15 Underrated Action Comedies From the 80s That Are Secretly Masterpieces
The 80s were a goldmine for somewhat cheesy and fun action comedies, but some of the best ones flew under the radar and didn’t get the love they deserved at the time; think of them as hidden treasures in a sea of blockbuster hits.
They might not have made a huge splash back in the day or been on everyone's must-watch list, but that's what makes discovering them now so much fun; it's like finding out a secret that makes you wonder why you didn’t know about these movies sooner.
1. Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%
After faking his death, a New York cop is reborn as Remo Williams, the newest recruit of a secret organization aiming to fight corruption; under the guidance of martial arts master Chun, Remo hones his skills to become a lethal weapon, embarking on a mission to dismantle a corrupt weapons manufacturer.
2. Ice Pirates (1984)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%
In a future where water is the most valuable commodity, a band of rogue space pirates led by Jason steals ice from corporate spaceships; their swashbuckling adventure takes a turn when they kidnap a princess and discover a secret planet that could solve the galaxy's water crisis.
3. License to Drive (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%
After failing his driving test, teen Les Anderson decides to take his grandfather's prized Cadillac for a night out with his friends, leading to a series of comedic misadventures that include a relentless pursuit by his frantic parents and the challenge of impressing his date without getting caught.
4. The Last Dragon (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%
Leroy Green, a martial artist who worships Bruce Lee, embarks on a quest through New York City to achieve the final level of martial arts mastery, "The Glow." Along the way, he must rescue a popular singer from the clutches of an evil music mogul and confront the menacing Sho'nuff, the self-proclaimed Shogun of Harlem.
5. Spies Like Us (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 35%
Two bumbling government employees, Emmett Fitz-Hume and Austin Millbarge, are mistakenly promoted to foreign service operatives and sent on a mission to Soviet Central Asia. Ostensibly a decoy, they unwittingly find themselves responsible for preventing a nuclear war, navigating through their incompetence to become unlikely heroes.
6. Gotcha! (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 31%
Jonathan Moore, a college student and paintball enthusiast, finds himself caught in a real-life espionage adventure while on vacation in Europe. Mistaken for a spy, he must evade the KGB and CIA with the help of a mysterious woman, turning his playful gotcha game into a deadly chase across borders.
7. Ninja Terminator ( 1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%
Three martial arts warriors embark on a quest to recover stolen segments of a statue that are said to hold the key to finding a vast treasure; their journey pits them against a legion of deadly ninjas and a rogue member seeking the power for himself.
8. Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%
In a post-apocalyptic world where frogs have evolved into the dominant species, a virile human survivor is enlisted by a group of militant women to infiltrate Frogtown and rescue a group of fertile women kidnapped by the mutant frog leader.
9. Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%
A singing cowboy in a 1930s B-movie enters a cliché-ridden town, only to break the fourth wall by being self-aware of genre conventions, as he faces off against a corrupt rancher and his henchmen, aiming to bring peace with his quick draw and quick wit.
10. They Call Me Bruce? (1982)
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%
A bumbling Korean man, mistaken for a martial arts hero due to his resemblance to Bruce Lee, is unwittingly hired by the Mafia to transport drugs across the country, leading to a series of comic misadventures.
11. Deathstalker II (1987)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%
A roguish swordsman teams up with a rebel princess to overthrow a tyrannical sorcerer and his clone, navigating through a world of magic, monsters, and treachery in this tongue-in-cheek fantasy adventure.
12. Fantasy Mission Force (1983)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%
During WWII, a ragtag group of operatives is assembled to rescue Allied generals kidnapped by the Japanese, embarking on a perilous mission filled with bizarre obstacles and eccentric enemies.
13. Strange Brew (1983)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
Canadian brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie, in their quest for free beer, unwittingly get jobs at the Elsinore Brewery, where they uncover a plot to take over the company involving mind control, hockey, and a haunted brewery.
14. Aces Go Places (1982)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%
A jewel thief and a bumbling detective team up against a criminal gang to recover a set of stolen diamonds, leading to a series of action-packed and comedic escapades.
15. Real Men (1987)
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Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%
A mild-mannered suburban dad is mistaken for a top government spy and paired with a hardened CIA agent to negotiate an important exchange with aliens, involving a glass of water with special properties.