Regarding movie stars during the 1980s, it does not get any bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger, who spent this decade starring in some of the most iconic action movies ever produced. From his breakout success in Conan the Barbarian to the timeless appeal of The Terminator, this Austrian bodybuilder managed to become one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and earn his place as a touchstone of modern popular culture. With a skill for playing no-nonsense heroes who had little issue with leaving bodies and carnage in their wake, the only thing more unstoppable than Schwarzenegger during the 1980s was his career.
Many of the best Schwarzenegger action movies were released during the 1980s, as his ongoing rivalry with fellow action hero Sylvester Stallone meant they pushed one another to continually up the stakes and make increasingly intense, over-the-top action movies. Schwarzenegger played fantasy warriors, unstoppable killing machines, and skilled Special Forces officers during this time, as each film had something special to offer for action movie lovers. While the quality may have varied from film to film, the appeal, charisma, and the consistent work ethic of Schwarzenegger during the 1980s meant he was the biggest action star of that decade.
9 Red Sonja (1985)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lord Kalidor
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Red Sonja is a 1985 fantasy adventure starring Brigitte Nielsen as a warrior seeking revenge against the evil Queen Gedren. With help from Lord Kalidor, Sonja battles mystical forces to recover a powerful relic. The film is based on a character from the Conan universe.
Director Richard Fleischer Release Date July 3, 1985 Writers Robert E. Howard , Clive Exton , George MacDonald Fraser , Roy Thomas , Barry Windsor-Smith Cast Brigitte Nielsen , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Sandahl Bergman , Paul L. Smith , Ernie Reyes Jr. , Ronald Lacey Runtime 89 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
As the last of three fantasy sword-and-sorcery movies Arnold Schwarzenegger made in the 1980s, sadly, Red Sonja belonged at the bottom of the heap. As an attempt to cash in on the success of Conan the Barbarian without the power of brand recognition, Schwarzenegger was demoted to the supporting role of Lord Kalidor in this epic Hyborian Age adventure that left viewers wanting. Although it’s refreshing to see the genre get a female twist with Brigitte Nielsen in the title role, this uninspired journey through fantasy tropes and cliches lacked the appeal of Schwarzengger’s greatest fantasy offering.
Schwarzenegger has expressed his dislike for the film by stating (via Xfinity): “It’s the worst film I have ever made… Now I tell my kids that if they get out of line, they’ll be forced to watch Red Sonja ten times in a row.” Although there’s enough campy humor that some viewers may be able to enjoy Red Sonja as a spoof of the genre. However, the problematic representation of a highly sexualized woman who relied on her male counterpart meant that Red Sonja was an unlikely candidate for reappraisal as a forgotten classic by modern viewers.
8 Conan the Destroyer (1984)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan
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Conan the Destroyer is a fantasy action film directed by Richard Fleischer. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character, the film follows Conan on a quest to retrieve a magical artifact, aided by a motley crew of allies. This sequel to Conan the Barbarian, released in 1982, continues the adventures of the iconic sword-wielding hero in a mystical world of peril and sorcery.
Director Richard Fleischer Release Date June 29, 1984 Writers Robert E. Howard , Roy Thomas , Gerry Conway , Stanley Mann Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Grace Jones , Wilt Chamberlain , Mako , Tracey Walter , Sarah Douglas , Olivia d’Abo , Pat Roach Character(s) Conan , Zula , Bombaata , Akiro , Malak , Queen Taramis , Princess Jehnna , Toth-Amon Runtime 103 Minutes Main Genre Adventure Expand
Conan the Destroyer was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s very first sequel and signaled the beginning of his transition from a non-descript movie muscleman into a bona fide movie star whose presence alone was enough to achieve box office success. With Schwarzenegger and Mako reprising their roles as Conan and Akiro, the Wizard of the Mounds, Conan the Destroyer toned down the violence from the original and upped self-aware humor. While this lighter tone may have made for an entertaining movie, it also lacked the dark undercurrents that made the series stand out in the first place.
For this sequel, Conan the Destroyer softened the edges of a series whose darkness was a major part of its success.
However, despite the campy comic book fun of Conan the Destroyer, Schwarzenegger had yet to find his comedic voice and struggled with getting the tone right here. Schwarzenegger’s characterizations were a far cry from the knowing tongue-in-cheek style of Last Action Hero or the poignant balance of humor and sentimentality he pulled off in Kindergarten Cop during the 1990s. For this sequel, Conan the Destroyer softened the edges of a series whose darkness was a major part of its success and, in the process, lost something special.
7 Raw Deal (1986)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Mark Kaminski / Joseph P. Brenner
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Raw Deal stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mark Kaminsky, a former FBI agent forced into retirement. When a powerful crime syndicate kills the son of his ex-boss, Kaminsky is called back into action to infiltrate the gang and bring them down from within. Directed by John Irvin, the film combines elements of action and crime drama in a high-stakes narrative.
