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After a solid deep dive into the man’s movies, here are what can be considered the best Chuck Norris movies.

Starting his career in an uncredited role in as a henchman in the Dean Martin/ Matt Helm movie The Wrecking Crew, Chuck Norris really burst onto the scene fighting Bruce Lee in a Roman Coliseum in The Way of the Dragon. Chuck Norris’ career has been filled with action, loud guns and roundhouse kicks. He was a mainstay in 1980s action movies and was even brought in to save the other characters in The Extendables 2. Chuck Norris is still a household name, even though he has retired. Chuck Norris jokes continue to be told for years. Here are the movies we think are the best Chuck Norris films.

The Octagon (80)

Starting a decade full of success for Mr. Norris The Octagon feels like it belongs to him. He plays Scott James, an aspiring martial artist who is forced to confront his past, including a crime ring which may have been responsible for some of the trauma he has suffered. Norris’ filmography is well-represented in this action-packed movie. Here, he can show off both his acting and fighting skills. He’s now fully in his element, having played several lead roles in feature films. Chuck Norris is playing the typical Chuck Norris role – a strong man of action. Mike Norris plays the same role as Norris as a teenager. Richard Norton, Art Hindle and Lee Van Cleef also appear in this film. This was Richard Norton’s first film. As Chuck Norris’s action films became more popular,

Lone Wolf McQuade helped to solidify his stardom. Here he plays J.J. McQuade a Texas Ranger, who is asked to help when a small Texas town is taken over a drug lord portrayed by David Carradine. The two men are both after the same woman, which complicates matters. Norris is the romantic lead and hero of the film. He is central to the film and gets to show off his skills. The fight scene with Carradine was probably what made action movie fans salivate in 1983. The film has a few issues that haven’t aged well, but when viewed from a 1980s perspective, it is a lot fun. Watching Norris kick people and shoot them is highly entertaining. It may have also laid the foundation for his long-running television show,

Walker’s Texas Ranger. Missing in Action series (1984, 1985, and 1988) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WWsNzYH5NIYes, this is cheating a bit as it’s three films in one entry, but they all are very much in the same vein, with the first two being shot at the same time, leading to the order of release being swapped around due to the strength of the material. Norris is Col. James Braddock in this film, a Vietnam War prisoner who escapes from a POW camp. He must return to the camp to rescue his fellow Americans. This is pure Norris – violence, big guns and patriotism. If someone asks what is the Chuck Norris movie of his entire career, then this series would be a good place for them to look. Somewhere between all three, a collection scenes would most likely become Norris’ essence on film. This series also features James Hong, Steven Williams and Keith David as well as many other familiar faces. The first Chuck Norris movie is definitely one of the best. The sequels may not be as good, but they are still pretty decent.

Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Missing in Action

films. It’s about big guns, good heroes, and the American patriotism that wins the day. Norris shows that he’s one of the best in the business at what he does: fighting invaders with big guns and saving the day. Added bonus, Billy Drago playing one of his signature type of characters, dies a horribly painful death that even works in some “Just Say No” anti-drug commentary of the day.

Sidekicks (1993) Yes, an odd choice here, but with good reason, Sidekicks

is one of those fun flicks that every action actor seems to eventually do, a heartwarming family-friendly film.

Sidekicks owes a ton to The Karate Kid on many fronts, but it adds a few new items here, one being that the lead Barry has severe asthma and a fascination that borders on fanatism when it comes to Chuck Norris. It’s true that it is about Chuck Norris, but Norris plays a fictional version of himself. A teenager would have dreamed of meeting him and hanging out in the 1990s. Chuck Norris, despite the fact that the film is a Jonathan Brandis vehicle with Mako getting a lot of screen time as the kid’s trainer, is the star. Norris is a hero in a bullied teen’s dreams. He is the man that he wishes he could be like and would do anything to meet. Norris appears in random scenes and sequences that Barry has dreamed up. He shows off his trademark action hero skills while still being personable, and quite likeable, as one would expect a hero to be. Norris is given more screen time as the film progresses. He comes across as not only the man who cannot be beaten, but also a humble martial arts expert willing to be there for his audience when they need him. Editor’s Pick: Code of Silence (1985)While many people praise Chuck Norris for his action hero status, few think of him as an actor. Yet, Code

of Silence

, which is directed by Andrew Davis (Above the Law , Under Siege, The Fugitive) is a gem that shows the man has some serious chops. In it, he portrays a Chicago cop who refuses cover up for a racist officer who killed a teenager in a drug raid gone wrong. He’s also fighting a Mafioso, Henry Silva, who is trying to kidnap an innocent daughter of a rival. This one is packed with action, including a thrilling chase on the top of Chicago’s “L Train”. This is a former Best Movie You Never Saw selection, and a movie that even Chuck Norris’s non-fans might enjoy.

Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch