12 Notorious 80s Action Movies That Are So Bad That They're Good - Don't Lie We've All Enjoyed Them!

[@nicksloan8533]

I loved the list. But disagree that Big Trouble in Little China was a good bad movie. That movie is excellent in every way.

[@SG-jq5vt]

Big yes.

[@rorybryant3282]

I was about to say the same thing.

[@faust8569]

Agreed

[@Between_Scylla_and_Kharybdis]

Facts

[@punksnotdeaditsconservativ1693]

I was just about to say the EXACT SAME THING! No way in hell Big Trouble in Little China should be on this list, because it's a good good movie.

[@ThunderWarrior01]

Big Trouble has never ever been classified as a bad movie until recently

[@freaktemple]

Big trouble in little China is a masterpiece , what you are you talking about, one of carpenters finest films , next to escape from New York and the thing

[@neohernandez7789]

100%..

[@barrsjohnson3168]

1000% agree with you

[@ExMachina70]

10000% agree with you

[@SabrinaYoung1967morgauseblue]

I agree. Big Trouble in Little China has been one all my all-time favorite movies since the 80s. Can’t count how many times I’ve watched it over the years. Same can be said for Carpenter’s other classics The Thing & Escape from New York.

[@edwarddore7617]

My favorites in order: The Thing, EFNY, They Live, BTILC, Halloween...

[@pmiles7093]

Loved Big Trouble in Little China!!

[@billthemad5414]

Who doesn't love mortal combat

[@nalettefamily8620]

Me too !!’ It’s awesome

[@narihuaricumachina7131]

HEll YEAH!!

[@defundhollyweird8675]

Big Trouble in Little China does not belong on this list. This is one of the greatest action comedies of all time and a John Carpenter classic!

[@timwhite5562]

Big trouble in little China was great. And without it we wouldn't have ever gotten the Mortal Combat games. Or at least it wouldn't have looked the same.

[@40g33k]

Raiden

[@mrjrb561]

@@40g33k Not just Raiden, Jack is Cage, Wang is Liiu Kang, Lo Pan is Shang Tsung and so on.

[@CyclopsWasRight616]

what's Mortal Combat ?

[@edwarddore7617]

Big Trouble is definitely Toasty!

[@Someguy-my3he]

I'm glad to see "Enter the Ninja" here. Cheesiest martial arts movie ever, and that's a real accomplishment!

[@timwhite5562]

Every time I try to talk about the actor that plays the maniac cop, i can only reference the "you broke THAT jaw?" Line from Tango and Cash.

[@gottmituns3225]

ROBERT Z'DAR played in the role of Maniac Cop first and second part

[@HB-C_U_L8R]

I love The Wraith. It is High Plains Drifter with cars.

[@SteveBerryhill]

4:35...The proper phrase is 180 degrees. Meaning diametrically opposed. 360 means a full rotation to the same spot.

[@nikkishottreadz9227]

I absolutely love Big Trouble Little China.. super funny.. Kurt did great in dat role..

[@Omniblade_Gaming]

There’s a lot of films here that I truly enjoyed and loved. Big trouble in little China is a classic, enter the ninja one of my favs

[@j.vinton4039]

The Barbarian Brothers is still a guilty pleasure from that time period.

[@dontaetrowell5011]

Guilty pleasure period!!! Been trying to find it digitally.

[@bazookajoe6133]

I remember watching Barbarians and laughing my ass off. If that movie had anything, it was comedic genius.

[@ExMachina70]

And they were smart about it. They knew they were making a B flick, and played it out perfectly.

[@phatchick96]

Thank you for adding Hell Comes To Frogtown to the list! "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was comedy gold and the whole movie was funny as hell! One of my long-time favs!😂

[@helioselexandros]

Chopping mall is one of my all time favs. Nothing beats a cheesy 80s/90s movie in my house

[@thebrownbaldy]

My God, I miss 80s action movie, no politics, no agendas, just all out fun and entertainment.

[@priuss6109]

100%

[@jamesonpatrolagain6975]

Phukin A Maaannn

[@chamboyette853]

For the most part I agree. Once in a while there were some agendas against communism but it was nothing like today.

[@dalebaker9533]

@@chamboyette853 I don't agree that being anti-communist is anymore political than being anti-Nazism or anti-fascism. You wouldn't say Indiana Jones Raiders of the lost ark was political or Indiana Jones and the last Crusade was Political and they were anti-Nazi and Nazism is a political ideology just like Communism.

[@ericwitt4359]

@@dalebaker9533 The difference is that nazism aims to exterminate a certain race. Also communism is much more widely held. So it isn't quite the same thing.

[@Rob_1776]

I'd rather watch any! Of these movies than anything today! Especially Big Trouble In Little China!

