The Best 1980s Action Heroes, Ranked By Who You'd Want At Your Back
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When the chips are down, which of these '80s action heroes are you calling for backup?
If one genre flourished the most in the 1980s, it was action movies. Anchored by stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kurt Russell, Sigourney Weaver, and Sylvester Stallone, these classic flicks focused on hard fights and hard bodies, as these heroes proved not just their physical prowess, but also their ethical and moral bona fides.
Obviously, not all action heroes from the '80s are made equal - some stand head and shoulders above the rest. These are the types of men and women who anyone would want at their back during a fight or, really, during any other kind of confrontation requiring a strong body and a code of honor.
Have your say on which ‘80s action lead you'd most want on your side.
- Photo: Paramount Pictures
Harrison Ford is his usual rakish, handsome, charming self as the one and only Indiana Jones in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Aside from his good looks, which surely make him a catch in the archaeology world, Indy clearly has a fair amount of luck, which helps to explain why he manages to get out of more than a few scrapes. He's capable of feats of physical strength, but he also has a firm moral compass, particularly when it comes to his stalwart opposition to the Nazis. Not only is he reliable in a fight with his iconic bullwhip - he's also unafraid to show his human side.
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- 292 VOTES
Dutch ('Predator')
Photo: 20th Century FoxThe 1980s were a great decade for the archetypal buff hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, who delivers a memorable performance as Dutch in the sci-fi/horror film Predator. Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer's imposing physicality alone makes him an ideal choice for an ally, but there's more to him than just muscle and brawn. He's also remarkably selfless, as he demonstrates when he lets Anna escape to safety while he continues to fight against the creature of the title. He never backs down from a challenge, and, vitally, he has the tactical smarts to match his brawn. Dutch makes a deadly enemy, but he makes an even better friend.
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- 3104 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
While Sigourney Weaver has had a remarkable and varied career in Hollywood, in some ways, Ellen Ripley will always be her most beloved role. It's easy to see why, particularly given her daring exploits in Aliens, the second film in the franchise, released in 1986. Ripley shows again why she is such a formidable hero, shrugging off the weight of her terrifying experiences in the first movie in order to step up and provide expertise against the xenomorphs. Not only does she save several Marines, but she also faces down the monstrous alien Queen. Given how much trauma Ripley has already endured, her ability to do all of this - and to emerge alive yet again - is a testament to her ironclad constitution and courageous yet pragmatic nature.
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- 468 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
While fans might be divided on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not, what is not in debate is John McClane's (Bruce Willis) status as a true hero who can handle a crisis. To start with, McClane is steadfastly loyal, and he can also endure quite a pummeling and still keep on going. Who can forget, for example, the moment when he bandages his own bloody feet or when he descends a ventilation shaft using a gun strap as a climbing rope? This is a guy whose temperament and sheer physical endurance make him one of the best allies out there.
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Few superheroes have had as much longevity as Batman, who tends to be cinematically revived whenever the culture seems like it is in need of a wounded, complicated superhero. Michael Keaton gives one of the best performances of his career in 1989's Batman, imbuing Bruce Wayne with a psychological complexity that distinguishes him from earlier on-screen iterations. Moreover, Batman is committed to making sure the people of Gotham City are protected from the likes of the Joker, and his heroism is all the more remarkable considering the trauma (the death of his parents) that set him on the path to fighting crime in the first place. In terms of skills, technology, and a cool costume, Batman is the best ally out there.
- 646 VOTES
Max Rockatansky ('The Road Warrior')
Photo: Roadshow EntertainmentThe Road Warrior, like Mad Max before it, demonstrates how formidable hero Mel Gibson's Max Rockatansky really is. Max is undoubtedly a hard man who bears scars from the events of the first film. Nevertheless, The Road Warrior gives him a chance to rediscover the more human parts of himself that he thought he'd lost. Max is, clearly, quite a physical warrior, but he’s also smart and loyal, doing all he can to help protect settlers in the barren landscape from vicious attackers. He might always be an enigma, even to those whom he chooses to help, but in a time of apocalyptic adversity, there are few better allies than Max.