Release Date June 6, 1986 Runtime 106 Minutes
Throughout the 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger had one major cinematic rival, Sylvester Stallone. As the feud between Schwarzenegger and Stallone intensified throughout the decade, the pair would criticize one another in the press and compete for box office success. One major example of this was the release of Raw Deal, a straight-up action movie that was essentially the same kind of bare-bones killing spectacle as Stallone’s Cobra, a movie released just one month prior.
While Cobra found incredible box office success and has since become a cult classic, Schwarzenegger’s Raw Deal received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office. As a rare misstep for Schwarzenegger during the 1980s, Raw Deal involved a former FBI agent going undercover to infiltrate the mafia and just felt derivative of so many other movies during this time. While Raw Deal worked well as mindless popcorn action movie fun, it just didn’t add anything to the genre and gave viewers little reason to revisit it today.
6 Red Heat (1988)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ivan Danko
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Ivan Danko is a tough Russian cop who is forced to work alongside extrovert detective Art Ridzik. The pair investigate a major international criminal involved in drug trafficking who has fled Russia for the United States.
Director Walter Hill Release Date June 17, 1988 Writers Walter Hill , Harry Kleiner , Troy Kennedy-Martin Runtime 106 minutes Main Genre Action
By the late 1980s, Schwarzenegger had truly found his footing in the realm of action comedies, and this was a style he would continue to embrace throughout the 1990s. In Red Heat, Schwarzenegger portrayed an intense Soviet policeman in a 1980s buddy cop film that paired him with a laidback Chicago lawman played by Jim Belushi. This duo worked well together, and although Red Heat relied heavily on action genre clichés, strong direction from Walter Hill and two fantastic lead performances meant viewers were in for a good time.
Red Heat featured plenty of over-the-top violence as the heroes shot their way through Chicago with almost comic book-like recklessness. Schwarzenegger was perfectly cast as the determined and resolute Captain Ivan Danko, while Belushi’s lighter touch made them the perfect pair of mismatched cops. While audiences will have to throw their sense of realism out the window to enjoy Red Heat, as an enjoyable action comedy, it’s firing on all cylinders.
5 The Running Man (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards
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Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, The Running Man is a sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ben Richards, a former cop who’s forced to compete in a deadly game show where criminals fight for their lives. The 1987 movie is based on a Stephen King novel under his pen name Richard Bachman.
Director Paul Michael Glaser Release Date November 13, 1987 Writers Steven E. de Souza Cast Maria Conchita Alonso , Yaphet Kotto , Jesse Ventura , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Richard Dawson Runtime 101 minutes Budget $27 million Expand
In the far distant future of 2017, Arnold Schwarzenegger played Ben Richards, a police helicopter pilot living in a totalitarian state featuring a popular television show where contestants must run from professional killers to earn a shot at freedom. Based on a novel by Stephen King, The Running Man was an enjoyable sci-fi adventure that satirized modern media and its increasingly mean-spirited and exploitative content. While its social critique doesn’t go quite far enough, it was thrilling to see Schwarzenegger back into the realm of science fiction three years after the astounding success of The Terminator.
As a precursor to later works such as
The Hunger Games
,
The Running Man
had a clever concept that could have gone even further.
The Running Man was a fast-paced, futuristic film that walked the fine line between intense action and self-aware parody as, after being falsely blamed for the deaths of 60 people, Schwarzenegger must become a “runner” on the TV game show while being pursued by deadly “stalkers” trying to murder him. As a precursor to later works such as The Hunger Games, The Running Man had a clever concept that could have gone even further to become truly great. Although, this just might happen as director Edgar Wright looks set to make his own upcoming adaptation of The Running Man (via Deadline), starring Glen Powell.
4 Commando (1985)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Colonel John Matrix
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Commando is a 1985 action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix, a retired special forces soldier who sets out to rescue his daughter from a group of mercenaries. Alyssa Milano, Vernon Wells, Bill Duke, Rae Dawn Chong, and Dan Hedaya round out the rest of the cast.
Director Mark L. Lester Release Date October 4, 1985 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Jeph Loeb , Matthew Weisman , Steven E. de Souza Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Rae Dawn Chong , Dan Hedaya , Vernon Wells , James Olson , David Patrick Kelly Runtime 90 minutes Budget $10 million Expand
If someone took everything that was great about Arnold Schwarzenegger during the 1980s and condensed it down into one movie, they’d have Commando. From the intense, over-the-top action, a highly-skilled, no-nonsense hero, and a self-aware brand of humor, Commando was pure 1980s fun wrapped in a sentimental story about a father who will stop at nothing to save his kidnapped daughter. Schwarzenegger played Matrix, a former Special Forces colonel being blackmailed into carrying out a political assassination by his former subordinate.
In a thrilling journey that saw Matrix jumping from planes, in outrageous car chases, and leaving a whole host of bodies in his wake, Commando was packed with cheesy one-liners and had just about everyone a viewer could want out of a Schwarzenegger movie. While it’s true the plotline was paper thin, this really didn’t matter as it provided Matrix with the perfect motivation to ruthlessly take out his adversaries. Commando had a serious influence on the action movie genre and inspired later movies such as Strike Commando, Commando Squad, and When Eagles Strike.
