Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Graphic
- propulsive
- irreverent
- comic book brutal
- action movie night
- cult film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed Commando as a knowingly excessive 1980s action vehicle whose explosive spectacle and one-liners provide crowd-pleasing fun despite its thin plot and uneven finale.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
John Matrix carries out extraordinary feats of strength and combat while rescuing Jenny and dismantling Arius's operation.
Matrix's deadpan one-liners and exaggerated kills turn the film's gunfights and revenge scenes into knowingly heightened entertainment.
Jenny's kidnapping forces the retired John Matrix to accept a political assassination demand and resume his commando methods.
The film foregrounds barracks assaults, gunfights, vehicle chases, explosions, and elaborate physical stunts.
Films like Commando, and why
Rambo: First Blood Part II
shares exaggerated 1980s action spectacle, militarized lone-wolf heroics, deadpan one-liners, and a rescue-driven revenge premise
The Terminator
shares an unstoppable former operative, relentless pursuit, explosive set pieces, and an ultraviolent comic-book tone
Predator
shares a muscular hero confronting mercenaries and political violence through propulsive shootouts and heightened action
Die Hard
shares a kidnapped-family rescue mission, hard-edged urban action, and a charismatic action star balancing brutality with humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark L. Lester
- Release Date
- 1985-10-03
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (3301)
Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Rae Dawn Chong
- Dan Hedaya
- Vernon Wells
- James Olson
- David Patrick Kelly
- Alyssa Milano
- Bill Duke
- Drew Snyder
- Sharon Wyatt
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Commando about?
- A retired super-soldier tears through an army of mercenaries to reclaim his kidnapped daughter and settle an old score.
- What is Commando like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Commando as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Commando violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Commando as graphic.
- What did critics think of Commando?
- Critics broadly viewed Commando as a knowingly excessive 1980s action vehicle whose explosive spectacle and one-liners provide crowd-pleasing fun despite its thin plot and uneven finale.
- Which films are like Commando?
- Films with a similar feel include Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Terminator, Predator, and Die Hard.
- How long is Commando?
- Commando runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Commando?
- In United States, Commando streams on Philo.
