Top 30 Ranked

The Greatest Action Movies of 1986

Explosions and Icons from a Golden Era of Cinema

Relive the ultimate adrenaline rush with our definitive ranking of classic eighties action blockbusters, featuring top martial arts and sci-fi hits.

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About 1986 Action Movies

If you want to understand the exact moment action cinema shed its skin and became a global monolith, you have to look at 1986. It was a year that functioned like a high-octane laboratory where the formulas for the modern blockbuster were perfected. The landscape of the genre was shifting away from the gritty, low-budget aesthetics of the seventies and moving toward a polished, muscular, and unashamedly loud era of spectacle. In 1986, the stakes got higher, the explosions got bigger, and the movie stars became larger than life.

The dominant force of the year was undeniably Top Gun. Tony Scott’s aerial masterpiece did more than just sell aviator sunglasses and recruitment posters; it redefined the action aesthetic. This was a film that felt like a two-hour music video, bathed in golden hour light and driven by a synth-heavy heartbeat. It proved that action movies could be beautiful, aspirational, and polished to a high sheen. Tom Cruise emerged as the prototype for the modern leading man, blending high-intensity stunts with a megawatt smile that could cut through jet fuel.

While Top Gun soared in the sky, James Cameron was busy redefining sci-fi action on the ground with Aliens. If its predecessor was a haunted house movie in space, Aliens was a Vietnam-style war film with pulse rifles. This was a pivotal moment for the genre because it bridged the gap between horror and high-stakes combat. It gave us Ellen Ripley as the ultimate action hero, a character driven by maternal rage and tactical brilliance. Cameron’s obsession with hardware and pacing set a gold standard for sequels that few have ever managed to match.

The year also showcased the absolute peak of the muscle-bound icon. Sylvester Stallone released Cobra, a film that felt like a fever dream of eighties excess. While critics may have rolled their eyes at the toothpick-chewing intensity and the mounting body count, the film represented the era’s fascination with the lone-wolf lawman who plays by his own rules. It was stylish, violent, and unapologetically aggressive. Meanwhile, across the pond, Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery gave us Highlander, a genre-bending epic that mixed swordplay with a rock and roll soul. It proved that action could be weird, mythic, and deeply romantic all at once.

We also cannot ignore the cult oddities that emerged during this twelve-month span. John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China initially baffled audiences by subverting the hero trope. Kurt Russell’s Jack Burton thinks he is the leading man, but he is actually the bumbling sidekick in a kaleidoscope of martial arts and mysticism. It was a film ahead of its time, mocking the very machismo that other 1986 films were busy celebrating.

Looking back, 1986 feels like the year the blockbuster found its voice. It was a time when directors were experimenting with practical effects and high-concept storytelling before digital technology changed the game forever. It offered a buffet of violence, heroism, and groundbreaking visuals. Whether you were watching a fighter jet break the sound barrier or a colonial marine facing down a xenomorph queen, 1986 was the year that action cinema truly learned how to roar. It remains a high-water mark for a genre that was just beginning to realize how much power it truly held over the cultural imagination.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
30
1986 Action in Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986)
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
1986

The great King Gurumes is searching for the Dragon Balls in order to put a stop to his endless hunger. A young girl named Pansy who lives in the nearby village has had enough of the treachery and decides to seek Muten Rōshi for assistance. Can our heroes save the village and put a stop to the Gurumes Army?

Action
Animation
50m
Daisuke Nishio
Masako Nozawa, Hiromi Tsuru, Naoki Tatsuta, Naoko Watanabe
29

On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision.

Horror
Action
1h 38m
Robert Harmon
Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jeffrey DeMunn, Billy Green Bush
28
1986 Action in Armour of God (1986)
Armour of God
1986

Jackie Chan stars as Asian Hawk, an Indiana Jones-style adventurer looking to make a fortune in exotic antiquities. After Hawk discovers a mysterious sword in Africa, a band of Satan-worshipping monks kidnap his ex-girlfriend Lorelei, demanding the sword as ransom as well as other pieces of the legendary Armour of God - a magical outfit dating back to the Crusades.

Adventure
Action
Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Lola Forner, Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam

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27
1986 Action in The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
The Transformers: The Movie
1986

The Autobots must stop a colossal planet-consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons.

Animation
Science Fiction
1h 25m
Nelson Shin
Judd Nelson, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Leonard Nimoy
26
1986 Action in Legacy of Rage (1986)
Legacy of Rage
1986

A man is framed for murder by his drug-dealing best friend who covets his girlfriend, leading to eight years in jail and a vow of revenge upon release.

