The 1980s were a defining year for the action movie genre, and some titles from the decade stand among the greatest action films of all time . While action movies had certainly excited long before the 1980s, the style of the relentless set pieces and bombastic energy was solidified in this decade and has continued ever since.

The 1980s saw the rise of buddy cop action movies , with the likes of Lethal Weapon , action comedies, including Beverly Hills Cop , and even sci-fi action flicks, like The Terminator . It also gave cinema some of the greatest action movie stars of all time , with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and others making a name for themselves in the '80s.

However, when it comes to the best action movies of the 1980s, there are some true standouts that

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