The 10 Best Pro-Wrestlers Turned Action Movie Stars

By
Will Carter
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The Best Pro Wrestlers From the Ring to the Screen.

The path from success in the squared circle to action stardom is a well trodden one these days. Since the early 2000’s the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Dave Batista and John Cena have all had mainstream success while the likes of Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg and Kurt Angle have maintained steady acting and television careers in more under the radar projects. However, it wasn’t always that way and it took a few pioneers to open what were once locked doors for pro-wrestlers, so in this article we take a look at ten bruisers who did just that.

Andre the Giant

7’4, 500 lbs and with hands like dinner plates, Andre was one of the biggest men to ever step into the ring and so it was inevitable that Hollywood would come calling at some point. Surprisingly though, Andres action resume isn’t a particularly packed one which is the only reason he features so low on our list.

Perhaps because of his sheer size, there weren’t too many people in the world that could go fist to fist with the big man (he did go decades undefeated in wrestling after all) and so his acting career was mainly reduced to playing monsters and fantasy figures or more comedic roles based on his size. Obviously, he is best known for playing the giant Fezzik in The Princess Bride for which he gained some critical acclaim, but for us his most ultimate role came in an uncredited role in Conan the Destroyer (1984) as the demonic Dagoth.

He may have been buried under a rubber suit, but there’s no mistaking Andre when he starts manhandling action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger (and just about anyone else in swatting distance) and in the end it takes a good portion of the cast to put a stop to his rampage. Maybe one of the few men who was just too ultimate for the movies.

Abdullah the Butcher

The Madman from Sudan’s (via Ontario, Canada) movie career was brief to say the least with only two credited roles, but his second outing certainly makes up for the lack of quantity. Rotund, wide eyed and with a forehead that looks like a carving board, Abdullah is certainly a unique looking individual and it is perhaps only for the fact that he was so in demand as one of pro-wrestlings most feared villains over many decades that we didn’t get to see more of him in the movies.

Despite appearances, Abdullah is also an accomplished martial artist in both karate and judo and it was perhaps due to this, coupled with his fame in Japan that he found himself cast in the Sonny Chiba movie, Roaring Fire aka Hoero Tekken (1982). Having only previously starred in an obscure Canadian prison movie (Caged Men Plus One Woman) in the early seventies, Abdullah more than holds up his end of the bargain in Roaring Fire as he battles it out in some fast paced fight scenes with some of Japan’s best while showing off an unexpected turn of speed and using his size to manhandle anyone that dares to come near. Definitely someone that could have made a career out playing unique henchmen if he had wanted to.

Ox Baker

The bald headed, bushy eyebrowed, wild bearded master of the Heart Punch, Ox Baker was a feared man in between the ropes and it comes as no surprise that he was noticed by Hollywood when they needed someone to instill that fear into their audience. In a wrestling career that spanned nearly 50 years, Baker wrestled and in many cases, defeated a who’s who of wrestling stars and is one of the few men who it was claimed had killed not one, but two of his opponents.

In reality, both deaths were a result of undetected health conditions, however as both occurred after being in the ring with Baker, it certainly didn’t diminish his fearsome reputation and promoters were quick to capitalize on it. Baker’s first film appearance came the year before the role that would make him internationally recognized and would be an uncredited role in the 1980 Jackie Chan vehicle Battle Creek Brawl as “The Fighter.” A year later he would find himself on the set of his one and only blockbuster opposite Kurt Russell in the now iconic Escape From New York. In the movie Baker plays Slag, a lumbering gladiator who is tasked with finishing off Kurt Russell’s Snake Pliskin.

Although unsuccessful in his task, Baker proves to be one of Russell’s toughest opponents and it is a credit to Baker, by that point nearly 50 years old that he still had the ability to terrify. After Escape, Baker continued his wrestling career, making sporadic movie appearances along the way and training future stars of the ring, including a certain Mark ‘The Undertaker’ Callaway. Despite this, he will always be known to action movie fans as the baseball bat swinging madman, Slag and for giving Kurt Russell one of his most ultimate fight scenes.

Harold Sakata

The first man to appear on the list who is perhaps more well known for his acting career than his in-ring exploits, Harold Sakata was something of a renaissance man, excelling at just about everything he turned his hands to. Born in Honolulu to Japanese parents, Sakata first made waves in the 1940s as a weight lifter and would go on to win a silver medal at the 1948 London Olympics lifting a total of over 900 lbs while competing as a light-heavyweight.

By the 1960s he had turned to pro-wrestling and under the name of Tosh Togo would go on to win the Canadian Tag Team titles alongside his storyline relatives Great Togo, Mas Togo and Ko Togo. It was during this time that James Bond producers noticed him and he was immediately cast as Oddjob, the muscular henchman of the movies titular character, Auric Goldfinger. It was to be a role as iconic as any in all of Hollywood and Sakata would go on to make a career out of playing similar characters, even going as far as being credited as Harold “Oddjob” Sakata in some roles.

Unfortunately, Sakata died prematurely in 1982, but not before he would rack up an impressive body of work, appearing in both movies and on television as well as returning to his wrestling roots in the Verne Gagne financed The Wrestler (1974) alongside many of the most well known wrestlers of the day. However, it was as Oddjob that he really shined and it is thanks to the silent, hat wielding maniac that the world will never forget Sakata.

Professor Toru Tanaka

Who else could follow Sakata but the man many consider his natural successor? Best known in wrestling circles as the tag team partner of the universally loathed Mr. Fuji, Tanaka also had a successful run in the sixties as one of the main challengers to the rarely defeated Bruno Sammartino with the two successfully headlining Madison Square Garden on more than one occasion.

By the time the eighties came around Tanaka had all but retired from the ring and instead took up a career in the movies making his first appearance in the Chuck Norris movie An Eye For An Eye (1981). Often employed to play vicious henchmen due to his size and strength, Tanaka picked up where the slightly older Sakata had left off, fitting perfectly into the action boom of the eighties. Tanaka would star alongside many of the biggest names in action throughout the decade and into the nineties, including Sho Kosugi, Jeff Speakman and Arnold Schwarzenegger with whom arguably his most ultimate moment came, as the villainous ice skating Sub-Zero in The Running Man (1987). One of his final appearances also came alongside Arnold, in one of the latter’s few commercial failures, The Last Action Hero (1993) in a small cameo in his usual toughman role.

Although, like Sakata he was very much typecast, Tanaka had a great run in the movies at a time when he was looking to get out of the ring and his appearances in a number of action classics means he remains a much loved villain to action fans to this day. Also like Sakata, Tanaka left us too soon, as he would pass in 2000 but thankfully not before leaving his mark on both wrestling and movie fans alike.

