If you hate them, I don't care, I love '80s action movies. Here's my list of the top 15.

1. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
-With a dark story, dazzling visuals, effects that remain impressive today, one of the best original scores of all-time, and a sense of adventure and romance that captures the imagination in all of us, I am proud to say that The Empire Strikes Back tops my list as the greatest sci-fi movie of the 1980s.

2. Aliens
-This masterpiece was my number one favorite movie for a long time. It recently slipped down to number six, but my love for this film will never be extinguished. Great acting from Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, and the rest of the cast really add to the masterful action/sci-fi director James Cameron’s opus of alien terror. Perfectly executed in every way.

3. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
-The absolutely stellar closing to the series. A perfect happy ending that shows us the humanity of the “villain”, exposes the true evil, brings the hero around full-circle, unites the lovers, and lets everyone live happily ever after.

4. Die Hard
-The absolute best straight-up action movie ever made. Incredible acting, witty writing, beautiful cinematography, gritty and violent action sequences, and pitch-perfect direction make this the quintessential action film not only of the ‘80s, but of all-time.

5. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
-Say what you will about this movie, but this is easily my favorite of the Indiana Jones series, and one of my favorites of all-time. When you factor in the loveable Indy, the hilarious Short Round, the ridiculously over-the-top Willie, the frightening Mola Ram, the freaky plot, Steven Spielberg’s perfect direction, John Williams’ classic score, and the breath-taking visuals, this is certainly a remarkable film. I just can’t get enough of that hellish underground cult lair. Truly terrifying. The heart scene actually kind of traumatized me when I was little.

6. The Thing
-John Carpenter’s masterpiece of shocking sci-fi gore and unnerving paranoia. It’s sort of like a science fiction Reservoir Dogs.

7. Near Dark
-Okay, so this one may technically be horror, but with a cast including Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikson, and text-book ‘80s action cinematography, I just couldn’t let this one go unlisted. This also has one of the best scenes ever printed on celluloid, in which the vampire clan pays a nasty little visit to a bar. You know what I’m talkin’ about.

8. The Terminator
-Arnie’s best and one of Cameron’s finest. A true sci-fi landmark. I really don’t think I need to explain my reasoning here.

9. Robocop
-On the surface, Robocop is a violent sci-fi classic, but underneath, it is actually a funny, intelligent, and somewhat brilliant satire on society’s direction. It remains unnervingly relevant to this day. It’s also probably the goriest movie in the genre.

10. First Blood
-Screw Rocky, this is Sylvester Stallone’s finest hour. Yes, it has plenty of gritty violence to go around, but First Blood also has a humanity at its core that really makes it remarkable. The scene where Rambo breaks down at the end is actually very powerful and heart-wrenching. Also, watch carefully – this is one of the few action movies in which the hero never actually kills anyone.

11. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
-My second favorite of the Indiana Jones series (Yes, Raiders is my least favorite. Deal with it.). Arguably the most fun action/adventure movie ever made.

12. Commando
-A corn-ball action classic along the lines of Army of Darkness. Some of the most ridiculous action sequences and greatest one-liners of all-time. “Let off some steam, Bennet.” Ya gotta love Arnie. Possibly the greatest body count action movie ever.

13. Dead Heat
-Okay, so it’s technically a horror/comedy, but it certainly has plenty of sci-fi and action elements, as well. I know tons of people hate this movie, but whatever, I laughed my ass off 90 minutes straight. It had some nice gore here and there, too. What more can you ask for?

14. Predator
-A frightening and bloody sci-fi/action classic. Yes, Arnie and Jessie Ventura are both in it, but don’t expect Commando here. Sure, it’s got some great one-liners, but this really is a very well-made and very scary film. The scene when they first find the skinned corpses is quite freaky and disturbing.

15. Blade Runner
-Probably captures the feeling of a classic film noir better than any other modern movie, yet it is a sci-fi film set in the future. Weird, eh?

Nice list. And in it's honor, I go watch Predator before heading to bed.
Cheers.

Good list, I love Aliens as well.

Hey, we agree on something again. I feel disoriented.

I'm surprised that the Terminator isn't higher.

j.

Where's the Running Man? It fits the action/sci-fi theme AND it would continue the Arnold fetish. Just a thought.

Decent list, although i hate sci-fi and Star Wars in general. I'm a bit curious as to how you can put Temple of Doom over Raiders. I would compare that to putting Godfather III over Godfather II.

You can never go wrong with Die Hard, Predator, First Blood and Terminator

Not true, he kills that cop on the helicopter when he throws a rock and the guy falls from the chopper. Could be one of the best throws in movie history. Rambo is almost a Superman. He rides motorcycles very well, has karate like moves when he breaks out of the jail, can gut a pig while jumping out of a tree, and he has a great arm. He threw that rock from 100 feet away and nailed that dude

Where's Weird Science?

No, no, watch more carefully. That was an accidental casualty - he didn't hit the guy. He hit the chopper (I forget if it was the chopper or the pilot), causing the chopper to shift, which made the guy fall out and die. He never actually hit the guy.

I've only seen The Running Man once, and I remember hating it. But that was a while ago - I need to watch it again.

Sorry, had to edit #15 upon realizing that Total Recall was 1990.

Great list, but dude, Raiders rules all.

I was going to ask you where that one was next.

Oh, and I'm in the small minority with you who actually likes Temple of Doom the best out of the Indiana Jones films, but sorry, I gotta put Raiders after that.

I'm gonna have to check it out again. The guy who died was defintiely not controlling the chopper. he was on the ege of it shooting at rambo. All that said, if Rambo was brought before court he would be charged with killing a cop.