Missing in Action

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Missing in Action is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 573 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch Chuck Norris work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

There is a reason Missing in Action keeps coming up in conversation. At its heart, Missing in Action understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. American servicemen are still being held captive in Vietnam and it's up to one man to bring them home in this blistering, fast-paced action/adventure starring martial arts superstar Chuck Norris. Following a daring escape from a Vietnamese POW camp, Special Forces Colonel James Braddock (Norris) is on a mission to locate and save remaining MIAs. Chuck Norris and M. Emmet Walsh lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1984. The plot mechanics of Missing in Action never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Missing in Action delivers. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Chuck Norris's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.