Terry Funk

When someone is known for being one of the most demented men in a sport almost entirely populated with tapped individuals you know that Terry Funk is a special breed of wildman. So it was no surprise that at the height of action boom of the eighties that Hollywood came knocking for him to bring that ‘Funk-ness’ to the big screen. Having first appeared in Sylvester Stallone’s wrestling movie Paradise Alley in 1978 as the hulking Frankie the Thumper it would also be alongside Stallone nearly a decade later that Funk would return to the cinema in the first of his two most ultimate action appearances, this time in the criminally underrated arm-wrestling epic, Over the Top (1987).

Employed as the main villain, Jason Cutler’s henchman Ruker, Funk played it with deadpan menace throughout, looking ready to take Stallone’s magnificently named Lincoln Hawk apart at a moments notice until he falls victim to the enemy of so many eighties heavies, the plate glass door. A couple of years later he was back on our screens again looking to take out another a-lister in Patrick Swayze as the king of the bouncers Dalton in Road House (1989). Playing another heavy, the Funker was at his erratic best, throwing out insults as quickly as he was throws his fists but alas, it would his last real hurrah in the movies as the lure of wrestling was calling once more and he would soon start the next phase of his career, as the crazy old bastard of hardcore.

Despite retiring at his last count of 22 times, unbelievably Funk is still at it and wrestled as recently as last year (2017) at the grand old age of 72. His movie resume has been a far more sparse affair however, with just the occasional TV appearance and movie cameo to his name proving that as much as you try and take the man out of wrestling, you can’t always take the wrestling out of the man.

Pat Roach

Although a household name in the UK throughout the eighties thanks to his part of Bomber Busbridge in the hit TV show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Pat Roach might not be a familiar name to those of you on the other side of the pond. Like Sakata, he is probably better known for his acting than he was for being wrestler and also like Sakata, Roach was a man who tried his hand and excelled in a number of different areas in life. Having made his pro-wrestling debut in 1960, the 6’5 near 300 lbs Roach would find himself in demand for on screen roles from the early seventies onwards when he made his acting debut in the cult classic A Clockwork Orange (1971).

From then on he would juggle his many careers, primarily as a wrestler and actor but also running his scrap metal business, owning a gym and even dabbling in American Football for the Birmingham Bulls in the late eighties. His most ultimate action years would also come in the eighties when he was brought in to be the muscle against a who’s who of a-list actors. Having narrowly missed out on the role of Darth Vader in Star Wars, George Lucas brought him in to perform double duty in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) as the Giant Sherpa and the German Mechanic Indiana Jones fights next to the plane which ultimately gives him his unfortunate end.

After Raiders, Roach would go on an incredible back to back streak of movies, featuring in Clash of the Titans (1981), Never Say Never Again (1983), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Conan the Destroyer (1984) and Red Sonya (1985) each time being entrusted to manhandle the stars of the show and arguably making him our highest grossing star on the list. Roach would continue to be a familiar face as an actor on British TV right up until his death in 2004 and also continued to wrestle well into the nineties too quite often using the Bomber nickname he had acquired on Auf Wiedersehen, Pet proving himself to be a true action hero in every sense of the word.

Hulk Hogan

When you think of wrestling, who is the first person to come to mind? For many, it’ll probably be Hulk Hogan. As the biggest star in wrestling throughout the eighties and nineties and the man that helped kickstart two of wrestlings most lucrative eras I think it’s fair to say that recent controversies aside it is unlikely that wrestling will ever see a bigger or more recognizable name again than that of The Hulkster.

After first getting a taste of the limelight as Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982) it wouldn’t be until the end of the eighties that Hogan’s aspirations to become an action hero really began to manifest when he took the lead role in the WWF (now WWE) financed No Holds Barred (1989). In the movie he was tasked with taking on the gigantic and terrifying Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister as well Kurt Fuller’s Brell, an evil TV executive with a band of heavies who will seemingly stoop to just about any level. Eventually, Hogan and Listers feud would spill over onto WWF television and would culminate with Hogan and Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake defeating Lister and ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage in a tag team cage match. The movie wasn’t a massive success, breaking even at best but clearly sparked the acting bug for Hogan as it wouldn’t be long before he began winding down his WWF career in favor of the movies first starring in Surburban Commando (1991) (an abandoned Schwarzenegger project) and Mr. Nanny a couple of years later.

Hogan would leave the WWF in 1993 and would continue his acting career throughout the nineties as well as wrestling for WCW, during which time he participated in one of the biggest moments in all of wrestling when he turned on WCW to form the NWO and become the villainous Hollywood Hogan. Perhaps the name with the most wasted potential on the list, it’s hard to believe that Hogan’s popularity never quite translated into box office dollars and you have to wonder if he had been handed the right projects if he too would be considered action royalty today. I guess we’ll never know.

Jesse Ventura

When Ventura’s in-ring career was cut short in the mid-eighties due to blood clots on his lungs, some would have perhaps thought that it was time to take things easy. Not “The Body” though. Clad in his feather boas, loud suits and lurid bandannas, he immediately took up position as a commentator on WWF programming, infuriating his partners with his bodacious style and insulting just about anyone he laid eyes on. A seat behind a commentary booth wouldn’t be enough for Ventura though and in 1987 he would take Hollywood by the scruff of the neck by appearing in two of the biggest action movies of the decade alongside the king of action movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The first would see him teaming with Arnie to take on the Predator as the tobacco chewing, sexual Tyrannosaurus, Blain.

Armed with a gatling gun that he dubbed ‘Old Painless’ and with biceps to rival Austria’s favorite son, Ventura certainly wasn’t about to fade into the background. He stole the scene every time he was on screen, bringing that motor mouth that had made him so famous in the WWF and putting his background as a Navy SEAL to great use in the battle scenes. His ultimate demise also led to one of the most over the top displays of firepower in just about any movie as the rest of the cast would pepper the jungle with bullets in an attempt to kill off their invisible attacker, something you can only imagine Blain would approve of. Ventura clearly made an impression on Arnold too, as he would return a few months later, this time as his opponent in The Running Man. Ventura would play the retired chaser Captain Freedom and has to be one of the few men to actually kill Arnold on screen… well, sort of kill, anyway. Again, Ventura steals the show, both when he gets to manhandle Arnold and during his workout video, because let’s face it, who can really resist Jesse Ventura camping it up?