[@hairlip123]

I've watched Big Trouble in Little China more times than any other movie in my life

[@matthewvolb94]

It was absolutely a phenomenal movie the only reason it did bad in the box office is because they didn't know how to advertise it being it was so many different genres an action comedy, and horror

[@highstrangeness2396]

It is my favorite movie by far, second would be biozombie.

[@leonardskeonard8237]

Me too 🐕

[@guysmiley4830]

Same here. It was one of the few we had on tape as a kid. It's on my hard drive now. I think my last watch was about 2 years ago.

[@dabigork]

Watched everything on this list i so miss the 80's

[@somepigsneverlearn]

Hell yeah Kurt Russell's role as Jack Burton was remembered! I still have the shirt from when I dressed as Jack for a Halloween party! I wear it in public to this day and still get compliments.

[@sowhat9571]

Found Maniac Cop last week at a charity shop. Absolutely loved! Planning to start a collection of these bad/good movies.

[@apurugganan]

Uh oh...a flick fest every year on Halloween?

[@saku0207]

I was a kid in the 80s. Enjoyed all these movies ❤

[@rzrhed8728]

I saw Basket Case in the theater! I was 12, they gave out paper surgical masks because it was so bloody you'll probably get some on you!! 😄

[@55Quirll]

Loved, his brother's name was Belial I believe. The way he/it moved was hilarious. The sequels were so so.

[@40g33k]

Cannon made some great, cheesy 80s/90s flicks.

[@pjackson5924]

Yeeeessssss! I am not alone. You can add, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai and Night of the Comet, to name two more.

[@maloydonedidit2903]

As a genx'r I grew up watching these movies and they are fantastic even today, although dated 40 years later. That said millenials and later are going to wonder what the producers and directors were probably thinking making these.... I can tell you that most of these movies were most likely fueled by specific types of substances that were VERY prevalent in the 80s.

[@kennetheaton1728]

The other thing to consider is that this was the same period as the rise of cable (HBO, Cinemax, etc.) as well as Video stores, which created a big upswing in the need for more movies to show. Suddenly, even movies that completely flopped at the box office could become big hits on Video.

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

​@@kennetheaton1728Similar to what is happening in streaming nowadays.

[@apurugganan]

@@jesseowenvillamor6348 The straight-to-video schlock is now straight-to-streaming

[@thing1thing2themediamaniac43]

I'm a Millenial and love these kinds of films mabey it's because I was born in 1987

[@frankcastle4435]

The Wraith was one of my favorites

[@2854Navman]

Enter The Ninja, Christopher George's death scene, one of the greatest death expressions ever LOL.

[@jameshyatte7230]

Big Trouble in Little China is a classic in every way, my favorite Kurt Russell movie ever and he made a ton of them.

[@pierrerobertjimenez7802]

Schwarzenegger in Commando I thought would have made the list. True classic for one-liner hilarity and the one-man destruction of an entire third world army.

[@ObiWanGinobiliTopFan]

Good point! That movie definitely fits the so bad it's good category.

[@figuenew]

But Commando is so incredible it's amazing!

[@apurugganan]

Shows how it can be done with just a backpack and a grenade launcher. Just find a tool shed and you're *gold*

[@thecedarriversnag]

Greatest father day movie ever made though.

[@murrayshekelberg9754]

Let off some steam, Bennett

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

So totally awesome dude!

[@Exodus26.13Pi]

Delta Force

[@SuperAlphaMale]

I grew up watching these movies in the 80s..loved the compilation.. My fav was The Wraith, Basketcase & Big Trouble in Little China ❤

[@HockeyBB]

You forgot Flash Gordon. Love that movie. I’ll pull it out every now and then and watch out. But I was glad to see Big Trouble in Little China.

[@edwarddore7617]

Flash... ah ah!

[@Mr402TA]

RIP David Paul, The Barbarians won't be forgotten.

[@SophiaPerpetua]

Eva LaRue in that film was a fun character too.

[@ceravix7132]

Oohhh!!! I forgot about Wraith! Thanks for the reminder.

[@cut_wise]

Good list but kind of unbelievable that Dead Heat isn't on there. It checks every box and then some in my opinion. Also its a fresh approach to the zombie genre. Honestly one of my favorite movies from the 80s for sure

[@ShadowCthulhu]

Dead Heat would definitely fit this list

[@danielmiller3596]

Seriously!

[@oodo2908]

Hell Comes to Frog Town has the best make-up I've ever seen. No A movie I've seen has topped it, and CGI doesn't come close. I think any movie with Roddy Piper is good.

[@SophiaPerpetua]

They Live was excellent.

[@oodo2908]

@@SophiaPerpetua Yeah. The Elites cancelled that movie FAST. It slipped through and made it to theaters. Sales were good, people loved it. And then it disappeared from theaters in a matter of weeks. If you like They Live, there was real sneaker called 'Society' made in 1989, directed by Brian Yuzna.

