Commando is an action film that features Arnold Schwarzenegger

On 04/10/1985, the action film Commando, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as retired Special Forces Colonel John Matrix, was released in theaters across the United States. Directed by Mark L. Lester and produced by Joel Silver, the film followed Matrix after his daughter Jenny, played by Alyssa Milano, is kidnapped by mercenaries attempting to force him into carrying out an assassination. The story centers on Matrix launching a one man assault to track down the kidnappers and rescue her. The cast included Rae Dawn Chong as flight attendant Cindy, Dan Hedaya as former dictator Arius, and Vernon Wells as Bennett, Matrix’s primary adversary. The production featured large scale practical stunts, explosions, and close quarters combat sequences. The musical score was composed by James Horner, whose synthesizer driven soundtrack became closely associated with the film’s pacing and action sequences. Much of the film was shot in California, with locations used to represent both suburban settings and fictional Latin American environments. Commando became known for its stylized action scenes and memorable dialogue. Lines such as “I let him go” and “Let off some steam, Bennett” entered popular culture and were frequently quoted in later media. The film contributed to Schwarzenegger’s rise as a leading action star in the mid 1980s and performed strongly at the box office following its October 1985 release.