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# Best Action Films of the 80's

By [RL (@russellal)](https://listium.com/@russellal)

258 views · 1 like  
Published 15 September 2019 · Updated 15 September 2019

Category: movies / action & adventure movies

The golden age of action films provides us with explosions, kills and one-liners. Pull up a seat, grab some popcorn and relax in a time where people exploded and the good guys always won.

## Items

### 1. [Commando](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/1/commando)

Item ID: `1`

- My Rating: ★★★★☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/kwbps35ijmi7bbls7fuc.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Commando+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Commando+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Commando)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Commando)
- Notes: The mission of a father rescuing his daughter from his enemies takes a backdrop to one-lines, outrageous deaths and vague gay themes in this prototypical action yarn.

### 2. [Robocop](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/2/robocop)

Item ID: `2`

- My Rating: ★★★★☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/lvl10umdqe1nax2xnlpm.png)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Robocop+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Robocop+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Robocop)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Robocop)
- Notes: Robocop provides the perfect combination of killing criminals, a satire on 80's consumer culture and the philosophical question on what does it mean to be 'fully human'.

### 3. [The Running Man](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/3/the-running-man)

Item ID: `3`

- My Rating: ★★★☆☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/diaqelziwa4dzqye5xtc.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=The+Running+Man+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20The+Running+Man+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20The+Running+Man)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20The+Running+Man)
- Notes: The Running Man imperfectly foretold of the dominant presence of reality  shows in a frightening world where prisoners fight to the death for their freedom in the spectacle of a game show.

### 4. [Predator](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/4/predator)

Item ID: `4`

- My Rating: ★★★☆☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/tnfi9zyvrbijuvoajwyb.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Predator+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Predator+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Predator)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Predator)
- Notes: Predator ratchets the tension with the hunting an invisible killer in the jungle with a human touch of debating why the mercenaries are in this environment.

### 5. [Die Hard](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/5/die-hard)

Item ID: `5`

- My Rating: ★★★☆☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/mx5cu5pttqwxcbgb8gmz.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Die+Hard+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Die+Hard+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Die+Hard)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Die+Hard)
- Notes: Die Hard provides wisecracks and tension of hunting down a stereotypical foreign villain in a high rise office building.

### 6. [Lethal Weapon](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/6/lethal-weapon)

Item ID: `6`

- My Rating: ★★★★☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/vpezaspkl8qnyxllx4ga.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Lethal+Weapon+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Lethal+Weapon+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Lethal+Weapon)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Lethal+Weapon)
- Notes: Lethal Weapon plays up the buddy cop theme against a back drop of hunting drug dealers during the holiday season.

### 7. [The Terminator](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/7/the-terminator)

Item ID: `7`

- My Rating: ★★★★☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/vqt06co6fkwhp7hrhszx.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=The+Terminator+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20The+Terminator+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20The+Terminator)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20The+Terminator)
- Notes: Terminator is a personal favorite of mine. The movie looks at the brutality of an machine and the attempts of the future to change the past. Linda Hamilton effectively combines vulnerability and strength to battle the Terminator.

### 8. [Rambo:First Blood Part II](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/8/rambofirst-blood-part-ii)

Item ID: `8`

- My Rating: ★★☆☆☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/eddhe7cdb5ckl43vnmqh.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Rambo+First+Blood+Part+II+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Rambo+First+Blood+Part+II+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Rambo+First+Blood+Part+II)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Rambo+First+Blood+Part+II)
- Notes: This is the sequel that most people think of when 'Rambo' is discussed. The action highlights the inner and outer turmoil of armed conflict.

### 9. [Aliens](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/9/aliens)

Item ID: `9`

- My Rating: ★★★★☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/tg1a8ldprciqmh2pklox.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Aliens+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Aliens+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Aliens)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Aliens)
- Notes: Aliens makes an appearance with the hunt of the deadly creatures with the punchy dialogue and relationships with the members of this intergalactic crew.

### 10. [Death Wish 2](https://listium.com/@russellal/44834/best-action-films-of-the-80s/10/death-wish-2)

Item ID: `10`

- My Rating: ★★★☆☆
- Owned: false
- Format: BluRay, iTunes
- Poster: ![Poster](https://img.listium.com/images/width=800,height=800,fit=scale-down,format=webp/l/ecg94qdzxfsqk1hwksre.jpg)
- Amazon: [Shop](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Death+Wish+2+Movie)
- Google: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!google%20Death+Wish+2+Movie)
- IMDb: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!imdb%20Death+Wish+2)
- Metacritic: [Search](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=!metacritic%20Death+Wish+2)
- Notes: I threw this in since a good revenge slick should be included in this list. Bronson takes out the members of the street gang that killed his housekeeper and daughter. Don't bother with the rest of the films after this one.