Missing in Action
Missing in Action

Movie spotlight

Missing in Action

1984
Movie
101 min
English

American servicemen are still being held captive in Vietnam and it's up to one man to bring them home in this blistering, fast-paced action/adventure starring martial arts superstar Chuck Norris. Following a daring escape from a Vietnamese POW camp, Special Forces Colonel James Braddock (Norris) is on a mission to locate and save remaining MIAs.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes30%
Google Users76%
Director: Joseph ZitoGenres: Action, War, Adventure

Plot Summary

Colonel James Braddock, a former POW, returns to Vietnam a decade after the war's end. Driven by an unyielding sense of duty and haunted by the faces of fellow soldiers left behind, he undertakes a daring solo mission. Braddock infiltrates enemy territory, determined to rescue American POWs still held captive and bring them home against all odds.

Critical Reception

Missing in Action was a commercial success, capitalizing on the popularity of action films and Chuck Norris. Critically, it was met with mixed to negative reviews, often criticized for its formulaic plot and gratuitous violence, though some acknowledged its appeal to fans of the genre.

What Reviewers Say

  • A standard 1980s action flick relying heavily on Chuck Norris's screen presence.

  • Criticized for its predictable plot and often brutal, uninspired action sequences.

  • Found favor with audiences looking for straightforward, patriotic revenge thrillers.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film for its action-packed sequences and Chuck Norris's iconic performance as the determined protagonist. However, some reviews noted the plot's simplicity and the film's reliance on established action movie tropes.

Fun Fact

The film was one of several Vietnam War-themed action movies released in the mid-1980s that focused on the issue of American POWs still believed to be held in Southeast Asia, tapping into a prevailing sentiment of the time.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
JPV852

JPV852

Not an all too bad Rambo-esque copycat from the folks at Canon. Chuck Norris makes for a charismatic hero although the plot felt choppy. But the fight scenes were at least passable and in the end I had a fun time, which is all I can ask fro...

John Chard

John Chard

Ah, Colonel Braddock. I heard much about you. Welcome to the People's Republic of Vietnam. Chuck Norris is Col. James Braddock, a survivor of a Vietnam Prisoner of War camp who many years later decides to return to find proof - and liber...