Wizards And Worriers: Yeah! Guns 'n Shit! 80s Action Week: The Top Ten Chucktastic Chuck Norris Movies of the 80s (In No Particular Order)

Image by Frank Browning

The Top Ten Chucktastic Chuck Norris Movies of the 80s (In No Particular Order)

Written by: Bobby Canipe (director of upcoming 80s Influenced Indie Horror Flick, Bloody Bones)

When Eric contacted me about doing a Top Ten Chuck Norris movie list, I immediately started worrying. I mean, how could I narrow it down to only ten? And even then, how could I rank them in order? Well, to be quite frank, I couldn't. Instead I compiled a list of ten flicks that everyone aspiring Chuck Norris fan should watch. Basically, if you're looking to learn a little more about the man, the myth, the legend, these are the films that you should watch. I've scoured near and far to find films that cover his comedy, his action, his romance, and his family side.

Before I begin my list, I'd like to tell you a little bit about what Chuck Norris means to me. A lot of people out there look at Chuck Norris as a joke and the man behind "The Facts." While all those are fairly relevent today, Chuck Norris encompasses much more than that to me. Growing up, my dad was a huge Chuck Norris fan. I used to watch Norris films with him from as far back as I can remember and it was one of the few things that made my dad's eyes light up. I recall these moments as some of the best times of my childhood. While Stallone and Schwarzenegger were doing hyper violent adult action flicks, Norris was a role model for young and old alike. He didn't straddle the line between good and bad, he only killed when it was for the greater good, he didn't curse, and he was 100% American, and proud of it. My dad would tell me about the man behind the action powerhouse. How he helped his mother raise his two younger brothers in Torrance, CA, where his family moved when he was 12, how he joined the Air Force after high school and fought for his country in Korea, and how he was a world class champion in Karate. Where Stallone and Schwarzenegger portrayed these characters on screen, Norris had actually lived it. In addition to all this, he works for many charities, including the Funds for Kids, Veterans Administration National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, the United Way, Make-a-Wish Foundation and KickStart, a nonprofit organization he created to help battle drugs and violence in schools. To me, Chuck Norris was a hero and I looked up to him.

I highly recommend everyone check out the man behind the movies and read his books, research him online, and get to know a little more about him.

Sorry for excursion there, and I hope you're still with me. We'll get on to what you're really here for, so without further hesitation, I present to you........

The Top Ten Chucktastic Chuck Norris Movies of the 80s (In No Particular Order)

1. Invasion USA (1985)

A one-man army comes to the rescue of the United States when a spy attempts an invasion. Chuck Norris portays Matt Hunter, the most American action hero you'll ever see in a flick. He kicks ass and destroys the foreign population.

2. Missing in Action II (1985)

Prequel to the first Missing In Action, set in the early 1980s it shows the capture of Colonel Braddock during the Vietnam war in the 1970s, and his captivity with other American POWs in a brutal prison camp, and his plans to escape. Chuck Norris portays Colonel James Braddock, imprisoned under the watch of a sadistic Vietnamese warlord. Great action, and the best in the series.

3. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)

The archetypical renegade Texas Ranger wages war against a drug kingpin with automatic weapons, his wits and martial arts after a gun battle leaves his partner dead. All of this inevitably culminates a martial arts showdown between the drug lord and the ranger, and involving the woman they both love. Chuck Norris portays J.J. McQuade, a kickass Ranger opposite his nemesis, played by the immortal David Carradine. Very similar in style to spaghetti westerns, it features striking cinematography and the first appearance of the "bearded" Chuck Norris.

4. Code of Silence (1985)

A Chicago cop is caught in a middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take an irresponsible cop down. Chuck Norris portrays Eddie Cusack, in probably his most brutal role. He takes down bad guys and pretty much gives his fellow officers and his department the finger in pursuit of his ultimate goal.