3 Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan
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Conan The Barbarian is a 1982 fantasy film directed by John Milius, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular character. The film follows Conan, a warrior seeking vengeance for his parents’ death at the hands of the sorcerer Thulsa Doom, portrayed by James Earl Jones. Set in a mythical prehistoric age, Conan’s journey encompasses battles, mystical creatures, and his evolution from a slave to a hero.
Director John Milius Release Date May 14, 1982 Writers Robert E. Howard , John Milius , Oliver Stone , Edward Summer Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , James Earl Jones , Max Von Sydow , Sandahl Bergman , Ben Davidson , Cassandra Gava , Gerry Lopez , Mako Character(s) Conan , Thulsa Doom , King Osric , Valeria , Rexor , The Witch , Subotai , The Wizard Runtime 129 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
While Arnold Schwarzenegger had already made a name for himself as the seven-time bodybuilding champion Mr. Olympia and had broken into acting with Hercules in New York and The Villain, Conan the Barbarian truly signaled his potential as a major movie star. This epic fantasy adventure about a barbarian warrior seeking vengeance for his parents’ deaths was a major success at the box office that, despite negative reviews, struck a chord with viewers. Until its success was surpassed by The Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian stood as the benchmark by which all other sword-and-sorcery movies were compared.
Conan the Barbarian was a brutal and uncompromising fantasy film that was unafraid to embrace quieter moments in favor of worldbuilding. With long stretches without action sequences focused on building mood and suspense, Conan the Barbarian differed from much of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s other action movies during the 1980s. However, this was also part of its appeal as audiences witnessed Conan exploring the dark undercurrents of his magical world and the kill-or-be-killed mentalities of the sinister thieves, warriors, and wizards he encountered.
Related Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best One-Liners, Ranked
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the king of pithy one-liners, so here is a list of his all-time best action movie quotes, ranked.
2 Predator (1987)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Dutch Schaefer
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A team of elite commandos led by Major Dutch Schaefer is sent on a rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle. However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien.
Director John McTiernan Release Date June 12, 1987 Writers Jim Thomas , John Thomas Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Carl Weathers , Elpidia Carrillo , Bill Duke , Jesse Ventura , Shane Black , Sonny Landham , Richard Chaves Runtime 107 Minutes Main Genre Action Expand
As the inception of a major movie franchise, the first Predator had everything going for it and pulled off one of the best sci-fi action movies of the 1980s. Not only did Predator boast Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his fame, but he was also paired with the exceptional Carl Weathers, and the future Die Hard director John McTiernan was at the helm. Take all these aspects together, throw in a truly terrifying alien creature whose only mission was to hunt and prey, and the result was a true action movie classic.
Schwarzenegger excelled as the Vietnam War veteran Dutch Schaefer, whose one-liner “get to the choppa” might just be the only catchphrase in his impressive filmography that can compete with The Terminator’s “I’ll be back.” Predator’s jungle setting, unique monster, and strong, simple characterization made this a no-nonsense action smash hit that ticked all the right boxes. With a beloved legacy that meant the franchise has continued to this day, Predator was right up there with the best action Schwarzenegger movies, regardless of the decade they were made.
1 The Terminator (1984)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator
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The Terminator is a sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a cyborg assassin sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton, whose son will lead a resistance against machine domination. Michael Biehn portrays Kyle Reese, a soldier also sent back in time to protect Sarah. The film explores themes of time travel, artificial intelligence, and survival.
Director James Cameron Release Date October 26, 1984 Writers James Cameron , Gale Anne Hurd , William Wisher Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , Michael Biehn , Linda Hamilton , Paul Winfield , Lance Henriksen , Bess Motta Runtime 107 Minutes Main Genre Thriller Expand
There was only ever going to be one answer when it came to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s greatest action movies of the 1980s, and that was his definitive role in James Cameron’s The Terminator. As the unstoppable killing machine sent to the past to kill the savior of the future, Schwarzenegger will forever be associated with the T-800 cybernetic organism he first played in 1984, and as has reprised in different iterations over the subsequent decades. The Terminator was the perfect sci-fi movie, as it brought together intense action and societal critique and was filled to the brim with unique and exciting concepts.
The Terminator
became the perfect vehicle for Schwarzenegger’s meteoric rise to stardom.
For how great The Terminator already was on paper, it would not have been nearly as successful without Schwarzenegger, as his iconic imagery of a sunglasses-wearing, AR-18 rifle-wielding, overbearing murder machine made him an integral part of cinematic history. Mix this with hilarious one-liners and an intense cyberpunk style, and The Terminator became the perfect vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s meteoric rise to stardom. It truly never got any better than this, and it’s a testament to its quality that The Terminator holds up perfectly four decades later.
Sources: Xfinity, Deadline