80s Action Explodes Again:
Pump up the volume and dust off your leg warmers, cinephiles! We’re rewinding time to Relive the 80s Cult Classics! where action heroes ruled the silver screen. Get ready to relive the explosive hits and hidden gems that ignited our adrenaline and left us quoting iconic lines even today. Buckle up for a high-octane celebration of 80s action cinema!
Top Guns: Heroes Who Defined the Era
These iconic figures redefined the action hero and remain etched in pop culture history:
- Terminator (1984): “I’ll be back!” Arnold Schwarzenegger became an action god as the relentless cyborg assassin.
Trivia: The iconic “red eyes” effect was achieved with contact lenses painted with car taillight reflectors!- Trailer: Terminator (1984) Trailer: https://youtu.be/k64P4l2Wmeg?si=B24eHaBfPnxaXcJd
- IMDb: Terminator (1984) – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/
- RoboCop (1987): “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!” Peter Weller embodied robotic justice in this dystopian action flick.
Trivia: The suit weighed 130 pounds, making filming incredibly challenging for the actors.- Trailer: RoboCop (1987) Trailer: https://youtu.be/6tC_5mp3udE?si=x9pjxMVR2p6jIGzt
- IMDb: RoboCop (1987) – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_robocop
- Die Hard (1988): “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!” Bruce Willis redefined the action hero with John McClane, a wisecracking cop saving the day.
Trivia: The famous “Nakatomi Plaza” is actually a real skyscraper in Los Angeles!- Trailer: Die Hard (1988) Trailer: https://youtu.be/jaJuwKCmJbY?
- IMDb: Die Hard (1988) – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_q_die%2520hard
Relive the 80s Cult Classics!
Beyond the Blockbusters: Cult Gems Unearthed
- Big Trouble in Little China (1986): “The check is in the mail!” This fantastical kung fu action gem combined martial arts, wacky humor, and quotable lines.
Trivia: John Carpenter initially considered Michael Jackson for the lead role of Jack Burton, envisioning a different character inspired by Elvis Presley. Although Jackson met with Carpenter and considered the script, scheduling conflicts and creative differences ultimately led him to decline. The iconic Jack Burton we know today was played by Kurt Russell.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/trivia- Trailer: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=592EiTD2Hgo
- IMDb: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/
- Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981): “Hold onto your hats!” This post-apocalyptic masterpiece isn’t just car chases, but a stark fight for survival.
Trivia: The V8 Interceptor actually had two engines for those insane stunts!- Trailer: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwcADuJZDNA
- IMDb: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982) – IMDb:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082694/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6_tt_5_nm_3_q_madmax%2520
Relive the 80s Cult Classics! Dive Deeper:
Books:
- The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage by Nick de Semleyn (2023). Explores the history and cultural significance of cult films, including many action classics from the 80s. https://amzn.to/3UwX015
- Rotten Movies We Love: Cult Classics, Underrated Gems, and Films So Bad They’re Good by Rotten Tomatoes (2019). https://amzn.to/3uja7IE
- A 1980s Childhood: From He-Man to Shell Suits by Johnson (2012). This amusing and entertaining collection of reminiscences will job the memories of all who grew up in the same decade where greed was good, mullets were cool and white dog poo littered the streets. https://amzn.to/49cks8a
Documentaries:
- The Making of Blade Runner (2023). The making of the original Blade Runner (1982). Go behind the scenes to see Ridley Scott’s meticulous nature, Harrison Ford’s experience on set, and more from the cast and crew!details.https://youtu.be/9AoiqICo6ZI?si=A2T62J03-THqhqLf
- Hearts of Fire: Making ‘Rambo’: First Blood Part (2023). FIRST BLOOD Behind The Scenes (1982) Action, Sylvester Stallone, Rambo. https://youtu.be/BFiI9QkW9V0?si=j75jYjOdIVc5IMlp
- More Than Just Muscles: The Making of the Expendables (2021). Examines the recent trend of nostalgic action films and their connection to the 80s era. https://youtu.be/TVOmcqkwkuo?si=9qUCtA5L_E5-0CJs
Podcasts:
- Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network All the Best Action Podcasts TOGETHER IN ONE FEED https://open.spotify.com/show/6y647iJA6tORHzhbQiYMIc
- At the Movies: What are the Best 1980s & 1990s Movies? Do you find yourself asking if the movies we loved while growing up were really that good? https://open.spotify.com/show/4OoRldLxH7Bi4UBStmFAVn
- Cult Film Club explores cult films across genres. Offering critical analysis and appreciation for hidden gems, including many 80s action movies. https://open.spotify.com/show/59rzNAZFuv6V5n1TdFroHz
So crank up the synthwave soundtrack, Relive the 80s Cult Classics! Grab your popcorn, and prepare to be transported back to a time of big hair, bigger explosions, and heroes who never backed down. These cult classics of the 80s remain timeless, continuing to entertain and inspire generations of moviegoers.