Action Films of the 70s, 80s, and 90s on Blu-ray!

[WesReviews]

There are threads like this for slasher movies, and giallo flicks... so why not action movies??

This thread will be a work-in-progress, so my apologies if it's not 100% accurate right off the bat.

Also... the definition of what an "Action" movie is, is purely subjective. I've tried to remain pretty traditional in what makes up one... fights, car chases, explosions, gunplay... but I have also lumped in a few that some may consider more "action thriller" or "crime drama" or "sci-fi action" if they have enough of those same elements. Action was HUGE in the 80s especially, so it stands to reason that a few crime dramas and thrillers would amp up the action elements to compete for those box-office and video dollars. Again, purely subjective.

I like action but sometimes, there may be things not on my radar for whatever reason. If there are any glaring omissions, just let me know!

Definition:
A movie whose intent and overall executed tone is to showcase action (gunfire, explosions, hand-to-hand combat, vehicle chases, etc.) for a significant portion of the film's running time.

An action movie has a clear hero, heroes or anti-hero, that sometimes bend or blatantly breaks the rules in order to accomplish his/her/their goal. These heroes and anti-heroes are often current or former police, spies, CIA, FBI, or military personnel.

Violence and a total disregard for property are a big part of the methods used by the hero or anti-hero. A$$es are kicked, bad guys are (generally) killed.

The action movies of this period are generally thought of as being uniquely American, so the focus of this thread will be the American made action films of the time period, as well as select overseas releases which received a significant theatrical or video release targeting American audiences in the United States.

70s
























80s

















































































90s




























































Multi

















Region Free



4K Releases













Upcoming

Low Blow (1986) (Dark Force Entertainment)
Black Cobra (1987) (Terror Vision)
Black Cobra 2 (1989) (Terror Vision)
L.A. Crackdown (1987) (Terror Vision)
L.A. Crackdown 2 (1988) (Terror Vision)
Tornado: The Last Blood (1983) (Terror Vision)
Young Warriors (1983) (Severin Films)

