Casey Chong presents ten must-see Chuck Norris movies…
Chuck Norris has become the subject of memes in today’s era, attributed to his larger-than-life, tough-guy persona that defined his action movies back in the day. A world champion in Karate, Norris made his big-screen breakthrough when he fought against Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon back in 1972. Then came the 1980s, marking a pivotal period for the martial arts legend, whose trademark stoic personality and roundhouse kick made him an icon. His fame and recognition, particularly in the VHS market at the time during his Cannon Films era, resulted in some of his most prominent works in his career as an action star. Here is our list of ten essential Chuck Norris movies…
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
Steve Carver, who previously directed Chuck Norris in An Eye for an Eye, reunited with the actor for Lone Wolf McQuade. The story combines a modern-day gritty Western that feels like a mix of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood style with an action-movie template and martial arts showcase, resulting in one of the most entertaining Chuck Norris movies of his career. He plays Jim “J.J” McQuade, an ex-Marine turned Texas Ranger who prefers to work alone and has a pet wolf as his companion.
David Carradine plays the sneaky main antagonist, an arms dealer and a drug trafficker who is also an expert in martial arts. The movie excels in some of the well-choreographed action and martial arts sequences ever seen in a Chuck Norris movie, notably the climactic showdown between McQuade and Carradine’s Rawley Wilkes.
Code of Silence (1985)
Believe it or not, Code of Silence was originally conceived as a possible fourth Dirty Harry movie before it was ultimately reworked as a Chuck Norris-starring vehicle. The result? One of the best action movies that Norris has ever played, combining his signature tough-guy persona with a surprisingly better-than-expected acting prowess. The latter is especially true, thanks to Andrew Davis’ assured direction in bringing out the best in his actors.
Davis also proves to be adept in merging thrilling action set pieces and gritty crime-thriller mold, despite his movie carrying a relatively small budget of just $7 million. The added high-tech police robot, The Prowler, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art weapon system, looks curiously out of place for the movie’s predominantly grounded realism. Code of Silence proved to be one of the biggest hits for Chuck Norris and even launched Andrew Davis’ career as a prominent director in the action genre.
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
Director Joseph Zito goes all out in Invasion U.S.A., piling up one high body count after another with Chuck Norris laying waste to the bad guys. He’s a retired CIA agent returning to action when his Soviet nemesis, Mikhail Rostov (Richard Lynch), launches a terrorist attack against the United States. Norris’s one-man army is like a dream come true for the action fans, particularly for those who enjoy all things 1980s excess.
The action extends from Norris’s usual martial arts display to plenty of gunfights, explosions and chases, with the Florida setting becoming a battleground of good vs. evil. Invasion U.S.A. is silly and over-the-top, and Zito knows it. There’s nothing pretentious about this movie other than delivering the goods. The kind of thrilling B-movie fun, where logic is thrown out of the window, sit back, and simply enjoy the show.
Missing in Action (1984)
A year before Stallone’s Rambo returned to the jungle of Vietnam in the hit 1985 sequel Rambo: First Blood Part II, Chuck Norris’ Colonel Braddock stages a daring mission to rescue the American POWs who remained in captivity. Directed by Joseph Zito, Missing in Action is a gritty action-war thriller that doesn’t shy away from brutality and graphic violence. Norris is certainly the right man for the role, playing a gruff Vietnam War veteran with a traumatic past. He exudes his usual tough-guy persona, who would stop at nothing to fulfil his mission even if the risk is too high.
The story isn’t exactly the movie’s strongest suit, but it’s hard to deny Zito’s engaging direction in putting together a few well-staged action set pieces, from Norris’ hand-to-hand combats to gunfights, along with chases and explosions. Missing in Action became a significant box-office hit for both Cannon Films and Chuck Norris, grossing over $22 million on a $2.5 million budget.
Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
A solid prequel to the successful Missing in Action, Lance Hool’s directorial debut proves he knows well how to deliver a thrilling war thriller that takes place in the dense jungle of Vietnam. Missing in Action 2: The Beginning traces the harrowing story of Colonel Braddock (Chuck Norris) and his army, who are being held captive in a North Vietnamese POW camp under the tyrannical reign of Colonel Yin (Soon-Tek Oh). The latter is one of the key elements that elevate the prequel, thanks to Soon-Tek Oh’s memorable antagonist turn as the sadistic colonel.
The movie is also notable for Chuck Norris’ engaging lead performance, while it doesn’t disappoint in the action department, offering a mix of gritty war battles and exciting martial arts showdowns. Too bad Missing in Action 2: The Beginning failed to replicate the success of the first movie, even though it managed to double the return of its $2.4 million budget.
