While all thebiggest action stars of the 1980shad major successes that they are readily associated with, plenty more underrated releases also deserve far more attention. Stars like Sylvester Stallone excelled as the action hero John Rambo, and Arnold Schwarzenegger will forever be remembered asThe Terminator, but looking into their back catalog revealed many more hidden gems. For lovers of intense, action-packed shootouts and heart-racing spectacles, plenty of lesser-known movies are just waiting to be discovered.
Thebiggest action stars of the 1980srepresented all that was great about this era of moviemaking as martial arts legends like Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris began to carve out their acclaimed legacies. Although some of these movies may have hit big at the box office, they remained highly underrated bycritics who failed to recognize them as wildly entertaining action-packed spectacles. For those who have already seen the biggest action movies of the 1980s, there’s much more to discover about these stars' impressive filmographies.
10Black Eagle (1988)
Jean-Claude Van Damme as Andrei
Although the release of the iconic martial arts classicBloodsportsignaled the dawning of a brand new action movie star, Jean-Claude Van Damme has had plenty more highly underrated releases. One prime example of this came inBlack Eagle, the 1988 movie that showcasedVan Damme’s incredible skill as a villainwhose sinister characterization of brutal and enigmatic KGB agent Andrei was the best part of the entire movie. Fresh off the success ofBloodsport, this underappreciated gem indicated the karate and kickboxing star’s bright future in Hollywood.
Black Eagletold the story of America and Russia both searching for a lost super weapon in the Mediterranean. With Shō Kosugi as Ken Tani, an elite agent working for the Americans under the codename Black Eagle, the most exciting part of this forgotten action movie was seeing him face off against Van Damme. Asan enjoyable mix betweenJames Bond-style espionage and class Kung Fu cinema,Black Eaglewas an underrated showcase of Van Damme’s unique appeal.
Black Eagle
Cast
Black Eagle is a 1988 action film directed by Eric Karson. It stars Sho Kosugi as Ken Tani, a martial artist and special operative, assigned to retrieve a top-secret laser guidance system from the Mediterranean after a U.S. fighter jet crashes. The film also features Jean-Claude Van Damme as the antagonist, Andrei, adding a high-stakes confrontation between the two skilled fighters amidst Cold War tensions.
9Red Heat (1988)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ivan Danko
While most of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most famous roles require a suspension of disbelief to make sense of his thick Austrian accent, this was actually a plus for his characterization of Captain Ivan Danko inRed Heat. As a buddy cop movie that paired a no-nonsense Russian (Schwarzenegger) with a laid-back New York cop (Jim Belushi), this well-worn mismatched formula worked incredibly as it showcased Schwarzenegger at the height of his fame. AlthoughRed Heatreceived mixed reviewsand underperformed at the box office at the time of its release, looking back on it now, it’s a lot of fun.
Schwarzenegger was well-suited to his role as a stern, single-minded, and unstoppable Russian, which paired well with Belushi’s crass and comedic character. As much a story about the potential for friendship between those of opposing ideologies as it was a traditional action movie,Red Heatwas an enjoyable social commentary considering the Cold War tensions of its time. For those only familiar with Schwarzenegger’s most famous 1980s offers, such asThe Terminator,Red Heatwill be an enjoyable discovery.
Red Heat
Ivan Danko is a tough Russian cop who is forced to work alongside extrovert detective Art Ridzik. The pair investigate a major international criminal involved in drug trafficking who has fled Russia for the United States.
8Lock Up (1989)
Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone
Sylvester Stallone was one of the biggest stars in the world during the 1980s, and this decade featured smash hits, includingRockysequels andRambomovies likeFirst Blood. However, Stallone also had several underrated movies during this time, including one of his most slept-on films,Lock Up. This prison movie saw Frank Leone, a convict nearing the end of his sentence, being transferred to a high-security facility by a vindictive warden.
WhileLock Uphad a haphazard production, and Stallone himself voiced his issues with it, stating it was not produced “with enough maturity to really make a significant impact,” (viaEW) there was still plenty to enjoy here. One performance that deserved praise wasDonald Sutherland as the sinister Warden Drumgoole, whose cruel and manipulative tactics truly made the movie. This was a real hidden gem in Stallone’s career, just waiting to be rediscovered by action lovers.