[@kratoscraken5614]

The 80's was the best of times 👍

[@SophiaPerpetua]

Big Trouble in Little China is not in the "so bad it's good" category. It's actually an excellent comedy martial arts film that holds up all these years later. Fantastic movie. Way better than most of what passes for comedy these days.

[@QuixoteX]

The Barbarians was hilarious, but I haven't seen it in decades.

[@BossRossTube]

Thank u for taking me back Amazon prime here I come

[@Killjoy357]

This is why I love this channel! Thank you for these cheese nuggets.

[@iangarrett3308]

Big Trouble in Little China is an absolute CLASSIC!!!! Hell comes to Frog Town another classic, anything with 'Rowdy Roddy' Piper in it you know it's going to be good!!!! Other cheezy B-Movie cult classics that I recommend: Killer Klowns from Outer Space I come in Peace The Boogens C.H.U.D. - Cannibalistic-Humanoid-Underground-Dwellers 'Q' - The Winged Serpent Xtro Krull The Beast Within Thanks for sharing!!!

[@christinacolasanto530]

Great Job. Comforting voice. A few more hidden gems for your list: SCREWBALLS1-2,MEATBALLS 1-4, STREET TRASH,MEET THE FEEBLES, HOUSE(1977) NUKE 'EM HIGH(THE SAME TROMAVILLE AS THE TOXIC AVENGER)😂

[@lesliesauceman8093]

Big Trouble in Little China is my favorite movie of all time! It's not bad in any way!

[@jedward635]

Every movie on this list is far superior to 95% of the “good” movies Hollywood puts out today.

[@bobmalugha8970]

Can't beat Krull a true guilty pleasure

[@mattiassjoquist5042]

Bah, The Barbarians is _truly_ a memorable masterpiece. =)

[@hosiebushiv1481]

"The Wraith" and "Big Trouble in Little China" don't belong on this list! However, I loved watching the scenes from these. I'm not mad at you. 😊

[@michaelschmitt3015]

Toxic Avenger even went on to have its own cartoon in the 80's.

[@2854Navman]

Love The Wraith, great car movie! 👍👍

[@SirSmoldham]

Amazing video... and premiering on my birthday, one I share with the Barbarian Brothers (David was a hell of a photographer also). I love these kind of movies, having worked with Sam Firstenberg, Don Jackson and finding Jim Wynorski a fun guy. I was even on the set of "Big Trouble in Little China," having worked with a lot of the martial artists involved. I'm honored to have had a few connections to a lot of these unsung epics.

[@michaelsmyth3935]

The Barbarians....a must see. FROGTOWN!!! Nuff Said.

[@Jvstinhw]

The Barbarians is easily in my top 10 of all time

[@kirktate647]

Big Trouble is simply great, period. But the rest of the list is spot on!

[@seanjagdeo8005]

The Wraith,Big Trouble in Little China and Maniac Cop are classics.

[@sleeperyjeemtoybox]

Ahh, the glory days of Betamax, score 10/12 myself with Ninja Terminator and The Wrath missed. Still got my Toxic Avenger cassette sitting with the DVD on my wall and Toxie's sotatoys figurine mint in box. Aggrieved that Sgt. Kabukiman isnt on your list, but lets be honest Troma is a class all to themselves.

[@AmityvilleFan]

Kabukiman is '990s, not '980s. With this effort, we could put Mutant Blast on the list.

[@danschumacher5427]

Toxic avengers 4 was written by stan lee

[@danielmiller3596]

Beta was better than VHS.

[@tuscanman100]

The Wraith is a great movie! NOT BAD!

[@katiemaycosplay]

Dude... When the frog hooker died I actually cried lol

[@ThunderWarrior01]

Big Trouble In Little China is not a so bad it’s good..it’s a so good it’s excellent

[@brorjordas1979]

So bad that...what?! Dunno.. I absolutely love The Wraith. Chased that one on DVD for a very long time before finding it. Used to watchnit on VHS as a kid and totally fell for it. Still totally badass of a flick! And way cool to see also The Toxic Avenger! Another one on VHS from childhood. Damn good times!!

[@negank3016]

Who ever put Big Trouble in little China on a list of bad movies doesn't know his ass from his elbow

[@allmightamerica7743]

The Barbarians is one of my favorite movies

[@willduke1656]

Great list... Just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cheesy 80's movies..

