Love action movies and looking for a classic to watch from yesteryear? Here are some of the best films from the 80s and 90s. Read on to learn about the best classic action movies. When you see our list, you could easily argue that the 80s and 90s were the golden age for movies in this particular genre.

What is an action movie?

An action movie is defined as such because the movie includes a high volume of scenes that include fast-paced clips, such as fight scenes, stunts, car chases, firearm usage and explosions. However, many of these things can be applied to war movies. Some war movies may be defined as action movies, but this is not the case most of the time. Whereas war movies typically include multiple heroes – some more than others – an action movie centres around a single hero.

Great Action Movies from the 80s and 90s

1. The Goonies

Steven Spielberg’s The Goonies may not be the first movie that springs to mind, but it’s still an action movie. Chunk, Mike, Mouth and the rest of the goonies discover a map and search for treasure through secret caves. The number of consecutive clues and traps make this movie full of nail biting drama. And it’s a unique action movie that is also PG so that you can watch it with the kids!

There’s even a Goonies online slot out now! So you can go in search of treasure yourself – but that’s just for the adults.

2. First Blood

Sylvester Stallone is an iconic figure in Hollywood during this period, and in First Blood, he kicked off the formidable Rambo series. John Rambo is a drifter forced into the mountains by a crooked sheriff trying to arrest him even though he is innocent. The sheriff and his officer try to hunt Rambo into the mountain, and Rambo must fight back to survive. Guns and explosions are aplenty. 

3. Die Hard

Another iconic actor during this period is Bruce Willis. His character John is an NYPD officer who gets caught up in a terrorist operation within an LA skyscraper. The film is considered one of the greatest action movies of all time; the cast also includes stellar names like Alan Rickman. If you already don’t know how it plays out, you’re missing out until you see it for yourself.

4. Speed

Speed is a renowned action film from 1994 where a young detective played must keep a bus travelling above 50 miles per hour to avoid it exploding. It’s got everything you want from a movie, from speed on the road, crashes, and the threat of bombs. It’s also got a young Sandra Bullock acting in one of the films that made her such a household name.