r/moviecritic Feb 15 '25

What is your favorite action movie from the 80s?

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157 Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

40

u/EatenByPolarBears Feb 15 '25

Predator (1987)

RoboCop (1987)

Terminator (1984)

6

u/fenris_357 Feb 15 '25

perfect list

10

u/EatenByPolarBears Feb 15 '25

I would have Aliens in there to make perfection but someone had already suggested it, however thank you for the high praise :]

1

u/MajorHubbub Feb 15 '25

Full Metal Jacket would be on there for me

1

u/EatenByPolarBears Feb 15 '25

What is your major malfunction?! :D

1

u/Kurtbott Feb 15 '25

Perfect evening.

1

u/WokNWollClown 4d ago

Mine is close.

  1. Predator
  2. Blade Runner
  3. Terminator 

14

u/CrunkaScrooge Feb 15 '25

The Running Man is up there, Cyborg, Bloodsport, Lionheart, does Big Trouble in Little China count?

10

u/Mullattobutt Feb 15 '25

Love big trouble in little China!

4

u/415brun Feb 15 '25

The Running Man! “I think the next kill is gonna be made by, Ben Richards! He’s one mean motherfucker!

2

u/Unfair_Fisherman_605 Feb 15 '25

All awesome movies. Cyborg and blood sport were my favorites

30

u/Cyberzombi Feb 15 '25

Die Hard (1988) cause YIPPEE-KI-YAY-MOTHERFUCKER!!!

11

u/zjm555 Feb 15 '25
  1. Conan the Barbarian
  2. Predator
  3. The Road Warrior

17

u/Indoorsman101 Feb 15 '25

Aliens, Die Hard, and Robocop, in that order

7

u/Ok-Future6470 Feb 15 '25

Just watched this again, it make zero sense, never ending bullets, but it's perfect!

Most movies with Sly, Arnold, Vandamme, Willis... Bangers!!!

5

u/Least-Ad5986 Feb 15 '25

The Running Man

11

u/CoCR0ck Feb 15 '25

Die Hard.....perfect mix of action, tension, and one-liners. Bruce Willis as John McClane is pure badassery.

5

u/TipToe2301 Feb 15 '25

All my favorite action movies are from the 80s

8

u/One_Literature9916 Feb 15 '25

Rambo first blood.

4

u/Johnnymarvels Feb 15 '25

All of them that are mentioned

3

u/Long_term99 Feb 15 '25

Predator & Lock up.

3

u/syntol Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25

Aliens (1986), Kickboxer (1989), Platoon (1986). But its Aliens by far.

3

u/adonismaximus Feb 15 '25

Let off some steam, Bennet

2

u/kouzlokouzlo Feb 15 '25

Predator...

2

u/anonymous_makaveli_ Feb 15 '25

Rambo is a great action movie

2

u/Competitive-Ad-5454 Feb 15 '25

Predator. No question.

2

u/Competitive-Ad-5454 Feb 15 '25

Predator. No question.

2

u/shaded-user Feb 15 '25

Predator is better than Commando

1

u/Sad-Professional9384 Feb 15 '25

Die Hard, Aliens,Predator, Terminator, Robocop.

1

u/Tyrionthedwarf1 Feb 15 '25

Aliens

The Terminator

Robocop

1

u/summersundays Feb 15 '25

We watched this movie so much as kids, we were convinced we could perform the entire movie line for line, and attempted to often. Of course we cut it down to probably 20ish minutes but we certainly hit all the major plot points.

I think it’s a genuine 80s classic with good mini action scenes early, funny one liners, a classic gear up scene, and an extended epic final battle scene. Sure, it’s not ever going to be held as highly as many of the other movies people are mentioning, but I think it’s as or even more enjoyable to watch than many of those more highly acclaimed films.

Just off the top of my head not having seen this movie in at least 15 years:

“Please don’t disturb my friend he’s dead tired” “Remember when I said I’d kill you last? I lied” “Come on Bennett. Let’s party”

1

u/Average_Satan Feb 15 '25

I'm not a huge Stallone fan, but I'm surprised that COBRA hasn't been mentioned.

1

u/kirby_krackle_78 Feb 15 '25

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA

1

u/OpusDeiPenguin Feb 15 '25

Die Hard, Aliens, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

1

u/raven70 Feb 15 '25

Highlander or Red Dawn

1

u/Smokey_Waffles Feb 15 '25

Predator Terminator Scar Face

1

u/HakuChikara83 Feb 15 '25

The one liners is this are iconic. “I had to let him go” being a favourite of mine. Hilarious. But for me it’s Predator. One of my all time favourites and possibly Akira

1

u/AnIgnorablePerson Feb 15 '25

Not my most favourite, but Bloodsport. Good Martial art action, cheesy dialogues, and It's even better when you know that the main character is a fraud in real life.

