Like all the best martial arts movie stars, Norris was a fighter first, and an actor second, earning a black belt in the Korean fighting style Tang Soo Do long and developing his own unique martial art, Chun Kuk Do. While he is well-known for his TV work, his movie appearances include impressive entries into the action genre.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
In 2004, Chuck Norris had some fun by playing a fictional version of himself in the comedy film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. This movie stars Vince Vaughan as the owner of a small gym who finds his livelihood threatened when a giant mega-gym opens across the street, owned by Ben Stiller’s villain.
The only way to save his gym is by winning a dodgeball tournament, but his only teammates are misfits, while Stiller’s gym has ruthless muscle heads. Chuck Norris appears in one of the film’s many cameos as a member of the ADAA’s judging committee in the final match.
It is Chuck Norris’ thumbs up that gives Peter’s underdog team, the Average Joes, a big win when he votes to reinstate the team after it was forced to forfeit a previous game. This was a great appearance by Norris, which only ranks low because it was just a cameo, albeit a fun one.
The President’s Man (2000)
Chuck Norris wasn’t in too many big movie franchises, but he did help launch The President’s Man into a film series after it premiered as a made-for-TV movie on CBS. This film sees Norris star as Agent Joshua McCord, a secret agent not affiliated with an agency who only carries out missions for the U.S. President.
The movie opens with him planning his retirement, but before he can, the President’s wife is kidnapped by terrorists. McCord has to team with Deke Slater (Dylan Neal), a former Army sergeant with a temper serving a long prison sentence, whom McCord’s daughter tabbed as his replacement as the next President’s Man.
While this seemed like a “last mission” movie, there was a sequel that came out two years later with both Norris and Slater back in action, once again helping the President stop terrorists. The movie wasn’t great, but it was a prototypical Chuck Norris movie with everything his fans want.
Agent Recon (2024)
Agent Recon is a Chuck Norris movie that his fans should catch up on because it was one of the last of his career. Released in 2024, the movie was Norris’s first film role since The Expendables 2 in 2012, and it was the last released before he died in 2026.
This was a little different for Norris, since this was a sci-fi action film, with Norris co-starring with Derek Ting (Agent Revelation) and Marc Singer (Beastmaster, V). Norris plays Alastair, the commander of an Earth security task force who calls in super-powered rookie Jim (Ting) for an investigation.
This is almost Chuck Norris’s first superhero film, as not only does Ting have heightened abilities, but he faces an unknown being who has super strength and speed and who can control the minds of others. While the film received terrible critical reviews, fans seemed to enjoy it, with a 72% RT audience score.
Sidekicks (1993)
Sidekicks is another movie where Chuck Norris plays himself. However, in this film, he is still one of the lead characters. The movie follows a troubled and bullied boy named Barry who has daydreams about being Chuck Norris’s sidekick and battling his movie enemies. The fantasy scenes are where Norris takes the forefront.
If anything, this is a copycat movie of The Karate Kid, where Barry is rejected by an arrogant dojo master (Joe Piscopo) and ends up studying under an older Chinese man (Mako as Mr. Lee). This leads to a karate tournament. This is when Chuck Norris himself shows up and agrees to help the boy.
That last part is enough to set this apart from The Karate Kid, and Chuck Norris seemed to be having fun playing a fictionalized version of himself.
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)
If Chuck Norris specialized in one thing throughout his movie acting career, it was his tendency to appear in Patriotic action films where he is fighting for the United States and his national pride. That was no more apparent than in the 1985 action film, Invasion U.S.A.
Norris stars as former CIA Agent Matt Hunter, who comes out of retirement to bring down a group of Latin American guerrillas who murdered members of the American Coast Guard and who are bringing drugs into America. When someone kills Hunter’s best friend, it makes things personal.
Like most of Chuck Norris’ action movies, critics roasted it, with a 22% RT score, but Norris fans got exactly what they wanted with the action star kicking butts and shooting big guns at the terrorists. The RT audience score is 52%, with a sequel arriving in 1986 called Avenging Force.
Firewalker (1986)
Firewalker is a fun film that, while entertaining, doesn’t put Chuck Norris in the best light he’s ever been in. Playing one half of an uncharacteristically funny treasure-hunting duo, alongside Lou Gosset, Norris’ Max Donigan must contend with dangerous jungles, ravenous alligators, and the devious villain El Coyote.
While not a bad showing for an action-adventure exploration romp, Firewalker‘s limited imagination, paper-thin dialogue, and very dated indigenous representation keep it in the bottom echelon of Norris’ filmography.
However, there is some fun in seeing Norris step into a more comedic role than he is typically known for. While he is not overly comfortable with the comedic elements, Gosset Jr. helps to carry him through their fun friendship.
The Delta Force (1986)
Certainly nothing groundbreaking, both within the context of Chuck Norris’ own career and 80s action films in general, The Delta Force features the star as Major Scott McCoy, returning to the titular special forces group after a five-year absence.
It’s up to Major McCoy to save a plane full of innocent hostages from a volatile terrorist group with limited backup, presenting a tense shoot-em-up that more than earns its R-rating. Almost more of a disaster or war movie at times, The Delta Force presents some great action set-pieces that are undercut by the film’s sluggish final edit.
The movie is inspired by the real-life hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which, even with the over-the-top elements of the movie, adds an interesting aspect to it all. It is also notable as the final film for actor Lee Marvin.
The Octagon (1980)
Closer to Chuck Norris’ martial arts roots rather than the super-cops and commandos of his later career, The Octagon is an amazingly cheesy martial arts thriller with a surprisingly heady tone. Norris plays Scott James, an expert combatant and master of two worlds.
James faces off entire hordes of terrorists who have been training with ninja skills, all the while giving the audience a window into his mind with an intrepid inner monologue. Seeing Norris showing off his martial arts skills is a thrill, and the actor truly comes alive and commands the screen in these fight sequences.
Sprinkle in a surprise appearance by Lee Van Cleef of all people as James’ martial arts nemesis and ninja clan master, and The Octagon leaves an unforgettable impression, despite its uneven tone and bizarre narrative choices.
Missing In Action (1984)
As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force himself, it’s no wonder that Chuck Norris would frequently play military men throughout his acting career. Enter Missing In Action, which sees Norris as Colonel James Braddock, a former prisoner of the Vietnam War who goes back to rescue imprisoned soldiers callously written off as M.I.A.
The movie was not well-received by critics but became a huge hit with audiences, making for one of Norris’ most popular movies. It is not hard to see the appeal, as Missing In Action simply delivers relentless action and a heroic Chuck Norris on this epic rescue mission.
As great as Missing In Action is, it’s impossible to ignore the Rambo series comparison, though it managed to beat the release of Rambo: First Blood Part II by a whole year. It went on to launch its own action franchise.
Code Of Silence (1985)
Continuing Chuck Norris’ penchant for beating hallmark 80s action movies to the punch, Code of Silence saw Chuck Norris contending with violent gangs alongside a robotic sidekick, a solid two years before RoboCop could lurch into theaters. Beyond the surface-level similarities,
Chuck Norris’ Sergeant Cusack also finds himself facing corruption within his department, unwilling to support his crusade due to his enduring principles. It also features the use of a rocket launcher that nearly outdoes Arnold’s Commando of the same year.
Code of Silence is a gritty, grueling urban slog through a near-future Chicago that is still ultimately hampered by point of comparison to other 80s classics. There is certainly a ridiculous and over-the-top aspect to the movie, but the fact that Norris plays it straight makes it all the more enjoyable as a goofy yet fun quintessential 80s action movie.