Best 1980s Action Movies

Looking for the best 1980s Action movies? These are the 48 highest-rated 1980s Action titles in our catalogue, led by Liberty & Bash, The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro and Mottomo Abunai Deka. The list is ranked by audience score; open any title for its cast, trailer and legal places to watch.

1. Liberty & Bash (1989)

★ 10.0/10

Liberty, Bash, and their friend Jesse served together in a war in Central America. Now Liberty and Bash work with youths, helping them stay out of crime and becoming a positive part of the community. But Jesse has…
2. The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (1989)

★ 9.0/10

The story of the hijacking of the Itallian liner Achille Lauro by four militants of the Palestine Liberation Front, in 1985, who demanded the release of several Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli prisoners. On their…
3. Mottomo Abunai Deka (1989)

★ 8.5/10

Taka and Yuji find evidence in a 15-year-old case, but the statute of limitations expires in four days and they're hunting illicit gun manufacturers.
4. Akira (1988)

★ 7.9/10

A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.
5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

★ 7.8/10

In 1938, an art collector appeals to eminent archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones to embark on a search for the Holy Grail. Indy learns that a medieval historian has vanished while searching for it, and the missing man is…
6. Die Hard (1988)

★ 7.8/10

NYPD cop John McClane's plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her offices Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists…
7. Predator (1987)

★ 7.5/10

A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
8. Saint Seiya: Warriors of the Final Holy Battle (1989)

★ 7.4/10

The plot involves the coming of Lucifer to the Sanctuary, where his underlings systematically dispose of the surviving Gold Saints. Athena goes to Lucifer to ask for peace, placing herself in peril. The Bronze Saints…
9. Lethal Weapon (1987)

★ 7.3/10

A veteran cop and an unstable detective become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.
10. They Live (1988)

★ 7.3/10

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.
11. Batman (1989)

★ 7.2/10

Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a…
12. Midnight Run (1988)

★ 7.2/10

A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.
13. Return of the Kickfighter (1987)

★ 7.2/10

The plot concerns a unit of US marines operating in the Vietnam war during 1970, with the movie opening on a raid in a village. After massacring the villagers, the marines steal the villages gold, much to the objection…
14. The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989)

★ 7.1/10

Xixo is back again. This time, his children accidentally stow away on a fast-moving poachers' truck, unable to get off, and Xixo sets out to rescue them. Along the way, he encounters a couple of soldiers trying to…
15. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

★ 7.0/10

Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.
16. Willow (1988)

★ 7.0/10

The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with…
17. Bloodsport (1988)

★ 7.0/10

An American Army Major goes AWOL to Hong Kong for an outlawed martial arts contest called the Kumite.
18. Ambitious Kung Fu Girl (1981)

★ 7.0/10

Spoiled Yuen Si Si, the naive daughter of an affluent merchant, lives her cosseted life dreaming of meeting her idol, the heroic Qin Ge. When her father decides to marry her off, she runs away in search of Qin Ge, with…
19. Lock Up (1989)

★ 6.8/10

Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration…
20. Kickboxer (1989)

★ 6.8/10

If your enemy refuses to be humbled... Destroy him. Accompanied by his brother Kurt, American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane, arrives in Thailand to defeat the Eastern warriors at their own sport. His opponent…
21. Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989)

★ 6.8/10

In order to wish for immortality and avenge his father, Garlic Jr. collects the dragon balls, kidnapping Goku's son Gohan in the process. Goku, Kami, Piccolo, and Krillin unite to rescue Gohan and save the world from…
22. Young Guns (1988)

★ 6.7/10

A group of young gunmen, led by Billy the Kid, become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor. But when Billy takes their authority too far, they become the hunted.
23. Black Rain (1989)

★ 6.6/10

Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. However, in Japan he manages to escape, and…
24. Outlaws (1985)

★ 6.6/10

A handful of teenagers, boys and girls, escape from a reform school and go round town. They go to a ball, the owner asks them to pay the bill.This man is very unpleasant, he hates the youth of today and he is a…
25. Iron Angels (1987)

★ 6.6/10

Yeung’s poppy fields are torched by a law enforcement task force, she retaliates by ordering police officials assassinated. The Angels break into Yeung’s corporate offices, eventually tracing her headquarters. After…
26. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

★ 6.5/10

Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is…
27. Tango & Cash (1989)

★ 6.5/10

Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash are two successful narcotics detectives who can't stand each other. Crime lord Yves Perret, furious at the loss of income they have caused him, plots an elaborate revenge against them.
28. The Living Daylights (1987)

