Commando

R

Released Oct 4, 1985

1 hr. 30 min.

Action

List

67%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Charley S

So painfully Dumb and 80's that it needs a top tier rating.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

Joe S

Cheesy popcorn 80's action. Let's Party!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/24

Full Review

Howard H

As much needed to be a great in this era of film. Arnie suited up on promoting posters. Urban Arnie at best. Story is fine, 80's action masterpiece. Body-count is huge and only one bad accent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

matthias s

"Commando" delivers the quintessential Schwarzenegger experience with a nostalgic blast from the '80s. The film rocks a gorgeous soundtrack that echoes the era's charm, serving as an auditory time capsule. As expected, it's an action classic laden with cheesy one-liners that, oddly enough, I can't help but love. While the plot is there, it's about as thick as tissue paper – serviceable, but not substantial. The acting falls into two categories: either too much, bordering on poor, or wooden with no middle ground. It's a no-brainer, a film for die-hard fans of brainless action flicks. The cool stunts provide brief excitement, but the editing and cinematography miss the mark, creating an off-putting feel. Predictability and excess cheesiness left me bored for most of the ride. However, the over-the-top final showdown with the villain brings some redemption, offering an enjoyably ludicrous climax.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

It's fast paced, full of action, unnecessarily half naked Arnie, plodding stunts by the big man, ridiculous shoot em up episodes and a plot as threadbare and dumb as they come. So, there's plenty to love but it is shall we say…a little bit mindless. Watched this on Film4.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

Dinos K

one of the worst and most offensive movies about US Army's "superiority" I've ever seen in my entire life.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

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Mark L. Lester

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Colonel John Matrix

Rae Dawn Chong

Cindy

Dan Hedaya

Arius

Vernon Wells

Bennett

David Patrick Kelly

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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

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

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The finale is quite notable, as it boasts an enormous body count and countless expended ammunition; this too is almost hilarious thanks to the chaotic extravagance.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 31, 2020

Full Review

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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
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby A, Dolby SR, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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