Chuck Norris' 10 Best Movies, Ranked

Summary Fight first, act second - Chuck Norris' diverse films showcase his martial arts skills before his acting abilities.

Series of memes based on Norris' legendary ability actually originated from his movie appearances.

TV success aside, Norris' action films are impressive entries highlighting his gritty heroism and martial arts mastery.

The best Chuck Norris movies prove that the actor has a diverse array of action films under his belt and are indicative of a star-status-worthy career. Though he may be better known by many of the younger generation for the series of memes using Chuck Norris' name, depicting him as a stalwart, legendary figure with unparalleled machismo and ability, these jokes did, in fact, stem from his movie appearances. Typically playing characters that are stoic, indomitable forces of gritty heroism, Norris' filmography makes it clear how he got his reputation.

Like all the best martial arts movie stars, Norris was a fighter first, and an actor second, earning a black belt in the Korean fighting style Tang Soo Do long before ever stepping on a film set. Chuck Norris would go on to develop his own unique martial art, Chun Kuk Do, proving his mastery of hand-to-hand combat displayed many times over in his acting career. While he may be the most well-known for his work in T.V., carrying Walker, Texas Ranger for 9 seasons, his movie appearances are impressive entries into the action genre.

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10 Firewalker (1986)

Two Explorers Embark On An Adventure

An attempt to cash in on the success of Indiana Jones' globe-trotting adventures that audiences were devouring in the mid-80s, Firewalker is a fun film that, while entertaining, doesn't put Chuck Norris in the best light he's ever been in. Playing one half of an uncharacteristically funny treasure-hunting duo, across Lou Gosset, Norris' Max Donigan must contend with dangerous jungles, ravenous alligators, and the devious villain El Coyote.

While not a bad showing for an action-adventure exploration romp, Firewalker's limited imagination, paper-thin dialogue, and very dated indigenous representation keep it in the bottom echelon of Norris' filmography. However, there is some fun to seeing Norris step into a more comedic role than he is typically known for. While he is not overly comfortable with the comedic elements, Gosset Jr. helps to carry him with their fun friendship.

9 The Delta Force (1986)

A Special Forces Operative Deals With A Hostage Situation

Certainly nothing groundbreaking, both within the context of Chuck Norris' own career and 80s action films in general, The Delta Force features the star as Major Scott McCoy, returning to the titular special forces group after a five-year absence. It's up to Major McCoy to save a plane full of innocent hostages from a volatile terrorist group with limited backup, presenting a tense shoot-em-up that more than earns its R-rating.

Almost more of a disaster or war movie at times, The Delta Force presents some great action setpieces that are undercut by the film's sluggish final edit. The movie is inspired by the real-life hijacking of TWA Flight 847 which, even with the over-the-top elements of the movie, adds an interesting aspect it all. It is also notable as the final film for actor Lee Marvin.

8 The Octagon (1980)

Norris Is Recruited To Stop A Band Of Ninja Terrorists

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Closer to Chuck Norris' martial arts roots rather than the super-cops and commandos of his later career, The Octagon is an amazingly cheesy martial arts thriller with a surprisingly heady tone. Norris plays Scott James, an expert combatant and master of two worlds. James faces off entire hordes of terrorists who have been training with ninja skills, all the while giving the audience a window into his mind with an intrepid inner monologue.

Seeing Norris showing off his martial arts skills is a thrill and the actor truly comes alive and commands the screen in these fight sequences. Sprinkle in a surprise appearance by Lee Van Cleef of all people as James' martial arts nemesis and ninja clan master, and The Octagon leaves an unforgettable impression, despite its uneven tone and bizarre narrative choices.

7 Missing In Action (1984)

Norris Plays A Vietnam Vet Who Returns To Rescue Imprisoned Soldiers

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As a veteran of the U.S. Air Force himself, it's no wonder that Chuck Norris would frequently play military men throughout his acting career. Enter Missing In Action, which sees Norris as Colonel James Braddock, a former prisoner of the Vietnam War who goes back to rescue imprisoned soldiers callously written off as M.I.A.

The movie was not well-received by critics but became a huge hit with audiences, making for one of Norris' most popular movies. It is not hard to see the appeal as Missing In Action simply delivers relentless action and a heroic Norris on this epic rescue mission. As great as Missing In Action is, it's impossible to ignore the Rambo series comparison, though it managed to beat the release of Rambo: First Blood Part II by a whole year. It went on to launch its own action franchise.