As the nineties arrived Ventura ventured into politics, first becoming the Mayor of Brooklyn Park and later the Governor of Minnesota which would cut down on his acting appearances, however he would still manage to crop up in Demolition Man (1993) opposite Sylvester Stallone and also make one last cameo alongside Arnold in Batman & Robin (1997) proving the door was always open for The Body. Although he hasn’t held office since 2003, Ventura is still a political commentator and makes regular appearances on politics shows both on TV and the radio and in recent years has become known to a whole new generation thanks to his opinions on a variety of conspiracy theories, a subject which he has written books and hosted TV shows for. The man really ain’t got time to bleed.

Roddy Piper

One of Hogan’s biggest nemesis’, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper was known for being one of the most charismatic and unpredictable men in wrestling when he burst onto the Hollywood scene with a bang in 1988. Having starred in the 1986 Rock n’ Wrestling movie Body Slam and wrestled the infamous Mr. T at two consecutive WrestleMania’s Piper was a star on the rise when he was cast in what would become his two best loved movies in the same year. First to be released would be Hell Comes to Frogtown, a madcap, post-apocalyptic action comedy which saw Piper entrusted to repopulate the world after his capture by a group of warrior-nurses (because, the eighties). The movie would gain a cult following in later years as a classic piece of eighties weirdness but still fall firmly in the shadow of his follow up, the John Carpenter helmed They Live.

A cross between sci-fi, horror and with just enough action for Piper to flex his muscles, They Live was a hit on release but its reputation and cultural impact would grow steadily in the years that followed thanks in no small part to the artist and fan of the movie, Shepard Fairey picking up its Obey tagline for his own branding. Today, They Live is seen as Pipers finest performance, its brilliant fighting scenes, classic lines and still relevant message have stood the test of time making it arguably one of the most critically acclaimed movies on this entire list (read more about They Live‘s lasting relevance here).

However, it wouldn’t be the end for Pipers acting career and as his wrestling appearances became more sporadic, his movie and TV appearances became more prolific as he took the lead in a virtual production line of b-grade action movies alongside the likes of Billy Blanks, Sonny Chiba and Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson to name but a few. Unfortunately, Piper is yet another name on this list that’s no longer with us, but with a back catalogue of appearances to rival anyone in sheer quantity (both inside and outside of the ring) he certainly the left a lasting legacy for us to remember him by. Let’s just hope they have plenty of bubblegum wherever he ended up, because they sure as hell don’t want him to run out.

Article by Will Carter – B-Movie obsessive and record shop employee living in Yorkshire, England. Contributor to Retro Cool and The Gravel Crew and long suffering car enthusiast. Genuinely believes there’s never been a better contribution to movie history than Bloodsport. Let us know what you think in the comments!

The Hidden: A Review on 80s Excess and Action

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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The Hidden. Ultimate Gem.

Directed by Jack Sholder, The Hidden came out in 1987, which was a great year for action movies with such classics as Predator, Robocop, Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop. To say the 80’s was a decade of excess is a bit of an understatement.

Excessive Roots

When you think of excess and the 80’s the first film that would come to mind would be Oliver Stone’s Wall Street, which itself came out the exact same year. It got all the critical and commercial acclaim and gave birth to the immortal line from Gordon Gekko that defied the decade: “The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” Now I’ve never come from money and I doubt I never will be rich. I can’t relate to Gekko because I’m not a greedy bastard. But the desire of wanting and coveting things is just human nature, but in the case of the film I’m writing about there is nothing human about the lead villain’s intentions. The Hidden is what I believe to the the definitive action movie about excess of the 1980’s.

A Truly 80s Movie

 

The Hidden is about ordinary, law abiding citizens in Los Angeles suddenly turning into criminals with no previous inclinations of violence whatsoever. A local cop called Beck (Michael Nouri) cannot figure out the motives behind the sudden crime rate which involves grand theft auto, robbery and murder from seemingly normal folks. FBI Agent Gallagher (Kyle MacLachan) is brought in to help Beck with the case and informs him that it’s not random as it appears but committed by the same person. Of course Beck doesn’t believe him but as the investigation goes on, all of Gallagher’s theories start making more sense.

The movie opens of grainy security footage of a bank when a lonely figure comes into frame. He casually surveys everything when a group of security officers with cash bags come close to him. All of a sudden he pulls out a shotgun, kills them, takes a bag of money and looks at the camera smiling, before shooting it. He leaves the bank calmly, hopes into a parked Ferrari and speeds off with some sweet trash metal blaring out of the car speakers. Cop cars quickly pursue he speeds through construction sites, tunnels and freeways with reckless abandon. He even runs over of wheelchair bound man with no remorse. This would sound like a movie version of the Grand Theft Auto video game series. It’s not until a blockade headed up by Beck stops him that the smiling assassin is taken to hospital.

While at the hospital Beck finds out his name is Jack DeVries (Chris Mulkey), a family man with no prior history of violent crime and no motive to go on a crime spree. Banged up in a hospital bed, DeVries wakes up from a coma and goes to the bed of another comatose man, Jonathan Miller (William Boyett). DeVries rips off Miller’s breathing mask, opens his mouth then an alien slug appears from DeVries’ mouth and transfers itself into Miller’s body, then Devires drops dead. Miller wakes up and proceeds to walk out and the crime spree continues. Gallagher is then assigned with Beck because of his connection to the case and together they try to stop the parasite before more people are killed.

Jack Sholder’s Action Directing

I won’t give anymore of the story away because I don’t want to spoil it for you. This was only Jack Sholder’s third movie after the horror movies Alone in the Dark and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. He combines the science fiction and horror elements of the story really well by presenting it as a solid action movie. All the action scenes are well staged and shot, you can follow the action incredibly well. Some of the humor and jokes do fall a bit flat but that doesn’t out way the overall experience of the movie. The practical effects are done great too, especially the alien slug transfer scenes.

Acting Breakdown

Acting wise I can’t fault it to much. Michael Nouri handles the role of Beck well, even though it is an outrageous situation he plays it straight and it works. Also with the usual hardened cop flair. And keeping up with the playing it straight style, Kyle MacLachan preceded Special Agent Dale Cooper by three years with Gallagher, who is even more wound up than Cooper. But there is a reason for this which I won’t give away if you haven’t seen it. But he does the whole “boy next door” mixed with “spent too long in his parent’s basement” great, adding to the uneasy partnership with him and Beck. The supporting cast is great as well with Katherine Cannon as Beck’s wife Barbara, Claudia Christian, Clarence Felder, Clu Gulager and Ed O’Ross. Keep an eye out for Danny Trejo as a prisoner too.

