Editing Megaforce (section)

==Production==
The film was part of a $50 million slate of film production from Golden Harvest studios aimed at breaking into the Western market. Other movies included ''[[High Road to China (film)|High Road to China]]'' and ''[[The Protector (1985 film)|The Protector]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=MOVIES: Bruce Lee aura haunts Hong Kong|author=Chan Hok-keung.|date=May 10, 1981|work=Chicago Tribune|page=d17}}</ref>

The director Hal Needham said:
<blockquote>It's like no other movie ever made before. And the machines we've built are extraordinary. There's one other thing. Although there's a lot of action, you don't see anyone get killed. I think people are beginning to get sick of that kind of thing. What we've tried to do here is make an entertaining film with some believable heroes the public can cheer for.<ref name="mega"/></blockquote>
Barry Bostwick was cast in the lead after the producers saw him on stage in ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'' in Los Angeles. Producer Al Ruddy said he and the director had talked to one other actor earlier in the development stage, when the script was more serious. However, then Ruddy "decided I didn't want to do another ''[[The Dogs of War (film)|Dogs of War]]'' type movie. I wanted this to be more camp, more of a spoof, but still believable. Once we'd seen Barry we knew right away he was just right for the part."<ref name="mega"/>

It was the first time Bostwick had received top billing in a film. He signed a three-picture deal covering possible sequels. He kept the beard he wore for ''Penzance'' to "develop a particular look for this guy. That way if I want to do other pictures I can just shave it off to look different. Anyway it's dead right for this character."<ref name="mega"/>

"We use high technology weapons of the most advanced design", said Bostwick. "They're still on the drawing board but they will be in use by the time the movie is out a year later."<ref name="barry">{{Cite news|title=Notes on People: Glittering Attraction for Apartment Buyers Weaponry Plays Major Role in New Film Helen Hayes Honored Missing Wallet|author=Albin Krebs Robert McG. Thomas Jr.|date=Oct 22, 1981|work=New York Times|page=C25}}</ref>

Bostwick claimed the Pentagon "tried to stop the movie" by withholding 40 army tanks needed for the bigger battle sequences because the movie's strike force "was very close to covert CIA strike forces still in existence."<ref name="barry"/>

"You know what's good about this film?" Bostwick later reflected. "It's plausible. We need an international force like this to keep the peace. I wouldn't mind betting that one day there's a real Megaforce operating somewhere in the world."<ref name="mega"/>

The film was shot on location in Nevada. It pioneered the use of [[Introvision]], a system that allows actors to walk in and out of photographs instead of sets. It was used to create the headquarters for the private army. "It's an absolutely phenomenal system", said the film's producer, Al Ruddy of Introvision. "There's no way you can get the quality and the speed of delivery at this cost."<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Magic Black Box Adds Wonderment to Movies: Not a Camera Foresees $4 Million Saving|author=ALJEAN HARMETZ.|date=Oct 29, 1981|work=New York Times|page=C21}}</ref>

The cars and motorbikes were designed by William Fredrick, who worked on ''[[Hooper (film)|Hooper]]''. He delivered them after eight months work and a cost of $1 million but they all actually worked.<ref name="mega">{{Cite news|title=MOVIES: 'MEGAFORCE' SPENDS MEGABUCKS ON ARMS|author=Mann, Roderick.|date=Nov 22, 1981|work=Los Angeles Times|page=n40}}</ref>

Hal Needham was injured during filming after falling off a motorbike, breaking several ribs and bruising himself.<ref name="mega"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=STUNT MAN'S BIG BREAK: DIRECTING: HAL NEEDHAM|date=June 24, 1982|work=Los Angeles Times|page=i1}}</ref>

The film had no credited costume designer; all the clothes were designed by the toy company [[Mattel]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=listen the Fashion82 staff|work=Los Angeles Times|date=7 May 1982|page=m3}}</ref>