If You Can Name These 80s Action Movies, You Have Too Much Time On Your Hands
- by Ines Morello
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Action movies have always thrilled us and taken us for a joyride over the years. The 1980s brought us many action films that included interesting hair, fun music, and classics starring Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, and other greats we won't name here because you've got to guess the names of their films in this quiz! The films of this era have inspired many quotes we still remember today. Plus, those of us who were raised in the '90s and '00s got stuck watching these films with our parents, older siblings or cousins, and they made us love them, too!
With the rise of Netflix, we've also clicked on a few random movie titles here and there. The 21st century also gave us many remakes of old classics, sequels to films that were a big deal in the 1980s, and have given us '80s nostalgia shows that use references to the films we're about to quiz you on right here. But anyway, if you know the films we're about to mention here, you're either a Gen X-er with a nostalgia complex, a movie buff with a specialty in steampunk and hairspray, or someone with way too much time on his or her hands! Let's get started!
Name the film
From a Saturday Night Live sketch, these characters are on a "mission from God" to save the Chicago orphanage where they were raised. They're trying to get redemption because one of the brothers is a paroled convict. The brothers must get their old band together and fight those who are charging their orphanage an expensive property tax. Throughout the film, they fight neo-Nazis, a mysterious woman trying to chase them, and a country band. It's classic comedy action film known as...
Once upon a time, Bruce Willis had hair. Which film do we see it in?
An NYPD detective ends up in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. He wants to make up with his wife at her company's Christmas party. Once the detective gets to the party, a German terrorist named "Gruber" interrupts it. Gruber is trying to teach the company's executive a lesson in greed. He demands codes so he can steal $640 million in bonds. In the end, the detective is part of the team that saves the day (and he reconciles with his wife).
Where have you seen this scene?
This scene is from a 1978 British-American sequel to a film about a well-known, beloved American hero. In this film, an alien named "Non" is the enemy of someone we all know and love. Non forces the President of the United States to surrender to him, and two journalists are sent to Washington, DC to cover these events. However, one of the journalists has a secret identity, and the second one has suspicions about him. All is restored in the end, though. What film is this?
This 1980s action film spawned reboots. Name it!
Set in a futuristic dystopian version of Detroit, Michigan, the city's mayor signs an agreement with Omni Consumer Products (OCP) so it can control the city's police department. OCP also agrees to develop rundown parts of Detroit to turn them into Delta City. The vice president of OCP turns a man into a cyborg after he's selected for the program. The cyborg is tasked with three prime directives, but the fourth is classified. In the end, the cyborg's humanity is partially restored.
This is a sequel to which action-comedy classic?
This film is a classic that we all know and love because it stars Bill Murray (pictured here) and gave us a story that gives us hope. Set in New York City, this team is sued for the property damage caused by their efforts to save the public. They split up after closing their business. One day, a child's carriage is moved by nothing, so someone calls the team, and they can start saving the world again. This film is...
Where have you seen this man?
This Australian film is a sequel to another film that still resonates with many of us today. (In fact, if you've seen Stranger Things, there's a reference to one of the characters during the entire second season.) A man roams Australia as a post-apocalyptic wasteland and has to scavenge for food and resources. The main protagonist is left for dead, and his enemies even kill his dog! He's left alone and later reminisces about the attacks he faced. This movie is...
There's no way you haven't seen this film. Can you name it?
In 2029, a cyborg assassin is sent to 1984, but a human soldier named "Kyle" also arrives. The cyborg starts murdering women named "Sarah Connor" by looking them up in the phone book, and Kyle saves the last one in the area. Kyle and Sarah are arrested, and the police accuse him of being paranoid. Unfortunately, the cyborg arrives and attacks the police station where he's held, proving them wrong. Kyle puts a pipe bomb on the cyborg but dies in the process.
You've gotta know what film THIS is!
Based on a story about a Vietnam veteran, this 1980s action film is actually a sequel. The public is concerned that several prisoners of war (POWs) may have been left in Vietnam after the war has ended. To quell the public, the government has authorized a solo infiltration. The main character is serving a sentence and agrees to be the man for the job so he can get a pardon. He finds POWs and demands that the search for these men continues.
What movie is this bodybuilder from?
Based on 1930s pulp fiction, this character is from a fictional world of savagery and dark magic. The man in question wants to avenge the death of his parents, caused by the villain and snake-cult leader Thulsa Jones. Our brave hero disguises himself as a priest but is then caught and tortured. Just when he's about to die, a man discovers him and takes him to a place where warriors and kings are buried. The main character prevails in the end.
Where have you seen this argument?
This film is a part of a saga that's still going on! The film's title is a reference to the main actor's declaration that he wouldn't play that part again. A spy has to go back to the gym to get in shape because of orders from his superior, M. Meanwhile, an evil villain had an eye operation so he could have the same retinal scan as the President. Our spy finds out, detonates a bomb, and saves the day. What's the name of this film?
Where have you seen this happy guy?
A cop from Detroit visits a part of Los Angeles so he can find out who killed his best friend, Mikey. The cop has to take a vacation because his supervisor disapproved of him investigating the murder due to his friendship with the victim. Our cop ends up discovering a smuggler who uses coffee grounds to pack drugs and kills the man who murdered Mikey. His boss in Detroit ends up coming up with a story that makes everyone look good. This movie is...
Where have you seen this city?
At the time of this film's release, it was the fifth-highest grossing film. It's a reimagined version of a cloaked superhero. At the time, it was negatively reviewed because it was too dark, but it's now considered successful. In fact, when this superhero was revived in films, it was evident that this previous iteration was a major influence. Mayor Borg orders his most trusted detective to make his city safer, and they have to look for a dark-winged vigilante we know as...
