The1980s were a true golden era for action movies, producingsome of the most iconic, adrenaline-fueledmoviesin cinematic history.Larger-than-life characters came face-to-face with evil villains, in battles with high stakes and incredible settings. The action movies of this era pushed the boundaries of what was possible to achieve on screen, and have produced some of themost unforgettable and intense action scenes of all time.
From a tense dogfight in an F-14, to a fight with the Clown Prince of Crime, there is no denying the impact that these scenes have left on the genre. Whether it’s a one-on-one fight, a massacre, or a chase scene,these moments pushed characters, and film-making, to their limits and kept viewers on the edge of their seats.These scenes not only defined their movies, but set the standard for action cinema to follow in the years after.
10Predator vs. Dutch
Predator (1987)
Predatortells the story of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch Schaeferas he leads a paramilitary squad deep into the Central American jungle. There,they encounter the deadly Predator, an extra-terrestrial hunterof superhuman strength and killer instincts, as well as superior technology. After seeing virtually his entire squad wiped out, Dutch must go toe-to-toe with the monster alone, relying on guerrilla tactics and his own wits to survive.
Schwarzenegger, a man typically known for playing intense, overpowering roles, plays a character on the back foot here, marking a new step for the actor.The tension is palpable as Dutch is forced to revert to primal methods of survivalwhile being constantly stalked by the Predator. The final, explosive trap, is an iconic set piece, and makes this scene one of the greatest action sequences from the 1980s, full of tension and grit.
9Rocky vs. Clubber
Rocky III (1982)
InRocky III, the titular boxer (Sylvester Stallone) is eager to fight the “new kid on the block”, James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T), despite the reservations of his trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith). Following a confrontation before their fight in the locker room, Mickey has a heart attack, meaning Rocky cannot focus on the fight, and loses quite embarrassingly to Clubber. To make matters worse, Mickey eventually dies, causing Rocky tospiral into a deep depression and lose his boxing mojo.
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However, a rematch between the two boxers is eventually scheduled, and it isone of the most intense fights of the entireRockyfranchise.Rocky is vulnerable for the first time, physically and emotionally, and eventually looks like he is going to lose the fight. Eventually, he begins to absorb Clubber’s punches, transforming his rage into an effective machine, gathering his strength for a final, satisfying knockout blow.
8The Crane Kick
The Karate Kid (1984)
InThe Karate Kid, the climactic battle between Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) isa threat that hangs over the entire movie from their first confrontation.Under the guidance of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), Daniel enterthe All-Valley Karate Tournament, eventually facing off against Johnny in the final. Facing his tormentor in a setting such as this, pushes Daniel to his limits, both physically and emotionally.
Overwhelming odds, intense music, and nail-biting action, this scene has it all.
It is a very close fight, with it eventually ending with a tie-breaking round. Johnny severely injures Daniel’s leg, causing the latter to hop onto one foot and assume a crane position. The referee begins the match, and as Johnny charges forward to deliver a blow,Daniel strikes him in the head with a legendary crane kick, winning the tournament. Overwhelming odds, intense music, and nail-biting action, this scene has it all.
7Batman vs. The Joker
Batman (1989)
The final showdown between the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) and the Clown Prince of Crime (Jack Nicholson) in Tim Burton’sBatmanis a perfect way to end the movie.It truly oozes the gothic tones that Burton was attempting to create, being set at the top of an old bell tower. After dispatching henchmen one by one, Batman eventually comes face-to-face with the Joker himself.
It’s a battle of the mind as well as the body, withthe Joker attempting to psychologically manipulate Batmandespite being physically less intimidating. It ends with the two characters dangling off the edge of the tower, and while the Joker attempts to escape via helicopter, Batman’s grappling hook soon puts a stop to this. The Joker falls to his death, and Batman has won the day.This is a scene that set the standards for superhero showdowns, and is full of emotion, heart, and action.
6Rambo Destroys The Town
First Blood (1982)
While theRambofranchise would eventually gain a reputation for gratuitous violence, the first installment,First Blood, took a different approach.Rambo (Sylvester Stallone)is portrayed asa Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD, who embarks on a mission of vengeanceafter being mistreated by a small town’s police department. He doesn’t even kill anyone intentionally in the movie, although this doesn’t stop the final scene, where he is hunting down the sheriff, any less intense.
It’s a systematic chain of violence that truly establishes Rambo as the one-man-army audiences know and love, as he is able to dish out chaotic violence while still remaining sympathetic.
