Target (1985) »

Critics often note that it’s always fun to watch Hackman "at his best," and here he brings a weary, human quality to the action hero archetype.

Everything changes when Walter’s wife is kidnapped while on vacation in Paris. As Walter and Chris fly to Europe to find her, the "stodgy" father suddenly displays a lethal set of skills. Walter isn't just a lumber guy; he's a former CIA operative with a past that has finally caught up to him. Why It Still Works Target (1985)

Its script—revolving around a family man with a secret double life—prefigured the massive "secret agent dad" trend that would dominate the 2000s and 2010s. Final Verdict: Entertaining and Ambitious Critics often note that it’s always fun to