An A+ B-Movie

 

All that being said, for a “B” action movie it definitely gets an “A” for effort. The script written by Jim Kouf (as Bob Hunt) seems like your typical buddy cop, Shane Black style story but because of the body-swapping angle it can be a bit unpredictable by the fact this alien can be anyone at all, like the Agents from the Matrix trilogy. It was also interesting to make the alien a gluttonous character, wanting money, fast cars and violence without repercussion as a version of humanity that left unchecked, can do incredible damage to itself and the environment. That’s why I like B movies because they can have the ability to put in social commentary and mix it up with exploitation stories. It could almost be like John Carpenter movie.

So if you want a fun, sci-fi action movie with some subtle hints on excess-driven 1980’s America then give The Hidden a try or if you have just give it a rewatch.

Article by Dan Wilson. What do you think about The Hidden and 80s Excess? Let us know in the comments. And if you have any ultimate action movies you’d like to review or write about, let us know!

First Look at Van Damme in Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Van Damme Still Kickboxing.

Technically titled Kickboxer 2: Retaliation, it is the sequel to the original Kickboxer (1989) reboot Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016). Set 12 months after Vengeance, Kurt Sloane (now played by Alain Moussi) is lured back away from a successful MMA career to battle back in Thailand. Jean Claude Van Damme appears to be reprising his role as Master Durand as well.

The rest of the cast includes Christopher Lambert, Sara Malakul Lane, Jessica Jann and Game of Thrones‘ Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson – as well as a most anticipated role for Mike Tyson. IGN offers a sneak peak first look into the new trailer below.

 

While the reboot may bear JCVD’s name and approval, it’s still very much a modern action movie with gritty aesthetics and a heavy-emphasis on damp and dark fight scenes. It does look promising with several cinderblock-punching training sequences and some rough-and-tumble mixed martial arts street chases worked in. (Plus, is that guy training by having Ronaldinho kick soccer balls at him?!?)

Kickboxer: Retaliation — The Ultimate Action Movie Reboot Sequel of All Time?

Kickboxer (1989) Original Trailer

However, as fans of the Ultimate Action Movie Classics like Bloodsport and the original Kickboxer (as well as the original Kickboxer subsequent four Kickboxer sequels without Van Damme), it’ll be interesting to see where this new series stands up against one of the most ultimate movies in Van Damme’s legacy.

For more info on Kickboxer 2: Retaliation, you can read up on it’s release on its official website here.

What do you think about Kickboxer: Retaliation and the Kickboxer reboot in general? Let us know in the comments!

UAMC Classics: How ‘They Live’ is Still Relevant Today

By
Ultimate Action Movies
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Why – They Live – Lives On

John Carpenter’s 1988 action sci fi movie They Live is a classic example of how sometimes a deeper concept can be shown in a more entertaining way. Based on Ray Nelson’s short story ‘Eight O’Clock in the Morning,’ They Live explores how the media and leaders can manipulate the greater population and what lengths we will go to, to achieve wealth and status.

A Lasting Relevance

They Live has so many plot holes, bad acting, interesting editing among other foibles that it should be destined to B grade hell, yet people view this film today nearly 30 years on and appreciate how relevant it is today possibly even more than when it was first released. The term ‘fake news’ and people believing their side more than others because it came from their source no matter how questionable, cements the point of what this set out to achieve. Unfortunately I believe this will continue to be relevant for generations to come. In the interim, enjoy what is one of the most intelligent, yet somehow completely idiotic movies to ever be released.

Plot Breakdown

They Live follows John Nada (played by Roddy Piper), an incredibly well looked after drifter who makes his way to a new city looking for work and the grave discovery he makes which lets him see the world for it really is. Making an immediate friend in Frank (Keith David) at a construction site where he is hired to work, Nada is taken to the local shanty town where the city’s homeless live.

It is near here that he finds a church which is not all that it seems. Upon some investigation he discovers some superbly 80’s sunglasses which when one wears them, turns the world into a black and white nightmare where half the population looks like decomposing lizards and billboards read phrases like ‘Obey’, ‘Marry and Reproduce’ and ‘Consume.’

Traffic lights have speakers which repeat the phrase ‘sleep’ and small drones travel the skies keeping an eye out for people looking to disturb the peace.

John blows his cover when he freaks out and starts abusing a lizard woman who, using her watch, notifies her fellow lizard people (Steve Jobs you’re a thief!) and then decides to kill two cops who confront him. You of course finish this off by going into a bank and shooting a few more people. He escapes by taking a lady who has had way too much Xanax hostage and making her drive to her house where she manages to smash a glass over his head and push him through a pane glass window. He survives the three story fall by hanging out under a bridge for a while and then seeks out Frank which leads us to one of the greatest fight scenes in cinema history.

This includes eye gouging, biting, repetitively kneeing someone in the balls and as you would expect some great wrestling moves. This scene between Piper and David will go down in history as one of the greats, in John Carpenters own words ‘I wanted to show a real fight.’ He succeeded. Immediately following the fight Frank is awoken to the real world too, so our heroes of the lower class decide to walk bruised and battered which using the accompanying bluesy theme music, (a departure from Carpenters usual synth perfection) almost seems a parody of itself. The final act shows why Carpenter is a master of the genre, with brilliant shoot out sequences and wonderfully over the top action explosions and deaths.

A Timeless Voice

You also can’t mention this movie without talking about the kick ass catch phrases ranging from ‘brother life’s a bitch and she’s packing heat’ to the generation transcending ‘I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum.’

In a recent interview Carpenter has stated that Piper would use phrases like these in his post wrestling press conferences and thought they’d be great for an action hero.

Not quite sure how ‘mama don’t like taddle tales’ suits a man who weighs over 200 pounds and has a mullet that dropped panties, but who’s gunna argue with the him? Not me.

Article by: Nathan Last – an action and sci fi fan from Australia (no he doesn’t wear fishnet shirts like Bennett in Commando) who believes the 80’s and 90’s were the golden age of cinema. Part time writer, full time ultimate action fan. To get in touch drop the team a line. 

The UAMC is Looking For Blog Contributors

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Ultimate Action Movies
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For anyone who loves Ultimate Action Movies.

Here at the Ultimate Action Movie Club, we pride ourselves on being open to anyone who loves a good action flick. Especially if it’s one on VHS and watched with friends. We also love to talk about ultimate action movies almost as much as watching them. So, in effort to expand the conversation and keep the club growing, we’re opening up the blog to all those who wish to write and contribute.

Types of Articles

We’re open to all ideas and pitches, but ultimately looking for articles on action movies from the 80s and 90s. They can be one-off reviews about one specific film, top 5 (or top 10) lists for different stars, think-pieces on different aspects of the genre, or just new news about classic movies like remakes or new special editions. Anything from a few hundred words to a few thousand. Here are some article type examples.