Rambo returns to the town armed with a machine gun, and quickly gets to work. He destroys a petrol station, shuts off power, and uses his military training and strategic thinking to locate the sheriff. It’s a systematic chain of violence thattruly establishes Rambo asthe one-man-army audiences know and love, as he is able to dish out chaotic violence while still remaining sympathetic. It’s visceral, brutal, and relentless.
5"Happy Trails, Hans"
Die Hard (1988)
WhileDie Hard’s most iconic action sequence may be the scene that blows up the roof of Nakatomi Plaza, it is arguable that this isn’t as intense asthe movie’s final showdown between the hero and the villain. John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes face to face with Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who is holding his ex-wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at gunpoint. While appearing at first to be at a disadvantage, John eventually reaches for a hidden gun taped to his back and shoots Hans, before uttering the immortal line: “Happy trails, Hans.”
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Hans falls from the window but manages to cling on to Holly, and for a second it looks as though he may yet be victorious. However, his grip eventually slackens andHans falls to his death in slow-motion, creatingone of the most memorable villain deaths in all of cinema.It’s the perfect blend of wit, danger, and high stakes, with it also acting as a very satisfying payoff toDie Hard’s iconic story.
4The Police Station Scene
The Terminator (1984)
The first installment in theTerminatorfranchise also provided audiences withone of the most intense and harrowing scenes in any action movie from the 80s.The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)enters the police station calmly and asks to see Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) in an attempt to kill her. After being refused entry, he utters the iconic line “I’ll be back”, before driving a car through the entrance and massacring the entire building.
The scene is brutal, as the Terminator follows his programming to kill allwho stand in the way of his objective. The police are completely outmatched with their bullets being unable to pierce the metallic endoskeleton. The flashing lights, quick cuts, and blaring alarms all work together to create an atmosphere of true panic and dread as the officers fall one by one. Audiences are on the edges of their seats, as they know that nothing can truly stop this killing machine.
3Ripley vs. The Queen
Aliens (1986)
The showdown between Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and the Xenomorph Queen at the climax ofJames Cameron’sAliensisone of the most heart-pounding conclusions in sci-fi history.After burning The Queen’s eggs, Ripley is pursued by the monster, making it back onto her ship just in time. As she flies away, the colony self-destructs in a nuclear explosion, seemingly destroying the Queen for good.
However, it is soon revealed that the Queen has somehow snuck on board the ship, and begins to attack Ripley. Undeterred by the horror that is in front of her, Ripley gets into a massive exosuit, giving herself a fighting chance against the alien. It’s an iconic final fight scene, a true clash of metal, claws, and teeth.The claustrophobia of the fight, and Ripley’s determination to protect the girlshe has just saved, Newt (Carrie Henn), makes the part where the Queen is ejected into space all the more satisfying.
2Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
It is hard to think of a more iconic scene, not just from 80s action movies or theStar Warsfranchise, but from movies as a whole, than the final confrontation between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) at the end ofThe Empire Strikes Back. It’s a lightsaber duel with a palpable sense of foreboding, as Luke is vastly inexperienced compared to the menacing Vader.The emotion fueling this scene is incredible, as Luke believes that Vader is the man who killed his father.
This bombshell truly shakes Luke, and audiences to the core, and makes this lightsaber duel one of the most intense action scenes of the 1980s.
There are a handful of truly shocking moments in this duel, particularly themoment in the battle when Vader cuts off Luke' Skywalker’s handin a bitter act of fury. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, asVader delivers one of the most iconic lines and twists in cinematic history, telling Luke that he is his father. This bombshell truly shakes Luke, and audiences to the core, and makes this lightsaber duel one of the most intense action scenes of the 1980s.
1The Dogfight
Top Gun (1986)
Tony Scott’sTop Gunhas become one of the most iconic action moviesof all time. A scene that helpedTop Gunto become so iconic is undoubtedly the final dogfight in the third act of the movie. Still reeling from the death of his best friend and rear gunner, Goose (Anthony Edwards),Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is called into action yet again to engage in an intense fight with enemy fightersalongside the rest of his team.
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The rapid-paced dialogue, intense cuts, and sound design help this dogfight to truly encapsulate the complexities and intensity of aerial combat. The tension is palpable as the audience are treated to spectacular feats of aerial cinematography, from dives, to loops and rolls. The scene ends with Maverick and his comrades emerging victorious from the dogfight, and, in a truly satisfying conclusion to the movie, Maverick makes amends with his former rival, Iceman (Val Kilmer),who offers to be his wingman anytime.