Unreleased

9 Deaths of the Ninja (1985)
Act of Piracy (1988)
Act of Vengeance (1986)
American Hunter (1989)
American Ninja 5 (1993)
American Samurai (1992)
Angels' Brigade (1979)
American Commandos (1986)
Armed Response (1986) (MGM)
Assault on Death Mountain (1999)
Assault on Devil's Island (1997)
Avalanche Express (1979) (Warner Bros.)
Back in Action (1993)
Behind Enemy Lines (1997)
Beyond Justice (1992)
Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection (1990)
Black Sunday (1977) (Paramount)
Blind Rage (1976)
The Blood of Heroes (1989)
Blue Ice (1992) (HBO)
The Blue Lightning (1986) (MGM)
Borderline (1980)
Born American (1986)
The Bounty Hunter (1990)
Bulletproof (1988) (MGM)
Bullies (1986)
Cage (1989)
Cage II (1994)
Caged Fury (1983)
Caribe (1987)
Cartel (1990)
C.A.T. Squad (1986)
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (aka Python Wolf) (1988)
Chain of Command (1994)
Choke Canyon (1986)
Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994)
Cobra Mission 2 (1988)
Cold Steel (1987)
Code Name Vengeance (1987)
Code Name: Wild Geese (1984)
Combat Shock (1984)
Commando Squad (1987)
Cop Target (1990)
Counterforce (1988)
Cover-Up (1991)
Crack House (1989) (MGM)
Cross Mission (1988)
Crying Freeman (1995)
Damned River (1989) (MGM)
Dark Day Express (1989)
Days of Hell (1986)
Dead Bang (1989) (Warner Bros)
Deadly Illusion (1987)
Deadly Stranger (1988)
Death Force (1978)
Death Promise (1977)
Defense Play (1988)
The Delos Adventure (1987)
Delta Force 3: The Killing Game (1991)
Delta Force Commando (1988)
Delta Heat (1992)
Detonator (1993) (Warner Bros/New Line)
Detonator II: Night Watch (1995) (Warner Bros/New Line)
Diplomatic Immunity (1991) (MGM)
DNA (1996)
Double Trouble (1992)
Drive (1997)
El Condor (1970) (Warner Bros.)
Enemy Territory (1987) (MGM)
The Expendables (1988)
Eye of the Eagle (1987)
Eye of the Eagle 2 (1989)
Eye of the Eagle 3 (1989)
Excessive Force (1993) (Warner Bros/New Line)
Extreme Justice (1993)
Felony (1994) (Warner Bros.)
Fifty/Fifty (1992)
Fighting Back (1982)
Fighting Mad (1976)
Final Mission (1984)
Final Score (1986)
The Finest Hour (1992) (MGM)
Firecracker (1981)
Fire Down Below (1997) (Warner Bros)
Firepower (1993)
Firestorm (1998)
Fit to Kill (1993)
Flashpoint (1984)
Florida Straits (1986)
Fortune Dane (1986)
The Fourth Protocol (1987)
The Getaway (1994)
Getting Even (1986)
Ghetto Blaster (1989)
The G.I. Executioner (1971)
The Glimmer Man (1996) (Warner Bros)
Gold Raiders (1982)
Gordon's War (1973)
Gymkata (1985) (Warner Bros)
Hangfire (1991) (MGM)
Hard Hunted (1993)
Heated Vengeance (1985)
The Heist (1989)
Hellbound (1994) (Warner Bros)
Hell Raiders (1984)
Hell Squad (1986) (MGM)
Hell's Heroes (1987)
Hitlist (1989) (Sony)
The Hitman (1991)
Hour of the Assassin (1987)
The Human Factor (1975)
The Human Shield (1991)
Hurricane Smith (1992) (Warner Bros.)
Instant Justice (1986) (Warner Bros.)
The Instructor (1981)
Into the Sun (1992)
Iron Eagle (1986) (Sony)
Iron Eagle II (1988)
The Iron Triangle (1989)
Jungle Raiders (1985)
Jungle Rats (1988)
The Junkman (1982)
Keaton's Cop (1990) (MGM)
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)
Kickboxer 3: The Art of War (1992)
Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor (1994)
Killing Streets (1991)
Killpoint (1984)
Kill Squad (1982)
Kill Zone (1993)
Lady Avenger (1988)
Last Platoon (1988)
L.A. Streetfighters (aka: Ninja Turf) (1985)
Leathernecks (1989)
Let's Get Harry (1986) (Sony)
Live Wire (1992)
Mace (1987)
Man Called Rage, A (1984)
Men of War (1994)
Merchants of War (1989)
Midnight Ride (1990)
Ministry of Vengeance (1989) (MGM)
Mitchell (1975) (Warner Bros.)
Murder at 1600 (1997) (Warner Bros.)
Nasty Hero (1987)
Nate and Hayes (1983)
Nightforce (1987) (Lionsgate/Vestron)
Night of the Sharks (1988)
Night Wars (1988)
The Ninja Mission (1984)
The Ninja Strikes Back (1982)
Ninja Vengeance (1988) (MGM)
No Dead Heroes (1986) (MGM)
No Retreat, No Surrender 2 (1987)
No Way Back (1976)
Off Limits (1988)
On Deadly Ground (1994) (Warner Bros)
One Man Force (1989)
Only The Strong (1993)
Operation Hit Squad (1987) (Lakeshore)
Operation NAM (1986)
The Order of the Black Eagle (1987)
Out on Bail (1989)
The Patriot (1986)
Penitentiary III (1987)
Quicker Than the Eye (1988)
Quiet Cool (1986) (Warner Bros/New Line)
Rage to Kill (1988)
Redemption: Kickboxer 5 (1995)
The Rescue (1988) (Disney)
Rescue Me (1994)
The Retrievers (1982)
The Revenger (1989)
Ricochet (1991)
Run (1991) (Disney)
Rush (1983)
Scorpion (1986)
Shoot To Kill (1988)
Showdown (1994)
Silent Assassins (1988) (MGM)
Silk 2 (1989)
Sitting Target (1972) (Warner Bros.)
Skeleton Coast (1988)
Slaughter in San Francisco (1974)
Sloane (1985)
Snake Eater (1989)
Snake Eater 2: The Drug Buster (1989)
Snake Eater 3: His Law (1992)
Sniper (1993)
Soldier's Revenge (1986)
Spyder (1988)
The Stabilizer (1986)
St. Ives (1976) (Warner Bros)
Street People (1976)
Sudden Death (1977)
Sudden Death (1985)
Sunset Grill (1993)
Survival Run (1979)
Surviving the Game (1994)
Sweet Revenge (1987) (MGM)
Sword of Heaven (1985)
Target (1985) (Paramount)
Terror in Beverly Hills (1989)
Three Kinds of Heat (1987)
Tongs: An American Nightmare (1986)
Too Hot to Handle (1977)
Tripwire (1989)
Twin Dragon Encounter (1986)
Vietnam, Texas (1990) (MGM)
Warbus (1986)
War Bus 2 (1989)
Warrior of the Lost World (1983)
White Fury (1990)
Wired to Kill (1986)
The Zebra Force (1976) (Code Red)

