Few action heroes’ names pack as much punch as Chuck Norris. Before being the target of a million web memes regarding roundhouse kicks and feats of impossibly rugged endurance, he was the denim-clad, stone-faced martial arts icon who bore whole movies on gritty strength alone. His films combined karate, cowboy toughness, and good old-fashioned patriotism into something squarely “Chuck. Here’s a 10-punch countdown of 10 action-packed Chuck Norris movies that reveal why he became a legend.
10. Firewalker (1986)
Ever ask yourself what would be the result if Chuck Norris did an Indiana Jones-type adventure spoof? Firewalker provides the answer. Partnering with Louis Gossett Jr., Norris ditches some of his typical gruffness in favor of humor, fighting baddies, tussling with alligators, and searching for loot. The story is fluffy, but it’s a pleasant diversion that reveals a more relaxed version of Chuck.
9. Hero and the Terror (1988)
Here, Norris plays detective Danny O’Brien, tormented by a serial killer he originally apprehended. When the killer breaks out, the setting is created for a dark confrontation in an abandoned theater. Less a straightforward martial arts movie and more a thriller, it allows Norris to display vulnerability as well as his fists of fury.
8. Forced Vengeance (1982)
Shot on Hong Kong’s neon-lit streets, Forced Vengeance follows Norris as Josh Randall, a casino security expert avenging a brutal murder. It’s a tough-as-nails drama with rapid-fisted fight choreography that highlights his athleticism. The presence of emotional depth and tough-as-nails action makes it one of his lesser-known gems.
7. Silent Rage (1982)
This one’s nutty: half martial arts film, half horror. Norris stars as Sheriff Dan Stevens, trying to stop an almost unbeatable assassin created by science out of control. It’s a strange genre hybrid that still has old-school Norris action, but with a sci-fi twist.
6. The Octagon (1980)
The Octagon brought 80s audiences ninja-type action on a grand scale for the first time. Norris plays a retired martial arts man brought back into action against terrorists trained as ninjas–led, no less, by his estranged foster brother. The voice-over internal monologues are a little tawdry, but the combat sequences are great.
5. Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
If you’re in the mood for over-the-top 80s action, here it is. Norris stars as ex-CIA agent Matt Hunter, fighting Soviet-backed terrorists who are menacing American soil. Gunfire, explosions, and raw patriotic strength were this unapologetically boisterous extravaganza. It’s all adrenaline and one of Norris’s most iconic roles.
4. The Delta Force (1986)
Partnering with Lee Marvin, Norris orders an elite special forces unit to extract hostages from terrorists. Packed with military action and large set pieces, The Delta Force cements Norris as the hard-as-nails soldier audiences love. As Major Scott McCoy, his performance is classic Chuck: unwavering, unshakeable, and endlessly resourceful.
3. Code of Silence (1985)
Arguably his most highly respected film, Code of Silence features Norris as Chicago cop Eddie Cusack, fighting gangs and corruption in the department. It’s a hard, street-level story with some of his best acting–proof that he could do more than one-liners and high kicks.
2. Missing in Action (1984)
This movie didn’t only do well at the box office–it launched a franchise and cemented Norris’s reputation as a one-man army. Portraying Colonel James Braddock, he bursts through enemy lines to save American POWs. It’s explosive, it’s patriotic, and one of the most iconic roles of his career.
1. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
The ultimate Chuck Norris movie. Cast as Texas Ranger J.J. McQuade, Norris battles David Carradine in a modern Western filled with grit, guns, and martial arts attitude. It’s got everything–shootouts, surprise partners, and Norris at his most iconic. It’s the one that made him a legend.
Chuck Norris movies are not just a string of ’80s action films–they’re the DNA of action cinema. Fighting ninjas, breaking into POW camps, or delivering arid one-liners before a fight, Norris became an unbeatable screen hero. And to be honest, attempting to rank them might be tougher than the ones he survived on the big screen.