Action movies in the ‘80s were just built differently. They had to be more creative, more realistic, and more practical in their approach to the activity on screen. When you think of the great ‘80s action movies, Die Hard, Indiana Jones, and any number of Arnold Schwarzenegger picks get first dibs.
These films still evoke all the same emotions as they did decades ago. But there are other action movies forgotten by audiences that deserve the same recognition. Whether they inspired a new generation of films or captured the essence of the genre perfectly, they haven’t aged a day since their release in the ‘80s.
Runaway Features Futuristic Technology That Came to Pass
During his run as Magnum, P.I., Tom Selleck and his signature mustache starred in a little-known action movie called Runaway. Written and directed by Michael Crichton (yes—the Michael Crichton of Congo, Jurassic Park, and Disclosure), the 1984 science fiction movie delivers action, suspense, thrills, and a little bit of horror.
The film pits Selleck’s Sergeant Jack R. Ramsay against Dr. Charles Luther, portrayed by Gene Simmons. Powerhouses Cynthia Rhodes and Kirstie Alley also star in the film. When a household robot is discovered to have been manipulated to kill its humans by Dr. Luther, Ramsay has to stop him from turning all the other robots into murderers.
The idea of robots in every home was ridiculous in 1984, but is now a reality (or nightmare) with smartphones, smart TVs, and home voice devices like Alexa. From doorbell cameras and self-driving cars to tablets and drones, the technology in Runaway has aged a little too well. The movie’s 48% RT score has not.
Stallone, Williams, and Hauer Are a Dream Cast in Nighthawks
Rambo and Lando working together is the crossover event we all need to watch. Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams play NYPD Detectives trying to stop a terrorist in the 1981 action thriller Nighthawks. Directed by Bruce Malmuth (Hard to Kill), the neo-noir film also introduces the legendary Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) in his American film debut.
Stallone and Hauer’s chemistry is electric, and New York City is utilized as a supporting character. The soundtrack by Keith Emerson and the cable car scene are timeless elements of the film. Nighthawks is gritty, with solid cinematography and a decent 71% RT score.
The parts where Stallone’s character wears a dress as a disguise to trick the bad guy are done in a way that is still watchable today. And Hauer has memorable quotes that work in today’s climate just as well as they did in 1981. Nighthawks is methodical and dark, with an ending that makes you feel like it was all worth it.
It Takes an Alien to Catch an Alien in The Hidden
Director Jack Sholder (Renegades, Arachnid) and writer Jim Kouf (Rush Hour, National Treasure) deliver an unconventional science fiction movie where aliens hunt aliens. The 1987 sci-fi horror film The Hidden follows a body-hopping alien that wreaks havoc on humans by making everyone it possesses commit an act of murder. Only an alien lawman possessing the body of another human can stop it.
Starring Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, The Flintstones) and Michael Nouri (All My Children, Yellowstone), The Hidden is an extraterrestrial version of a buddy cop film. The movie delves into the human relationship with consumerism and people’s sense of self-worth.
Though everyone can appreciate a love of all things rock music and flashy cars, the self-destructive alien is an example of the fragility of human identity. With a 76% RT score, The Hidden utilizes funny, quick dialogue and ‘80s-style action to keep the pace moving. The film makes you wonder if every time someone does something so completely out of character, maybe an alien body snatcher was behind it.
Miracle Mile Takes Anthony Edwards Through His Last Day in Los Angeles
Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, ER) is captivating as Harry Washello in the 1988 romantic action thriller Miracle Mile. Written and directed by Steve De Jarnatt (Strange Brew), the apocalyptic film takes place over the course of one day, following a possible nuclear attack in Los Angeles.
Answering a wrong number and possibly being the boy who cried wolf, Harry Washello watches the consequences of his actions unfold across Los Angeles. But it won’t stop him from trying to find a woman he met the day before, played by Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire, The Affair). Miracle Mile maintains a tense pace, mirroring Harry’s rising anxiety about the nuclear strike.
The 91% RT score is well-deserved for the plot alone, especially with the genre switch executed so brilliantly. It’s one of those movies where it’s best if you have no idea what it’s about before going in. Aside from the use of payphones, the film’s core about human connection and the distortion of truth has aged extremely well.
Willem Dafoe Shines in To Live and Die in L.A.
You know whatever Willem Dafoe brings to a role is going to be spectacularly unhinged. In the 1985 action crime film To Live and Die in L.A., Dafoe plays a counterfeiter named Erik Masters, who takes his art seriously. William Petersen, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, Darlanne Fluegel, and John Turturro round out the electric cast. Directed by the legendary William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Gerald Petievich, the gritty noir’s cinematography and use of neon lights are an epic time-stamp of the ’80s.
To Live and Die in L.A. blurs the line between good cop and bad cop, with twists and turns where the audience doesn’t know who is on which side of the law. Corruption might run rampant in the film, but the 89% RT score and soundtrack featuring Wang Chung are on the right side of things. The film is dark, cool, and calculated. It refuses to fall into the typical Hollywood action movie, which makes it timeless.