The 1980s and 1990s were not subtle decades. Action heroes came with biceps, catchphrases, leather jackets, exploding warehouses, saxophone-heavy scores, and an almost religious belief that every problem could be solved with a helicopter, a roundhouse kick, or a very large gun. Some were martial artists. Some were bodybuilders. Some were weary cops in bad moods. Together, they built the golden age of action cinema, when villains wore suits, henchmen flew through glass, and nobody reloaded as often as physics preferred.
#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger did not just become an action star. He became the measuring device for the whole era. From Conan the Barbarian to The Terminator, Commando, Predator, and Total Recall, he turned impossible muscles, a machine-like presence, and oddly perfect comic timing into box-office gold. His characters were barely human sometimes, which was the appeal. Arnold looked like the final boss had decided to headline the movie instead.
