How James Bond Inspired the Hilarious and Explosive Moments in Commando

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name is synonymous with raw, adrenaline-pumping action. Known for his roles in Predator and The Terminator, Schwarzenegger has cemented himself as an icon of the genre, thanks to his larger-than-life physicality, explosive stunts, and no-nonsense approach to on-screen heroism. But one of his most beloved movies, Commando (1985), took a surprisingly different approach—one that was inspired, unexpectedly, by the suave, quip-filled world of James Bond.

Directed by Mark L. Lester, Commando allowed Schwarzenegger to break out of his archetype as a stoic, hyper-masculine action star. While his previous films relied heavily on tension, grit, and sheer strength, Commando leaned into humor, witty one-liners, and a playfulness that hadn’t been fully tapped in Schwarzenegger’s previous work. It was a shift that Lester attributed directly to Dr. No, the very first James Bond film, directed by Terence Young.

“I remembered seeing Dr. No when it came out when I was a kid, and I loved the one-liners in that,” Lester explained. The director, who initially approached the Commando script with skepticism, quickly realized that Schwarzenegger’s personality was perfectly suited to injecting that same kind of humor into an otherwise high-stakes action flick. “There were a couple of those in [Steven E.] De Souza’s script, and then we kept adding them throughout the movie as we went,” Lester said.

This decision wasn’t made in a vacuum. By the time Commando entered production, Schwarzenegger had already proven himself a charismatic on-screen presence, but his humor had remained largely untapped. Lester’s time working with Schwarzenegger during rehearsals revealed an actor who was not only skilled at pulling off death-defying stunts but also genuinely funny. “Partly because I got to know Arnold during the rehearsal period and learned how funny he was,” Lester continued. “We never stopped writing jokes for him and incorporating his own personality into the character.”

The result was a film that blended muscular action sequences with a lighter, more self-aware tone. While The Terminator showcased Schwarzenegger as a terrifying, near-mute assassin and Predator leaned on his intimidating physicality, Commando let him flex his comedic timing. The movie’s clever lines, cheesy emotional beats, and over-the-top stunts earned it a unique place in Schwarzenegger’s filmography.

Despite its now-iconic status, Commando almost didn’t happen as it did. Producer Joel Silver told Lester that if he read the original script, “He wouldn’t want to do it.” But Schwarzenegger was already on board, and Lester saw potential in the story. By embracing Schwarzenegger’s comedic side, the filmmakers turned what could have been a conventional action flick into a cult classic that remains beloved decades later.

Today, Commando stands as a reminder that even within the most testosterone-fueled genre, a touch of humor can transform a movie into something timeless. Schwarzenegger’s charm and Lester’s willingness to experiment proved that sometimes, the best way to win over an audience is with a smile and a well-timed punchline—an approach inspired, in part, by a certain martini-sipping British spy.