The 80s marked a special decade for the film industry. It was an experimental era, when studios were still figuring out what worked and what didn’t impress audiences. Practical effects were still widely used, giving 1980s action movies a unique charm and vibe you simply cannot find nowadays.
Many of the most influential films of their kind are still beloved today, with numerous titles becoming a part of popular culture. Films like Die Hard, Robocop, and The Terminator defined the action genre at the time and remain undisputed classics.
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were among the decade’s most adored action stars. Cult classics like Big Trouble in Little China, starring Kurt Russell, were also released in the 80s. John Carpenter’s wild action masterpiece is more popular now than ever and was even referenced as an Easter egg in 2026’s Mortal Kombat II.
Even casual movie fans know about the hardest-hitting 80s action movies, but many have faded into obscurity in comparison. Enthusiasts of the genre and time period often remain well-informed, but there are numerous films that a general audience would enjoy that are rarely referenced today.
With this in mind, we’re covering 80s action films that have fallen out of the conversation in this list. Some of these movies were celebrated at the time, but have not become household names. That lack of notoriety doesn’t always mean a movie is bad, and these titles remain an entertaining watch even decades after their release.
10
The Hidden (1987)
The Hidden is a wild 80s movie blending multiple genres, including police action and even sci-fi. Michael Nouri is Tom Beck, a detective investigating several deadly and bizarre crimes in Los Angeles.
The strange part about these incidents is that they were all caused by law-abiding citizens. The suspects didn’t act out of desperation and seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Beck also meets another detective, Lloyd Gallagher (Kyle MacLachlan), who seems to know a little too much about the situation.
The Hidden starts our list because, while it is absolutely an action movie, it includes many elements that audiences don’t necessarily associate with the genre.
9
The Golden Child (1986)
The Golden Child is an action comedy starring Eddie Murphy as Chandler Jarrell. He’s a detective specializing in children’s cases and finds himself investigating a special young boy in a situation wrapped in the supernatural with mysterious forces at work.
Jarrell teams up with Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) to find the Golden Child in a movie that takes itself just seriously enough to have tension. Murphy is hilarious and offers audiences dozens of quotable one-liners. Charles Dance also plays a brilliant villain as Sardo Numspa.
Eddie Murphy was popular in the 80s, particularly for movies like Beverly Hills Cop, but The Golden Child isn’t referenced nearly as much nowadays. Regardless, the film offers an easy-to-watch mystery story with a great cast suitable for a multigenerational audience.
8
Extreme Prejudice (1987)
Extreme Prejudice is a contemporary Western set near the U.S.-Mexico border. The movie stars Nick Nolte as Jack Benteen, a tough Texas Ranger working a drug case.
The issue is that Benteen has personal stakes in the situation. The drug lord across the border is Cash Bailey (Powers Boothe), one of his childhood friends. Benteen also stumbles across several soldiers from a different faction who were declared dead, alive and well.
Extreme Prejudice has many moving parts, and our hero quickly realizes he cannot trust anyone. There are multiple factors at work and even a love triangle to consider, as Benteen and Bailey both share the same romantic interest.
7
Code Of Silence (1985)
Code of Silence is surprisingly grounded for a Chuck Norris movie, placing the action star at the center of a city-wide drug war where even the police may be compromised.
Norris is Eddie Cusack, a veteran Chicago cop. He works by the rules, but his abilities are called into question after a failed mission. Cusack is an officer on the right side of the law and must fight armed criminals while also dealing with internal affairs within the police force.
Code of Silence is an exciting 80s action film and a great starting point for audiences new to Chuck Norris movies. While the action is more measured than in some of Norris’ other projects, it still features plenty of high-intensity scenes the actor is known for.
6
Black Rain (1989)
Black Rain is well-known among 80s movie fans as a superb Michael Douglas movie, but it is much less known among general audiences. The movie stars Douglas as Nick and Andy Garcia as Charlie, two detectives who witnessed a murder and arrested the perpetrator, Sato (Yusaku Matsuda).
