Famous martial artist and actor Chuck Norris has many famous movies, but also many underrated films that have gone relatively unseen. Norris is renowned for his fighting in films, most notably Karate. However, he also has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo, And Tang Soo Do. Norris is known for his hardcore personality and stunts. Though he has attempted to diversify his roles many times throughout his career, Norris is most notable for his martial arts skills.
Some of Norris’ best fight scenes were against his longtime friend and co-star, Bruce Lee, who is also a trained martial artist. With Lee’s encouragement, Norris starred in his first film, The Way of the Dragon, in 1972. Norris went on to have a five-decade-long acting career. He is now considered one of the biggest martial arts movie stars. Over his vast career, Norris had many hit films, but he also had some underrated movies that many haven’t heard of.
Related Chuck Norris’ 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Chuck Norris has an action and martial arts filmography that lives up to his legendary meme status.
10 Forest Warrior (1996)
Dir. Aaron Norris
In Forest Warrior, Norris plays the legendary frontiersman Jebediah McKenna, who was killed after refusing to sell his land. A hundred years later, he returns as a martial arts master who once again has to stand up to loggers and big businesses trying to destroy the forest. Aaron Norris, Chuck’s brother, directed the film. The movie was viewed as Norris’ attempt to reinvent himself as an eco-defender instead of just a fighter, but it barely managed to do so.
The movie features Rags the Bear Cub, who plays himself.
The movie was released direct-to-video in 1996, limiting the number of audiences that could see the film at the time. It briefly regained popularity in 2011 because a scene resurfaced on the internet. In the film, Norris stops a chainsaw by grabbing it with his bare hand. This stunt fed into the mythology of Norris, who many view as a hardcore, nearly invincible fighter. Forest Warrior is full of slapstick stunts, fighting, and an environmentalist message.
9 Breaker! Breaker! (1977)
Dir. Don Hulette
In his first lead role, Norris plays a trucker in Breaker! Breaker!. His character attempts to stop a kidnapping and trafficking ring in a California city. Norris, sporting bright blond hair, uses his martial arts skills to take down the corruption in the town. The movie is filled with truck and driving stunts, sometimes to a comical extent. Breaker! Breaker! also stars George Murdock, Terry O’Connor, and Don Gentry.
The film received little critical recognition when it was released. However, it was able to gross $12 million at the box office on a $250,000 budget. Norris reportedly starred in the movie for only $5,000. Though he was green in the entertainment industry then, Norris built a profitable movie career from this experience.
8 An Eye for an Eye (1981)
Dir. Steve Carver
Norris plays a San Francisco detective, Sean Kane, who quits the force to avenge his partner’s murder. He investigates and fights an underground Asian drug smuggling ring. Alongside Norris, the film stars Christopher Lee, Richard Roundtree, Matt Clark, Mako Iwamatsu, and Maggie Cooper. Overall, the film has a 39% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film shares an anti-drug theme with many of Norris’ 1980s films, and also allows him to show off his martial arts skills. However, many complain it does not showcase the full extent of Norris’ fighting talents, leaving it weak in the stunts. Some viewers, specifically critic Gene Siskel, suspect Norris was attempting to break out of the genre and become a more general movie star.
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An Eye for an Eye is a 1981 action film directed by Steve Carver, starring Chuck Norris as Sean Kane, a former undercover cop seeking justice for his partner’s murder. The film blends martial arts and detective elements, following Kane’s quest to uncover a conspiracy involving corruption and crime. Richard Roundtree and Christopher Lee also feature in supporting roles, enhancing this 1980s action narrative.
Director Steve Carver Release Date August 14, 1981 Runtime 106 Minutes Writers James Burner , William Gray Cast Chuck Norris , Christopher Lee , Richard Roundtree , Matt Clark , Mako , Maggie Cooper , Rosalind Chao , Professor Toru Tanaka Main Genre Action Expand
Related 10 Most Overdone Stories In Martial Arts Movies
Many martial arts movies tend to rely on the same recurring tropes and similar narratives over and over again, some being curiously specific.
7 Silent Rage (1982)
Dir. Michael Miller
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Silent Rage is a sci-fi action horror film from 1982. In the film, Norris plays a Texas sheriff who tries to stop an ax killer who is now indestructible after an experiment. Norris uses his martial arts skills to try to beat the criminal and stop his rampage. Despite the medical and scientific aspects of the plot, in the end, the film still relies on Norris’ old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat.
The movie was reportedly written with Norris in mind for the lead. The film is notably genre-bending, combining many popular styles. Even though the film is not technically a slasher, it embodies the horror slasher movies of the 1980s. The director, Michael Miller, is even quoted as calling the movie “Kung Fu meets Frankenstein” in an interview. The movie grossed $10.5 million when it was released.
Silent Rage RActionCrimeHorror Director Michael Miller Release Date April 2, 1982 Cast Chuck Norris , Ron Silver , Steven Keats , Toni Kalem , William Finley , Brian Libby , stephen furst , Stephanie Dunnam Writers Joseph Fraley , Edward Di Lorenzo Runtime 103 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
6 Top Dog (1995)
Dir. Aaron Norris
As a policeman in San Diego, Norris and his canine partner investigate terrorists and bombings around the city. The movie has intense themes and characters that represent many extremist groups, including white nationalists, Neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, and Aryan Nations. Together, Norris and his dog are able to stop the plans and help take out some criminals.