Action
Crime
1h 27m
Ronny Yu
Brandon Lee, Michael Wong, Regina Kent, Mang Hoi
25

When a Spanish Jesuit goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope of converting the Indians of the region, a slave hunter is converted and joins his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portuguese aggressors.

Adventure
Drama
2h 5m
Roland Joffé
24
1986 Action in A Better Tomorrow (1986)
A Better Tomorrow
1986

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

Action
Crime
1h 35m
John Woo
Ti Lung, Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Emily Chu Bo-Yee
23
1986 Action in The Stabilizer (1986)
The Stabilizer
1986

Peter Goldson, aka The Stabilizer, searches for drug smuggler Greg Rainmaker. Rainmaker killed Goldson's fiancee by kicking her with his spiked shoes, and now Goldson wants revenge. Meanwhile, Rainmaker has kidnapped the famous Professor Protost, and the Stabilizer teams up with his daughter Christina to save the Professor and bring Rainmaker down for good.

Action
1h 27m
Arizal
Peter O'Brian, Craig Gavin, Gillie Beanz, Dana Christina
22

As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.

21
1986 Action in Castle in the Sky (1986)
Castle in the Sky
1986

A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

Adventure
Fantasy
Keiko Yokozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, Minori Terada, Kotoe Hatsui
20
1986 Action in Never Too Young to Die (1986)
Never Too Young to Die
1986

Secret agent Drew Stargrove is brutally murdered by the ruthless hermaphrodite gang leader Velvet Von Ragnar. The murdered secret agent's son, Lance Stargrove is thrust into the dangerous and intriguing world of secret agents and espionage when he seeks revenge. Danja Deerling teams up with Lance as his sidekick and love interest.

Adventure
Action
1h 32m
Gil Bettman
John Stamos, Vanity, Gene Simmons, George Lazenby
19
1986 Action in Armed and Dangerous (1986)
Armed and Dangerous
1986

After policeman Frank Dooley is framed for theft and loses his job on the force, he joins a security guard agency and teams up with inept former defense lawyer Norman Kane. When the two botch a job guarding a local warehouse, they begin to uncover corruption within the company and their union.

Action
Comedy
1h 28m
Mark L. Lester
John Candy, Eugene Levy, Robert Loggia, Kenneth McMillan
18
1986 Action in No Retreat, No Surrender (1986)
No Retreat, No Surrender
1986

The mob is trying to strongarm local martial arts schools, forcing young Jason Stillwell and his family to move after his father is injured defending their dojo. With his father now rejecting violence, Jason is forced to train on his own to protect himself and his best friend from the members of a rival karate school.

Action
Comedy
1h 34m
Corey Yuen
Kurt McKinney, Jean-Claude Van Damme, J.W. Fails, Kathie Sileno
17
1986 Action in Blue City (1986)
Blue City
1986

Returning to the small Florida town where he grew up, Billy Turner learns that his father has been killed. With little help from the police, Billy will take matters into his own hands and go up against a ruthless local mob boss in a desperate search to find the killer.

Action
Thriller
1h 23m
Michelle Manning
Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, David Caruso, Paul Winfield
16
1986 Action in The Wraith (1986)
The Wraith
1986

Packard Walsh and his motorized gang control and terrorize an Arizona desert town where they force drivers to drag-race so they can 'win' their vehicles. After Walsh beats the decent teenager Jamie Hankins to death after finding him with his girlfriend, a mysterious power creates Jake Kesey, an extremely cool motor-biker who has a car which is invincible. Jake befriends Jamie's girlfriend Keri Johnson, takes Jamie's sweet brother Bill under his wing and manages what Sheriff Loomis couldn't; eliminate Packard's criminal gang the hard way...

Action
Science Fiction
1h 33m
Mike Marvin
Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn, Randy Quaid
15
1986 Action in Band of the Hand (1986)
Band of the Hand
1986

An Indian Vietnam veteran trains five street punks in the Everglades to fight vice in Miami.

Action
1h 49m
Paul Michael Glaser
Stephen Lang, Michael Carmine, Lauren Holly, John Cameron Mitchell
14
1986 Action in Let's Get Harry (1986)
Let's Get Harry
1986

Harry Burck has been kidnapped by South American terrorists, and when the US Government refuses to intervene, Harry's friends decide to take matters into their own hands!

