Published April 2, 2026 at 5:01 PM EDT.
Dan Girolamo, a graduate of Marist University, has more than 10 years’ experience in writing about sports and entertainment. Dan’s writings can be found in several publications including Digital Trends and SportsCasting.
Dan’s career has seen him interview a number of high profile filmmakers and creators including Brendan Fraser and Jamie Lee Curtis. He also interviewed Miranda Cosgrove and Jai Courtney. Dan is now the Streaming Lead at How-To Geek. Dan watches movies or prays for the New York Knicks championship when he is not writing. Action movies are a timeless genre. In the 1970s, action films were based on gritty realism.
The 1980s brought in the age of muscled lone-wolves and antiheroes. In the 1990s, sci-fi movies and spectaculars were more popular. The 2000s focused on superheroes. Although the genre is evolving, the themes are the same. Tubi is a streaming service that offers free content with ads.
It has a section dedicated to all types of action films. The list includes two movies from the 1980s, featuring some of Hollywood’s most famous actors. Our top pick features an icon playing a vigilante who is hell-bent on vengeance.
3 Road House (19459014)
Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor. I especially love it when he goes through a dramatic physical transformation.
Amazon MGM Studios reimagined the 1989 film Road House (19459018) with Road Houseand the Oscar-nominated actor bulked himself up for the role. Gyllenhaal elevates material but Road House starring Patrick Swayze is the better version. James Dalton, played by Swayze, is the most talented cooler. A “cooler” can be used to refer to “bouncer.” in a sophisticated way. The New York-based Dalton, who is known for his reckless Missouri bars lacking discipline and accountability is hired by the Double Deuce. Dalton’s methods are successful as Double Deuce starts to flourish. His defiance is a major irritant to local crime boss Brad Wesley’s (Ben Gazzara).
Was there ever an alpha that was more masculine? Dalton takes on names and kicks butt. He is not afraid because anyone who enters his area will literally be ripped out of the throat. Dalton is charismatic. He gets the job finished and wins Kelly Lynch over.
I have a problem with his choice of combat training, Tai Chi. There are no bouncers I know who practice Tai Chi outside while shirtless. Swayze is the reason why this training works, but it seems unlikely that any Missouri bartender would use these principles.
Bloodsport 2
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s most important film
Chant along with me — Kumite.
Kumite. Kumite. It’s clear that Jean-Claude Van Damme has always been a superstar. In the 1980s, this was not the case. After years of martial arts competition and bodybuilding, he was trying to make it in Hollywood. Bloodsport (19459018) is what launched his career. Frank Dux, played by Van Damme (born in 19659011), is a martial artist and Army Captain who has been invited to a Hong Kong illegal fighting tournament called the Kumite.
Dux accepts the invitation to participate, but abandons his Army duties, leading investigators to arrest him. Dux should not be concerned about his legal problems. His top priority is to survive an attack from Chong Li, (Bolo Yuen).
Bloodsport (19459018)
is ridiculous to the point of being hilarious. Van Damme is shown in several scenes screaming as he practices his splits. Now, it’s funny to watch. The fight scenes in Bloodsport are still captivating even with all the laughter, particularly those involving an epic antagonist like Chong. Bloodsport’s fight scenes are captivating, even with the laughs.
This is especially true when they feature an epic villain like Chong Li. Van Damme is always a winner for me because of his charisma and athleticism.
One Man on Fire (19459014)
Denzel Washington wants revenge
Denzel is one of the rare actors that can excel in different genres. The dramatic aspect of his acting comes from his stage experience. Washington is most known for his performances in Malcolm X (19459018), Philadelphia (19459018) and Inside Man (19459018). Washington’s role as a hero in action films may have been more memorable than his dramatic roles.
Washington’s charisma is triggered by a good fight scene and a firearm, just as in Man on Fire. Washington plays a Marine who is losing the will to survive in
. In order to drown out his guilt, he drinks alcohol. He survives an attempted suicide. Creasy, in search of work becomes the bodyguard of Pita (Dakota Fanning), daughter of an automaker from Mexico.
Creasy reluctantly bonds with Pita, becoming her swim coach and pseudo father figure. Creasy becomes a killer machine when Pita, his friend and swimming coach is taken and held hostage for ransom. Washington could not have had a more talented action director than Tony Scott.
Scott is known for his fast-paced action, affinity with violence and emphasis on dialogue over the actions. I’m curious to know what Washington could have achieved earlier in his film career had he been involved in more action films. These movies are classics because they’re Washington.
The popularity of free streaming services is increasing
as services such as Netflix raise their prices. In this economic climate, how can anybody afford to pay for each premium streaming service? Tubi offers a lot of free TV and movies. For those who want to watch movies and TV shows for free, there are other options such as Pluto TV, Plex or YouTube.
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