing by the rules.
Though they are completely different, they must solve a young woman's suspicious suicide and stop a dangerous drug ring on Christmas Day.
Buddy movies existed long before Lethal Weapon burst onto the screen, however, Richard Donner's film truly set the standard for the genre.
1. 'First Blood', 1982
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
In 1981, Vietnam veteran John Rambo tries to find his place in a world without war. Instead, he encounters mockery and humiliation at the hands of Sheriff Teasle, who decides to teach the drifter a lesson.
Unbeknownst to the small-town police, they've encountered not just any homeless person but a former Green Beret, a special forces soldier capable of taking on an entire unit single-handedly.
Due to the numerous sequels in which Rambo dispatched entire armies single-handedly, many have forgotten that the original First Blood is more about the plight of veterans.