Action
1h 42m
Stuart Rosenberg
Michael Schoeffling, Thomas F. Wilson, Glenn Frey, Rick Rossovich
13
1986 Action in Avenging Force (1986)
Avenging Force
1986

Martial arts expert Matt Hunter was one of the most promising operatives in Army intelligence until his parents were killed by terrorists, and he retired to the family's farm in Louisiana to take care of his 12-year-old sister Sara and their grandfather Jimmy. Larry Richards, a black man running for the Senate, is one of Matt's best friends. Larry has become the target of The Pentangle, a racist organization led by a man named Glastenbury, and Glastenbury doesn't want Larry to be elected. In an attempt on Larry's life during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, The Pentangle kills one of Larry's sons. Matt lets Larry, his wife Daisy, and his other son move to the remotely located farm so they can hide from Glastenbury and the Pentangle, but the Pentangle strikes again, setting the farmhouse on fire. Matt and Sara escape as the only survivors. Then the Pentangle kidnaps Sara, sending Matt on a mission to rescue Sara from Glastenbury and the Pentangle

Action
Drama
1h 44m
Sam Firstenberg
Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, William Wallace, John P. Ryan
12
1986 Action in Dangerously Close (1986)
Dangerously Close
1986

Rebel without a cause or a clue at an elite but uptight college discovers some of his classmates have formed an even more elite clique more or less hell-bent on ridding the school, and quite possibly American society, of what they deem to be its undesirables because of ethnicity, politics, etc. Our hero recruits a teacher and some other "less desirable" classmates to undermine the elitists, and, naturally, things get quite violent.

Action
Crime
1h 35m
Albert Pyun
John Stockwell, John Edward Peck, Carey Lowell, Bradford Bancroft
11
1986 Action in Firewalker (1986)
Firewalker
1986

A pair of adventurers try to track down an ancient Aztec/Mayan/Egyptian/Apache horde of gold.

Action
Adventure
1h 44m
J. Lee Thompson
Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr., Melody Anderson, Will Sampson
10
1986 Action in Iron Eagle (1986)
Iron Eagle
1986

When Doug's father, an Air Force Pilot, is shot down by MiGs belonging to a radical Middle Eastern state, no one seems able to get him out. Doug finds Chappy, an Air Force Colonel who is intrigued by the idea of sending in two fighters piloted by himself and Doug to rescue Doug's father after bombing the MiG base.

Action
1h 57m
Sidney J. Furie
Louis Gossett Jr., Jason Gedrick, David Suchet, Tim Thomerson
Why it ranks

This coming-of-age aerial adventure taps into the era's fascination with jet-fueled heroics and father-son legacies. Its dogfights provide a gritty, blue-collar alternative to the polished surface of other fighter-pilot films from the same year.

9
1986 Action in Raw Deal (1986)
Raw Deal
1986

Mark Kaminsky is kicked out of the FBI for his rough treatment of a suspect. He winds up as the sheriff of a small town in North Carolina. FBI Chief Harry Shannon, whose son has been killed by a mobster named Patrovina, enlists Kaminsky in a personal vendetta with a promise of reinstatement into the FBI if Patrovina is taken down. To accomplish this, he must go undercover and join Patrovina's gang.

Action
Crime
1h 46m
John Irvin
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold, Sam Wanamaker, Paul Shenar
Why it ranks

Schwarzenegger trades his usual jungle warfare for a sleek, violent infiltration of the Chicago underworld. This project stands out for its brutal efficiency and the sheer charisma of its lead navigating a landscape of bullet-riddled crime cinema.

8
1986 Action in The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
The Karate Kid Part II
1986

Summoned by his dying father, Miyagi returns to his homeland of Okinawa, with Daniel, after a 40-year exile. There he must confront Yukie, the love of his youth, and Sato, his former best friend turned vengeful rival. Sato is bent on a fight to the death, even if it means the destruction of their village. Daniel finds his own love in Yukia's niece, Kumiko, and his own enemy in Sato's nephew, the vicious Chozen. Now, far away from the tournaments, cheering crowds and safety of home, Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the cost of honor is life itself.

Adventure
Drama
1h 53m
John G. Avildsen
Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Danny Kamekona, Nobu McCarthy
Why it ranks

By shifting the stakes from a local tournament to an ancient blood feud, this sequel expands its emotional and physical scope. The film successfully matures the franchise by grounding its choreographed combat in a more atmospheric and high-stakes cultural setting.

7
1986 Action in Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Maximum Overdrive
1986

When a comet passes close to the earth, machines all over the world come alive and go on homicidal rampages. A group of people at a desolate truck stop are held hostage by a gang of murderous 18-wheelers. The frightened people set out to defeat the killer machines…Or be killed by them.

