Key Takeaways:
– ‘Invasion USA' was one of Chuck Norris's major action movies which have been largely overlooked in contemporary cinema analysis.
– Despite limited theatrical success, the film made a massive hit on videocassette sales and had significant cultural impact across the globe.
– ‘Invasion USA' showcases the potential of B-movies to be exciting, entertaining and to bring about real-world influence.
Step back in time with us to the hallowed bygone era of eighties and nineties action cinema. While the names Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Seagal, Snipes, and Gibson might ring clear in your ears, we're here to remind you of another legend who graced silver screens with his masculine bravado. Chuck Norris!
Chuck Norris, in his heyday, was just as big a name in the action flick realm. But sadly, his contributions are not as celebrated today, probably because he primarily worked on elevated B-movies which didn't have the grandeur of mainstream studio productions. Today, we're going to spotlight one of his insanely entertaining classics – ‘Invasion USA'.
‘Invasion USA' was a product of the 1984 Hollywood, an era defined by Cold War tensions and cinematic spectacles. Following his successful Vietnam War epics, ‘Missing In Action 1 and 2', Norris signed a long-term contract with Cannon Pictures. Under their banner, Norris collaborated with director Joseph Zito for a tour-de-force action movie – ‘Invasion USA'.
Unlike most Cold War inspired movies of the era that offered nuanced depictions of the conflict, ‘Invasion USA' delivered a high-voltage action drama that captured audiences' imagination. It featured a Soviet operative Rostov, who leads a Latin American guerrilla army to commit acts of terror in Florida. But fear not, because Chuck Norris, as ex-agent Matt Hunter, takes it upon himself to tackle this threat head-on.
This film is an action-lover's dream, filled with testosterone-soaked fight scenes, stunning stunts, and grand set pieces. One interesting trivia about the film is that Norris originally wanted Oscar-winning actor Whoopi Goldberg to play his love interest. However, the role eventually went to Melissa Prophet. This decision was a major setback to the Norris-Zito duo, and they never worked together again.
‘Invasion USA' is a prime example of action cinema done right. The stunts were performed by real people, and the explosions were genuinely bone-shaking. It was one of Cannon Pictures' most expensive projects, boasting a massive mall shootout scene that cost more than many full movies they produced.
Interestingly, the film was only a moderate success at the box office, raking in about $17.5 million, which was somewhat higher than its production budget of $12.5 million. However, upon hitting videocassette, the film took off, becoming MGM/UA's best-selling cassette, second only to the classic ‘Gone with the Wind'.
But the story of ‘Invasion USA' doesn't end there. This action spectacle transcended borders and indirectly played a part in toppling Romania's communist government. VHS tapes of the film were smuggled into communist-ruled Romania and became a source of inspiration for the people to revolt against their government.
The grandeur, real-world influence, and audience love that ‘Invasion USA' enjoyed underline the power of cinema beyond A-level studio films. It's proof that even so-called B-movies can hold their own, and in Chuck Norris's case, even end up changing the world. Long live Chuck Norris and the infectious excitement of '80s action cinema.