[@craigsexton7170]

The barbarian Brothers were awesome show to watch back in the 80s when I was in the military in Germany

[@charthers8903]

“Outrageously offensive” saying this about a movie means the entertainment business is dead.. It’s not that you could “get away” with this, people we’re looking for it, they wanted to be entertained not indoctrinated

[@55Quirll]

Back when entertainment meant entertainment and offending people didn't come to mind, in this group mostly laughs 👍

[@phillipstephens4522]

His role WAS remembered for years TO COME?? This is an impossibility! You cannot remember the future. You mean his role WILL BE remembered... SHEEEESH!!

[@abrakahocus]

He's a super cool biker.... On a Enduro! 😆

[@phataguilar7096]

Marvelous Videos yall should do that one movie called "Adventures in Dinosaur City" lmao anybody else remember that video?

[@GeordiLaForgery]

I haven't seen any of these except Big Trouble, gonna check out Yor and Frogtown, thanks! 👍👍👍

[@DchanZockt]

Quite a nice List. But to say that Big Trouble in Little China is so bad that it's good, is pretty bold...

[@assafnrose]

Basket case is brilliant. Made me laugh a lot when I first saw it.

[@redboiwalkin]

we need more goodbad movies lol big trouble in lil china, the wraith, my favs from when i was young :D

[@53v3n_L1v3z]

big trouble one of my favorites.

[@alandoran3364]

Thanks for blowing my speakers on my phone

[@leogarcia1761]

GymKata!!! The skill n grace of gymnastics with the deadly arts of karat-a

[@shallendor]

The 80's were the best time to be a teen!

[@Sargonarhes]

Ironically, I just watched Hell Comes to Frogtown for the 1st time last week, cheezy but enjoyable.

[@aaronwalcott513]

Why is this coming to my feed after 2 whole years? Regardless, I'm rather pleased 😂😅😂

[@SophiaPerpetua]

The Barbarians is very clearly tongue-in-cheek, a comedy. So really not in the so bad it's good category. It deliberately has gags and ridiculous characters in it. It's quite a fun movie.

[@Violentic81]

80s action movies are gorgeous. I cannot watch enough the good all Hong Kong action movies. Kung-Fu with 70min just shooting and killing your ass of🥰😍🤩

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

The 80s was Jackie Chan at his best.

[@Violentic81]

@@gjergjaurelius9798 not only him, Jet Lee and Chow Yun-fat, Donnie Yen, Samo Hung, Tony Leug Chiu Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Teresa Mo, Yuen Woo-Ping. 80s was the peak time for blood thirsty action movies

[@Azreal357]

Three of the top of my head are "Troll" (the first one, not the crap second one), "The Golden Child" and "House 2". Out of those I think House 2 is my favorite for how over the top it is.

[@reeanimationgaming1034]

I'm a little insulted that Big Trouble in Little China is on this list, as it is not at all in the same category as the rest of the list..

[@adamhanson4908]

Big Trouble In Little China was a great movie!

[@kaneparker6594]

OOH YEAH MY PARENTS AND KANE AND KEKE OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS REMEMBER SOME OF THESE MOVIE'S

[@evonnefenner7249]

0:17. He smoked 🚬 his BOOTS really 😳 QUICK with that there KICK! LOLOLOL

[@guysmiley4830]

"Keep an eye out stingray" .. "yeah, SEE YA!"

[@Wbroach24]

Whats funny is this has popped up after I watched The Barbarians yesterday just because I saw it on there

[@nealamesbury7953]

Evil dead, and army of darkness. Wal mart scene is hard to beat. !

[@corrbenbernsten4902]

How Dare You put The Wraith on The List

[@PiratePrincessYuki]

Big Trouble in Little China... Awesome! The Wraith.... Awesome! The Barbarians! faf!

[@apurugganan]

The good thing with flicks like _Maniac Cop_ is that they show how awesome one can be on a meager budget. Okay maybe not awesome.

[@jarrettervin7145]

Definitely think Deathstalker and Invasion USA should have got mentions those were great cheesy action movie’s

[@ShadowCthulhu]

I have several of these on Blu-ray myself

[@alexcarrion4450]

Them muscle twins helped pass some boring afternoon 😅 little china classic.

[@oscarzana1728]

Come on! No retreat no surrender? Classic so bad it’s good! Bruce Lees ghost comes to life to Train a boy to fight jean-Claude Van Damme! Awesome!

[@vapoet]

Like we can see in the majority of these comments, Big Trouble in Little China never should have been put on the list. It's budget was good, the acting is exactly what the movie called for and the humor is intentional. Also, focusing in on Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, the narrator misses that he was not the hero. He was the sidekick.

[@odogggg2010]

The Wraith was my joint!!!!

[@vjdrive1230]

Gah, how would even train to catch an arrow shot at you??? If that's a real ability, I salute anyone who can do it💙🤩

[@paulyguitary7651]

I don’t know if this is in this video but I’m gonna drop it here since I saw the brothers on the thumbnail “Chicken bone, chicken bone, lucky lucky chicken bone”