[El_Fez]

Would To Live and Die in LA count? The front half isn't very super-action, but man that back half!

Also, for overseas, you've got:
1990: The Bronx Warriors
Exterminators of the Year 3000
Escape from the Bronx
The New Barbarians
The Man from Hong Kong
Turkey Shoot
BMX Bandits
The Killer
Hard Boiled
(also, you forgot Mad Max, Road Warrior and Thunderdome?!? Heresy!)

Other titles off the top of my head:
Blazing Magnum/Shadows in an Empty Room
Killer Force
Black Mama, White Mama

Also, did you want to get into Kung Fu? We could be here all day if you did. Five Element Ninja, House of Traps, 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Return to the 36th Chamber and on and on. . . . .

[splintersan]

You sir have your work cut out for you.

[Al_The_Strange]

Unless I missed them in the OP, here's some more to consider:

Avengers (1998)
Billy Jack Series
El Mariachi / Desperado
Entrapment
La Femme Nikita (especially since Point of No Return is up there)
Maximum Risk
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
Hard Boiled
Mission: Impossible
Mortal Kombat
Point Break
The Replacement Killers
Ronin (had two releases now)
Rumble in the Bronx
Street Fighter
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy
Vanishing Point

Three Pack with Point of No Return, Domino, and The Long Kiss Goodnight (although one of those is post-2000s).

[WesReviews]

Gah... how the hell did I leave out Point Break?

Thanks, guys!

[Al_The_Strange]

The more I think about it, the more titles I keep thinking of!

I'd also recommend adding Crying Freeman to the list of unreleased ones. It's criminally underrated imo. There is a nice Blu-Ray released in France, but who knows if a NA release will ever happen?

EDIT:
Another thing to add: Van Damme Three Pack: Cyborg, Death Warrant, Double Impact

[mediocre]

Man, I wish Breakdown (1997) would get a release...

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by mediocre

Man, I wish Breakdown (1997) would get a release...

Kurt Russell is superb in that.

[Dragon Ranger]

Raw Deal is available in the UK, I have it but not sure if it is region free or not

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

Raw Deal is available in the UK, I have it but not sure if it is region free or not

It is Region Free, from what I've been told. I probably should make a section for Region Free stuff, I just don't have a whole lot of knowledge about them currently.

