The ’80s was a classic era for the film industry that gave us classic movies like Batman, E.T, and Commando. Although the movies of today may attract us with their mind-blowing special effects and complex cinematography, the nostalgic appeal of the ’80s never really fades away. In fact, we might even say that the films of the ’80s were what made the movies of today possible.

Updated: January 2023: To keep this article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Dylan Reber.

For action lovers, the 1980s golden age of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis is impossible to forget. Action blockbuster masterpieces, ranging from RoboCop and Terminator to First Blood and Predator, remain some of the most memorable films of the decade. But there’s more to ’80s action than these classics. A whole slew of underappreciated (but very fun) romps were obscured by the shadows of Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Van Damme. So for this list, let’s bring some of the most sensational and underrated action movies of the 1980s to light.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 Black Rain (1989)

     Paramount Pictures Studios

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Michael Douglas, Black Rain is a movie that falls short of a good story line with its flat characters and inaccurate representation of the city of Osaka. However, it makes for a good watch thanks to its exceptional action scenes and visuals. Charlie (Andy Garcia) and a policeman from New York (Michael Douglas) witness a gruesome murder in a bar, but manage to arrest the killer immediately. They then learn that the killer, Sato, is a member of the infamous Japanese Yakuza. Because of this, he has to be transported to Japan for his trial, where the tables turn as the Yakuza free him from custody. Nick and Charlie must work together to scour the underworld of the Yakuza in search of the criminal, battling tons of enemies on the way.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Maniac Cop (1988)

     Paramount PicturesStudio Canal20th Century Studios

Maniac Cop, starring Bruce Campbell and Tom Atkins, is a great watch for fans of campy ’80s action. The plot involves a young New York City cop being framed for the increasing murders in the city. His girlfriend teams up with a detective to catch the maniac cop and save her boyfriend from going behind bars. The ridiculously low budget of the movie does not stop it from being recognized for some of its shockingly gruesome scenes, classic car chases, and the final police massacre that stays in the mind for quite some time (we’ll see if it ends up in the upcoming remake). William Lustig shows off his impressive acting skills; the movie is well directed, and it offers up equal parts horror, suspense, mystery and witty dialogue, which will keep fans entertained throughout.

8 Cobra (1986)

     Warner Bros.

You may be wondering how a Sylvester Stallone movie from the ’80s could be underrated, but the man put out a lot of films during the decade. Some of them, like Cobra, were bound to slip under the radar. This one makes it on the list by virtue the rule of cool, and it hardly gets cooler than Stallone in shades. He plays a hard-boiled street cop who goes after a radical cult who style themselves “The New World.” What we get from the collision of Stallone and this cult is a wildly brutal action extravaganza. The film even had to be censored to avoid the dreaded X-rating from the MPAA. Though we may never see the original cut, Cobra is still worth checking out.

7 Best of the Best (1989)

     20th Century Studios

The widowed father (Eric Roberts) of a five-year-old son has to represent the United States of America in a karate tournament against a Korean national team. Roberts gives viewers some of the most action-packed sequences in the entertainment industry, which makes this movie quite the hidden gem of the 1980s. Accompanied by the right amount of sentiment and perfect martial arts sequences, Best of the Best is in fact one of the best (see Dead End Follies’ review, for example). The dialogue may be a bit too cheesy (even for an action movie), and the acting does fall short in some moments; however, melodrama is essential to any movie aspiring to be an emotional powerhouse.

Supporting Action Characters That Deserve Their Own Films

6 Project A (1983)

     Golden Harvest Media Asia Group

Jackie Chan is a legendary action star, known the world over for his mind-boggling stunt work and fight choreography. While certain Chan films from the 1980s, like Police Story, have become classics of the action genre, others remain underappreciated gems from one of the actor’s most prolific periods. 1983’s Project A is one such film, a comic-action romp through 19th century Hong Kong led by Chan and frequent collaborator Sammo Hung. The two make a perfect pair to take on the pirates (yes, pirates) plaguing Hong Kong’s Marine Police force. The film strikes a wonderful balance between comedy and martial arts-based action, and it includes one of the most dangerous stunts of Chan’s career in a scene involving a clock tower.

