But those are the classics . Let ’s talk about the not - so - classics . These are ten forgotten 80s action motion picture that are fantabulous .

Midnight Run (1988)

When it get to Robert De Niro films , Midnight Runis almost never observe among the the like ofRaging Bull , Taxi Driver , andThe Godfather Part II.Then again , we do n’t expect it to be !

With that say , Midnight Runis still a very near crony cop action photographic film starring Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh , a bounty hunter hired to bring a bail bondsman back to Los Angeles . It ’s funny , it ’s thrilling , it ’s surprisingly touching , and it works thanks in turgid part to the electric chemical science between De Niro and Charles Grodin .

Police Story (1985)

Police Storyis a largely prise action film . In fact , it was voted the fourthly - in force action mechanism celluloid ever made in a Time Out poll of critics , directors , and stuntmen . It also saw tremendous winner in its native Asia thanks primarily to the wonderful work of Jackie Chan and the elaborate natural action chronological succession that were unlike anything else at the clip .

However , it was never really a overhead hit in North America and it is vastly overshadowed by some of his mainstream Western work . It ’s not Chan ’s most popular picture , but it is probably his best .

Licence To Kill (1989)

The James Bond series saw an unfortunate downward trajectory throughout much of the 80s ( at least in terms of quality ) . The reason for this are many , but most critics pick the series ' increasingly wacky and lighthearted tone and Roger Moore ’s portrayal of James Bond .

However , Timothy Dalton andLicence to Killrevived Bond   and returned the series to its darker , more ground , and more ripe roots . unluckily , it has been immensely overtop within the larger Bond pantheon . We think it deserves more esteem than it have .

Tango & Cash (1989)

Tango & Cashis a brother cop movie star two activity heroes ( Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell ) at the summit of their renown . Russell play Cash , the traditional " bad boy " loose - shank pig , and Stallone act against eccentric as Tango , the more uppity , mature , and by - the - book   half .

It ’s pretty standard buddy cop fare , but the material is for the most part elevated by the performances and the humor . It did n’t find good reviews and it was largely forgotten upon release , but we think it merit a critical reevaluation . It wasn’tthatbad !

The Last Dragon (1985)

Martial artsmovies were quite big in the 80s , particularly afterThe Karate Kidwas release in the summer of 1984 . The achiever of that movie helped revitalize interest in the genre and led to many celebrated picture show , include Jean - Claude Van Damme’sBloodsport . But one martial arts movie that sentence has seemingly forgotten inThe Last Dragon .

It ’s a marvellous little movie starring Taimak as Leroy Green , a martial creative person who dreams of being the next Bruce Lee . Do n’t countenance the middling $ 30 million box seat office staff take jester you . This is a good one .

Nighthawks (1981)

Nighthawksis another long - leave Sylvester Stallone fomite . And it is much dependable than most of his cheesy eighty output . freshly off the success ofRockyandRocky II , Stallone superstar as Deke DaSilva , a copper who is task with take down international terrorist Heymar " Wulfgar " Reinhardt .

It only gross $ 19 million at the box office and was quickly forgotten amidst Stallone ’s more bombastic originative decision , butNighthawksis a pig thriller well worth watching .

Red Heat (1988)

speak of long - block movies of blockbuster action mechanism stars , let ’s speak aboutRed Heat!Red Heatis a little - know action pic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Moscow militia captain named Ivan Danko . Danko is partner up with Jim Belushi ’s cocky and sloppy Art Ridzik to hunt and get a drug lord .

This is yet another product of the late 1980s buddy cop cult , but its star powerfulness and dedicated performances avail make the film right smart better than it has any right field to be . You ca n’t go haywire with Schwarzenegger and Belushi !

Vigilante (1983)

Vigilanteis for certain a Cartesian product of its metre . Released in the other 1980s , Vigilantewas release between the grindhouse boom of the late 70s and the bombastic activity film of the mid and late LXXX .   It imbibes the tone of both stylus , although it largely veers towards the grindhouse   sleaziness of the 70s .

Robert Forster stars as Eddie Marino , an everyday factory worker who goes on a rampage after his eight - year - old son is murdered . It ’s essentially a ripoff ofDeath Wish , but it ’s a goddamned trade good ripoff ! Does n’t precisely make for the easiest of viewings , though …

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

When it hail to theMad Maxseries , Beyond Thunderdomeis the kooky aunt who populate in the attic - no one really pay   it any attending , they want to blank out that it exists , and they do n’t recount their friends about it . And it ’s a shame becauseBeyond Thunderdomeis actually very good .

Despite being for the most part ignored ( thanks in the main to its light-hearted tone , the controversial baby , and the want ofopen road activity ) , Ebertlovedthe moving picture and cry it one of the best of 1985 . And if you ca n’t trust Ebert , then who can you bank ?

Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

Can a war film be consider an action film ? We say yes , and because we say yes , we are includingClint Eastwood’sHeartbreak Ridge . Eastwood is a legendary actor and director , but his 1986 state of war celluloid about the American encroachment of Grenada haslongbeen brush aside .

It ’s an unfortunate bootleg hole among Eastwood ’s otherwise star filmography , but we retrieve it deserves more recognition and deference . It ’s one of Eastwood ’s greatest performances ( and that ’s saying a lot ) , and the film is astonishingly funny and entertaining as well . Check it out if you need more Clint Eastwood in your life story . And who does n’t ?

NEXT:10 Action Movies To Look Forward to in 2020

Imagery from Rush Hour and The Matrix

Chronicle Ending Explained - How Andrew Is Stopped In The Superhero Movie

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

Heartbreak Ridge Cropped (1)

Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin in Midnight Run

Jackie Chain in Police Story

Timothy Dalton Licence to Kill

Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone in Tango and Cash

the last dragon sho nuff

Sylvester Stallone points a gun off-camera in Nighthawks.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Red Heat

vigilante Cropped

Mel Gibson as Max swinging an improvised weapon in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Heartbreak Ridge Cropped

Movies