Yesterday, Chuck Norris turned 75. He’s long been the internet’s favorite martial arts master, spawning countless memes and even a website devoted to “Chuck Norris facts,” such as this gem: “When Alexander Bell invented the telephone he had 3 missed calls from Chuck Norris.” He’s also remarkable because he doesn’t seem to show many signs of aging. To celebrate the birthday of a legend, here are eight great Chuck Norris films that should show you why he’s such an icon.
Don’t see your favorite here? Tell us what it is in the comments!
Lone Wolf McQuade
Norris portrays Texas Ranger J.J. McQuade, who likes to work alone, and lives in the middle of nowhere with a pet wolf. After his daughter is kidnapped and her boyfriend killed, McQuade goes on the trail of those responsible. Lots of action, plenty of martial arts, and even the “love interest that starts to break the tough guy shell” show up in this one. Plus, David Carradine is the bad guy. If you get Carradine and Norris going toe-to-toe, you really can’t go wrong.
The Hitman
Seattle cop Cliff Garret (played by Norris) is nearly killed when his partner betrays and shoots him. His survival is concealed by the hospital, and Garret goes undercover as hitman Danny Grogan. He spends two years working through the ranks to try and take down two mob bosses at the same time, but when his old partner shows up and recognizes him, things go south in a hurry. Plenty of action and Chuck Norris as a pseudo-bad guy (with a seriously bad haircut) make The Hitman worth checking out.
Way of the Dragon
In a rare bad-guy role, Norris is brought in toward the end of Way of the Dragon as an American martial arts expert named Colt. Colt is hired by the crime syndicate Bruce Lee is threatening, and his only job is to face Lee and defeat him. The fight goes down in the famous Roman Colosseum, and it’s one of the few times you’ll see Chuck Norris lose a fight. That fact alone makes Way of the Dragon a must-see Norris moment.
Missing in Action
Probably the one Chuck Norris movie that almost everyone has seen, Missing in Action cast him as Special Forces Colonel James Braddock. After having escaped a North Vietnamese POW camp, Braddock goes back as part of a government investigation team, but then he uses the info he gathers to launch a rescue mission of his own. While it has a lot of similarities to Rambo: First Blood Part II, Missing in Action actually hit theatres first, and is worth seeing just for the action scenes.
The Octagon
Chuck Norris plays a Karate champion named Scott James whose disowned half-brother is the leader of a terrorist organization that uses that most frightening of 1980s-era weapons: NINJAS. After spending a good portion of the movie pursuing this organization, Scott infiltrates their camp, only to found out and have to fight his way out. The film’s climax is a fight between Scott and his disowned brother. One of the more highly reviewed Chuck Norris movies, The Octagon became a cult favorite for fans of 80’s martial arts films. If that doesn’t sway you, maybe I should mention that Norris’ buddy in this film is none other than Lee Van Cleef.
Invasion U.S.A.
Soviet guerrilla squads have invaded the USA, and former CIA agent Matt Hunter (played by Norris) is asked to come out of retirement to help repel the threat, but he declines. Soon after, his home is destroyed by the guerrillas, which quickly changes his mind. He goes after the guerrillas, taking out several of them, He finally goads their leader, Rostov, into a trap by using himself as bait. Hunter faces Rostov in a one-on-one fight, and kills him with a rocket launcher. It’s cheesy, but it’s still a really fun movie.
Hellbound
Hellbound is a bit of an anamoly for Norris: A supernatural thriller. As an undercover policeman named Shatter, he and his partner are investigating the murder of a rabbi when they’re summoned to Israel for questioning. Once they’re arrive, they discover that they aren’t just pursuing a killer, they’re chasing down a supernatural being. That being is Prosatanos, who is an emissary of Satan himself. Trapped in a tomb by King Richard, he was freed by unsuspecting grave robbers and is now trying to regain his former power. Shatter and his partner take on the job of saving the world from this evil.
The Delta Force
A group of Palestinian terrorists have hijacked a planeload of hostages, and Delta Force is sent out to save them. Led by Major Scott McCoy (Chuck Norris) and Colonel Nick Alexander (Lee Marvin), Delta Force chases the terrorists from Beirut to Algiers and back. After developing plenty of intelligence, they assault the terrorist hideouts and rescue the hostages, then infiltrate the airfield and retake the plane, using it to make good their escape. In addition to Norris aand Marvin, the film also features stars such as Robert Vaughn and Robert Forster.