The Delta Force (1986)
Chuck Norris and screen veteran Lee Marvin team up in The Delta Force, as writer and director Menahem Golan embraces the jingoistic-heavy political elements with a mix of action and martial arts. The result is something of a pure ‘80s excess, complete with the unabashedly stereotypical depiction of foreign terrorists, which, in this case, the Lebanese led by Robert Forster’s Abdul Rafai. The movie runs an epic 129-minute runtime, with much of the earlier stretches spent focusing on Abdul and his terrorists hijacking the American Travelways Airlines Flight 282, as over 100 passengers and crew are held hostage.
Those who are interested in seeing Chuck Norris, who plays one of the titular elite team members, have to wait until the second half of the movie. From there, it’s all hell breaks loose as Norris’ Scott McCoy fights the terrorists with his usual never-say-die bravery. The action is well-executed, showcasing Golan’s flair for visceral and exciting action scenes, including a scene where McCoy’s motorcycle is equipped with rocket launchers.
Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990)
The sequel to the 1986 hit movie sees the return of Chuck Norris, reprising his role as Colonel Scott McCoy, who leads the elite unit specialising in handling terrorist situations. Norris’ younger brother, Aaron, who previously directed him in Braddock: Missing in Action III, takes over Menahem Golan from the first film. He does a good job establishing the men-on-a-mission storytelling angle, even though the sequel is pretty much Norris’s show against the notorious South American kingpin played by Billy Drago.
The story is strictly formulaic, but what matters the most is Aaron Norris’ flair for some of the most thrilling action set pieces, including a skydiving stunt and Chuck Norris’ trademark martial arts moves. The Delta Force franchise concluded with a standalone sequel called Delta Force 3: The Killing Game, but Norris didn’t return for the third time around.
Silent Rage (1982)
Michael Miller’s Silent Rage feels like an anomaly for a movie starring Chuck Norris, especially given its unusual blend of sci-fi tropes within the movie’s martial arts action elements. The sci-fi angle comes in the form of John Kirby (a menacing Brian Libby), a silent murderer with a severe mental problem, who becomes invincible following a genetic experiment.
No doubt the movie has the feel and look of a slasher horror, and as odd as it may seem, credits go to Michael Miller for his engaging direction blending both genres. Chuck Norris, who plays the no-nonsense Texas sheriff, gets to show off a few moves, notably a scene where he single-handedly fights off a group of thugs in the bar. Despite Silent Rage ending with a hint of a sequel, there’s no follow-up even after the movie turned out to be a modest hit at the box office.
An Eye for an Eye (1981)
If you can look past the fact that Chuck Norris is without his iconic facial hair, An Eye for an Eye proves to be one of his best performances as the San Francisco narcotics detective, Sean Kane. The movie focuses on his character on a mission to avenge the death of his partner (Terry Kiser) following an ambush.
Despite the familiar themes of revenge and personal vendetta, director Steve Carver made a bold move by delving more into the gritty crime-drama elements. He understands Norris’s strength as an action star, allowing him to showcase what he does best – and that is exciting fight scenes. The fights might be few and far between, especially when compared to most action-heavy Chuck Norris movies in his heyday. But those who don’t mind watching Norris in a different light will appreciate the star breaking out of the norm, while the movie is surrounded by strong supporting turns from Christopher Lee and Richard Roundtree.
Hero and the Terror (1988)
Chuck Norris tries to venture out of his comfort zone without completely abandoning his fanbase in Hero and the Terror. While retaining his character, who possesses martial arts skills, Norris’s role as a Los Angeles homicide detective also displays his vulnerable side. His acting is nothing groundbreaking, but it is sufficient enough for what he tries to do here. The movie also injects an element of serial-killer thriller, introducing a ruthless antagonist in the form of Simon Moon a.k.a The Terror.
Played by Jack O’Halloran, best known for his role as Non in Superman and its 1980 sequel, he shows up as a silent and remorseless killer who doesn’t speak a word. His hulking build and impassive personality make him a perfect foil for Norris’s Danny O’Brien, where the latter is the only one who can stop him. The action may have been sparse for a Chuck Norris movie. But when it does arrive, director William Tannen manages to bring some flair into the action scenes, including the fight on the dock and the final showdown against O’Halloran’s Simon Moon in the movie theater.
SEE ALSO: The Essential Action Movies From Cannon Films
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Casey Chong