Plus, any other article types or ideas that you may want to contribute.

What’s In It For You

As the UAMC community continues to grow, the blog will always be a central spot for starting discussions and appreciating kick butt action movies for years to come. We’re looking for contributors who simply love talking (and writing) about their favorite action movies. If you have a blog of your own, or another similar venture to plug, you’re more than welcome to put links back to your websites, Facebook page, Twitter accounts, etc… as you’d like. The goal is just to create awesome articles for action movie fans to enjoy and share.

Also, if you’re unfamiliar with blogging or writing online, we can help and handle all the formatting and uploading for you.

How to Submit

For now, please just reach out to [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more. Any writing or blog examples are encouraged but not necessary. Ideally we could go back and forth with some ideas, but generally open to whatever you might want to contribute.

7 Times Seagal Proves He’s The Ultimate Action Tough Guy

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Ultimate Action Movies
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Steven Steagal. Ultimate Tough Guy.

There are several characteristics that make action movie stars ultimate. While Steven Seagal may lack in bulging arm muscles like Arnold or Stallone, he makes up for it with some badass aikido-training and his ultimate tough guy attitude. Seagal, in his prime VHS days in the 80s and 90s, was a force to be reckoned with in every scene. He didn’t take lip and was just as quick to smack someone around as he was to slice an arm or two off.

Here are 7 times that Seagal proved, without a doubt, that he’s the unquestioned ultimate action movie tough guy.

7. “Anybody Seen Richie?” – Out for Justice (1991)

For tough guy Seagal lovers, Out for Justice is one of his best. As a gritty inner-city cop in Brooklyn, Seagal’s brash persona and combative detective approach is something truly amazing. Take for example this scene, where Seagal, a cop in Brooklyn, needs some information about a recent murder. Instead of, you know, doing some actual detective work.

Seagal busts into a seedy bar to rough up several prominent low-lifes to get the info from them. In a way which would nicely be called disrespectful, Seagal proceeds to mock and beat the information out of the entire bar – including the guys with mob connections. Makes ya really feel bad for Richie…

Steven Seagal Goes ‘Expendables’ in New Trailer for General Commander

6. “Respect My Authority” – Fire Down Below (1997)

If Seagal has a mantra, at least in his 80s and 90s movies, it’s a pissed-off plea to have people “respect his authority.” Nowhere is this more apparent than when he literally yells as much to the naive officers in Kentucky. This is of course after he sticks a gun down one of the officers’ throats after they threaten to have him arrested.

He proceeds to double down and threaten them with arrest as he is a federal, get this, environmental protection agent. Which, as long as Seagal is concerned, he can do whatever he damn well wants when he’s on the case.

MMA Star Dillon Danis Challenges Steven Seagal to a Cage Fight

5. Train Top Shootout – Under Siege 2 (1995)

While Under Seige may be one of Seagal’s best movies, his performance in his sequel Under Seige 2: Dark Territory showcases some of Seagal’s most brazen behavior. If you watch the scene above, you’ll see a calm as nails Seagal casually kicking butt from the top of a moving train.

After kicking a guy under the wheels, Seagal lays into a gun battle with precision despite not even always being able to see the bad guys. Before hitching a ride Indiana Jones-style underneath the train. It’s also worth noting that Seagal himself has hinted at an Under Seige 3 in the future.

A Case for Under Siege Being Seagal’s Greatest Action Movie

4. Folksy Guitar Solo – Fire Down Below (1997)

While Seagal’s well known for the dirt talking, smackdown laying aspects of his tough guy mentality. He also has a tender, artistic side, which you better not ever make fun of or interrupt. As is the case in this scene from Fire Down Below, wherein the skinny punk who dares to disturb Seagal’s fingerpicking solo is about to learn a world of hurt from Seagal’s less friendly side.

Fun fact, Seagal is actually a very accomplished guitar player and musician and has even recorded a few albums.

Steven Seagal Opening His Own Winery in Russia

3. Classic Store Robbery – Hard to Kill (1990)

Continuing a trend in Seagal flicks, thugs have a way of finding, a seemingly, mild-mannered Seagal in shops or bars and proceed to mock, almost beg him, into kicking their butts. In this scene from Hard to Kill, Seagal is just getting some late night snacks when some street thugs choose the wrong store to rob.

As Seagal saunters up, they truly have no idea, or no respect, to the beatdown Seagal can easily and instantly lay down on them. Yet, Seagal, always one for dramatic timing, waits until the old store clerk is blown away before tauntingly disposing of them one by one.a

UAMC Legend Steven Seagal is Running for Governor… in Russia?

2. Skinny Seagal vs Baseball Bat – Above the Law (1988)

Based on recent photos, it’s hard to believe that there was a time when Seagal was a skinny pencil-shaped human being. However, if this scene from Above the Law proves anything, it’s that skinny or giant, Seagal was just as intimidating and tough.

Seagal, as per custom, is rolled up on and instantly drawn upon. This time with a gun, sword and several baseball bats. What does Seagal do? Well, of course he doesn’t flinch. Instead he takes a sword, slices several limbs, then takes off in full skinny-legged sprint after the last perp.

Steven Seagal and Michael Caine Share Contrasting Memories of ‘On Deadly Ground’

1. Hand Slap Game – On Deadly Ground (1994)

In one of his more personal movies, and the only one he actually directed himself, Seagal goes absolutely tough guy mind games berserk in this famous hand slap scene. For context, Seagal’s character is a Native American in Alaska up against a giant mining corporation.

In this scene, he witnesses a small town jerk try to get his ire, when Seagal ignores him, he retaliates by picking on an old Native American man, which causes Seagal to lose it. After jumping around the room and kicking most of the butts in it, Seagal calls for a showdown with the goon and proceeds to face-off in the most ultimate game of hand slaps ever made.

Of course, Seagal wins every time, getting in a punch after each slap leaving the thug bloodied and beaten. Then, in a rare moment in any action movie, Seagal’s tough guy beating so resoundly resonates with the guy that he actually apologizes and promises to change for the better. Which is what we have to assume is what Seagal has been trying to get people to understand the whole time, just by usually beating it out of them.

What are your favorite Steven Seagal tough guy scenes? Let us know in the comments!

Hollywood is Remaking Buddy Cop Classic 48 Hrs. (1982)

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Ultimate Action Movies
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48 Hrs. is coming back!

According to a post from Birth. Movies. Death. the famous buddy cop action flick 48 Hrs. (1982) is getting a remake.

