6.7/10
123,046
449 user 130 critic

Commando (1985)

A retired elite Black Ops Commando launches a one man war against a group of South American criminals who have kidnapped his daughter.

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Writers:

(story) (as Joseph Loeb III), (story) | 2 more credits »
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1,534 ( 898)
2 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Sharon Wyatt ...
Leslie
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Harris (as Mike Adams)
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Diaz (as Carlos Cervantes)
Lenny Juliano ...
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Storyline

A retired special agent named John Matrix led an elite unit and has left the armed forces to live in a secluded mountain home with his daughter Jenny. But now he is forced out of retirement when his daughter is kidnapped by a band of thugs intent on revenge! Unbeknownst to Matrix, the members of his former unit are being killed one by one. Even though Matrix' friend General Franklin Kirby gives Matrix armed guards, attackers manage to kidnap Matrix and Jenny. Matrix learns that Bennett, a former member of his Matrix' unit who was presumed dead has kidnapped him to try to force Matrix to do a political assassination for a man called Arius (who calls himself El Presidente), a warlord formerly bested by Matrix who wishes to lead a military coup in his home country. Since Arius will have Jenny killed if Matrix refuses, Matrix reluctantly accepts the demand. Written by Anthony Pereyra {[email protected]}

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

If there's a mission that no man could survive...then *he's* the man for the job. See more »


Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

4 October 1985 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Komando  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,700,015, 6 October 1985, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$35,100,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,391,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (director's cut) | (video)

Sound Mix:

(4 channels)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong) are in the warehouse, John looks at a map and says, "these co-ordinates are somewhere near Santa Barbara". Audiences in Santa Barbara movie theaters cheered at the mention of their town. See more »

Goofs

During the fight at the end of the movie between Matrix and Bennett when Bennett calls Matrix a "dead man" and he responds with "Bullshit" you see him come off the wall with his left hand. He is throwing a left hook, but in the very next shot when the punch comes in contact with Bennett his fist is going from right to left in a backfist motion, rather than a left to right hook. See more »

Quotes

Cooke: You know what I like best?
Forrestal: What's that?
Cooke: The price.
[Cranks up the car and backs up]
Forrestal: Whoa! Wait a minute! You can't drive that car in here! Whoa! Whoa-...
[Cooke speeds up and runs over Forrestal]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Notes for a Nobleman: An Interview with Craig Safan (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

WE FIGHT FOR LOVE
Music by Andy Taylor
Lyrics by Michael Des Barres
Performed by Power Station
Produced by Bernard Edwards and Andy Taylor
Courtesy of Capitol-EMI Records
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
This movie was touched by God!
10 March 2007 | by – See all my reviews

Did it ever happen in your life that you've seen such a beautiful movie, such a perfect piece of art, such an unbelievable example of man-made splendor, such a gorgeous masterpiece that it hurt your eyes? Well, I did. And it wasn't the Schindler's List or the Lord of the Rings. No, it was the BEST action movie ever made. The BEST interpretation of the Governator. The BEST explosions. The BEST one-liners. The BEST plot. And the BEST tag-line. This movie is like the Art of Japanese gardening. Simple and beautiful. Balanced. Proportioned. There's just the right amount of everything. And there is just about everything that should go into an action movie: car chases, explosions, drug-lords, sex, an invincible hero, sitting-duck-like enemies, humor, knife duels, fist fights, rocket launchers, blood, death, bullets, glass, pectorals, muscles, some more muscles, explosions and more explosions. You need more? It's got Arnold. Need more? It's got Arnold with a sense of humor. Still more? It's got Arnold with a sense of humor and a rocket launcher. Put these three elements together and try to guess what happens. Destruction. On a mass scale. I won't give away the plot, because it is too intricate and surprising. Basically it is Arnie on a mission to save his daughter. That's about it. But what is important is not the fact that Arnie will save his daughter, but HOW will he save his daughter. Oh, are you saying that The Matrix is the best action movie of all time? Does The Matrix have Arnold Schwarzenegger? NO. Does Commando have the Matrix? YES. JOHN MATRIX, in fact. Oh, so you are saying that Neo dodges bullets? John Matrix doesn't need to. He is bulletproof. He eats bullets for breakfast. Need more proof? I thought so... I gave this Caravaggio painted on celluloid a 10 only because IMDb doesn't go to 11. This movie is so eye-blindingly beautiful I can't find the words to properly end my commentary and render justice to this cinematic masterpiece. So I will just use the movie's tag-line: Somewhere... somehow... someone's going to pay!


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