The‘80sis viewed by many as the golden era of theactiongenre. The path may have been paved in the ‘70s with tense and gritty flicks likeThe French Connection,Mad Max, andDirty Harry, but the ‘80s took the baton and ran with it. The rise of better special effects, larger-than-life heroes, and a focus on blockbuster appeal led to the ‘80s being responsible for some of themost iconic and memorable action moviesof all time, which shaped the very way we view action flicks to this day.
Films likePredator,The Terminator,Aliens,Die Hard,Top Gun, andLethal Weaponremain iconic and celebrated, but not every action movie released in the ‘80s has stood the test of time. As the genre began to flourish, studios quickly recognized its profitability and began churning out films at a rapid pace. While some may have had solid performances or thrilling set pieces, many of these movies became formulaic, relying on action clichés without the strong storytelling or standout characters that made the classics so iconic, leaving them to fade into obscurity.
Elsewhere, other studios sought to stand out from the crowd, push boundaries, and break the mold, but in the process, they may have alienated more mainstream audiences who had grown accustomed to certain tropes. Here, we’re looking at 10 action movies released during the ‘80s that, for whatever reason, failed to leave a lasting impression and have long been forgotten.
10’The Octagon' (1980)
The Octagon
The Octagonrevolves around a highly skilled martial artist, played by Chuck Norris, who embarks on a mission to take down a deadly terrorist group that happens to be highly trained in a unique ninja style created by his foster brother.
‘The Octagon’ Has Been Overshadowed by Other Chuck Norris Projects
Chuck Norris was a very prolific actor throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s and has cemented himself as a cult icon in the annals of popular culture.The Octagonis a perfectly adequate action flick, despite its outlandish premise. It received generally positive reviews and was a modest box office hit, but it has been overshadowed by other,more iconic roles played by Norris. These roles include Colt fromWay of the Dragon, Major Scott McCoy in theDelta Forcefranchise, Colonel James Braddock in theMissing in Actionseries, and, of course, Walker, Texas Ranger from the iconic TV series.
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9’High Risk' (1981)
James Brolin leads a group of Americans who travel to South America with plans to rob a ruthless drug cartel. Of course, things don’t pan out too well for the Americans, who find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse in the harsh South American jungle as they’re relentlessly pursued by the cartel.
Filmways Pictures Went Broke After Distributing ‘High Risk’
Already struggling financially, a lot was riding on the success of the movie to keep its distributors above water. Unfortunately, the movie failed to meet expectations, and Filmways Pictures went broke as a result, leading to its eventual acquisition by Orion Pictures. The movie itself wasn’t a complete disaster, and its jungle setting was a refreshing change for an action film. However, it was closely followed by a slew of other superior movies set in the jungle, includingRomancing the Stone,Predator, andRaiders of the Lost Ark.
8’Megaforce' (1982)
Megaforceis an over-the-top, no-holds-barred exercise in campy silliness. The plot loosely revolves around a conflict between the peaceful Republic of Sardun and its aggressive neighbor, Gamibia. In dire need of help, Sardun calls in the aid of Megaforce, an elite and secret army made up of Western soldiers equipped with the most cutting-edge weaponry and vehicles on the planet. What ensues next is all-out mayhem as they put these weapons to use and blow the living hell out of anyone who gets in their path.
‘Megaforce’ Was Panned by Critics and Bombed at the Box Office
Unfortunately,Megaforcedidn’t resonate with audiences or critics, who found the movie’s campy tone, outrageous plot, and questionable visual effects overwhelmingly off-putting. Despite a small number enjoying it as a “so-bad-it’s-good” type of movie, it quickly faded into obscurity.
7’Blind Fury' (1989)
Blind Fury
Loosely based on the Japanese movieZatoichi Challenged,Blind Furyfollows Rutger Hauer as a blind, sword-wielding Vietnam vet who sets out to help reunite the son of an old friend with his father, who has been kidnapped.
‘Blind Fury’ Combines Action and Humor
Combining action and comedy,Blind Furysplit critics right down the middle. Some loved the organic blend of genres, while others found its over-the-top and exaggerated fight sequences to be too campy for them. The movie failed to set the box office alight, making just over $2.6 million, and despite developing a small cult following, it has been largely forgotten.