No word yet on if Eddie Murphy or Nick Nolte are involved, but judging by the fact that the original is over 30 years old now, it’s unlikely they’ll be reprising their roles in anything but cameo capacity. The movie is being rebooted by the Paramount Players and co-produced by Peter Chernin (who produced the Planet of the Apes reboot). The movie will be directed by the Safdie brothers, who will do their dutiful best to honor Walter Hill’s work on the original. The Safdie Bros are riding high on their recent success of the tonal thriller Good Time, which starred a gritty, strung out Robert Pattinson in an action-ish role.

However, for ultimate action movie club fans, reboots are seldom good news. Judging from the initial response, there’s little sign that 48 Hrs. will be getting a throwback style reboot, rather an 48 Hrs-inspired reimagining. Which might turn out good or bad, but could at least bring a new generation’s attention onto the original buddy cop masterpiece. For the nostalgic, here’s the original trailer for 48 Hrs. with Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte.

 

BONUS: as well as their trailer to their middling follow-up sequel Another 48 Hrs. (which has Eddie Murphy yelling “You mean you want me to go out with your for ANOTHER 48 HOURS!?” in it) to remind everyone just why messing with a classic is rarely a good idea.

What are your opinions on the 48 Hrs remake? Let us know in the comments!

The Top 10 Chuck Norris Movies of All Time

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Ultimate Action Movies
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Best Chuck Norris Movies
The Best Chuck Norris Movies

The ultimate best of Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris Movies

We all know that Chuck Norris is about as ultimate as they come. His VHS action movie career is one of the very best. He combines his martial arts roots perfectly between tough guy with a gun antics and a dash of western cowboy. His movies are a diverse bunch, but are always pure action (although occasionally action comedy). It’s no wonder Walker, Texas Ranger was such a hit and further cemented Chuck as one of the greats.

Let’s look at a 10 of the most ultimate Chuck Norris movies of all time. Honorable mentions included at the end, but feel free to leave your rankings too! And if you’re looking for more Top 10 Lists to read up on (or argue about with your friends later), here are some more official Ultimate Action Movie Club rankings to check out:

The Top 100 Ultimate Action Movies of All Time

10. Hellbound (1994)

Chuck Norris Hellbound

You seen Hellbound? Probably not, not many of even the most ultimate Chuck Norris fans have made it through this mess. If it wasn’t for Forest Warrior (1996), it would easily be one of Chuck’s worst movies.

Hellbound is bad. It’s a supernatural thriller, that should say enough. By 1994, I guess they were running out of good old fashion action movie scripts, so they had to start trying dumbass gimmicky ideas that involve time travel and ancient scripture. But this is no badass Chuck Norris does National Treasure thing either.

It’s more he takes his Texas Ranger self (yes, he’s a Texas Ranger in this) down to Israel to kick some supernatural butt. His annoying sidekick doesn’t offer much help, but his wild misses on all his one-liners helps make it enjoyable.

Chuck Norris Kicks Supernatural Ass in ‘Hellbound’ (1994)

9. Sidekicks (1992)

Chuck Norris Sidekicks

For those lucky enough to see Sidekicks while growing up, it’s kid-centric martial arts storyline recalls nicely with memories of fantasies about Chuck Norris teaching you karate and helping you overcome difficult middle school adventures.

The plot is a mix between The Karate Kid and Last Action Hero (although the latter of which confusingly came out two years later) and has some ghost dream version of Chuck guide a bullied kid through adolescent.

Still, for ultimate action movie club viewings, it’s a great pick for a smorgasbord of little one-off dream sequences which puts Chuck in some truly badass situations recounting the movies over his years. Plus, the winey kid is pretty great to make fun of.

UAMC Review: Jonathan Brandis and Chuck Norris in ‘Sidekicks’ (1992)

8. Top Dog (1995)

Chuck Norris Movie Top Dog

Since this list eventually gets serious, Top Dog is left at number 8. But if we were going off of just ultimate terrible cheesiness, Top Dog is one of the absolute best. But it’s also an OK (or slightly below OK) movie.

As it name subtly implies, Top Dog features the unlikely buddy cop pairing of Chuck Norris with… you guessed it. A dog! Which is obviously a lame attempt at capturing the success of earlier buddy cop dog flicks Turner and Hooch and K-9. But, this one has Chuck Norris. And every time he gives that smug dog a pissed off look, it’s billion times more awesome than any Tom Hanks smirks.

Also, Chuck Norris gives his usual kick-butt performance with one of the best one-liners of his career wherein he shoots a clown-dressed bandit and utters a gruff: “you’re under arrest… bozo.”

7. Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

Chuck Norris Movie Good Guys Wear Black

This one’s mostly on the list because of the awesome VHS cover. Doesn’t that just look. ULTIMATE! Just kidding, it’s pretty good, but it’s notable for when it came out. We forget that Chuck Norris, while a famous kick boxer, really hadn’t become an established name in action movies, this was a big one in crafting that persona.

It’s a mostly forgettable story about a Vietnam vet being hunted by the very government he swore to protect, but has its moments. Some great car scenes, overall an ultimate edition worth watching for any UAMC member or fan.

6. Firewalker (1986)

Chuck Norris Movie Firewalker

Another Canon classic on our list, Firewalker, like most of Chuck’s movies, for whatever reason, did not get great reviews. Roger Ebert particularly seemed to have it out for Chuck for most of his career, and gave the movie a thumbs down and a one-star review on his website. Yet, we’d argue that this is still one of Chuck’s greats.

Yes, it’s a blatant rip off of adventure flicks like Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, but so what! It has Chuck go in disguise as a Catholic priest, several badass chase scenes and always ultimate Karate battles to top it off. Lou Gossett Jr. might be Chuck’s best non-dog sidekick too.

Firewalker: Chuck Norris Brings the Fun, Flaws, and Flying Kicks!

5. Missing in Action (1984)

Chuck Norris Movie Missing in Action

Now we get into the good stuff. Chuck Norris really made a lunch out of this under-appreciated Vietnam vet returns to find the missing POW schtick. Not a big surprise that First Blood (the first Rambo movie) came out two years before, but doesn’t mean Chuck shouldn’t get his shot at it too.

The Missing in Action concept ended up becoming a flagship franchise for Chuck, with the second and third installments continuing its success. But the first is the best and the one to watch right away and again and again. So many great deaths, so many ultimate Chuck moments! The best might be Chuck killing a dude with an axe blade… with his bare hands.

