The Essentials: 1987 Action

The year is 1987. Ronald Reagan is at the tail end of his run as the President of the United States. On the other side of the pond, Margaret Thatcher won a third term as the British Prime Minister. The Iran-Contra affair dominated the news cycle making Oliver North a household name. The New York Giants won their first Super Bowl championship at Super Bowl XXI and Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant in front of a reported 93,173 fans at WrestleMania III. And the world of action entertainment would see the release of some of the biggest action movies of all-time.

In this edition of The Essentials, I will take a look at 12 “must see” action films that were released in 1987 that will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year…

• Over the Top (Released February 13, 1987): Flip the switch! Cannon Films and the sport of professional arm wrestling were optimistic that Sylvester Stallone would mean big business for both with the film Over the Top. While the movie was not a box office success, a lot of action fans have a soft spot for this tale of father Lincoln Hawk trying to win the biggest arm wrestling competition in history all while trying to make amends with his estranged son Michael (David Mendenhall, who would go on to make Going Bananas and The Secret of the Ice Cave with Cannon).  The movie features a great performance by the late Robert Loggia and a rockin’ soundtrack featuring Kenny Loggins’ “Meet Me Half Way” and Sammy Hagar’s “Winner Take All”.
• Lethal Weapon (Released March 6, 1987): The movie that would popularize the buddy cop genre featuring loose cannon Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and cop/family man Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) would go on to bring in more than $100 million worldwide. The chemistry between Gibson and Glover is undeniable and it is what made Lethal Weapon such a success. The movie benefited greatly from a top notch performances by Gary Busey, Tom Atkins and Mitchell Ryan. And who could forget everybody’s favorite henchman, Al Leong! Behind the scenes you had the writing of Shane Black and the masterful direction of Richard Donner.
• American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (Released May 1, 1987): Another entry for Cannon Films, the undeniable kings of the action genre during the 1980’s, is the follow up to American Ninja. Both Michael Dudikoff and Steve James would reprise their roles of Joe Armstrong and Curtis Jackson for American Ninja 2: The Confrontation. Considered by some fans as the best film in the franchise, American Ninja 2 followed the winning Cannon formula and served as further proof that Michael Dudikoff had the right stuff to be a much bigger action star than he unfortunately had the opportunity to be in his career. There are so many memorable scenes in this one, but I still say the best scene is the Blind Beggar bar fight! 

• Beverly Hills Cop II (Released May 20, 1987): The original Beverly Hills Cop made Eddie Murphy a box office sensation. So it was no surprise that Paramount decided to cash in and make a sequel. Brigitte Nielsen added an extra boost of action credibility to Beverly Hills Cop II as the beautiful and deadly Karla Fry. Murphy’s Axel Foley would reunite with Rosewood and Taggart to take down the bad guys in Beverly Hills.
• Predator (Released June 12, 1987): If there is such a thing as a perfect action movie, then Predator is it. Arnold Schwarzenegger could pretty much do no wrong at this point and when you team him up with Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura and Bill Duke you have a force to be reckoned with. And what about the Predator character?!? This was a foe unlike any the movie going public had seen before. Predator is a beautiful mash up of action and sci-fi and is a movie that could be watched daily and never get old.
• Robocop (Released July 17, 1987):  I am not sure any action movie has ever featured a more evil rogue’s gallery than Robocop. Guys like Clarence Boddicker and Dick Jones are the cream of the crop where villains are concerned. The violent and despicable things these men do are almost inhuman. Ironically that makes the half man/half machine Robocop, the perfect hero to put an end to their existence. Robocop is an absolutely unforgettable movie with more over the top violence than several movies combined. This one is a masterpiece.

• The Living Daylights (Released July 31, 1987): Timothy Dalton’s first foray as James Bond came in the summer of 1987 in the film The Living Daylights. Dalton would be joined by Maryam d’Abo, Jeroen Krabbé and action movie veterans Joe Don Baker and John Rhys-Davies. The Living Daylights was a worldwide adventure for Bond as he attempted to prevent World War III. The film was a financial success and would allow Dalton to reprise the role of Bond two years later in Licence to Kill. 
• Masters of the Universe (Released August 7, 1987): Loved by some, hated by others… there’s no middle ground when it comes to Masters of the Universe. One thing I don’t think anyone can argue, is by looks, nobody was more suited to play the role of He-Man than Dolph Lundgren in 1987. He looked like He-Man! Budget issues and input from Mattel ultimately hurt this ambitious project for Cannon Films, but I believe they did the best with what they had and while it may not come near some of the other movies on this list, it was still a fun experience and a great piece of escapism.
• The Principal (Released September 18, 1987): When you fast forward a few years and take a look at movies like The Substitute and Only the Strong, it makes 1987’s The Principal feel like it was ahead of its time. James Belushi is an unlikely star to headline and action movie, but he was perfect for the role or Rick Latimer, a screw up in life who gets the job of principal at a school filled with screw ups. When Latimer stands up to the gang that is wreaking havoc at his school, he not only improves the school he improves himself. I feel like this movie is terribly underrated and I’m not just saying that because Louis Gossett Jr is involved.

• Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (Released November 6, 1987): For those of you keeping track, this is the fourth Cannon Films release to make the list. I realize that some may not include Death Wish 4 on their list of top action movies of 1987, but I have a special place in my heart for the Death Wish series and Charles Bronson. And while Death Wish 4: The Crackdown doesn’t come close to the amazing Death Wish 3, the movie still has its share of memorable moments as Paul Kersey wages a one man war on those damn drugs!
• Deathstalker II (Released November 11, 1987):  This cult classic directed by Jim Wynorski has John Terlesky take over the role of Deathstalker. But the leading man is not the only thing that changed from the original to the sequel. The entire vibe of the film was changed as more comedic elements were injected making this the most beloved of the Deathstalker series of films. Deathstalker II was also one of several sword and sandal films released in 1987 including Gor and The Barbarians.
• The Running Man (Released November 13, 1987): 1987 was the year where Arnold Schwarzenegger surpassed Sylvester Stallone as the biggest action movie star in Hollywood. Stallone found himself arm wrestling, while Arnold had the aforementioned Predator AND The Running Man come out in 1987. The Running Man was not a huge financial success compared to some of Arnold’s other hits, but with a cast of colorful characters (including Richard Dawson’s Damon Killian) this movie has rightfully earned a spot among Arnold’s most beloved work.