5 Action Jackson (1988)

     Lorimar Television

Starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, and Sharon Stone, Action Jackson is one of the best action-comedy movies to come out of the 1980s (though famed critic Roger Ebert didn’t quite agree). As a representation of the stereotypes at the time of its release, this movie is mostly reviewed as being so silly that it’s amazing. Action Jackson is packed with ridiculous action from start to finish, and it hits the right levels of cheesiness to make it a true undiscovered gem of the 1980s. Another important thing to note is that this movie was the return of the Black hero in Hollywood, which was an important feat to achieve considering the past was not always so kind to Black Hollywood actors in major roles.

4 Streets of Fire (1984)

     Universal Pictures

This little-known movie from director Walter Hill is sure to become a guilty pleasure for new fans. This would-be masterpiece is considered to be ahead of its time from a visual standpoint. It’s also one of the few films to pull off the rock-and-roll-action love story genre. Starring Dianne Lane as the kidnapped rock and roll singer, Willlem Dafoe as a gang leader, and Michael Pare as the ex-boyfriend setting out to save the singer, Streets of Fire has developed a cult following. From incredible sets and colorful costumes to brilliant rock performances and action sequences, this movie does not leave room for dull moments. There are, of course, things that can be criticized about this film, such as the laughable dialogue and horrible posters, but those just account for the nitty-gritty details that most viewers tend to overlook. When a story flows as well as the one in Streets of Fire, you can excuse a lot of little problems.

The Most Emotional Scenes in Action Movies, Ranked

3 Police Story 2 (1988)

     Golden Harvest Media Asia

While the original Police Story is widely regarded as an action masterpiece, its sequel, Police Story 2, has not received the same attention. While fans of Jackie Chan may sing its praises, it remains a lesser-known film among the general public. In spite of its modest reputation, Police Story 2 is every bit as fun and frantic as the original. Chan returns as the heroic cop Chan Ka-kui, who can’t seem to stay out of trouble with both rival gangs and his superiors in the police force. The story follows a similar pattern to the first Police Story; but here the stakes are higher; the comedy more subdued, and the action more savage. Of course, Chan’s stunt work is the real star of the show, and one explosive sequence near the end of the film is guaranteed to leave you breathless.

2 The Killer (1989)

     Photo Credit - Film Workshop

Though American studios dominated the action genre throughout the 1980s, there were flashy, violent blockbusters being made all over the world. Some of them, like The Killer from legendary Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo, were masterful and hugely influential. Woo is noteworthy for his cinematic mastery of gunfights. In some of his most spectacular scenes, entire sets are torn to shreds by gunfire, explosions, and shrapnel. His tasteful use of slow-motion and acrobatic stunts have made his films legendary among action fans. The Killer is a particularly great example; with its hitman-against-cop storyline and its bombastic ending sequence; it’s up there with the best of the 1980s. Though highly regarded among lovers of international cinema, it hasn’t always received the credit it deserves in the States.

1 Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

A ridiculous adventure with an absurdly amazing story line, Big Trouble in Little China steals the number one spot for the most underrated action movie of the 1980s. Set in a world of green-eyed fiancées, Chinese street gangs, a powerful evil sorcerer, magic, and martial arts, a truck driver and his Chinese friend explore the underground of Chinatown and end up on the biggest adventure of their lives. Director John Carpenter seems to be the only one who could pull off such an outlandishly fun action movie. Sly humor, witty dialogue, noisy action, and thrilling scenes make Big Trouble in Little China an eminently enjoyable film. Kurt Russell, the hero of the movie, plays the character of a bold man who fears nothing – and he lets us know it with his corny but charming dialogue. It’s a film that can appeal to any generation, and one of the best action movies of the 1980s.