Now, let's test your knowledge of Hong Kong action films.
According to Jackie Chan, this is the best film he ever made. In order to arrest crime lord Chu Tao, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force is planning a sting operation. An inspector is stationed in a shantytown, and local criminals spot him and his officers, so they shoot them down. The sting operation goes wrong, and Chu Tao vows revenge. Later, it turns out that a corrupt cop was trying to kill the inspector, who must capture Chu Tao so he can get justice.
Where have you seen this tough crowd?
This is a sequel to a successful 1979 film that was a franchise many of us have grown up with. Ellen Ripley wakes up after 57 years of stasis, and no one believes that she was forced to take her ship down after a certain creature killed everyone in it. To top it off, her ship contained eggs that are now forming a colony. Ripley and her fellow humans prevail in their mission, and they go into hypersleep to get back to Earth.
Where have you seen this adventurous group?
Our favorite archeology professor starts his adventure at the age of 12 when he finds a cross that he also comes across later as an adult. He's given his first fedora. He learns that his father is missing and goes to his father's co-worker (Elsa) for help. The professor discovers that Elsa is working with the Nazis and using him to find the Holy Grail. He's able to rescue his father, and although he finds a coveted artifact, he lets it go.
Where have you seen this serious character?
A detective named "Callahan" takes down some mobsters and gets a new partner, Al Quan. Their first assignment is to investigate the death of a rock singer whose body was found in a trailer while he was filming something. The two detectives apprehend other criminals and see Callahan's name on a list. This is how they find out there's a game in which several people try to guess celebrity deaths. Callahan lures his would-be killer to a pier and takes him out. This movie is called...
What De Niro film is this?
A bail bondsman named "Eddie Moscone" talks a bounty hunter (Walsh) into taking accountant Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas back to L.A. so that he won't default on some payments. Moscone describes the job as easy, but it gets complicated since the FBI is tapping the lines of pertinent people. Meanwhile, Walsh demands a payment of $100,000. When he doesn't get paid on time, Walsh resorts to hitchhiking and stealing cars so he can get the job done. Things turn out well but different from what's expected.
Where have you seen Arnold do this?
A mob informant is protected by the FBI, but he and those protecting him are gunned down. Meanwhile, Kaminsky is a small-town cop that once worked for the FBI, and they give him a possibly illegal task: infiltrate the mob organization and be reinstated into the FBI if he follows through. Kaminsky then fakes his death. Though his infiltration into the mob goes well, there's an FBI leaker who comes close to blowing his cover. In the end, Kaminsky gets what he wants.
Where have you seen this armed fellow?
He's a former cop who lost his family and is motivated to get rid of corruption in his beloved city, often coming to odds with superheroes and others who deem him a crazy vigilante. Meanwhile, the public sees him as mysterious, and his methods are a source of debate amongst the populace. This man goes on a mission to fight the Yakuza and wins but is later betrayed. In the end, we see him in his hideout, aware that he'll serve justice his way.
Where have you seen them?
This film became a cult favorite because it used 1960s camp style on purpose. It's based on a comic and did really well in the UK. Its soundtrack features music by Queen. In the film, an Emperor states that he'll play with the Earth, then destroy it via a series of natural disasters. A football star boards a plane that gets hit by a meteorite, and he's able to crash-land it into the home of a scientist, starting the film's plot. This film is...
This fight scene is from...
Undercover cops Kane and Pierce are about to meet someone who could help them crack their case. Shortly after agreeing to this, one of the undercover cops turns up dead in a pretty gruesome way. Kane ends up killing one of his partner's assailants in public view and goes rogue in order to get vengeance. Pierce's girlfriend decides she'll avenge her boyfriend's death. Eventually, Kane is able to avenge his partner's death, thanks to some smart thinking and serious moves.
Where have you seen these campers?
This film is known for giving Chuck Norris a chance to work on his comedic chops. Two soldiers constantly go on adventures but often end up with nothing to show for them. A woman named "Patricia" befriends them. We find out she's looking for a treasure in Central America. We discover that Norris's character can't use firearms properly, and he destroys a bar by himself while also beating every assailant in it. Some critics accused the film of copying Indiana Jones a little...
Yep, this scene is from an action movie!
A group of jousts travels by motorcycle and is led by a guy who calls himself "King William" even though his real name is "Billy". The group has problems because it's trying to live according to Arthurian ideals despite their modern lifestyles and their financial problems. Billy gets injured during a stint in jail, and his kingdom is challenged. Meanwhile, a member of the troupe comes to terms with being gay. Billy dies, and the troupe remembers their fallen king. This is...
Where have you seen these soldiers?
A squad of nine men in the Louisiana Army National Guard go to rural bayou country for weekend maneuvers and find that they become hunted after antagonizing Cajuns. It all starts when their Texas transplant becomes disgusted with the corruption of his local squadron's behavior. The nine men quickly get lost in the swamp and steal boats. Quicksand, murderous locals, and booby traps start injuring or killing off the soldiers until a small trail leads them to a less hostile territory.
What action flick is this?
Based on a novel by former U.S. Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich, this film gives us the details of how far Secret Service agents go so they can catch a counterfeit criminal. Two agents, Hart and Chance, are tasked with apprehending a counterfeiter. Hart is killed and replaced by agent Vucovich. They have very different ways of working, and one of them becomes unethical in his approach. Vucovich seemingly completes his mission but not until blood has been shed on both sides.