Lock Up
Lock Up stars Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone, a convict nearing the end of his sentence in a minimum-security prison. He is unexpectedly transferred to a maximum-security facility by a vengeful warden who harbors a personal grudge against him. Directed by John Flynn, the film explores themes of resilience and justice as Leone navigates brutal challenges to regain his freedom.
7Tango & Cash (1989)
Kurt Russell as Lieutenant Gabriel “Gabe” Cash
Kurt Russell built up his cult movie credentials with roles in John Carpenter classics throughout the 1980s, such asEscape from New York,The Thing,andBig Trouble in Little China. However, one Russell action movie that’s failed to truly get its due was the buddy cop comedyTango & Cash, which was a hit at the box office but failed to impress critics at the time. With Russell paired with fellow action hero Sylvester Stallone, this tongue-in-cheek adventure of mismatched cops was a lot of fun.
Tango & Cashwas just one of manyunloved Stallone moviesthat were actually good, and the great onscreen chemistry between him and Russell made things all the more engaging. With Russell as the cowboy cop, Lieutenant Cash, and Stallone as the straight-laced Lieutenant Tango, after being framed, the two were forced to put their differences aside and take down a sinister crime boss. As an enjoyable homage to buddy cop classics of the past,Tango & Cashdeserves a lot more love than it ever got.
Tango & Cash
Two rival Los Angeles cops are forced to team up when a drug lord implicates them in a crime they didn’t commit. They end up in jail and their only option is to escape to bring the real culprit to justice.
The third movie in George Miller’sMad Maxfranchise always seems to get forgotten amid conversations about how trailblazing the first two films were and how visually spectacularFury Roadwas. This was a real shame, asMad Max Beyond Thunderdomestood as one of Mel Gibson’s most underrated movies, andits influence can be felt in everything fromThe Hunger GamestoThe Walking Dead.Beyond Thunderdomeexpanded upon its post-apocalyptic world, whose themes of survivalism and ruthless gladiator-style fighting arena was truly trailblazing.
Beyond Thunderdomefeatured a fantastic performance not just from Gibson but also from Tina Turner as the ruthless leader of Bartertown Aunty Entity. Max’s character developed into a more complex and nuanced character in this third installment, whose goals and ambitions helped it stand apart from the minimalist style of the previous movies. While Gibson has rightfully received recognition for his role as Max,Beyond Thunderdomeoften felt like the underappreciated forgotten child of this franchise.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is the third film in George Miller’s sci-fi action series. This time, Max, after being exiled, joins a group of children to take down a strange town’s tyrannical queen. The film generally received positive reviews upon release and was followed up by Mad Max: Fury Road 30 years later in 2015.
5Frantic (1988)
Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Walker
While Harrison Ford spent much of the 1980s in a galaxy far away inReturn of the Jedi, hunting replicants inBlade Running, or recovering long-lost artifacts while facing Nazis inRaiders of the Lost Arc, he also found time to star in one of Roman Polanski’s most underrated movies. The action-packed neo-noir mysteryFranticwas a commercial failure upon release but has since been recognized as an intense cult classic.
With Ford as a doctor caught up in a world of mystery as he searches for his lost wife,Franticwas a powerful showcase of this action movie star’s talents outside of major franchises. Featuring one of Ennio Morricone’s greatest movie scores and a thrilling story of intrigue, espionage, gangsters, drugs, and murder,Franticwas a powerful showcase of both Ford and Polanski’s impeccable skills.
Frantic
Frantic, directed by Roman Polanski, follows an American doctor whose wife mysteriously vanishes during a trip to Paris. As he searches for her, he becomes entangled in a complex web of language barriers, unhelpful local authorities, and a mysterious woman who holds crucial information.
4Missing In Action (1984)
Chuck Norris as Colonel James Braddock
Although thisVietnam War movie was criticized by experts for accuracy,Missing in Actionwas a strong showcase of Chuck Norris’ undeniable appeal as an action movie star. While this filmreceived criticism for its inaccurate portrayal of POWs being held captive in Vietnamafter the war had ended,Missing in Actionworked a lot better when viewed purely as a piece of action movie escapism. Here, Norris continued to prove himself after the success of martial arts movies likeA Force of One, andMissing in Actionwas a commercial success that launched its own franchise.
