15 Standalone Action Movies From The 1980s That Should've Started Franchises

What Big Trouble in Little China is about: A wisecracking truck driver gets caught up in a supernatural battle beneath San Francisco's Chinatown when an ancient Chinese sorcerer kidnaps his best friend's fiancée, forcing him to confront powerful dark forces and bizarre mythical creatures. Why this should have started a franchise: The film's imaginative blend of martial arts, supernatural fantasy, comedy, and action created a wonderfully unique world that audiences could have explored through multiple adventures. Future installments could have followed Jack Burton as he stumbled into other supernatural mysteries, confronted ancient evils, and encountered strange creatures and legendary warriors from different corners of the world. With its memorable characters, endless storytelling possibilities, and distinctive sense of humor, the film could have become a highly entertaining fantasy-action franchise.

What They Live is about: A drifter discovers a pair of unusual sunglasses that reveal the hidden truth about society, exposing an alien race that has secretly infiltrated humanity and uses subliminal messages to control the population. Why this should have started a franchise: The film introduced a fascinating science-fiction concept that could have supported an entire series exploring humanity's struggle against an alien occupation operating beneath the surface of everyday life. Future installments could have followed different resistance fighters uncovering additional alien operations around the world, exposing influential extraterrestrial collaborators, and discovering increasingly disturbing aspects of the invasion. Its blend of science fiction, action, social commentary, and conspiracy-driven storytelling offered enormous potential for a franchise that could continually expand its mythology.

What The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is about: A brilliant physicist, neurosurgeon, and rock musician gets caught in an interdimensional conflict when his latest scientific breakthrough draws the attention of hostile alien forces determined to conquer Earth. Why this should have started a franchise: Buckaroo Banzai was an unusually entertaining hero whose combination of scientific genius, musical talent, and fearless adventuring made him stand out from other action protagonists of the decade. Future installments could have explored additional dimensions, introduced new alien civilizations, and followed Buckaroo and his eccentric team as they confronted increasingly bizarre threats to humanity. The film's wonderfully strange mythology and seemingly endless world-building possibilities made it one of the most obvious candidates for a cult science-fiction adventure franchise.

What Road House is about: A highly skilled professional bouncer is hired to restore order at a rowdy roadside bar in a small Missouri town, only to discover that a ruthless businessman has been using violence and intimidation to maintain control over the local community. Why this should have started a franchise: The film established an entertaining central character whose combination of martial arts expertise, laid-back personality, and strict personal code made him an ideal action hero. Future installments could have followed him as he traveled between troubled establishments, helped communities stand up to corrupt businessmen, and confronted dangerous criminal organizations using intimidation and violence to control local businesses. Its memorable barroom fights, colorful supporting characters, and straightforward hero-versus-villain storytelling offered plenty of potential for a fun and enduring action franchise.

What Commando is about: A retired Special Forces colonel is forced back into action when his young daughter is kidnapped by a former enemy who wants him to carry out a political assassination, sending him on a one-man mission to rescue her and take down an entire army of mercenaries. Why this should have started a franchise: John Matrix was the perfect character to build an action franchise around, thanks to his extraordinary combat abilities, larger-than-life personality, and willingness to take on seemingly impossible missions. Future installments could have seen Matrix called out of retirement to rescue hostages, dismantle international ERRORs, and confront dangerous military figures threatening global security. With its outrageous action sequences, memorable one-liners, and unstoppable central hero, Commando had all the ingredients to become a long-running action series.

What Flash Gordon is about: When a ruthless alien emperor threatens Earth, a New York football player is transported to the distant planet Mongo, where he must unite its divided kingdoms and lead a rebellion to save humanity. Why this should have started a franchise: The film introduced a colorful science-fiction universe filled with strange planets, extraordinary creatures, powerful villains, and fascinating civilizations, offering endless opportunities for future adventures. Sequels could have explored other corners of the galaxy, introduced new alien empires, and followed Flash as he continued defending Earth and its allies from increasingly dangerous threats. Its larger-than-life characters, imaginative settings, and adventurous spirit made it an excellent foundation for a space-fantasy franchise.

What Red Dawn is about: When Soviet forces invade the United States, a group of teenagers escape into the wilderness and organize a guerrilla resistance movement, launching increasingly daring attacks against the occupying forces while fighting to survive. Why this should have started a franchise: The film introduced a compelling premise that could have been expanded into a larger series exploring different groups of civilians fighting to survive and resist during a foreign occupation. Future installments could have followed the original resistance members as they joined forces with other underground movements, carried out increasingly ambitious missions, and helped liberate occupied territories across the country. Its combination of survival, military action, patriotism, and youthful rebellion provided a strong foundation for an action franchise with plenty of opportunities for new characters and stories.

