Best Patrick Swayze Movies

Patrick Swayze starred in over 30 movies, showcasing his acting and dancing talents. Three of his best movies are Dirty Dancing, Red Dawn, and Road House.

Patrick Swayze is one of my favorite actors from the 1980s. He starred in more than 30 movies over the course of his career, and was nominated for three Golden Globe awards. A versatile actor, he would easily slip into the role of a tough guy in one movie, then play a romantic lead in the next.

While there are many movies from which he is well-known, the following three are my pick for the best Patrick Swayze movies.

#3 - Road Houuse

Road House is the typical bar-type movie, so it appeals to both men and women. Patrick Swayze plays Dalton, who is hired to be the head bouncer & security man at a local bar.

It’s a rough establishment with all kinds of problems: drugs, sex and violence. Dalton’s job is to get rid of the riff raff and attract better clientele.

I like Road House because it is an action movie, and shows off Patrick Swayze’s background as an athlete. The music – especially the tunes by Jeff Healey – are excellent.

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#2 - Red Dawn

Red Dawn is a chilling story about the beginning of World War III. The movie starts with Soviet troops parachuting into a school yard in Colorado, and the resulting pandemonium as the Russians begin shooting.

Students flee into the neighboring mountains, where they form a resistance group called “The Wolverines”. They learn to hunt for food, survive in the wilderness, and make plans to counterattack the Soviets. Over the course of the movie, the Wolverines conduct raids against the Soviets and end up killing to survive.

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I recommend Red Dawn because it shows how far US citizens will go to defend their freedom and their country. It’s action-packed, thought-provoking, and even sad at times.

An aside: If you have any doubts on the effects of gun control, take a look at Red Dawn. It shows what can happen when the government requires gun registration & regulation, and how it can potentially be used against you.

Best Quote From Red Dawn

“…In the early days of World War III, guerrillas – mostly children – placed the names of their lost upon this rock. They fought here alone and gave up their lives, so that this nation shall not perish from the earth.”

#1 - Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing is not just a movie about dancing; it is the story of two people from very different backgrounds falling in love, and standing up for what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Patrick Swayze‘s character, Johnny Castle, is a dance instructor at a resort in the Catskill mountains. Baby, played by Jennifer Grey, vacations with her family at the resort over the summer.

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Over the course of her vacation, Baby becomes friends with the employees at the resort, fills in as Johnny’s dance partner, and subsequently, falls in love with Johnny. Several incidents occur where Baby makes choices that cause a rift between herself and family members.

Dirty Dancing is a movie full of nostalgia, young love, trust, and happy endings. And the dancing? It is incredible as well!