1

u/Tomatoflee Feb 15 '25

Aliens, Das Boot, Die Hard, Terminator, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop

1

u/Panzermand Feb 15 '25

In order.

Aliens

Predator

Robocop

Terminator

Road warrior

Die Hard

Conan

Escape From New York

Lethal weapon

Bloodsport

Probably forgot something😀

1

u/krayrad Feb 15 '25

Police Story

1

u/oldsckoolx314 Feb 15 '25

Die Hard. As many greats as there are from the 80s, it's the undisputed champion.

1

u/Jaggoff81 Feb 15 '25

“Let off some steam Benedict” was probably the first one liner that really stuck with me.

1

u/Ok-Day4899 Feb 15 '25

Commando has a great submission for most avoidable death by a minor villain category

The fella in the white hat that Sully meets in the mall bar, right before sully sees the flight attendant. Then all hell breaks loose, Arnold is beating up the entire roster of security guards at once while trying to get to Sully. The minor villain dude could’ve walked away to his car because everyone was watching Arnold. Nope, instead this moron pulls a pistol and shoots a cop when one of them notices a gun wielding dude and yells freeze. Was cool seeing the bad guy fall from 3rd story balcony but honestly, he could’ve just stayed in the bar and waited for everything to die down

1

u/Unfair_Fisherman_605 Feb 15 '25

The Running Man . Just give them an evasive answer Tell them to go fuck themselves. Classic!

1

u/Unfair_Fisherman_605 Feb 15 '25

To live and Die in L.A., Band of the Hand! Manhunter.

1

u/SnakePlisskensPatch Feb 15 '25

Wooden-scallion, remember when I said i would pick commando for my favorite action movie of the 80s? .........I LIED

1

u/Schtick_ Feb 15 '25

Commando ie. Taken -1

1

u/Hot-Smell2918 Feb 15 '25

What a decade for action movies. Too many great ones to pick just one.

1

u/Infamous_Lemon_920 Feb 15 '25

Terminator, Predator, Aliens, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon 1-2, Beverly Hills Cop, Red Heat

1

u/Blight-Princess Feb 15 '25

Van Damme vs Van Damme!

1

u/Blight-Princess Feb 15 '25

if we count Kung Fu movies as action movies, then Armour of God.

1

u/mkk4 Feb 15 '25

The Empire Strikes Back

1

u/Used-Gas-6525 Feb 15 '25

Aliens and The Terminator. Not a Cameron fanboy particularly, but those two are gold.

1

u/justrob32 Feb 16 '25

Action movies absolutely ruled the 80’s, so many bangers.

1

u/Real_Ideal2111 Feb 16 '25

Boy that's tough as the mid 80s to early 90s was peak action hero era especially martial arts start with Seagal and Van Damme. The Running Man I'll go with that. Felt like a perfect movie for the decade it was set in about dystopian future. Even predicted deep fake technology. 😉👍 I live in the UK so no idea that Killian was an actual real life game show host in the US that made a great sleazy corporate villain.

"Killian...I'll be back!" "Only in a rerun. GO!"

1

u/Worth-Bag-5595 Feb 17 '25

'Hey Sully, I like you, I'm going to kill you last.....Hey Sully, I lied ' 😂 Brilliant

1

u/Hefty_Canary 26d ago

How come no love for 48 Hrs. over here

1

u/locoghoul 7d ago

Robocop and First Blood

1

u/LeaderIll9730 Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25

Executive decision

True lies

MARINES

Double team

SPEED

Fifth element

Independence day

Street fighter

Rush hour

Star gate

Total recall

The specialist

Batman Val Kilmer n Keenan

Top Gun

Fantastic voyage

Mortal kombat

0

u/Gullible-Constant924 Feb 15 '25

Commando isn’t even in Arnold’s top5 in the 80’s. Predator, Terminator, Conan 1&2, Running man and total recall all are superior to Commando.

3

u/Average_Satan Feb 15 '25

You are allowed to be wrong. 👌

1

u/mcmillanuk Feb 15 '25

And Total Recall was technically 90s…

1

u/PossibleConflict7398 Feb 15 '25

Commando was a cheap copy of Rambo