Top Dog was Norris’s last theatrical release before a shift to direct-to-video content for several years. The movie received poor critical reviews, especially for disguising such extreme topics as a family-friendly buddy cop film about a dog. The timing of the film’s release was also poor, as it premiered just nine days after the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. On Rotten Tomatoes, 0% of critics gave the film a positive review, being seen as both too extreme but also a knock-off of other police dog duo films.
Related The 10 Best Movies About Animal & Human Friendships
While there have been many great movies made about humans as partners, there have also been many great movies made about them partnering with animals.
5 Hero and the Terror (1988)
Dir. William Tannen
The movie revolves around Norris, a tough Los Angeles police officer who is hunting a ruthless serial killer known as The Terror, who targets women. Norris’ character also deals with his own personal family issues, adding drama and comedy to his high-stress job. The movie is based on a 1982 novel of the same name.
It is filled with iconic one-liners and classic martial arts skills. It’s a fighting-filled comedy that leans into the charm of the 80s action genre.
Though the movie is not acclaimed, it is a good showcase of Norris’ skills and charm. It is filled with iconic one-liners and classic martial arts skills. It’s a fighting-filled comedy that leans into the charm of the 80s action genre. However, it was also another attempt for Norris to expand beyond the role of a fighter and be seen in humorous or family-themed films. Despite some positive fan reviews, the movie has a 0% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
4 The Cutter (2005)
Dir. William Tannen
One of Norris’ many direct-to-video action films, The Cutter, shows Norris playing a police officer turned private detective in Spokane, Washington. Norris attempts to find a missing diamond cutter, who has been taken by a murderous thief. The film stars Norris, Joanna Pacuła, Daniel Bernhardt, Bernie Kopell and Marshall R. Teague.
The movie received mediocre reviews from home audiences. Many found that Norris’ signature fighting didn’t impress as well as normal, causing the movie to suffer. Some even notice that Norris seems to get beat up more than usual. Overall, the movie has a 25% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
3 Sidekicks (1992)
Dir. Aaron Norris
In the same vein as the famous Karate Kid film from 1984, Sidekicks is about a young boy learning more about himself and the world through martial arts. In the movie, an often ignored and sickly boy makes a fantasy friend from his action movie hero, Chuck Norris, who plays himself. The movie even clearly parodies some of Norris’ other films, including Missing in Action, The Delta Force, and The Hitman.
Norris’ character is clearly inspired by Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, filled with cryptic lessons about martial arts and the greater world. The movie earned $17 million at the domestic box office but received largely negative reviews. Jonathan Brandis, Beau Bridges, Joe Piscopo, and Danica McKellar star alongside Norris. Norris was also the film’s executive producer.
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Sidekicks is a 1992 action-comedy directed by Aaron Norris, starring Chuck Norris and Jonathan Brandis. The film follows a bullied teenager who escapes his troubles through a vivid fantasy life where he is the sidekick of martial arts hero Chuck Norris. With the help of his martial arts teacher, he strives to turn his fantasies into reality, building self-confidence and physical strength along the way.
Director Aaron Norris Release Date April 30, 1993 Cast Chuck Norris , Beau Bridges , Jonathan Brandis , Mako , Julia Nickson , Joe Piscopo , Danica McKellar , John Buchanan Writers Lou Illar , Galen Thompson Runtime 101 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
2 The Hitman (1991)
Dir. Aaron Norris
In The Hitman, Norris plays a Seattle police officer who is given the new identity of a hitman after dying from a gunshot wound. Using this new persona, Norris infiltrates the mob. Norris attempted to make a movie with a darker tone, exploring his murderous side as a semi-mobster.
The movie had mixed reviews. It earned $4.6 million at the box office, making it a success overall. Though it was made in the 1990s, many find that the film has the camera quality of an older movie.
1 Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
Dir. Steve Carver
Lone Wolf McQuade is a Western film with police and lawman themes. Norris plays J.J. McQuade, a former Marine and current Texas Ranger who works alone. He lives in a lonesome house with his pet wolf. Lone Wolf McQuade had an overall positive reception and grossed $12 million at the domestic box office.
This film was the second time Norris worked with director Steve Carver.
The role of McQuade was initially written for Clint Eastwood but was given to Norris. The film inspired Norris’ most famous television show, Walker, Texas Ranger. Reportedly, Carver wanted Norris to have a bad boy image, looking more rugged than his typical roles. The movie was a good part of Chuck Norris’ filmography, helping to cement him as a movie actor above his other endeavors.
Lone Wolf McQuade PGActionAdventureDramaCrime
J.J. McQuade is a reclusive Texas Ranger known for his rough and unconventional methods and penchant for working alone. His world is turned upside down when his daughter is kidnapped by a notorious arms dealer. Forced to collaborate with a by-the-book FBI agent, McQuade heads off on a warpath of revenge to save his daughter.
Director Steve Carver Release Date April 15, 1983 Cast Chuck Norris , David Carradine , Barbara Carrera , Leon Isaac Kennedy , Robert Beltran Studio(s) 1818 Productions , Orion , Top Kick Productions Distributor(s) Orion Pictures Writers B.J. Nelson Runtime 107 minutes Main Genre Action Expand