Action Jackson

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

13K

YOUR RATING

Sharon Stone and Carl Weathers in Action Jackson (1988)

Play trailer1:54

1 Video

99+ Photos

Dark Comedy Gun Fu Action Comedy Crime Thriller

Vengeance drives a tough Detroit cop to stay on the trail of a power-hungry auto magnate who is systematically eliminating his competition.Vengeance drives a tough Detroit cop to stay on the trail of a power-hungry auto magnate who is systematically eliminating his competition.Vengeance drives a tough Detroit cop to stay on the trail of a power-hungry auto magnate who is systematically eliminating his competition.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

13K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

User reviews95

Featured review

8/10

Great 80s Fun

Okay, now what isn't there to like about a movie that stars Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, a young Sharon Stone (scrumptious), Bill Duke, Vanity (good googly moogly) and tons of other recognizable 80s actors? Nothing! This movie rules. In the words of my roommate, "you come for Carl Weathers and you stay for Craig T Nelson." Carl Weathers is great as straight ahead copper Action Jackson, but Craig T Nelson steals the show here as the evil Mr. Delaplane. He is such a twisted jerk that being the richest man in Detroit and having a young Sharon Stone as his wife isn't enough, he needs to shoot Vanity full of heroin, too. (Side note: Vanity was extremely strung out on crack cocaine at this time, read Motley Crue's book: "The Dirt" for more info.) The action and laughs are nonstop. If you love dumb 80s big budget action, this is a must see. 8/10.

Videos1

Trailer 1:54

Action Jackson

Photos133

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Carl Weathers came up with the idea for the film on the set of Predator (1987), during conversations with producer Joel Silver about their shared love of 1970s blaxploitation films. The title was born after Weathers spoke to an Australian crew member about the project. To indicate his interest in working on the film, the crew member said, "I'm in like Action Jackson." Predator costars Bill Duke and Sonny Landham also appear in this film.

Goofs
When Jackson is on the roof of the taxi, the driver fires his gun through the roof, making several holes. When the taxi crashes a few seconds later, there are no holes.

Quotes
Officer Kornblau: It was a regular fuck-o-rama at my place last night.
Officer Lack: Can the shit, Kornblau. There ain't been any pussy at your pad since your mother helped you move in. They oughta call your place the House of Whacks.

Alternate versions
UK cinema and video versions were cut by 9 secs to remove shots of a butterfly knife being twirled and a topless woman's stabbed body, due to the BBFC's strict guidelines on knife violence at that time. The uncut version was finally passed by the BBFC in 2024 with a 15 rating (previous versions carried an 18 rating).

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Action Jackson/Prison/The Toy from Water the Hills/Satisfaction/Braddock: Missing in Action III/A Month in the Country (1988)

Soundtracks
He Turned Me Out
Performed by The Pointer Sisters
Written by LeMel Humes (as Lemel Humes) and Mary Lee Kortes
Produced by Richard Perry
© 1987 MCA Music, Inc. / Warner-Tamerlane Music Corp. All rights reserved.
Courtesy of RCA Records