Mel Gibson is an Oscar-winning actor with his fair share of achievements and failures due to his scandals. Scandals or not, it does not discount his talent or his pre-existing work.

Arguably one of the most successful actors of a generation, Mel Gibson is also a director and producer as well. Interestingly enough one of his biggest successes was not in front of the camera, but behind it. His “The Passion Of The Christ” (2004) was one of the most successful movies of 2004, and has grossed an estimated $614 million at the box office.

The Best 80s Mel Gibson Movies

Even though he’s been massively successful in recent years, some of Mel Gibson’s best acting roles came during the 1980s.

So what were the best 80s Mel Gibson movies?

Here are our picks for the best Mel Gibson movies of the 1980s:

1. The Bounty (1984)

Rotten Tomato Critic Rating: 74%

Directed by Roger Donaldson, this movie stars Mel Gibson, Edward Fox, Anthony Hopkins, and Laurence Olivier. This film is the third Hollywood attempt at “Mutiny on the Bounty.”

It is based on the novel called “Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian,” a story about the mutiny on the 1789 vessel, H.M.S. Bounty. The crew turns against the Captain when they reach Tahiti, a land that is a tropical paradise and has unlimited sex.  

However, Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) and his Lieutenant Fletcher Christian (Gibson) decided to take a detour and take his crew on a dangerous journey around Cape Horn. Gibson plays Christian, and they have been long-time friends.

With Bligh not being as villainous as the original story, it adds more layers to the plot. Despite the tumultuous journey, Gibson and Hopkins make it through like pros.

2. Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Rotten Tomato Critic Rating: 80%

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome is the second sequel to Mad Max (1979), which lays the foundation for a series spanning over 40 years. The American International Pictures removed the soundtrack and dubbed it with American voices as they felt it was too “Australian.” 

The direction of the movie remains, and Gibson’s performance makes it a memorable experience. The first movie’s success prompted the production of the second and third movies, which had Gibson in them too. This series made Gibson marketable as an action star.

3. The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982)

Rotten Tomato Critic Rating: 88%

The Year Of Living Dangerously is an Australian movie that stars Linda Hunt, Sigourney Weaver, and Mel Gibson. Gibson plays the role of Guy Hamilton, an Australian journalist stuck in Indonesia during a Presidential coup.

Since he has no contacts, he befriends Billy Kwan and his best friend, Jill Bryant. This is a love story between Jill and Guy during a time of calamity. Directed by Peter Weir, this helped Gibson earn a critically-acclaimed performance and become more successful.

4. Gallipoli (1981)

Rotten Tomato Critic Rating: 91%

Since Hollywood used Mel Gibson’s dubbed voice in Mad Max (1979), the public familiarized themselves with him. Peter Weir revealed his real voice in Gallipoli. It is a movie set during WW1 in the Ottoman Empire.

Rivals Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) and Frank Dunne (Gibson) decide to join the Australian Army and have each other’s back.  This tale of friendship during a crisis is touching, and the battle scenes are heart-wrenching. It is safe to say that this put Gibson on the map.

Mel Gibson is a Hollywood legend till this day, and we look forward to what he has left in his illustrious acting and directing career. We feel these are his best films from the 80s, and we hope you get a chance to watch them.