[grim_tales]

It's a shame the longer cut of Enemy of the State doesnt seem to be available on BD. Was wondering about Back in Action (1993) too, the one with Billy Blanks

[TripleHBK]

Solid idea for a thread. If I may make two suggestions... first, I'd suggest using [BD] tags with the blu ray database number (for example [BD] 3342 [/ B]) so that each film could be clicked, taking you to it's corresponding database page. Second, and even better in my opinion, would be to use [small] tags instead of [BD] tags so that not only are the covers clickable, but they are also small sized, allowing for a more clean uniform look to the main thread. This also allows more covers to fit on the screen at one time. (there are also [medium] tags as well if you prefer those.) Regardless, this is a fun thread idea so I'm looking forward to seeing it evolve.

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

Solid idea for a thread. If I may make two suggestions... first, I'd suggest using [BD] tags with the blu ray database number (for example [BD] 3342 [/ B]) so that each film could be clicked, taking you to it's corresponding database page. Second, and even better in my opinion, would be to use [small] tags instead of [BD] tags so that not only are the covers clickable, but they are also small sized, allowing for a more clean uniform look to the main thread. This also allows more covers to fit on the screen at one time. (there are also [medium] tags as well if you prefer those.) Regardless, this is a fun thread idea so I'm looking forward to seeing it evolve.

I had considered smaller pics, but seeing them in use in other similar threads, I felt they might be too small. I could be wrong, though. That was just my initial thought on those.

Never used BD tags before, so I will look into it for sure.

Thanks for all the great feedback so far, gang. Keep it coming!

[Tns49]

Note at least Beverly Hill Cops Trilogy (together and separately) was released elsewhere in BD Region Free. Some other titles might have been, but I don't have them.
Trilogy

[monwobbbo]

cool thread but includes to much. Bond is it's own separate catagory as is Kung Fu (at least the asian made ones, the US made ninja movies can stay)

saw many of these films in the theater back in the day and still love them.

[RCRochester]

Ideally, this thread should be split between the 3 decades. Although there's some overlap, 70s action and 80s action have their own styles and quirks plus there are just so many titles I can see the OP getting burned out trying to keep up with all the additions and suggestions.

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by monwobbbo

cool thread but includes to much. Bond is it's own separate catagory as is Kung Fu (at least the asian made ones, the US made ninja movies can stay)

saw many of these films in the theater back in the day and still love them.

Kung-Fu, I do feel like those are generally their own thing, though I think some of the ones made for the US market "feel" different and more actiony. The mainstream type stuff by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, etc.

As for Bond... I had reservations but MGM and UA have always marketed Bond over the years as action, so I figured why not. Seriously, almost every old commercial for Bond series VHS tapes, etc. featured multiple explosions and gunfire. They heavily played up the series' action elements. I think they qualify. I mean, they're much more in line with the typical action movie than they are a spy movie like say, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

[mja345]

A few Region Free or Region A action films on BD overseas:

Extreme Prejudice (Japan): The one entered into the database on here is OOP, but it's been re-pressed in a new edition and is available on Amazon Japan.
The Hard Way (UK)
Judgment Night (Germany)
Unlawful Entry (Germany)
The Getaway-1994 (Germany)
Runaway (Germany)
The Man From Hong Kong (Australia)
Raw Deal (UK)

I own all of them except "Runaway" and can personally verify all of the ones I own play on both my region A player and region free player.

[monwobbbo]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

Kung-Fu, I do feel like those are generally their own thing, though I think some of the ones made for the US market "feel" different and more actiony. The mainstream type stuff by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, etc.

As for Bond... I had reservations but MGM and UA have always marketed Bond over the years as action, so I figured why not. Seriously, almost every old commercial for Bond series VHS tapes, etc. featured multiple explosions and gunfire. They heavily played up the series' action elements. I think they qualify. I mean, they're much more in line with the typical action movie than they are a spy movie like say, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

not saying that Bond films aren't action they pretty much invented the genre. my thought on that was that Bond films get plenty of exposure and have a thread of their own already. wit that i mind why have Bond compete with the rest for attention on this thread.

[xander]

You're missing two of the greatest from 1991.

Stone Cold (Olive release)

and

Harley Davidson and The Marlboro Man (Shout Factory)