However, despite its wildly entertaining sequences,Missing in Actionreceived a universally negative response from critics. Wildly underrated in its own time, looking back, it’s easy to see that this misunderstood movie encapsulated Norris’s quickly developing star appeal. His fighting skill and firm commitment to his roles embodied the very best of action heroism during the 1980s. While it’s easy to dismissMissing in Actionas aRamboripoff, it had plenty more to offer.
Missing In Action
Colonel James Braddock is a hardened Vietnam War veteran who learns that American POWs are still being held in Vietnam. To save them, Braddock returns to the jungle terrain he knows all too well against his C.O.’s orders to save his fellow soldiers.
3Dragons Forever (1988)
Jackie Chan as Jackie Lung
As perhapsthe greatest Kung Fu star of all time, Jackie Chan had many incredible martial arts movies during the 1980s, as this was the point where he turned into a truly global superstar. While movies likePolice StoryandProject Ahave rightfully become iconic,Dragons Foreverwas another underrated release that deserves a look. This Hong Kong action comedy paired Chan with his frequent co-stars Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao for a thrilling story of lawyers caught up in a complex conspiracy involving a chemical company.
Full of intense action and slapstick comedy,Dragons Foreverwas yet another showcase of Chan’s unique talentsand enduring cinematic charisma.Dragons Foreverwas the last movie to feature Chan, Hung, and Biao all together, as Chan soon started to focus on his career as a solo star. Chan’s incredible success in movies like this opened the doors for him to transition into Hollywood movies during the 1990s.
2Red Scorpion (1989)
Dolph Lundgren as Russian Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Petrovitch Rachenko
Dolph Lundgren gained widespread recognition during the 1980s for his villainous role as Ivan Drago inRocky IVand soon gained leading parts in movies likeThe Terminatorrip-offI Come in Peace. However, one fantastic Lungren movie that never got the praise it deserved was Red Scorpion. This intense action movie saw Lungren playing a Soviet special forces assassin sent to kill an anti-communist leader in Africa.
10 Forgotten Terminator Rip-Offs You Need To See
There have been plenty of science fiction movies that have attempted to rip off the success of James Cameron’s original Terminator from 1984.
Sadly,Red Scorpionfailed to impress critics when it was released, but it powerfully highlighted Lundgren’s skill as an action hero to be reckoned with. Although he never got the same level of acclaim as action superstars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lundgren’s action offers, such asRed Scorpion,were wildly entertaining movies packed with enjoyable campy energy. While it was underappreciated in its own time, looking back onRed Scorpiontoday, it had everything an action fan could want out of a hidden 1980s gem.
Red Scorpion
Red Scorpion follows Soviet Special Forces operative Nikolai Rachenko, portrayed by Dolph Lundgren, who is assigned to infiltrate and assassinate a rebel leader in Africa. As he immerses himself in the mission, Rachenko grows disillusioned with his orders and the ruthlessness of his superiors, leading him to join forces with the rebels. Directed by Joseph Zito, the film explores themes of loyalty, rebellion, and personal transformation amidst political conflict.
1Above The Law (1988)
Steven Seagal as Sergeant Nicolo “Nico” Toscani
While Steven Seagal would truly break out as a major action movie star during the 1990s following the release ofUnder Seige,Above the Lawsignaled his feature film debut and was an important and highly underrated moment in action movie history. As the first American film to feature Aikido in fight sequences,Above the Lawwas a unique showcase of Seagal’s incredible appeal as an action hero. With a 7th-dan black belt in aikido to his name, Seagal brought his past as a trainer to his movie roles and was a genuine martial arts master.
Above the Lawfailed to get the recognition it deserved when it was first released, and Seagal’s potential as a major movie star had yet to be realized. However, looking back on it today,Above the Lawwas a solid debut and a wildly entertaining film. With Seagal as a former Special Operations Vietnam operative working as a Chicago cop, this story of CIA corruption and conspiracy hit all the right notes.
Above the Law
Above the Law is a 1988 action film starring Steven Seagal as Nico Toscani, a former CIA operative turned Chicago cop. The plot follows Toscani as he uncovers a government conspiracy involving illegal arms deals and drug trafficking. Directed by Andrew Davis, the film showcases Toscani’s martial arts skills and uncompromising approach to justice, providing a gripping narrative of law enforcement and political intrigue.
