Cinephiles tend to agree that it was the 1980s that saw the Golden Age of action cinema. How could it possibly be any other decade? It was the ’80s that marked the peak of practical stunts, the rise of larger-than-life stars, the explosion of gun fu in Hong Kong, and the arrival of some of the greatest action filmmakers in the history of Hollywood.
But while the decade saw the release of several of the greatest action movies the world has ever seen, there are only a particular 10 masterpieces that can be said to be truly and genuinely perfect from start to finish. These really are the pinnacle of action cinema, a testament to just how faultless the genre can really be when in the hands of a talented enough team. Regardless of budget, subgenre, or country of origin, these masterpieces are about as close as cinema can come to perfection.
10
‘RoboCop’ (1987)
There are few genuinely perfect sci-fi action movies, and there’s a strong argument to be made in favor of Paul Verhoeven‘s RoboCop being one of them. The Dutch auteur began his careerin his native Netherlands, but it was RoboCop, only his second-ever Hollywood feature film, that established him as one of the town’s biggest master satirists. It has almost been four decades, and this is still remembered as one of the best satire films of the 20th century.
Indeed, the film’s exaggerated (and occasionally quite amusing) critique of corporate greed, the media, and Reaganomics have all aged like fine wine. But on top of being thematically sharp, RoboCop‘s high-octane, brutally violent action make it one of the most thoroughly fun films of the ’80s. From Verhoeven’s subversive direction, to the stunning visuals, to the hyper-kinetic editing, RoboCop is an action spectacle that must be seen to be believed.
9
‘Akira’ (1988)
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and based on his own 1982 manga, Akira is proof that animated cinema—animated action cinema being no exception—is every bit as capable as live-action cinema of reaching perfection. This iconic ’80s cult classic helped massively popularize anime cinema among Western audiences, and all these many years later, it’s still widely remembered as one of the best Japanese animated masterpieces of all time.
For one, the bright hand-drawn animation is some of the most impressive that the big screen has ever seen, and many of Akira‘s most memorable shots have become surprisingly influential over the years. Add to that a delectably bombastic score, relentlessly kinetic pacing, and some of the most brutally entertaining action that animated cinema has ever seen, and you get one of the best animated epics in movie history.
8
‘Police Story’ (1985)
It wouldn’t be until around the late ’90s that Jackie Chan would become a bona fide international superstar, but he became a major figure in Asia well before that. It was all thanks to his work in the vibrant action cinema scene of his native Hong Kong, which absolutely boomed during the ’80s. From this boom came Police Story, which some may point to as Chan’s single greatest film.
Best-known for the jaw-dropping death-defying stunts carried out by Chan himself, Police Story is an absolutely masterful action thriller for all sorts of other reasons as well. It’s far and away one of the best Hong Kong martial arts movies of the 1980s, full of unforgettable set pieces and physical comedy that would make Buster Keaton blush. For people who love action movies that are thin on the story, immensely heavy on the action, this one’s a must-see.
7
‘Aliens’ (1986)
There are plenty of classic action movies that are still a must-watch today, and James Cameron‘s Aliens is undoubtedly among them. Where Ridley Scott‘s Alien completely revolutionized sci-fi horror, Cameron’s sequel added an action thriller dimension to the series, delivering one of the most unforgettable action epics that the big screen has ever seen. With Aliens, Cameron only further enshrined his reputation as a true visionary.
A whopping four decades later, this outer-space action extravaganza is still one of the most technically impressive and irresistibly entertaining blockbusters of the ’80s, the sort that anyone who loves science fiction should check out at least once in their lives. Tense, atmospheric, full of emotional depth, and fueled by the gravitas of Sigourney Weaver‘s Oscar-nominated powerhouse performance, it really is one of the greatest Hollywood blockbusters in the history of the action, horror, or science fiction genres.
6
‘The Killer’ (1989)
Great though Police Story may be, it’s John Woo‘s The Killer that’s almost universally recognized as the greatest action film to have come out of Hong Kong during the ’80s. Woo re-defined the heroic bloodshed genre—dramatic action films focused on themes of honor and crime—with his pioneering work in gun fu, a genre all about blending martial arts and gunplay. Those looking to dive into his work may as well start with the absolute cinematic perfection of The Killer.
