A Glean movie guide
The Definitive 80s Action Guide
Pure adrenaline, 80s style.
Relive the decade of high-octane blockbusters and gritty, one-man-army classics.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Die Hard
The gold standard for the 'everyman' hero facing impossible odds in a high-stakes skyscraper siege.
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 office's Christmas Party, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.
- 02
Raiders of the Lost Ark
A masterclass in adventure that defined the decade's blockbuster spirit with iconic stunts and set pieces.
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.
- 03
The Terminator
A relentless, low-budget sci-fi chase that launched a legendary franchise and a global action icon.
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
- 04
Aliens
A rare sequel that successfully pivots from horror to high-octane, military-grade sci-fi action.
Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
- 05
Predator
The ultimate ensemble piece blending jungle warfare with a terrifying extraterrestrial twist.
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
- 06
RoboCop
A sharp, satirical take on corporate dystopia wrapped in heavy-metal violence and iconic practical effects.
In a violent, near-apocalyptic Detroit, evil corporation Omni Consumer Products wins a contract from the city government to privatize the police force. To test their crime-eradicating cyborgs, the company leads street cop Alex Murphy into an armed confrontation with crime lord Boddicker so they can use his body to support their untested RoboCop prototype. But when RoboCop learns of the company's nefarious plans, he turns on his masters.
- 07
Lethal Weapon
The definitive buddy-cop formula perfected through incredible lead chemistry and visceral practical stunts.
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.
- 08
The Road Warrior
A visceral, high-speed vision of the apocalypse that set a new bar for vehicle-based action cinema.
Max Rockatansky returns as the heroic loner who drives the dusty roads of a postapocalyptic Australian Outback in an unending search for gasoline. Arrayed against him and the other scraggly defendants of a fuel-depot encampment are the bizarre warriors commanded by the charismatic Lord Humungus, a violent leader whose scruples are as barren as the surrounding landscape.
- 09
First Blood
A grounded, gritty look at a veteran pushed to the edge in a survivalist manhunt through the mountains.
When former Green Beret John Rambo is harassed by local law enforcement and arrested for vagrancy, he is forced to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.
- 10
Top Gun
High-flying spectacle and peak 80s style that made aerial combat a massive cinematic event.
For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.
- 11
Beverly Hills Cop
A perfect blend of fast-paced urban action and the decade's most charismatic comedic performance.
Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.
- 12
Batman
The dark, stylized blockbuster that closed the decade and changed how the world viewed comic book heroes.
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 deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.