6 Code Of Silence (1985)

Norris Is A Cop Taking On Corruption In His Department

Continuing Chuck Norris' penchant for beating hallmark 80s action movies to the punch, Code of Silence saw Chuck Norris contending with violent gangs alongside a robotic sidekick a solid two years before Robocop could lurch into theaters. Beyond the surface-level similarities, Norris' Sergeant Cusack also finds himself facing corruption within his department, unwilling to support his crusade due to his enduring principles.

Featuring the use of a rocket launcher that nearly outdoes Arnold's Commando of the same year, Code of Silence is a gritty, grueling urban slog through a near-future Chicago that is still ultimately hampered by point of comparison to other 80s classics. There is certainly a ridiculous and over-the-top aspect to the movie, but the fact that Norris plays it straight makes it all the more enjoyable as a goofy yet fun quintessential 80s action movie.

5 Silent Rage (1982)

Norris Fights A Scientifically Engineered Murderer

Like a lot of other action movie stars, Chuck Norris comfortably fit into a type of movie that he didn't often stray outside of in his career. That made it a lot more fun when he did try something new like in the case of Silent Rage. Norris plays a Texas Sheriff who must protect his community from a deranged man who was made into a nearly indestructible killing machine following medical experiments.

Seeing Norris go up against a horror movie villain is a lot more fun than seeing him simply take on faceless armies of thugs, ninjas, and enemy soldiers. It also gives Norris a character who is not simply one-note while still delivering the kind of fight scenes that the audience expects from the star. The concept is admittedly a ridiculous one, but if viewers can get on board with it, then Silent Rage is a lot of fun.

4 The Expendables 2 (2012)

Norris Joins Stallone And Other Action Stars In The Ensemble Sequel

Not keen to draw out his career past the point of credulity, Norris had largely retired from action movie roles before returning to star in The Expendables 2. Taking his place in the tribute series to action legends alongside Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jet Li, Norris got in on the gloriously over-the-top action with more than one nod to the camera.

The Expendables 2 comes the closest to any film to acknowledging Norris' meme status. When asked about a cobra bite his character had received, Norris responds, "after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died." While that kind of self-referential humor is a little overused in The Expendables 2, the big cast and fun action make it the best movie in The Expendables series to date.

3 Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire (2005)

Norris Returns To His Role As Cordell Walker In A TV Movie

Four years after the series ended, Chuck Norris returned to reprise the role of Texas Ranger Captain Cordell Walker for Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire. A triumphant return to form for the series, Captain Walker doesn't miss a step in shouldering the responsibilities of a winding plot regarding a runaway boy and the dangerous weapons targeting system he possesses.

While the film doesn't quite stand on its own, being somewhat reliant on previous knowledge of the original show to be fully appreciated, it nonetheless presents some of Norris' best action, sullied somewhat by the film's lackluster conclusion to Walker's overarching story. However, as with the likes of Sylvester Stallone with Rocky and Harrison Ford with Indiana Jones, it is charming to see Norris return to one of his most famous roles after so long.

2 Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)

Norris Is A Lawman Who Takes On David Carradine's Drug Lord

Ever typecast as a Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris' performance as J.J. McQuade in his eponymous movie appearance is the all-American hero at his gunslinging best. McQuade is a lawman who is drawn into taking on a local drug lord and arms dealer (David Carradine) who also happens to have an eye on McQuade's love interest.

Best described as a modern Western, Lone Wolf McQuade gives viewers a lot to appreciate, from the social commentary and unlikely alliance of McQuade and two federal officers to Norris' bristling chest hair and ever-unbeatable martial arts acumen. The film slowly builds to its climactic final battle like a high-power pressure cooker, resulting in one of the all-time greatest showings of Chuck Norris' action career. It is especially fun to see him going toe-to-toe with another accomplished martial arts actor like Carradine who seems to be having fun in the villain role.

1 The Way Of The Dragon (1972)

Norris Plays A Villain Who Takes On Bruce Lee In Italy

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Already a martial arts and movie icon, Bruce Lee cemented his stardom by writing, directing, and starring in The Way of the Dragon. Lee plays a man who visits his family in Italy only to learn they are being harassed by a group of brutal gangsters. Despite being known for playing a hero, Chuck Norris' breakout role saw him instead taking the mantle of a villain, as the vicious thug, Colt.

It says a lot that Norris is able to not only hold his own against the late Bruce Lee's charisma but can convincingly trade blows with the martial arts icon in what is widely considered to be one of his best films. With some of the best hand-to-hand fighting of the decade that was committed enough to its final battle to film illegally in the Roman Colosseum, The Way of the Dragon is the undeniable crowning achievement of Chuck Norris' storied career.