Explore 1980s Action & Adventure Titles
Browse retro titles and filter by type, genre, platform and era. Every title opens onto where to watch or play it, ratings, cast, trivia and related classics.
Showing 1–24 of 42 titles
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Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
1986 · Animation · 1 series
The year is Universal Century 0088. Directly after the end of the Gryps War, Haman Karn and her army of Zeon remnants on the asteroid Axis begin their quest of reviving the lost empire of the Zabi's, and proclaim themselves as the Neo-Zeon. With the Earth Federation as hapless as ever, only the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) is able oppose the plans of Neo-Zeon. In need of all the help it can get after being decimated in the previous war and losing many of its key members, the AEUG ship Argama enlists the aid of a young junk collector from the Side 1 colony of Shangri-La named Judau Ashta to pilot its newest mobile suit, the ZZ Gundam.
MacGyver
1985 · Drama · 7 series
He's everyone's favorite action hero... but he's a hero with a difference. Angus MacGyver is a secret agent whose wits are his deadliest weapon. Armed with only a knapsack filled with everyday items he picks up along the way, he improvises his way out of every peril the bad guys throw at him. Making a bomb out of chewing gum? Fixing a speeding car's breaks... while he's riding in it? Using soda pop to cook up tear gas? That's all in a day's adventures for MacGyver. He's part Boy Scout, part genius. And all hero.
Saint Seiya
1986 · Animation · 1 series
Ages ago, the goddess Athena was served by fighters called Saints who channeled the power of the Cosmos within them. Now a youth named Seiya has trained to become a Saint himself by earning the mystical Cloth of Pegasus. He is joined by other Saints with Cloths of their own to fight for Athena.
Manimal
1983 · Action & Adventure · 1 series
Jonathan Chase was a British college professor at New York University who had the unusual ability to transform into any kind of animal. He used his powers to battle crime alongside pretty policewoman Brooke and Vietnam-war pal Ty.
Automan
1983 · Action & Adventure · 1 series
Automan is an American science fiction superhero television series produced by Glen A. Larson. It aired for only 12 episodes on ABC between 1983 and 1984.
Superman
1988 · Animation · 1 series
One of the greatest superheroes of all time, Superman, takes to the air in this action-packed animated series. Disguised as Clark Kent, Superman uses his powers to overcome the forces of evil in a tireless crusade against crime and injustice.
The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers
1986 · Animation · 1 series
Four elite Galaxy Rangers with unique abilities defend law & order among the space colonies and protect humanity from the evil Crown Empire.
Defenders of the Earth
1986 · Animation · 1 series
Defenders of the Earth is an American animated television series produced in 1986, featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate—Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician—opposing Ming the Merciless in the year 2015. Supporting characters include their children Rick Gordon, Jedda Walker, Kshin, Mandrake's assistant Lothar, and Lothar's son L.J. The show lasted for 65 episodes; there was also a short-lived comic book series published by Star Comics, created by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and John Romita, Sr.. The closing credits credit Rob Walsh and Tony Pastor for the main title music, and Stan Lee for the lyrics. The series was later shown in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel as part of Sci Fi Cartoon Quest.
Around the World with Willy Fog
1983 · Animation · 1 series
Willy Fog is a British millionaire who bets that he will be able to go around the world in only eighty days.
Baywatch
1989 · Action & Adventure · 11 series
Join the Baywatch lifeguards on their thrilling adventures filled with beautiful beaches and those iconic red swimsuits.
ShÅgun
1980 · Action & Adventure · 1 series
An English navigator becomes both a player and pawn in complex political games in feudal Japan.
Dragon Ball
1986 · Animation · 1 series
Young Goku sets off on a quest with his teenage friend Bulma to find the seven Dragon Balls, which grant whoever possesses them a single wish.
Alien Nation
1989 · Sci-Fi & Fantasy · 1 series
Detective Matthew Sikes, a Los Angeles police officer reluctantly works with "Newcomer" alien George Francisco. Sikes also has an 'on again off again' flirtation with a female Newcomer, Cathy Frankel.
Street Hawk
1985 · Action & Adventure · 1 series
Street Hawk is an American television series that aired for 13 episodes on ABC in 1985. The series is a Limekiln and Templar Production in association with Universal Television. Its central characters were created by Paul M. Belous and Robert "Bob" Wolterstorff, and its core format was developed by Bruce Lansbury, who had initially commissioned the program's creation. This series was originally planned for the fall of 1984, Mondays at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central. However, ABC executives changed their minds when the summer series Call to Glory did well, and Street Hawk was pushed to mid-season. Street Hawk made its debut on January 4, 1985 on ABC at 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central and ran until May 16, 1985. Reruns aired on the USA Network on Saturdays at 10:00AM from 1990-91.
