Action Jackson (1988)

10% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
30% of users liked it
(10,668 ratings)

Ex-football player Carl Weathers stars in this violent action film as Detroit policeman Jericho Jackson. The dedicated but brutal cop is plunged into nefarious doings concerning a crooked industrialist (Craig T. Nelson) and his drug-addicted girlfriend (pop-singer Vanity), breaking many people's… More Ex-football player Carl Weathers stars in this violent action film as Detroit policeman Jericho Jackson. The dedicated but brutal cop is plunged into nefarious doings concerning a crooked industrialist (Craig T. Nelson) and his drug-addicted girlfriend (pop-singer Vanity), breaking many people's bones before solving the case. Sharon Stone stands out in a cast of genre veterans including Nicholas Worth, Sonny Landham, and Robert Davi. Heavy on the sex and violence, this film harkens back to the glory days of 1970s blaxploitation, but is a bit too mean-spirited to be as much fun. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Craig R. Baxley
Written By: Robert Scott Reneau
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Feb 12, 1988 Wide
On DVD: May 18, 1999
Studio: Lorimar Home Video

Critic Reviews

Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
You call that 'Action'?
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
So, so bad, it's hardly worth mentioning.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Mindless 80's action schlock. Fun only if you already know it's junk, but dig it anyway.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Phil H

I love these 80's henchmen with their black outfits, mullets and inability to shoot straight, add to that some extremely over the top action sequences and a large piece of wood in the form of Weathers and there you have it..a perfect 80's action film. This film is your… More
I love these 80's henchmen with their black outfits, mullets and inability to shoot straight, add to that some extremely over the top action sequences and a large piece of wood in the form of Weathers and there you have it..a perfect 80's action film. This film is your typical tough guy flick with the same kind of action as many many other classic films like 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Red Heat' etc...funnily enough this film has afew main cast members from Arnie flick 'Predator' with Landham and Duke along with Weathers. Talking of the cast this film has a mega cast of stars and 80's faces...Robert Davi, Thomas F. Wilson, Craig T. Nelson, Sharon Stone, Ed O Ross, Miguel A. Nunez Jr and the ultimate henchman Al Leong :) Only guy missing here is Arnie himself. I gotta admit I never really liked this flick as it just seems like a big action vehicle wannabe and just can't quite compete with the real big boys like Arnie, Sly, Bruce or JCVD. Weathers is a good tough guy, looks good and talks the talk but I just don't think he's got the swing to hold an entire blockbuster film all on his own, for me he works better with other big names to spar with eg. 'Rocky' and 'Predator', the same goes for the main bad guy played by Nelson, he's slimy but isn't quite evil or threatening enough. Overall its a slightly unimpressive outcome but that lively 80's buzz is hard to ignore ;)
Cassie H

I had just started liking Carl Weathers after I first started watching him in the Rocky movies.Boy,did my opinnion of him become greater,but I realize after his great acting in the Rocky movies as Apollo Creed,his acting as Jericho "Action" Jackson is PHONOEMENAL!!!
Dean M

Average furious action of a black cop trying to nail the professional and evil gang.
Miriam K

one for the worst of list...

Cast

            Carl Weathers as Jericho "Action" Jackson

            Craig T. Nelson as Peter Dellaplane

            Vanity as Sydney Ash

            Sharon Stone as Patricia Dellaplane

            Thomas F. Wilson as Officer Kornblau

            Bill Duke as Capt. Armbruster

            Robert Davi as Tony Moretti

            Jack Thibeau as Detective Kotterwell

            Nicholas Worth as Cartier

            Sonny Landham as Mr. Quick

            Ivor Barry as Stuffy Old Guy

            Alonzo Brown Jr. as Big Lady With Purse

            Roger Aaron Brown as Officer Lack

            David Efron as Birch

            David Glen Eisley as Thaw

            Preston Hanson as Master of Ceremonies

            Dennis Hayden as Shaker

            Jim Haynie as Morty Morton

            Prince Hughes as Ed

            Diana James as Hooker

            Matt Landers as 1st Desk Sergeant

            Susan Lentini as VW Driver

            Al Leong as Dellaplane's Chauffeur

            Brian Libby as Martin

            Perry Lopez
            
            Frank McCarthy as Oliver O'Rooney

            Michael McManus as Grantham

            Armelia McQueen as Dee

            Charles Meshack as Poolroom Bartender

            Miguel A. Núñez Jr. as 1st Poolroom Thug

            Ed O'Ross as Stringer

            Melissa Prophet as Newscaster

            Branscombe Richmond as Poolroom Thug #2

            Mary Ellen Trainor as Secretary

            Thomas Wagner as 2nd Desk Sergeant

            De'voreaux White as Clovis

            Chino "Fats" Williams as Kid Sable

            Stan Foster as Albert

            James Lew as Martial Arts Instructor

            Bob Minor as Gamble

            Glenn Wilder as Yacht Guard #2

            Kenneth Belsky as Red Devil Bartender

            Christopher Broughton as Pickpocket

            Bill Burton Sr. as Policeman

            Ronnie Carol as Party Guest

            Diedre Conrad as Policewoman

            Richard L. Duran as 3rd Poolroom Thug

            The Knudsen Brothers as Streetsinger

            Edgar Small as Raymond Foss

            Karen Rea
            
            John Lyons as Yacht Guard #1

            Francis X. McCarthy
            
See full cast