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- 762 VOTESPhoto: Orion PIctures
Sylvester Stallone had quite a decade in the 1980s, winning hearts by combining an imposing and muscular physicality with a tortured soul. Though his character John Rambo, introduced in First Blood, has become more famous for his willingness to resort to violence when he believes he has been the victim of injustice, he has a strong sense of honor. It's hard not to feel sorry for Rambo, given how much his psychology and his life in general have been marred by his experiences in Vietnam. Nevertheless, his physical prowess - demonstrated in his remarkable ability to both evade and subdue various police officers pursuing him - and his loyalty combine to make him an ideal teammate.
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Many of the action heroes of the 1980s seem on the surface to be tough-as-nails, but in reality they are much more sensitive and broken than their tough exteriors reveal. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) of Lethal Weapon, for example, clearly struggles with the death of his wife, and he is also quite erratic. His friendship with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) provides him with a needed balance, and he ultimately becomes a very good cop and a loyal friend. This is a fearsome combination, and it means he would make for a valuable ally in any kind of confrontation. Riggs is particularly threatening, though, with his Special Forces background and his willingness to go the extra mile and risk his own life.
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With his undeniable physique and eye-catching screen presence, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a natural fit for ‘80s-style action blockbusters. In the 1985 film Commando, for example, he portrays Colonel John Matrix, a former soldier who gets dragged back into combat after his daughter is kidnapped. As the film unfolds, Matrix proves just how relentless he is in pursuit of his goal of rescuing her. He might be a reluctant hero - he even refuses to rejoin his old unit at the end of the film - but takes up a cause, he's devoutly loyal. Both his physical and moral presence are unflinching, so it's easy to see why the Special Forces want him back.
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Though the first Terminator film has been somewhat overshadowed by its 1991 sequel, it is nevertheless a remarkable piece of 1980s action filmmaking. At this point in the story, Arnold Schwarzenegger is undeniably a villain, while the hero position is taken by both Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn). Reese shoulders a bit more of the burden in the first film, given that he comes from the future and is familiar with the Terminator already. He combines world-weariness with a deep well of feeling, which helps to explain why he is such a devoted protector for Sarah. Moreover, he's a remarkably resourceful warrior, showing no fear as he's stranded in a time that is foreign to him. In unfamiliar circumstances, he still manages to defeat the terrifying T-800, even though it costs him his life.
It's worth noting that Sarah Connor would also make a tremendous ally in the midst of crisis, but she doesn't truly display her grit until the film's 1991 sequel, hence her omission from this list.
- 1139 VOTESPhoto: AVCO Embassy Pictures
The 1980s might have been a glitzy decade, but it was also a remarkably pessimistic one, with many films depicting post-apocalyptic futures in which social order is completely broken down or in the process of crumbling. Escape from New York, as its title implies, focuses on Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken as he attempts to get the US President out of a heavily-fortified Manhattan. Snake is fierce, smart, and tough, managing to survive a situation which would kill most men. While he might be a criminal, he still sees his mission through to the end, and this absolute commitment is definitely something that would come in handy in a fight. On top of that, it's hard to beat his trademark eyepatch and sleeveless shirt in terms of intimidating appearances.
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Alex Murphy/Robocop ('Robocop')
Photo: Orion PicturesIt’s hard to imagine an action hero more formidable than the title character of Robocop. Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) already demonstrates his courage in the face of great pain as he's killed by gangsters, before his body is then revived as the cyborg RoboCop. His physical abilities are ruthlessly efficient thanks to engineering, yet the strength of his humanity is also proven as he manages to overcome his programming and recover some of the lost memories of who he was before his robotic transformation. It’s hard not to admire someone with such strength of character and firm moral grounding. If nothing else, the fact he is almost indestructible on a physical level means it's much better to be on his side than against him.
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- Photo: 20th Century Fox
While Kurt Russell might not have been as musclebound as some of the other action heroes of the 1980s, he still managed to build a substantial filmography around tough-guy heroes. Jack Burton of the 1986 classic Big Trouble in Little China, is a perfect example of Russell's trademark style - a hero with a satirical edge, who is particularly adept at sending up heroes like those played by John Wayne. Despite this cheeky exterior, Burton is nevertheless a hero, even if his greatest successes seem to almost happen by accident. Perhaps most impressive is that despite his background as “just” a truck driver, Burton's able to hold his own against countless criminals and even an ancient sorcerer.