6’Tenement' (1985)
Tenementis a brutal exploitation flick that revolves around a group of tenants in an apartment building who are forced to band together and rise up against a violent, oppressive criminal gang that intends to take control of the block for their criminal activities.
‘Tenement’ Is Shockingly Violent
Tenementstands as one of the few movies given an X rating solely for its extreme violence. The claustrophobic apartment block sets the scene for some of themost brutally violent momentsin action movie history. This level of violence understandably alienated a lot of mainstream audiences, and it was largely intended for fans of exploitation and extreme cinema. While it did develop a small cult following, it was never going to be remembered in the same vein as more mainstream action movies likeDie HardorTop Gun.
Kill Squad
This low-budget revenge flick features a group of ex-soldiers and mercs who reassemble to exact revenge on those responsible for the deadly assault on one of their own and his wife. Filled with brutal hand-to-hand martial arts combat sequences and intense violence, this gritty action flick is a perfect example of the era’s exploitation cinema.
Made on a shoestring budget,Kill Squadswaps outbig action sequences involving shootouts, explosions, and car chases in favor of a more up-close-and-personal approach. The violence is immediate and intense, but the lack of polish made it difficult for bigger, more mainstream audiences to relate to, and it ultimately failed to leave much of a lasting impression on the action genre as a whole.
4’Silent Rage' (1982)
Silent Rage
Chuck Norris stars as a sheriff tasked with stopping an unhinged murderer who goes on a rampage after being granted indestructibility in a medical experiment. The movie combines elements of horror, action, western, sci-fi, and martial arts, wrapping them into one big ball of Chuck Norris-led fun.
‘Silent Rage’ Was a Hit With Critics but Failed to Leave a Lasting Mark
The ambitious genre-splicing ofSilent Ragewas appreciated by many critics, who praised Chuck Norris’ performance, the unique premise, and the inclusion of horror/slasher elements. However, the movie’s target market was hard to pinpoint, and it missed the mark when it came to box office performance. While it wasn’t a complete disaster, it has since been overshadowed by the sheer number of huge action blockbusters released in the decade.
3’Shakedown' (1988)
An idealistic lawyer and a veteran cop team up to uncover the truth in a possible police corruption scandal in this action crime thriller starring Peter Weller and Sam Elliott. Full of intense action sequences and tense storytelling,Shakedowncurrently holds an impressive 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite Strong Performances and Impressive Action Sequences, ‘Shakedown’ Failed to Flourish in an Oversaturated Market
For all intents and purposes,Shakedownis a good action movie. While a little light on plot, this is more than made up for with high-octane action thrills and strong, believable performances from its two leads. However, being released in what could be considered the pinnacle of the action genre, it was unable to set itself apart from the dozens of other movies of its ilk being released at the time and ultimately fell by the wayside.
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2’Runaway' (1984)
Headlined by everyone’s favorite mustachioed icon, Tom Selleck,Runawaysees Selleck playing an officer tasked with tracking down dangerous robots that are being manipulated by a greedy corporation for financial gain.
Far From Michael Crichton’s Best Work
The movie received mixed reviews, with many enjoying its intriguing plot but feeling it was poorly executed and relied too heavily on genre clichés. Written and directedby author Michael Crichton, it’s understandable how the movie has been overshadowed by other projects of his when his writing credits include such iconic works asWestworld,The Great Train Robbery, andJurassic Park.
1’Number One With a Bullet' (1987)
Number One with a Bullet
Stop if you’ve heard this one before: a by-the-book detective finds himself paired with a fast-talking, reckless partner with unconventional ways of getting the job done. The unlikely duo are forced to put aside their differences and work together to tackle a ruthless drug lord while navigating a world of violence and corruption.
The ’80s Was a Defining Era for the Buddy Cop Subgenre
Released towards the end of the ’80s,Number One with a Bulletcame out at the tail end of what is possibly the greatest era for the buddy cop genre. In a decade that treated us to the likes ofLethal Weapon,Tango & Cash, and48 Hrs.,Number One with a Bulletstands as a run-of-the-mill buddy cop movie that brings nothing new to the table.