The detectives escort Sato to Japan to hand him over to the authorities. However, they blunder their mission, allowing him to escape to the fury of the Japanese police. Nick and Charlie find themselves at odds with the authorities and each other as they are forced to stay in the country.
Black Rain isn’t a typical ‘buddy cop’ film and is gritty and serious. Matsuda plays a great antagonist as the US cops learn to adapt to their new surroundings.
5
Runaway Train (1985)
Runaway Train is a thrilling 80s action adventure starring John Voight as Manny and Eric Roberts as Buck. Both are convicts in a harsh Alaskan prison and hatch a daring plot to escape the facility. The pair flee the prison into the frigid wilderness outside and onto a train. However, they quickly learn their problems are far from over.
Manny and Buck meet Sara (Rebecca De Mornay), a train worker who explains that they are the only three on board. To make matters worse, the trio discovers that they cannot stop the train, putting the escapees in an impossible situation with no desirable outcome.
Runaway Train offers the perfect setting for a high-intensity action movie, but it also boasts some impressive character building as we learn Manny’s motivations and how different he is from his comrade.
4
Blue Thunder (1983)
Roy Scheider was best known for his portrayal of Brody in Jaws in the 70s and 80s. He stars as Frank Murphy in Blue Thunder, a skilled police helicopter pilot.
Murphy’s credentials make him the perfect candidate to test-fly the new Blue Thunder police helicopter. The vehicle is full of experimental technology, including cameras that can see through walls and a gun turret that aims where the pilot looks.
Blue Thunder is a terrifying weapon, and Murphy quickly realizes that he’s merely a pawn in a game above his pay grade. Murphy is relatable as he’s a family man who’s in over his head, and the movie raises questions about government surveillance that remain relevant today.
3
Cloak and Dagger (1984)
Cloak and Dagger is a special entry on this list as it was marketed for kids, although it certainly doesn’t look like a children’s movie. Henry Davis stars as Davey. He’s a gamer and finds himself in a spy story of his own after acquiring an Atari cartridge full of military secrets.
Davey finds himself surrounded by threats he isn’t equipped to deal with alone. Fortunately, he has an imaginary friend called Jack Flack (Dabney Coleman). He’s a stereotypical tough military man who helps Davey navigate genuine life-or-death situations.
Cloak and Dagger is a spy thriller that audiences of any age can enjoy. It’s also surprisingly grounded for a kids’ film, with tense situations and antagonists who feel real and dangerous.
2
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins has remarkable origins, as it’s based on The Destroyer novels. The movie stars Fred Ward as Remo Williams. He was a veteran cop until the government faked his death and trained him as an elite assassin who works for CURE, a secret organization at the highest level.
Remo is trained by Chiun (Joel Grey) and masters powerful abilities that elevate him above a regular special agent. He learns to dodge bullets, and Remo’s relationship with his mentor is one of the film’s highlights.
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins offers a great mix of genres. It has a serious thriller story, but it is also lighthearted thanks to Remo’s relationship with his mentor and his physics-defying abilities. The movie’s title hints at future projects that never came to fruition. Some elements of Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins feel dated, but it’s still a fun standalone film with some impressive set pieces.
1
To Live And Die In L.A. (1985)
To Live and Die in L.A. is an exceptional crime thriller starring William Petersen as Richard Chance, an experienced Secret Service agent. One of Chance’s co-workers dies, prompting him to hunt a professional counterfeiter, Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe).
Chance is a remarkable hero because, while we root for him, he has a weaker moral compass than your typical 80s action protagonist. He’s willing to bend the rules in a story where it becomes increasingly difficult to say if Chance is still a ‘good’ guy.
Willem Dafoe is also a brilliant antagonist who steals the show in every scene he is in. He’s cold and calculating, but oddly charismatic, making it clear he’s the one pulling the strings. To Live and Die in L.A. is a unique movie that movie enthusiasts adore, and with good reason. Still, it’s rarely referenced among general audiences nowadays despite its quality and incredible cast. If you’re hoping to dip your toes into 1980s action movies for the first time, To Live and Die in L.A. is a brilliant place to start.