Horror
Action
1h 38m
Stephen King
Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Yeardley Smith
Why it ranks

Stephen King’s singular directorial effort is a cacophonous, heavy-metal symphony of motorized mayhem. There is a deranged, chaotic energy in its mechanical carnage that ensures the film remains an unforgettable relic of mid-eighties excess.

6
1986 Action in The Delta Force (1986)
The Delta Force
1986

A 707 aircraft jetliner, en route from Athens to Rome and then to New York City, is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists, who demand that the pilot take them to Beirut. What the terrorists don't realize is that an elite team of commandos have been called in to eliminate all terrorists on the jetliner.

Action
Thriller
2h 9m
Menahem Golan
Chuck Norris, Lee Marvin, Martin Balsam, Joey Bishop
Why it ranks

Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin anchor this unapologetic display of patriotic firepower and stunt-heavy spectacle. It captures the visceral, unrefined spirit of Cannon Films at the absolute height of their global action influence.

5

He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod. He is immortal.

Adventure
Action
1h 56m
Russell Mulcahy
Christopher Lambert, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, Sean Connery
Why it ranks

This time-jumping epic marries a Queen-infused soundtrack with sweeping swordplay to create a unique urban fantasy mythology. Its visual flair and unapologetically grand scale turn a tale of immortal combatants into a visually arresting cult phenomenon.

4
1986 Action in Cobra (1986)
Cobra
1986

A tough-on-crime street cop must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far reaching plans.

Action
Crime
1h 27m
George P. Cosmatos
Sylvester Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen, Reni Santoni, Brian Thompson
Why it ranks

Stallone embodies a gritty, stylized minimalism in this quintessential example of the decade's hard-edged urban noir. Every frame is saturated with a grim, hyper-masculine intensity that prioritizes explosive iconography over nuanced restraint.

3

Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.

Action
Comedy
Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong
Why it ranks

John Carpenter gleefully dismantles the traditional hero archetype within a neon-soaked fever dream of martial arts and mysticism. It is a brilliant, subversively funny subversion of Reagan-era machismo that feels more inventive with every passing year.

2

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.

Action
Drama
Why it ranks

Tony Scott defines the eighties aesthetic through sun-drenched cinematography and high-octane aerial choreography. This film radiates a kinetic energy that elevates military recruitment to the level of operatic pop-culture art.

1
1986 Action in Aliens (1986)
1986

Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.

Action
Thriller
Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser
Why it ranks

James Cameron delivers a masterclass in escalating tension, transforming Ridley Scott's claustrophobic horror into a thunderous military operation. Its seamless blend of practical effects and tactical adrenaline remains the gold standard for big-budget sequels.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The action movies of 1986 represent a pivotal shift towards high-production spectacles that combined intense martial arts, sci-fi elements, and bold storytelling. This year saw the emergence of blockbuster formulas that emphasized bigger explosions, striking visuals, and engaging character-driven narratives, setting a benchmark for modern action cinema.

James Cameron's 'Aliens' is acclaimed for masterfully combining spine-chilling science fiction with relentless action, featuring high-stakes combat against extraterrestrial threats. Its innovative special effects and gripping storyline revolutionized how sci-fi action films were made.

'Top Gun' redefined the action genre by mixing high-octane aerial dogfights with dramatic romance and strong character arcs. Its iconic soundtrack, stylish visuals, and charismatic performances set new standards for 1980s action dramas, inspiring countless imitators.

Yes, 'Big Trouble in Little China' uniquely fuses action with comedy and fantasy, delivering a quirky adventure full of martial arts, supernatural forces, and witty dialogue. Similarly, 'Highlander' blends fantasy with action through immortal warriors battling for supremacy, showcasing the era's genre experimentation.

'The Karate Kid Part II' continued its focus on martial arts with heartfelt storytelling and impressive fight choreography, while films like 'Cobra' emphasized raw, gritty combat matched with crime thriller elements. These movies highlight martial arts' crucial role in 1986’s action lineup.

Indeed, the 1986 action slate featured crossover sub-genres such as war in 'The Delta Force,' which combines military drama with intense action, and horror-infused sci-fi in 'Maximum Overdrive,' where Stephen King integrates chaotic vehicle attacks with dark comedy. This diversity enriched the action genre's appeal that year.

Films from 1986 harnessed advanced special effects, star power, and genre blending to appeal to international audiences, boosting Hollywood’s global blockbuster dominance. They demonstrated that action movies could mix spectacle with compelling narratives to capture worldwide attention effectively.
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