For a wide variety of reasons, it’s one of the best heroic bloodshed masterpieces in movie history. The gun fu choreography is some of the most viscerally intense and exquisitely stylized ever seen on the big screen; the visuals are some of the most unforgettable in Woo’s whole filmography; and the deep emotional core provided by the story, a surprisingly compelling and complex tale of honor and redemption, is far better than what you typically see in the genre.
5
‘Die Hard’ (1988)
There are those who may point to Die Hard as not only the greatest action film of the 1980s, but even of all time. It’s hard to disagree with them. Directed by John McTiernan, one of the biggest and most important filmmakers in the genre’s history, this (technically) almost single-location blockbuster is one of the most perfect action thrillers in film history.
Anchored by the absolutely perfect performances delivered by Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, Die Hard strikes a perfect balancing act between hugely compelling and technical action, psychologically deep character writing, a fun story, and tons of heart. With John McClane being one of the most perfect action heroes in film history and Hans Gruber one of the most perfect villains, what’s not to love?
4
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)
By the time the ’80s rolled in, Steven Spielberg was already a very well-established name in Hollywood, nowadays recognized as the father of summer blockbusters. There was nowhere to go but up for him, and up Raiders of the Lost Ark certainly sent him. It was this timeless classic that really cemented him as one of the most revered, reliable, versatile, and commercially successful blockbuster filmmakers on the planet.
It’s still one of the most fun movies in Spielberg’s filmography, and it has a strong claim to the title of most iconic action film history. In the hands of Spielberg and Harrison Ford, not only did Raiders of the Lost Ark introduce the world to one of the most iconic characters in movie history, but also to several of the most irresistibly entertaining action set pieces ever, as well as one of the most fun plots the genre has ever seen.
3
‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
There are few fantasy masterpieces that are perfect from start to finish, and it just so happens that one of them is also one of history’s most iconic science fiction blockbusters. Indeed, after the science fantasy spectacle that was 1977’s Star Wars, expectations for its sequel were sky-high. Even though The Empire Strikes Back wasn’t nearly as successful as its predecessor back in 1980, time has been nothing but kind to it. Today, many remember it not only as the peak of the franchise, but as perhaps the best science fantasy film of all time.
On top of being an enrapturing fantasy epic and a hugely imaginative sci-fi space opera, The Empire Strikes Back is also one of the most fun action movies that the world has ever seen. From its vividly-realized lightsaber fights, to its riveting outer-space dogfights, to its many engrossing chase sequences, each and every one of its action scenes is both iconic and compelling. Rarely has history seen a better genre film.
2
‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)
Raiders of the Lost Ark took the world by storm, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom did great at the box office despite a somewhat mixed critical reception. Then, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade went on to earn back critics’ favor and make even more money than both its predecessors. The years have passed, and many Steven Spielberg fans have woken up to the fact that not only is Last Crusade one of the best adventure movies in film history, but perhaps even Spielberg’s best-ever action blockbuster.
The basis of the whole thing is the off-the-charts chemistry shared between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery, easily one of the most memorable on-screen duos of ’80s cinema. Add to that the many jaw-droppingly elaborate action sequences, the old-school yet irresistibly delightful plotting, and many of the best set pieces Spielberg has ever put together, and you get one of the greatest action masterpieces of all time.
1
‘Ran’ (1985)
Better known for his tremendous contributions to the samurai movie genre, Akira Kurosawa is not only a master action filmmaker, but the auteur universally regarded as the greatest filmmaker ever to have come out of Japan. Though not a samurai flick, Ran is one of the best historical epics of all time, and one of Kurosawa’s many perfect masterpieces. He spent over a decade agonizingly crafting it, visualizing it as the crowning achievement of his entire career.
Kurosawa didn’t actually get to shoot the movie until he was 75 and legally blind, and yet, Ran is far and away one of the most visually stunning movies in film history. Inspired by Shakespeare‘s King Lear, it’s powerfully dramatic, emotionally gut-wrenching, and delightfully action-packed. Over four decades after its release, it remains arguably the single most perfect feature film of the entire 1980s, action or otherwise.
Ran
- Release Date
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December 20, 1985
- Runtime
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160 Minutes
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Tatsuya Nakadai
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
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Akira Terao
Taro Takatora Ichimonji
