Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

27% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(6,493 ratings)

This red-baiting action film stars Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter, a retired CIA agent who lives in the Florida Everglades. A communist invasion of Miami brings Hunter out of retirement to fight the encroaching hordes led by everyone's favorite low-budget bad guy, Richard Lynch. The film is extremely… More This red-baiting action film stars Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter, a retired CIA agent who lives in the Florida Everglades. A communist invasion of Miami brings Hunter out of retirement to fight the encroaching hordes led by everyone's favorite low-budget bad guy, Richard Lynch. The film is extremely jingoistic, presenting the evil communists staging an invasion on Christmas, demolishing a church, and attempting to blow up a school bus full of children. From the same school of thinking which produced Rambo and Red Dawn, this film at least features some convincing gore by makeup wizard Tom Savini (Friday the 13th), working on his third gig for director Joseph Zito. Zito and Savini returned with Red Scorpion. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Joseph Zito
Written By: James Bruner
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 27, 1985 Limited
On DVD: Nov 20, 2001

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Big and bouncy and so stupid that it's hard not to get carried away a little bit... Its gleeful badness is its saving grace.
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Only Chuck - a libertarian redneck who simply wants to be left the fnck alone - has the red, white, and blue balls big enough to put an end to these problems.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Chuck at his best!
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
Norris single handidly defeating an army!
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye
A clumsy, generic and kinetic actioner with Norris aimlessly kicking his way through this loud exorcise
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Right-wing Cold War fantasies brought to ludicrous life.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

David L

Hard-R, over-the-top, hilariously absurd action movie with a political paranoia bent. This film gives us a this-could-happen doomsday scenario from the era of the Cold War. Maniacal Communist terrorists, led by poker-paced psychopath Rostov (Richard Lynch) land on American soil, just… More
Hard-R, over-the-top, hilariously absurd action movie with a political paranoia bent. This film gives us a this-could-happen doomsday scenario from the era of the Cold War. Maniacal Communist terrorists, led by poker-paced psychopath Rostov (Richard Lynch) land on American soil, just annihilating everybody in their path. But there is one man, and one man alone, who can save the day..."retired" secret agent Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris). Chuck gives one of his more stone-faced portrayals, but the character himself is one of his more sullen and ruthless. I'll say that much - these two adversaries deserve each other, although the final confrontation is a long time coming. I have to give credit where credit is due: the film-makers, led by director Joseph Zito, let us know up front we're in for a heck of a ride. They gleefully toss credibility out the window, and, just for good measure, dispense with any level of political correctness. The movie is rough, tough, and rousing (although it takes about half the film for things to really kick into gear), aided in no small part by a stirring music score by the talented Jay Chattaway. Sequences ranging from funny to just plain insane involve a) the messy dispatch of a sleazy drug dealer (Billy Drago) and a hooker, b) a loud and noisy assault on a suburban neighborhood, and c) a major shootout in a shopping mall. This film truly throws in everything (including the kitchen sink) for the sake of an entertaining show. Co-starring Melissa Prophet (whose gutsy, obnoxious, pushy reporter is more of an annoyance than anything else), Alexander Zale, Alex Colon, Eddie Jones, and Dehl Berti. Co-written by Chuck himself and James Bruner, based on a story by Bruner and Chuck's brother (and frequent collaborator) Aaron. My final parting words are just this: of the assembly line of Cannon Films action pictures and thrillers to come out of the 1980's, this has to rank up there as one of the most potent guilty pleasures that they made. Period.
Douglas W C

This is my favorite Chuck Norris film. Guns don't kill people, Chuck Norris Kills People.
Dean M

Three cheers for Norris by protecting USA and make wage war upon the army of terrorist mercenaries.
Lee K

Good chuck fare. If you can take away Chucks bad acting and all the Americana present then its not a bad action flick.

Cast

            Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter

            Richard Lynch as Rostov

            Melissa Prophet as McGuire

            Alex Colon as Tomas

            Alexander Zale as Nikko

            Dehl Berti as John Eagle

            Shane McCamey as Kurt

            Billy Drago as Mickey

            Dan Albright as Gentleman Shopper

            Bernard Barrow as Supermarket Manager

            Jeff Benninghofen as Boy in Car

            Megan Blake as Girl Friend

            Tony Bolano as Terrorist with Tomas

            Michael Carmine as Tonio

            Jon De Vries as Johnston

            Nate Esformes as Terrorist with Tomas

            Bruce Evers as Terrorist as Guardsman

            Dan Fitzgerald as Veteran Cop

            Bob Hannah as Father at Church

            Eddie Jones as Cassidy

            Charles Kahlenberg as Security Guard at Mall

            Stephen Markle as Flynn

            Bernie McInerney as Detective Tom Green

            Gerry Murphy as Bouncer

            James O'Sullivan as Harper

            James Pax as Koyo

            Ruben Rabasa as Sick Old Man

            Nick Ramus as Clark Little Hawk

            Teresa M. Rojas as Angela

            Jaime Sánchez as Castillo

            Mario Ernesto Sánchez as Victor

            Martin Shakar as Adams

            Lisa Stahl as Teen Girl on Beach

            Laura Whyte as Mother at Church

            Wallace Wilkinson as Pastor

            Peter Bannon as Newcaster

            Jack Bell as Newcaster

            Sheryl Brown as Girl on Car

            Beth Burns as Girl in Car

            Jana Camp as Christmas Daughter

            Maria Doest as Mickey's Coke Girl

            Art Eckman as Newcaster

            Jason Ehrlich as Mall Brat

            Joe Frasca as Young Cop

            Amanda Graham as Cindy

            Gene Griessman as Newcaster

            Monica Kaufman as Newcaster

            Robin Kinsey as Waitress at Beach

            Tranette Ledford-Furnad as Newscaster

            Kevin Maggiore as Security Guard

            Alex Malenky as Church Terrorist

            Anthony Marciona as Carlos

            Tom Mintier as Newcaster

            Lorraine Morin as Maria

            Tommy Nowell as Christmas Son

            Randy Parks as Policeman

            Katherine Ann Payne as Katherine Martin

            Rene Rokk as Teen Boy on Beach

            Raymond Rosario as Young Boy

            Bella Shaw as Newcaster

            Andy Stahl as Christmas Father

            Dick Tirschel as Church Terrorist

            Jim Towers as Captain

            Bob Varsha as Newcaster

            Chondra Wolle as Christmas Mom

            Tarek Yordi as Arab Commando

            Anthony Correa as George

            Susan Sullivan as Daughter at Church

            Michael Kelly as Male Tourist

            Howard Jackson as Street Person

            Don Miller as Newcaster

            Robert Rodriguez as Counter Man

            Jon DeVries
            
See full cast