What Streets of Fire is about: When a ruthless motorcycle gang kidnaps a popular rock singer, a former soldier returns to his old neighborhood and teams up with an unlikely group of allies to rescue her from the gang's violent leader. Why this should have started a franchise: The film created a distinctive world that blended rock-and-roll culture, street gangs, romance, and action into an imaginative urban adventure with its own style. Future installments could have followed the central characters as they encountered new criminal gangs, navigated rivalries between different neighborhoods, and became involved in increasingly dangerous rescue missions. Its memorable atmosphere, colorful characters, and unique combination of musical energy and action made it an excellent candidate for a franchise with its own recognizable identity.

What Cobra is about: A tough, uncompromising Los Angeles police detective is assigned to protect a key witness after she sees a murder committed by a secret society of killers targeting people they consider weak, putting both their lives in danger. Why this should have started a franchise: Cobra's ruthless approach to law enforcement, distinctive personality, and unconventional methods made him an ideal candidate for his own action franchise. Future installments could have followed him as he investigated organized crime syndicates, hunted dangerous serial killers, and took on increasingly violent criminal organizations across the country. With its gritty atmosphere, explosive action, and a memorable central character, Cobra had plenty of potential to become a long-running police action series.

What Tango & Cash is about: Two rival Los Angeles narcotics detectives are framed for murder by a powerful crime boss and sent to prison, forcing them to put aside their differences, escape custody, and work together to clear their names and bring the real culprit to justice. Why this should have started a franchise: The contrasting personalities, competitive banter, and entertaining partnership between Tango and Cash provide the perfect foundation for a buddy-cop franchise. Future installments could have followed the two detectives as they tackled increasingly dangerous criminal organizations, investigated high-profile cases in different cities, and became entangled in international conspiracies. With a winning combination of comedy, explosive action, and two highly entertaining lead characters, the film had all the ingredients to become an enduring action franchise.

What Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins is about: After a New York police officer is recruited into a secret government organization and given a new identity, he undergoes intense martial arts training before being sent to investigate a powerful industrialist tied to a dangerous government conspiracy. Why this should have started a franchise: The film established an intriguing foundation for a spy-action franchise, with Remo's secret government employment and unusual martial arts abilities offering plenty of opportunities for new adventures. Future installments could have followed him as he traveled around the world investigating international conspiracies, confronting dangerous assassins, and taking down powerful criminal organizations. With its mix of espionage, martial arts, humor, and an unconventional central hero, the film could have become an entertaining alternative to the James Bond franchise.

What The Running Man is about: In a dystopian future where television audiences are entertained by deadly reality competitions, a wrongly convicted man is forced to participate in a game show where contestants must survive professional hunters while fighting for their freedom. Why this should have started a franchise: The film established an entertaining dystopian world where television networks, government propaganda, and public obsession with violent entertainment could have provided the backdrop for numerous action-packed stories. Future installments could have introduced new contestants, explored other deadly game shows, and followed resistance fighters attempting to expose the corrupt system controlling society. Its memorable futuristic setting, outrageous action sequences, and intriguing premise made it an excellent foundation for a science-fiction action franchise.

What The Protector is about: A tough New York City detective travels to Hong Kong to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a wealthy businessman, uncovering a dangerous criminal operation that leads him into a violent confrontation with an international drug syndicate. Why this should have started a franchise: The film offered a strong foundation for an international action series, with its combination of police investigations, criminal conspiracies, and martial arts providing plenty of opportunities for future stories. Subsequent installments could have sent the detective to different countries as he investigated international smuggling operations, dismantled powerful criminal organizations, and partnered with local law enforcement to take down dangerous villains. Its globe-spanning premise and potential for increasingly ambitious action sequences could have helped establish an entertaining international crime-fighting franchise.

What Midnight Run is about: A tough bounty hunter is hired to transport an accountant who embezzled millions of dollars from a mob boss across the country, but their journey grows increasingly complicated as criminals and federal agents pursue them. Why this should have started a franchise: The unlikely partnership between the quick-tempered bounty hunter and his talkative, anxiety-prone prisoner created a fantastic comedic dynamic that could easily have carried multiple adventures. Future installments could have followed the pair as they took on new bounty-hunting assignments, transported troublesome criminals across the country, and repeatedly found themselves caught between rival gangs and law enforcement. Its balance of action, comedy, memorable characters, and entertaining road-trip adventures made it an ideal candidate for a buddy-action franchise.

What To Live and Die in L.A. is about: After his longtime partner is murdered by a dangerous counterfeiter, a reckless Secret Service agent becomes obsessed with bringing the criminal to justice, pushing himself and his new partner into an increasingly dangerous investigation. Why this should have started a franchise: The film introduced a compelling lead character whose impulsive behavior, questionable methods, and obsession with catching criminals could have provided the foundation for an unconventional crime-action series. Future installments could have followed him as he investigated increasingly sophisticated counterfeiting operations, pursued dangerous criminals across the country, and became involved in complicated cases involving organized crime and government corruption. Its gritty atmosphere, stylish action, and morally complex protagonist offered a darker, more grounded alternative to traditional police franchises.