Thanks folks. I'm a huge 80s HK action fan and have seen the majority of what everyone's mentioned so far, but wanted a litmus from you guys. Great recs!
In terms of 80s, I think we've got all the 'greats' covered here, including some 80s John Woo. Here's a few that I'd recommend outside of what's been mentioned so far:
On the Run: 80s cop action film with Yuen Biao not doing the Yuen Biao things, and it works! Pat Ha however steals the show as a hitwoman who steals every scene possible with a very underrated performance. More cop action than kung fu but definitely seek this out. If you're in the UK, 88 films is releasing a remaster of it so go and get it!
8 Diagram Pole Fighter & 5 Element Ninjas: If a kid asked me where to start with regards to 80s Shaw Brothers, these 2 would be my first recs. Underrated and undervalued among action afficionados at times, Shaw brought the pain dripped in kung fu glory and these 2 films are a great start.
Predator: I love Commando, Terminator, The Running Man & Conan for 80s Ahh-nold but Predator has got great set-pieces and builds tension like a motherfucker. And it's instantly quotable.
Highlander: In a lot of ways, Highlander, to me, was a unique film that combined action & fantasy that finds a way to keep you engaged as you bounce between 2 different timelines. Sad that every fucking movie after the first is a trash fire.
Revenge of the Ninja: A Cannon film is a must for every noob asking about 80s action and this would be my rec. The movie that made Sho Kosugi a star with some awesome ninja action.
Makai Tensho - Samurai Reincarnation: My favorite film starring the late, great Sonny Chiba. Jubei Yagyu fights Amakusa and the hordes of the damned who won't stop until the entire Tokugawa Bakufu burns. Great swordsfights, fantastic tension and lots of spookiness make this a big rec for those of you who love Kinji Fukasaku.