The 1980s were an incredible era for action movies and were the inception point for some of the greatest franchises of all time. With major stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone dominating the box office, the action franchises of this decade had a unique aesthetic and energy that meant, even after all these years, they were still beloved and rewatched by hordes of action movie lovers. What’s most impressive about the best action franchises of the 1980s was their longevity, as many have continued right up to this day through sequels, prequels, revivals, and reboots.
8. Police Story (1985 – 2013)
While Hollywood productions often dominate the conversation when discussing 1980s franchises, Hong Kong action film Police Story also deserves a mention. As the definitive release of Jackie Chan’s career, Police Story powerfully combined Chan’s incredible talent as a stuntman with his unique sense of slapstick humor. Featuring a plethora of elaborate stunts and large-scale action scenes, the first Police Story saw Chan engage in car chases, hang from a speeding bus, and even take part in an iconic glass-smashing mall brawl. More than any other franchise, Police Story cemented Chan’s reputation as one of the greatest kung fu movie stars of all time.
7. Predator (1987 – Present)
A whole new action franchise was born with the release of Predator in 1987. However, rather than being the catalyst for countless adventures starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Dutch Schafer, the Predator series went in a different direction, focusing on its sinister villains, a race of trophy-seeking alien hunters known as the Yautja. These alien creatures used advanced technology, camouflage, and an array of otherworldly weaponry to take down their prey in a franchise that blended action, horror, and sci-fi. The first Predator, starring Schwarzenegger, was one of the defining action films of the 1980s, as lines like “go get a chopper” became as iconic as “I’ll be back” from The Terminator.
6. RoboCop (1987 – 2014)
While RoboCop may initially seem like a typical mindless action movie, when you look deeper, it’s actually one of the most thematically compelling franchises of the 1980s. Focusing on ideas around the nature of humanity, personal identity, corporate greed, and corruption, RoboCop was a direct reflection of the Reaganomics policies of the era. As the story of Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop fatally shot in the line of duty who is then transformed into a powerful cyborg, RoboCop highlighted the commercialization of humanity itself. In an era when action movies often presented those in power as unquestionable good guys taking down criminal villains, RoboCop presented a more nuanced look at moral ambiguity.RELATED:
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5. Lethal Weapon (1987 – 1998)
While the buddy cop formula was around long before Lethal Weapon, the combination of LAPD detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh felt like it perfected it. With Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the leading roles, the two played off one another perfectly and imbued the franchise with a real sense of heart and humor. As a quintessential 1980s action movie, Lethal Weapon was packed with quips, featured plenty of shootouts, and had enough explosions to keep viewers wanting more. With three direct sequels, Lethal Weapon continued to find major success throughout the 1990s, and the characters were even recast for a 2016 television reboot.
4. Beverly Hill Cop (1984 – Present)
The first Beverly Hill Cop movie was the film that catapulted Eddie Murphy into international superstardom and quickly became one of the most successful action movies of the 1980s. Packed with humor, Murphy excelled as the fast-talking underdog cop making his way in a rich man’s world, Axel Foley. As the perfect mix of intense action, hilarious humor, and one of the greatest synth movie scores of the decade, Beverly Hills Cop had a unique sense of identity that helped it stand out within the buddy cop genre.
3. Rambo (1982 – 2019)
Although Sylvester Stallone achieved his breakout role with Rocky in 1976, it was not until the 1980s that he transformed into a true bona fide action movie star. As the Vietnam War veteran John Rambo in First Blood, Stallone showcased his talent as an action movie star capable of leading major Hollywood blockbusters. A hugely influential film, First Blood was the first blockbuster released in China (via CS Monitor), and with 76 million tickets sold, it became the most successful foreign Hollywood film in the country until 2018. As a fast-paced and well-acted action movie, First Blood had extra resonance due to Rambo’s PTSD caused by his traumatic experiences as a Special Forces officer in the war.
2. The Terminator (1984 – 2019)
The style and aesthetic of 1980s action movies can be summed up by the iconic imagery of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 cyborg in The Terminator. As a sunglass-wearing, leather-clad killing machine, The Terminator inspired a whole host of copycat films, as its insightful blend of action movie tropes, cyberpunk aesthetics, and technological anxieties earned it a special place within the cultural zeitgeist. With the release of the original James Cameron movie in 1984, The Terminator quickly established itself as one of the best action movies of the 1980s. In many ways, the sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day outdid the original as it subverted Schwarzenegger’s character to become the story’s hero.