Arnold Schwarzenegger is undoubtedly one of the most iconic movie stars of the 1980s. From Conan the Barbarian to Terminator to Predator, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been in a ton of classic action films. But what are the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movies of the 1980s?
The Best 80s Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies
No matter who you are, if you lived through the 1980s, you have a favorite Ahhnnollld Movie! These are what we think are the TOP TEN BEST Arnold Schwarzenegger movies of the 1980s accompanied by our thoughts on each film!
1. Red Sonja (1985)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen starred in the swords & sorcery fantasy Red Sonja movie from 1985, which was a box office failure (though it has developed a cult following thanks to on network and cable TV).
This movie is about a beautiful woman, Red Sonja, who has a violent past. A princess who was murdered and reborn by the devil to be the queen of her own land as payment for his services. Only she does not want to be evil. Her goal in life is to find peace with her past and live happily ever after.
2. Conan The Barbarian (1982)
Some of the best films are ones that you wouldn’t expect to become a classic. This is certainly true for Conan The Barbarian, which was not expected to be as successful as it became when it was released.
It is a film that has become so well known and loved that many people forget it is over 30 years old. In fact, it might be more surprising to know that Arnold Schwarzenegger only spoke 17 words in the whole film.
3. Raw Deal (1986)
One of Schwarzenegger’s more conventional action movies is Raw Deal, a movie about a lowly lawman who gets the opportunity to fake his death to infiltrate a gang of ruthless criminals. Even though Raw Deal is less of a classic than The Terminator and Total Recall, it still offers a lot for fans of Schwarzenegger.
Here is the trailer for the movie:
Though it ranks alongside some of his better films, Raw Deal is relatively unremarkable and didn’t perform well on its initial release.
4. The Running Man (1987)
Schwarzenegger’s movie The Running Man was based on a Stephen King book of the same name. In the movie, you’ll see Arnold Schwarzenegger being thrown into the high-profile, televised, dystopian nightmare gladiator games of the future. Schwarzenegger’s adventure pitted him against some of the most memorable villains that he has faced in his movie career.
5. Predator (1987)
A surprisingly low franchise in critical rankings, it still managed to create its own iconic sci-fi action-horror series that crossed over into comics. John McTiernan’s simple-but-smart sci-fi action horror movie spawned a certifiable franchise of its own.
Here is the trailer for this epic movie:
Predator is a movie featuring Schwarzenegger and one of the era’s most memorable lines.
6. Commando (1985)
Commando is a quintessential action movie, and Schwarzenegger’s role in it contains some of his most memorable quotes. “Thank you. And please, don’t wake my friend… He’s dead tired.”
Blackmailed into an assassination mission, Schwarzenegger must stop at nothing to save his daughter.
7. Conan The Destroyer (1984)
Critics welcomed the movie’s sequel because it was lighter and more adventurous than Conan the Barbarian.
In the second installment of the epic film series Conan, the mighty warrior Conan is tricked into working for a deceitful queen.
Though Arnold Schwarzenegger did not play Conan onscreen again, he has continued to make movies.
8. Twins (1988)
The only one of Schwarzenegger’s 80s movies in which he played a comedy character, Twins also gave a glimpse of the comedic stylings of Schwarzenegger. Not too many people think of Arnold Schwarzenegger for his convincing portrayals of emotion, but Twins was a good example that he could. This movie was a hit.
9. Red Heat (1988)
Recalling Twins, Red Heat was a more comedic venture for Schwarzenegger that fell in line with the more family-friendly approach that he would shift to more in the 1990s.
The film follows a detective and a Russian officer as they attempt to track down a criminal in Chicago.
10. The Terminator (1984)
Need we say more?
The first Terminator movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, would make the actor a superstar almost overnight. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career would never be the same. Terminator would be a major stepping stone in Schwarzenegger’s career.
He’ll be back!
So those are our top picks for the best 80s Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Did your favorite make the cut?
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