The 1980s were a golden era for action cinema, with giant blockbusters and innovative low-budget films alike, many of them changing the way audiences looked at the genre. With the innovation of crazier stunts and more exhilarating effects and a sudden shift in the industry towards movies that appealed to younger demographics (thanks, in large part, to Star Wars), filmmakers were pushing the limits of the medium left and right with more exciting and imaginative thrill rides than ever before.
So coming up with a list of the very best action movies of the 1980s is, unsurprisingly, ridiculously difficult. Many a frantic debate was held at the IGN offices about whether films like Batman were action-packed enough, or whether films like RoboCop were just too danged funny to qualify. And everyone was pretty bummed out when at least one of their favorite movies didn’t make the cut (sorry Big Trouble in Little China, you came THIS close!).
Source: IGN.com The 10 Best '80s Action Movies