UAMC Ranks the Chuck Norris ‘Missing in Action’ Movies

4. The Way of the Dragon (1972)

Chuck Norris Movie Way of the Dragon

May take some gruff for putting this at number 4, but this is an ULTIMATE ACTION MOVIE CLUB list, which measures movies by how awesome they are to watch on VHS with a group of friends on a Saturday night, not to value a movie based on its genre-significance or importance to the actor’s career.

But, it would be remiss to not mention that Way of the Dragon is arguably one of the best martial arts movies of all time and hugely important to martial arts and action movies alike. However, it’s a Bruce Lee vehicle and Chuck is really only in it for one fight scene (which may be one of the most ultimate fight scenes of all time!).

So, pay your respects and watch it for its own merits, but for a good Chuck Norris binge, focus on the three listed below.

3. Invasion USA (1985)

Chuck Norris Movie Invasion USA

We’ve written at length about Invasion USA before as one of the best holiday action movies and even most ultimate action movies of all time, but for Chuck Norris purposes, it comes in at number 3 on this list. Also, here is our full UAMC review of Invasion USA!

Common, we have to spread the Chuck love! But Invasion USA is truly one of the best. Chuck does so much cool stuff in it. It starts in a bayou with one of the most badass bayou shootouts you’ll ever see in movie history. His mentor has the most ultimate action movie character name ever (John freaking Eagle – freaking added on our end for emphasis to its coolness).

It has commie butt-kicking throughout. Worth the watch time and time again forever.

UAMC Reviews: Chuck Norris is the Best in ‘Invasion USA’

2. Delta Force 2 (1990)

Chuck Norris Movie Delta Force 2

Now, full disclosure, Delta Force 2 is a sequel. It’s a sequel to Chuck Norris’s original movie, The Delta Force, from 1986. The Delta Force is widely considered to be a better movie.

But, for our purposes, the original is good, but also quite boring and very lacking in the butt-kicking action which we have come to love and expect from Mr. Norris. The sequel, Delta Force 2, more than makes up for that and delivers some of the absolute most ultimate action of Chuck Norris’s career. Here’s a great fight between Chuck and Ramon Cota’s right hand man.

But Cota, a creepy awful cocaine dealing Columbian, is one of the best villains in UAMC lore as well, who just doesn’t know when to shut up.

1. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)

Chuck Norris Movie Lone Wolf McQuade

As far as Chuck Norris is concerned, he will always be remembered for being a Texas Ranger action star. That’s all thanks to this movie, where Chuck Norris debuts his tough cop, lone wolf, Texas Ranger who straight walks out of a western and into a precinct, all dusty and covered with blood with the bad guy tied, beaten or dead ready for arrest.

This character is at the heart of everything Chuck does, and it’s truly awesome to watch in all its original glory. The opening sequence alone is worth the effort of finding and watching the VHS, but the whole movie has ultimate greatness throughout.

Take for example his truck. Chuck’s Dodge Ramcharger literally brings Chuck back from the dead when he’s knocked out in it and buried alive. Also, the bad guy is David Carradine in one of his greatest roles ever. It even has a scene where Chuck, forever a Texan badass, asks for a Pearl beer at a party and is told that they only have Heineken, so he just walks away.

Overall, you’re not going to get a more enjoyable experience from any Chuck Norris ultimate action movie classic, but we certainly encourage you to go ahead and try!

Honorable Mentions:

Just because I’m sure people will want to chime in, there are several more ultimate and awesome Chuck Norris movies worth watching. Probably several more worthy than these 10. Some very notable honorable mentions include Silent Rage (1982), The Octagon (1980), Code of Silence (1985), The Hitman (1991), the OG Delta Force (1986) and the two Missing in Action sequels (II and III), but for an action star whose career spans five decades (and is somehow still going, at least with TV spots and workout equipment commercials), there is always room for more mentions and Ultimate Action Movie Club viewings, reviews and discussions!

7 Reasons Arnold’s Total Recall is Still Great Action Sci-Fi

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Ultimate Action Movies
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Arnold. Mars. Mindgames. Buttkicks.

Let’s all agree to ignore the fact that Total Recall was remade in 2012 with Colin Farrell, and instead focus on the 1990 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In what was at the time, one of the most expensive movies ever made, Total Recall truly stands the test of time – which can be tricky for many sci-fi action flicks.

Here are 7 reasons why Total Recall is still one of the most ultimate action movies.

1. The Animatronic Self-Driving Taxi

If there’s one aspect of the movie that people seem to remember forever, it’s always seems to be the creepy AF animatronic taxi driver. The movie definitely got self-driving cars right, but still gave it a late-80s/early-90s spin where they expected us to be cool with a Chuck E. Cheese-style animatronic robot acting as your Uber driver. Thankfully, Arnold gives the bot a good deal of smacking around before taking the wheel himself before blowing the whole car up for seemingly no reason at all.

2. Philip K. Dick Plot Twists

The other part people seem to remember about the movie is the amount of plot twists and turns. The mindgames start strong from the beginning and don’t let up. You often have no idea who Arnold really is (which oddly, doesn’t seem to bug Arnold too much himself). The movie is based off of a short story by Philip K. Dick (who’s work has also been adapted into sci-fi action ultimate classic Blade Runner and Minority Report).

3. Dystopian Future

Action sci-fi always equals dystopian future. Not exactly sure why it’s so cool, but if Demolition Man is any indication, the idea of Taco Bell ruling our lives in the future, I’m not too upset. Total Recall isn’t too heavy handed about it, but the bad guy is definitely more interested in corporate profits than human (mutant) lives. Arnold (the good one), sets him straight though.

4. Kick Butt Love Interests

There’s a scene early on where Arnold (then just a lowly construction worker), describes his ideal woman love interest. Arnold specifically asks for: brunette and athletic, which he certainly gets as by 1990, it was expected for big budget action female love interests to tag team kick a steady amount of butt up until the end. Arnold also gets Sharon Stone as an aerobic instructor fake wife at the beginning and meets a diverse group of mutant prostitutes he apparently used to frequent as his old self. And – this!

5. Signature Arnold One-Liners

As far as an Arnold flick goes, it’s pretty par for the course with a handful of good one-liners, and a few great ones. The best have to be a toss up between Arnold shooting his betraying-not-real-wife in the head and saying “Consider that a divorce!” and Arnold using a human-sized drill gun through a tank to kill someone while yelling “SCREW YOU!”

6. Jim Henson Level Mutants

Lots of deformed mutants in this one, which I guess is also a sign of the times. Not that deformities are ever not great for sci-fi and action. But one takes the cake with the rebellion leader Kuato being revealed to be an awful-looking deformed baby popping out of guy’s chest.

