The recent passing of Chuck Norris marks the loss of a true action icon. Though his acting skills and political views weren’t universally praised, he was a reliable lead in action films throughout the 1980s. Norris had a unique start to his career, working with Bruce Lee on projects like The Wrecking Crew, where Lee choreographed the action and Norris made his first screen appearance. Later, in The Way of the Dragon, Norris famously fought Lee on-screen. This quickly propelled him to the same stardom Lee briefly enjoyed. Over his nearly 20-year career, here are five of his most noteworthy films.
We skipped The Way of the Dragon because, although his fight with Bruce Lee is famous – and probably the most memorable scene Chuck Norris ever filmed – he doesn’t have much screen time. Instead, we focused on action movies where Norris was clearly the star.
5) Forest Warrior
The filmmakers behind Forest Warrior, Chuck Norris’s last film for almost ten years, really pushed the boundaries of believability. One scene features Norris transforming into a bear to defeat his opponent, Terry Kiser (best known from Weekend at Bernie’s), his voice dramatically deepening as the change happens. And if that wasn’t over the top, there’s also a moment where he stops a speeding chainsaw with his bare hands.
This film came out a few years after Chuck Norris started playing Walker, Texas Ranger. Like that TV show, it attempts to cast Norris as an environmental activist, similar to Steve Seagal. It’s not a well-made movie by any stretch, but it’s considered the best of his unintentionally funny action films.
4) Silent Rage
Following his martial arts films like A Force of One and The Octagon, Chuck Norris transitioned to thrillers with An Eye for an Eye and Silent Rage. While both are action-packed, Silent Rage is slightly more over-the-top, which makes it stand out a bit more.
This action movie features Chuck Norris as a sheriff battling a super-powered serial killer created by a crazy scientist – think Frankenstein, but with a lot more kicking.
Stream Silent Rage for free with ads on The Roku Channel.
3) Invasion U.S.A.
Chuck Norris starred in eight action movies produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus’s company, The Cannon Group – known for films like Masters of the Universe and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. These included the Missing in Action trilogy, The Delta Force and its follow-up, Hero and the Terror, Firewalker, and Invasion U.S.A.
While Missing in Action is the most well-known of these films, Invasion U.S.A. is arguably the better one. It features a memorable shootout in a shopping mall, a delightfully over-the-top Cold War-era plot similar to Red Dawn, and a reliably great performance from villain Richard Lynch.
Stream Invasion U.S.A. for free on Tubi.
2) Lone Wolf McQuade
The film Lone Wolf McQuade feels like a classic Clint Eastwood western, starring Chuck Norris. It’s surprisingly effective, boosted by a solid supporting cast, a strong performance from Norris himself, and a memorable appearance by David Carradine.
The movie is packed with intense action – it almost earned an R rating (Chuck Norris actually convinced them to lower it to PG!). While the story isn’t the main focus, it’s still enjoyable. And fans of Friday the 13th will be excited to see Dana Kimmell, who played in Friday the 13th Part III, as Chuck Norris’ daughter.
Stream Lone Wolf McQuade for free on Tubi.
1) Code of Silence
While Code of Silence is arguably Chuck Norris’s best film, its success isn’t really due to him. Most of the credit belongs to director Andrew Davis, who demonstrated a talent for exciting action sequences early in his career. This ability would later launch Steven Seagal’s career with Above the Law, lead to Seagal’s most popular film, Under Siege, and ultimately result in the critically acclaimed The Fugitive.
The film initially started as a potential Dirty Harry sequel, and that influence is clear. It’s a tough, suspenseful movie with very few comedic moments. Chuck Norris delivers a strong performance as Sergeant Eddie Cusack, and the film helped establish him as a leading man capable of starring in standard action movies, not just those focused on martial arts.
Stream Code of Silence for free on Tubi.
What’s your favorite Chuck Norris film? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-03-24 23:42