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- 1439 VOTESPhoto: Paramount Pictures
Eddie Murphy is in fine form as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop, proving he can impress with punches as well as with punchlines. He’s the quintessential loose-cannon cop, the kind of policeman who doesn’t always follow the rules, but still manages to get results. While this earns him some reprimands from his superiors, it makes him a fearsome character, someone one can count on to get the job done. Just as importantly, as he shows in the first film in the franchise, he’s also tremendously loyal, putting his own career on the line to find out who was responsible for the murder of his friend Mikey. Loyalty is, after all, one of the most valuable traits to have at one's back during a fight.
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'Kevin' Chan Ka-Kui ('Police Story')
Photo: Golden HarvestJackie Chan is virtually synonymous with high-quality action films, and Police Story is not only an amazing display of his physical skills, but also one of his funniest ventures from the 1980s. In this case, he plays a cop who has been wrongly accused of having committed murder and must clear his name. Numerous physical hijinks ensue, of course, and Chan’s Kevin demonstrates just how skilled he is as both a policeman and a martial artist. His good-natured personality paired with incredibly refined skills make him a valuable fighter and friend in equal parts.
- 1631 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros.
Sylvester Stallone puts his action hero bona fides to good use in Cobra, in which he plays Lt. Marion “Cobra” Cobretti. He's a familiar archetype of 1980s action films, a cop who doesn't play by the rules. Where Cobra stands out is turning his rebel nature into a clear-eyed intuition of who is behind a series of murders plaguing Los Angeles. More to the point, he’s happy to go after the cult responsible himself, demonstrating his prowess in hand-to-hand combat. Even though he is the sort of specimen the evil group of social Darwinists he faces would like to valorize, he isn't about to let them remake the world in his image, and his commitment to a strong value system makes him a truly good guy.
- 1737 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
Highlander might not have been a success upon its initial release in 1986, but it has since become a true cult classic. It's easy to see why, as Christopher Lambert is undeniably compelling as Connor MacLeod, a Highlander swordsman who is actually an immortal, one of a group who all vie with one another across centuries to become the ruler of Earth. Even though MacLeod ultimately wins and becomes almost all-powerful, he remains refreshingly honest and wise, with empathy for humans. It's this all-too-rare combination of power and conscience which sets him apart from so many other beings and makes him an especially wise and valuable choice as an ally.
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Ben Richards ('The Running Man')
Photo: Tri-Star PicturesArnold Schwarzenegger added another impressive hero to his resume with 1987's The Running Man, in which he plays Captain Benjamin "Ben" Richards. A policeman who is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Richards ultimately becomes a contestant on the bloody and cruel television show The Running Man which forces him to evade mercenaries sent after him. Of course, Richards doesn't just set his sights on winning; he ends up bringing down the nefarious network which broadcasts the exploitative TV series. Like all great action heroes, he's the kind of guy who won't stop until the mission is completed. Plus, like all good allies, he's as terrifying as he is useful.
- 1938 VOTES
Frank Dux ('Bloodsport')
Photo: Warner Bros.Jean-Claude Van Damme flourished in the '80s, lending his likeness to countless flavors of action heroes. A film like Bloodsport makes abundant use of his talents as he plays Frank Dux, a member of the US armed forces who becomes part of a martial arts tournament. Obviously, Dux shows he has what it takes to be a formidable martial arts fighter, and it's this athleticism and skill which makes him such an imposing presence on the screen, as well as a valuable ally in a potential fight. The fact he can even fight blindfolded is just the icing on the cake.
- 2034 VOTES
Maverick ('Top Gun')
Photo: Paramount PicturesTom Cruise has always excelled at playing characters who don't play by any rules but their own, and Pete "Maverick" Mitchell of Top Gun is very much this type of man. If there's one big screen pilot one would want as an ally during an air fight, it has to be Maverick. He might have his flaws - his arrogance does cost the life of another man - but his sheer abilities in terms of pulling off difficult feats in the air are second to none. Aside from his skill, the film makes it clear he's the type of guy who can not only maintain his composure under pressure, but thrive.
