'
Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Commando

Play trailer Poster for 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

Where to Watch

Commando

Commando

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (37) 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

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
M B Among the best 80s action movies with nice details and great one liners! Pure entertainment! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/25 Full Review Daniel C. M Although there were indeed some questionable plot holes and questionable script choices that you can't really ignore it even if you turn off your brain...in the end does it really matter? This is top-notch action cinema and probably the least boring movie you will ever see. Also featuring amazing stunt-work and genuinely very funny comedic moments. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/10/25 Full Review Matt B Greatest action movie ever. Arnold plays a single dad, just minding his own business cutting down full sized tress and then carrying them to his house where he lives secluded with his daughter in the mountains after a life of Special Forces work. Soon bad guys take his daughter led by a seemingly metrosexual ex-ally of his from service who loves wearing weird mesh shirts overtop some kind or armor. Arnold goes on a killing spree to get his daughter back: he rips the seat out of a car for no reason, he picks up and slams a telephone booth, he rips a metal pipe off the wall.....everything you could ever want from an action movie is right here. The one-liner at the end of the movie is SOOOOO good too. You will be in tears from laughing at the over the top action, but also because you know you will never see any action movie as great as this in the rest of your short, sad life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/03/25 Full Review Harry M The best action movie ever made with a legendary hero. Let's Party! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/15/25 Full Review Logan H A fun 80s action blast, you'll be happy to see explosions everywhere and shot-on-sight fun. Action scenes are exciting to immerse yourself in, humor is funny and goofy, but the story can go all over the place. Otherwise, a fun explosive flick. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Calvin T One of the best old school action movies ✌🏾 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Commando

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

Mark L. Lester

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Colonel John Matrix

Rae Dawn Chong

Cindy

Dan Hedaya

Arius

Vernon Wells

Bennett

David Patrick Kelly

Sully

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Invasion U.S.A. 18% 52% Invasion U.S.A. Watchlist Wanted: Dead or Alive 33% 49% Wanted: Dead or Alive Watchlist Rapid Fire 45% 56% Rapid Fire Watchlist Ricochet 75% 52% Ricochet Watchlist The Last Boy Scout 46% 68% The Last Boy Scout Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Commando photos

Commando

Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix in Commando. Commando (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Silver Pictures, SLM Production Group, Twentieth Century Fox
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