7. The Greatest Special Effect in Ultimate Action Movie History

Finally, perhaps the best reason to watch Total Recall again, is just for this truly ultimate special effect scene in which an overweight, middle aged woman going through interplanetary airport customs seems to have a meltdown. As she does, she goes into this weird half-CGI, half animatronic morph to open up from the head to reveal – BAM – it was Arnold, totally calm and cool ready to fight. So. Amazingly. Ultimate.

Have some other great action sci-fi favorites? Or just more Arnold one-liners to share? Let us know in the comments!

The Best Action Movies to Watch During the Holidays

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Ultimate Action Movies
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Christmas Action Movies
The ultimate best Christmas action movies of all time!

Ranking the best and MOST ULTIMATE Christmas action movies to watch over the holidays!

Just because you’re with family and friends over the holidays doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole time watching sappy family films and rom-coms. You can still celebrate the season by smashing some kick-butt action movies into your VCR.

Here are 10 awesome options to consider this Christmas season.

10. The Ghost Who Walks (2019)

A little known newcomer to our list, but if you haven’t heard of Cody Stokes‘ indie action thriller The Ghost Who Walks – man, you’re missing out! Starring Garland Scott, Frank Mosley and Alexia Rasmussen this gritty actioner certainly knows how to deliver the holiday cheer. And while it might be dark and brooding, it also packs some solid laughs – as well as some very intense and ultimate action!

The Ghost Who Walks: A Hidden Ultimate Indie-Action Gem

9. Riot (1996)

While your Die Hards and Lethal Weapon selections might get higher holiday billing below, don’t ignore the pure and awesome Direct-to-Video classics like Riot starring the legendary B-movie star Gary Daniels! And what’s that? You want bigger star power than that? Well, how about co-starring Sugar Ray Leonard as the duo help bring in the holiday cheer with this fun and rough-and-tumble actioner that you have to see – preferably on VHS or LaserDisc if you can find it!

Gary Daniels’ DTV Christmas Action Classic ‘Riot’ (1996)

8. Fatman (2020)

Another newer action flick to add to your holiday list, we have the perennial UAMC legend Mel Gibson in perhaps his finest form ever as the true ultimate action movie Santa Claus in Fatman. We also get to see Mel take on Walton Goggins for good measure as this dark take on your favorite yuletide carol.

And while Fatman might be more post-modern than your standard 80s/90s action movie flare, don’t let the absurdness of the premise muddle the fact that it still kicks some major ass. A great option to fill in between other holiday action classics for a new action flavor.

Mel Gibson is the Ultimate Action Santa Claus in ‘Fatman’ (2020)

7. Die Hard 2 (1990)

If Die Hard 2 is number 7 on our list, you can guess where the original Die Hard is going to end up. But not to distract, Die Hard 2 is still a very awesome action movie worth enjoying time and time again. Bruce Willis reprises his role as John McClane as the action picks up on Christmas Eve two years after the first movie.

McClane is minding his own law-abiding business in an airport when terrorists take over air traffic control with his wife en route. So, John McClane has to do what John McClane does best… again.

Check out our ultimate list ranking the Die Hard movies!

5 Reasons ‘Die Hard’ is Absolutely a Christmas Movie (Plus 50 Catalogued Examples!)

6. First Blood (1982)

Our number 6 selection may be a surprise to many action movie fans who aren’t much of a stickler for details. But, if you look closely, you’ll notice that Sylvester Stallone’s first film in his ultimate Rambo franchise, First Blood, is definitely set during Christmas. At least it is in the town Rambo is pushed out from. So while the rest of America is enjoying the holiday cheer, Rambo is forced to re-use his ultimate Vietnam combat training to fight off the dumbass local law enforcement and survive in the wild. Not quite the best Christmas message, you think?

The Origins of Stallone’s Rambo Franchise and its ‘First Blood’

5. Lethal Weapon (1987)

Although there are several scenes throughout which show the characters celebrating Christmas. Martin Riggs, Mel Gibson’s character, even tries to buy a Christmas tree from drug dealers in one scene.

5 Reasons ‘Lethal Weapon’ is the Ultimate Christmas Action Movie

Lethal Weapon is not widely celebrated as a classic holiday film. It’s time to change that. Because in its first installment, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s buddy cop film started a hugely successful action franchise which we are all eternally grateful and fill us with yuletide carols.

Check out Lethal Weapon taking on its ultimate copycat knock-off LA Vice here!

4. Cobra (1987)

Similar to First Blood and to a lesser extend, Lethal Weapon, Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra is subtly set during the Christmas holiday season.

While there are probably more Pepsi logos than Christmas tree cameos throughout, the Xmas-vibe runs throughout the movie as a stark contrast to terrifyingly unwholesomeness of the new world order thugs who seem to only enjoy sweating profusely and cutting themselves. Meanwhile, Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, the ultimate loner, spends his holiday nights eating leftover pizza and while cleaning his guns.

7 Reasons Stallone’s Cobra is his True Cinematic Masterpiece

3. Jingle All the Way (1996)

By the mid to late 1990s, Arnold Schwarzenegger had well established himself as both an ultimate action movie icon, as well as a family friendly action comedy star with movies like Kindergarten Cop (1990) and Twins (1988). Jingle All the Way was far more on the comedy spectrum than action, but is still an Arnold movie damnit.

But the movie does a good job of playing up on action movie tropes for some fun sequences. Plus, anytime Arnold yells, and he does it a lot, it’s awesome. If you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday movie option, you can at least have Arnold running around yelling for 90 minutes about holiday shopping.

2. Die Hard (1988)

Surprise! Die Hard is our number 2 most ultimate holiday movie of all time! Which sounds ridiculous but we think is fair. Die Hard by itself is one of the greatest action movies of all time. It has Bruce Willis at his prime, it has humor, it has suspense, it has one of the most ultimate bad guys and it has some of the best lines.

But it also has Christmas at its core, which is wonderfully delightful as well. So, with the Ho, Ho, Hos and the yippee ki-yays together, you get a truly ultimate Christmas movie for the ages.

1. Invasion USA (1985)

Oh man, this is such an ultimate holiday movie to include as it Chuck Norris has to defend Christmas values from an invading army of wholesome-hating terrorists with bazookas!

Yes, bazookas, which they aim at a family literally decorating a Christmas tree in their quiet suburban neighborhood home. Don’t worry though, Chuck does his thing. We get tons of great action and vengeance and the holidays were saved for us so that we may celebrate Chuck in all his glory every year in his memory now.

Read our list of the Top 10 Most Ultimate Chuck Norris movies of all time!

What’s your most ultimate holiday action movie? Let us know in the comments!

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