The Chronicles of Narnia
1988 · Drama · 3 series
The Chronicles of Narnia is a British television miniseries adapting four of C.S. Lewis's books, blending live-action with animation for fantasy elements like Aslan and the creatures. The first series—The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe—aired from 13 November to 18 December 1988; the second—Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader—aired from 19 November to 24 December 1989; and the third—The Silver Chair—from 18 November to 23 December 1990. Each series consists of six episodes each.
The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy
1988 · Animation · 1 series
The Adventures of Raggedy Ann and Andy is an American animated television series that aired on CBS from 17 September 1988 to 1 September 1990. Based on the dolls Raggedy Ann and Andy by Johnny Gruelle, the series was produced directly by CBS in honor of the 70th anniversary of the characters. The show was retired in 1990, although CBS aired reruns in August 1991 when Pee-Wee's Playhouse was shelved.
Dinosaucers
1987 · Animation · 1 series
Dinosaucers is an animated television series co-produced in the United States and Canada. It was created by DIC Entertainment which has done the overseas animation and in association with Ellipse Programmé and Nelvana. This animated program originally aired in syndication in the USA in 1987 by Coca-Cola Telecommunications. 65 total episodes were made throughout the show's broadcasting, but it only lasted one season during the 1987-1988 television season. The show's first 21 episodes can be purchased individually by episode or as a set from online retailer Amazon.com. There were originally plans by Galoob to release a Dinosaucers toyline, and prototype figures were produced; however, the line was scrapped after the show was canceled. The toys included Stego, Bronto-Thunder, Allo, Bonehead, Plesio, Quackpot, Ankylo, and Genghis Rex.
Captain N: The Game Master
1989 · Animation · 3 series
A teenager from Earth, is brought to another universe known as Videoland to defeat the evil villainess, Mother Brain, as foretold in an Ancient Prophecy.
Blackstar
1981 · Animation · 1 series
Blackstar is an American animated television series, a science fantasy story sometimes reported as being inspired by Thundarr the Barbarian. It was produced in 1981 by Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott for Filmation. The series was Filmation's second fantasy epic, the first being tucked in as a segment of Tarzan and Tarzan and the Super 7, The Freedom Force. Blackstar has many notable similarities to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which was produced shortly afterwards.
Inhumanoids
1986 · Animation · 1 series
Inhumanoids was an animated series and Hasbro toy property in 1986. In the tradition of other Hasbro properties such as Transformers and G.I. Joe, the show was produced by Sunbow and Marvel Productions and animated in Japan by Toei Animation. Inhumanoids tells the story of the scientist-hero group, Earth Corps, as they battle a trio of subterranean monsters called the Inhumanoids with the aid of elemental beings, the Mutores.
Rambo: The Force of Freedom
1986 · Action & Adventure · 1 series
Rambo: The Force of Freedom is an animated series based on the character of John Rambo from David Morrell's book First Blood and the subsequent films First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II. This series was adapted for television by story editor/head writer Michael Chain and the series even spawned a toy line.
C.O.P.S.
1988 · Animation · 1 series
C.O.P.S. is an American animated television series released by DIC Entertainment and Celebrity Home Entertainment. This cartoon, which ran from 1988–1989, used the tag line: "Fighting crime in a future time, protecting Empire City from Big Boss and his gang of crooks". In 1993, the series was shown in reruns on CBS Saturday mornings as CyberCOPS, the name change due to the 1989 debut of the unrelated primetime reality show of the same name. The show was based on Hasbro's 1988 line of action figures called C.O.P.S 'N' Crooks.
Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers
1989 · Animation · 3 series
Chip and Dale head a small, eccentric group of animal characters who monitor not only the human world, but the animal community as well, solving mysteries wherever they may be. The "Rescue Rangers" take the cases that fall through the cracks.
Superboy
1988 · Action & Adventure · 4 series
Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on Kal-El's early years as Superboy. It depicted Superboy's adventures during his college years, his meetings with Lex Luthor and his romance with Lana Lang. The series was brought to the screen by executive producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, who were the producers of the first three Superman movies and the 1984 Supergirl movie.