★ 6.5/10

After a defecting Russian general reveals a plot to assassinate foreign spies, James Bond is assigned a secret mission to dispatch the new head of the KGB to prevent an escalation of tensions between the Soviet Union…
29. The Running Man (1987)

★ 6.5/10

By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and U.S. society has become a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity. The government pacifies the populace by broadcasting a number of game shows in which…
30. Best of the Best (1989)

★ 6.5/10

A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country--can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?
31. Licence to Kill (1989)

★ 6.4/10

After capturing the notorious drug lord Franz Sanchez, Bond's close friend and former CIA agent Felix Leiter is left for dead and his wife is murdered. Bond goes rogue and seeks vengeance on those responsible, as he…
32. Turner & Hooch (1989)

★ 6.3/10

Detective Scott Turner has three days left in the local police department before he moves to a bigger city to get some 'real' cases—not just misdemeanors. When Amos Reed is murdered, Scott sets himself on the case, but…
33. Tridev (1989)

★ 6.3/10

A honest but disgraced Police Inspector's attempts to clear his name pits him against terrorists and the brother of his sweetheart. Starring: Naseeruddin Shah, Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, Sangeeta…
34. Rambo III (1988)

★ 6.2/10

Combat has taken its toll on Rambo, but he's finally begun to find inner peace in a monastery. When Rambo's friend and mentor Col. Trautman asks for his help on a top secret mission to Afghanistan, Rambo declines but…
35. K-9 (1989)

★ 6.2/10

The extravagant cop Michael Dooley needs some help to fight a drug dealer who has tried to kill him. A "friend" gives him a dog named Jerry Lee (Officer Lewis), who has been trained to smell drugs. With his help…
36. Red Heat (1988)

★ 6.2/10

A tough Russian policeman is forced to partner up with a cocky Chicago police detective when he is sent to Chicago to apprehend a Georgian drug lord who killed his partner and fled the country.
37. Lucky Stars Go Places (1986)

★ 6.2/10

Lucky Stars Go Places, also known as The Luckiest Stars, is a 1986 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Eric Tsang. It is the fourth film in the Lucky Stars series. It was an attempt to combine the original Lucky…
38. Iron Angels 2 (1988)

★ 6.2/10

Mona, Billy and Elaine are a tough trio known as the "Angels." While they are on vacation in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), they find out that one of Billy's school-chums is now a gun-runner plotting a revolution in Malaysia…
39. The Package (1989)

★ 6.1/10

Experienced Green Beret sergeant Johnny Gallagher is escorting a prisoner, Airborne Ranger Thomas Boyette, back to the US, but Boyette escapes and Gallagher must risk life and limb to catch him.
40. Shanghai 13 (1984)

★ 6.0/10

A patriot finds evidence that the government is collaborating with a foreign power. If the people knew about the deception, they would revolt and overthrow the corrupt government. One patriot in office steals the proof…
41. Kid Colter (1984)

★ 6.0/10

A Boston boy escapes from spies and survives in the wild with tricks from his mountain-man father.
42. The Karate Kid Part III (1989)

★ 5.9/10

Despondent over the closing of his karate school, Cobra Kai teacher John Kreese joins a ruthless businessman and martial artist to get revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.
43. Iron Angels 3 (1989)

★ 5.9/10

A gang of crime-fighting martial-arts beauties battle a terrorist organization based in Thailand led by a religious fanatic.
44. The Punisher (1989)

★ 5.8/10

The avenging angel of Marvel Comics fame comes brilliantly to life in this searing action-adventure thriller! Dolph Lundgren stars as Frank Castle, a veteran cop who loses his entire family to a mafia car bomb. His…
45. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

★ 5.7/10

A renegade Vulcan with a startling secret hijacks the U.S.S. Enterprise in order to find a mythical planet.
46. Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987)

★ 5.7/10

Deathstalker helps Reena the Seer out of a few jams, and she solicits his help for a bigger task. She reveals that she is actually Princess Evie, but the evil sorcerer had her abducted and cloned in order to seize…
47. Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1982)

★ 5.6/10

Failing to kill the eight Prince, Chu decides to seek refuge in the Phantom's mountain Manor. But it's actually Chu's and the Prince's plan to eliminate the Phantom men.
48. Picture of a Nymph (1988)

★ 5.6/10

Shih Erh, a Taoist monk disciple, takes in a scholar named Tsui Hung-Chuen after he inadvertently burned down his house after battling a demon. Shih Erh and his master Wu Men-Chu house and attempt to protect Tsui from…