5. Hero & The Terror (1988)

Danny O'Brien is back in action fighting the notorious Simon Moon, also known as The Terror. Three years earlier O'Brien had single-handedly captured The Terror and was called Hero by the people of L.A. Now Simon has escaped and has started killing women again, and O'Brien is the only man who can stop him. Chuck Norris portays Danny O' Brian, UBER cop in a game of cat & mouse with a sadistic serial killer. Not only a great action flick, but a great thriller in it's own right.

6. Firewalker (1986)

A pair of adventurers try to track down an ancient Aztec/Mayan/Egyptian/ Apache horde of gold. Chuck Norris portays Max Donigan, who along with Louis Gossett Jr., are "out for the gold" adventurers always looking for a buck. We get to see a humerous side from Chuck Norris. Very much a rip-off of Indiana Jones style movies, it's suprisingly good, and the chemisty between Norris and Gossett is fun to watch.

7. Silent Rage (1982)

Dan Stevens is the sheriff of a small Texas town who checks out a disturbance which turns to murder. The killer is still in the house and he tries to kill Dan, but Dan stops him and arrests him. The killer attempts to flee, but is shot and killed and is taken to a medical institute. Three doctors, led by Dr. Philip Spires, operates on the killer and brings him back to life using a formula that the three doctors made and the killer is made indestructable. Dr. Tom Halman tries to terminate the killer, but he and his wife are killed. After the two remaining doctors are killed, the killer goes after Dr. Halman's sister Alison, and it's up to Sheriff Dan Stevens to stop him. Norris actually meets his match in the powerhouse serial killer. Great fight scenes, a love scene, and several edge of your seat moments make this a must watch. The killer is also very reminiscent of Michael Myers, sans the mask. The closest you're going to get to a Chuck Norris horror flick.

8. Forced Vengeance (1982)

A casino security guard is forced into violence from when the Hong Kong mob threatens his friends. Chuck Norris portays Josh Randall, and shows off an awesome mustache as he karate kicks a limitless supply of goons. Despite a wooden performance by Norris, his karate skills are in full force and the action is pretty non-stop.

9. The Delta Force (1986)

A 707 aircraft jetliner on its way from Athens to Rome and then to New York City is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists. The terrorists demand that the pilot take them to Beirut. What the terrorists don't realize is that an elite team of commandoes led by Major McCoy (portayed by Norris) and by Colonel Alexander (portayed by the super manly Lee Marvin) as been called into service to eliminate all terrorists on the jetliner and who's involved in the hijacking and try to retake the plane before the terrorists kill all the hostages. One of Norris' most famous roles and most popular movies, and for good reason. This is edge of your seat excitement in a movie that was virtually built for Chuck Norris. If this movie doesn't make you proud to be an American, I don't know what will.

10. The Octagon (1980)

A martial artist must defeat a plan by ninjas to create a worldwide training camp for terrorists. Chuck Norris portays Scott James, a retired Martial Arts champion, fighting an army of ninjas. Reportedly this is the film that kickstarted the 80s ninja craze. We get to see numerous fights between Norris and traditional ninjas in quite possibly the manliest exhibition next to a massively bearded viking eating bacon while driving a dune buggy. If you watched all the movies before this and weren't a Norris fan before now, this one will have you dreaming of a hairy chested Norris carrying you off to take care of you in a secluded mountain cabin. You simply cannot watch this without wanting to pump your fist with excitement.

There you have it guys, my Top Ten Chucktastic Chuck Norris Flicks of the 80s. I hope you enjoy and I hope you check out these flicks if you haven't already. Thanks to Eric King for letting me do this, and to you guys for reading. In conclusion, I will leave you with the 5 Rules for every Chuck Norris movie, followed by some pics of my personal Chuck Norris collection.

Rule 1: Chuck Norris never reloads

Rule 2: Chuck Norris always hits first

Rule 3: You can't run or hide from Chuck Norris

Rule 4: Everything he touches becomes a weapon

Rule 5: Chuck Norris never misses his targets

My Chuck Norris Tattoo (Work in Progress)