1. <The Stone Killer> (1973) Director: Michael Winner Country: USA Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: A gun-heavy detective flick starring Charles Bronson. Unlike the Death Wish series, this has a high volume of shootouts, making it a solid popcorn flick.
2. <Dillinger> (1973) Director: John Milius Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A great piece that homages <Bonnie and Clyde> (1967) well. It captures the crimes of the popular outlaw 'Dillinger' with high tension. Great story and the shootouts are definitely worth a watch.
3. <The Boss> (1973) Director: Fernando Di Leo Country: Italy Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Since it's an Italian crime flick rather than Hollywood, you can tell the director didn't care about commercial appeal and went hard on the intensity of the action. Personally, the best 70s Italian Poliziottesco detective action movie in terms of both story and action.
4. <Street Law> (1974) Director: Enzo G. Castellari Country: Italy Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: This follows the typical Italian Poliziottesco plot of 'private revenge for a crime,' but it's packed with excellent action scenes. If you watch this along with movie #3, you'll realize Italy was pulling off some very advanced action long before the 80s Hong Kong action craze.
5. <The Gauntlet> (1977) Director: Clint Eastwood Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A high-quality piece that was ahead of its time. The plot has some mystery elements that keep it interesting. While most 70s Hollywood action movies focused on a dry tone and restrained action, Clint Eastwood chose to make this a distinctively explosive and hot action movie.
6. <Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon> (1977) Director: Yukio Noda Country: Japan Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: A solid film where you can feel the charm of 'Sonny Chiba' (Golgo 13), a character very similar to James Bond but with a different profession. An entertaining action flick where the scenes and events unfold without a single boring moment.
7. <Nighthawks> (1981) Director: Bruce Malmuth Country: USA Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: An early Stallone film shot before <First Blood> (1982). Since Stallone’s forte is playing a brooding protagonist, it captures the inner conflict of being a detective.
8. <Southern Comfort> (1981) Director: Walter Hill Country: USA Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: Rather than explosive action, this one offers intense dread in the jungle. Not that it lacks action, though. I usually dislike military movies, but I found myself surprisingly immersed in this one.
9. <48 Hrs.> (1982) Director: Walter Hill Country: USA Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5/5) Description: When people think of 80s buddy cop movies, they usually think of Richard Donner's <Lethal Weapon>, but this one is a hidden gem. Plenty of shootout scenes and very fun.
10. <Uncommon Valor> (1983) Director: Ted Kotcheff Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A war action movie about a father going to rescue his son who didn't return from the Vietnam War. Since it's by the director of the famous <First Blood> (1982), the quality is exceptionally high.
11. <Beverly Hills Cop> (1984) Director: Martin Brest Country: USA Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: A detective actioner where you can fully enjoy Eddie Murphy's gift of gab and talent. It's actually quite famous, but I included it just in case someone missed it. It was praised by critics upon release, and honestly, I see why. Humor, action, story—everything is flawless.
12. <Missing in Action> (1984) Director: Joseph Zito Country: USA Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5/5) Description: A decent action movie starring Chuck Norris. Out of the ones I've seen, this was probably the best.
13. <Long Arm of the Law> (1984) Director: Johnny Mak Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: After seeing the action climax, I was shocked a movie like this came out in HK in '84. It's a hidden gem but also famous for being the start of Hong Kong Noir. For a beginning, it's incredibly well-made. Considering this came out two years before John Woo's A Better Tomorrow, it's a true masterpiece.
14. <Heroes Shed No Tears> (1984) Director: John Woo Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: Proof that <A Better Tomorrow> and <The Killer> weren't just flukes. A hidden masterpiece that shows John Woo already had the talent back then. It's a war action movie but the story isn't simple; the overwhelming pain of feeling like you're collapsing in war, plus John Woo's signature explosive shootouts, makes it the best.
15. <Cobra> (1986) Director: George P. Cosmatos Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Stallone's prowess shines here too. A standout piece where the high-tension action and the convincing progression are anchored by Stallone's heavy-hitting facial acting.
16. <Armour of God> (1986) Director: Jackie Chan Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A solid story combined with Jackie Chan's insane stunt action! It's one of my personal favorite Jackie Chan entertainment flicks. Along with <Project A> and <Police Story>, this is a must-watch 80s Jackie Chan classic.
17. <The Hitcher> (1986) Director: Robert Harmon Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A film with mystery/horror elements about a protagonist getting framed for no reason. The original is way more immersive and fun than the remake.
18. <Predator> (1987) Director: John McTiernan Country: USA Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: Very famous, but included for the uninitiated. From the massive opening action to the high-stakes battle against the Predator! The director went on to make the classic <Die Hard>, so if you haven't seen this, it's a mandatory watch.
19. <The Hidden> (1987) Director: Jack Sholder Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Another hidden banger. It's very unique as it mixes SF horror where an alien uses human bodies as hosts to kill and move from person to person.
20. <City on Fire> (1987) Director: Ringo Lam Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: You could call this the original that Quentin Tarantino ripped off for his debut <Reservoir Dogs>. The original itself is a very high-quality film. There were so many masterpieces in 80s HK action.
21. <Total Recall> (1990) Director: Paul Verhoeven Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Famous, but an SF action movie that's fun to watch while wondering if it's a dream or reality. I feel like <Inception> (2010) followed in its footsteps a lot.
22. <Hard Boiled> (1992) Director: John Woo Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: Often overshadowed in Korea by <A Better Tomorrow> and <The Killer>, but Western fans consider this the pinnacle of John Woo's gunplay. It's basically the final evolution of his action style.
23. <Assassins> (1995) Director: Richard Donner Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Lacks a bit of individuality, but as an action thriller, it's flawless. Another Richard Donner action gem alongside <Lethal Weapon>.
24. <Enemy of the State> (1998) Director: Tony Scott Country: USA Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: A pioneer of the fast-paced espionage action that heavily influenced the Bourne series. One of Tony Scott's well-made action flicks.
25. <Collateral> (2004) Director: Michael Mann Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Tom Cruise's performance as a psychopathic killer and the high-tension vicarious experience are insane in this action thriller. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it.
26. <Breaking News> (2004) Director: Johnnie To Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: The peak of Johnnie To's gunplay action. The ending dialogue leaves a deep impression.
27. <Déjà Vu> (2006) Director: Tony Scott Country: USA Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: Personally, I think this is the best among Tony Scott's many action movies. It's not just great as an action film; the SF setup and scenario are creative and high quality.
28. <The Beast Stalker> (2008) Director: Dante Lam Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) Description: Feels like what might happen if Kim Ki-duk filmed an action movie. It's interesting but not perfect, a bit clunky in places.
29. <Drug War> (2012) Director: Johnnie To Country: Hong Kong Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) Description: A masterpiece with excellent tension from mind games and betrayals. This and <Breaking News> are basically the peak of Johnnie To's mainstream gunplay movies.
30. <Lucy> (2014) Director: Luc Besson Country: USA Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) Description: Literally an action movie on a rampage. It's hard to find an action movie more intense than this. For that reason, I personally rate it very highly.
"The cinephiles are roasting the OP for calling blockbusters like 'Predator' and 'Beverly Hills Cop' 'hidden gems,' and the 5-star rating for 'Lucy' basically ended the OP's career."
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