Commando

Play trailer

Commando

R

Released Oct 4, 1985

1h 30m

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Retired Special Forces soldier John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives with daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano) in isolation, but his privacy is disturbed by former commander Franklin Kirby (James Olson), who warns him that his fellow soldiers are getting killed one by one. After Kirby leaves, Jenny is kidnapped by former Latin American dictator Arius (Dan Hedaya), who wants Matrix to restore him to power. Instead, Matrix sets out to take down the rogue leader and rescue his daughter.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The ultimate '80s Schwarzenegger movie, replete with a threadbare plot, outsized action, and endless one-liners.

Read Critics Reviews

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Comic book stuff, helped out by the presence of Rae Dawn Chong as an airline stewardess whose sarcastic commentary adds some comic counterpoint to the deliberately overscaled action.

Sep 18, 2007

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Chong lights up the film like a firefly, Schwarzenegger delivers a certain light touch of his own, [and] the result is palatable action comics.

Sep 18, 2007

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Lots of machine-gunfire, explosions and disposable khaki-clad extras, as you'd expect.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Editing in action movies is underrated and this one is some of best and tightest you'll find.

Nov 16, 2024

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

As an action film, it decently collects a handful of clichés for Schwarzenegger to do his thing by arming himself with machine guns and one-liners, but somehow the adrenaline decreases with each body count. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Commando is full of action but is conflict-free.

Rated: 3/10

Jul 18, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alex F

With plenty of action and cheesy one liners. Commando succeeds in every way to keep audiences entertained.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10/24

Full Review

Benjamin H

Hollow and predictable, Commando is a solid, fast paced and to the point movie packed with great action, nifty one-liners and an unstoppable performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sure it is over-the top, but in all the right ways.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/08/24

Full Review

Shane O

It’s one of those movies that is good for how bad it is . There are just so many classic moments in this movie that have shaped modern action movies . It’s a great watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/24

Full Review

Tam W

Classic, totally over the top 80's Arnie action movie. Everything is pretty far fetched, but you'd struggle to fit any more action in it. If you like explosions, guns and people getting shot this is for you.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/24

Full Review

conan t

It’s no Predator, and is definitely a bit thin plot-wise, however, if you’re in the mood for some great Arnold action with gratuitous shooting scenes, and minimal intellectual exercise, this is the movie for you. Entertaining bad guy elimination with shocking minimal effort spent on depth.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/07/24

Full Review

Crom M

John, I've got your daughter John, I've got this chain mail shirt and a Freddy Mercury mustache John

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/08/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Mark L. Lester

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Colonel John Matrix

Rae Dawn Chong

Cindy

Dan Hedaya

Arius

Vernon Wells

Bennett

David Patrick Kelly

Sully

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Rapid Fire

45%

56%

Rapid Fire

Watchlist

Gordon's War

60%

47%

Gordon's War

Watchlist

Invasion U.S.A.

19%

52%

Invasion U.S.A.

Watchlist

Ricochet

74%

52%

Ricochet

Watchlist

The Last Boy Scout

46%

68%

The Last Boy Scout

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best Movies

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best Movies

24 Times The Government Overspent Your Money (In Film & TV)

View more photos

Synopsis

Retired Special Forces soldier John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) lives with daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano) in isolation, but his privacy is disturbed by former commander Franklin Kirby (James Olson), who warns him that his fellow soldiers are getting killed one by one. After Kirby leaves, Jenny is kidnapped by former Latin American dictator Arius (Dan Hedaya), who wants Matrix to restore him to power. Instead, Matrix sets out to take down the rogue leader and rescue his daughter.

Director: Mark L. Lester
Producer: Joel Silver
Screenwriter: Matthew Weisman, Jeph Loeb, Steven E. de Souza, Steven E. de Souza
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, SLM Production Group, Silver Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.9M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now