The men's coxed four (M4+) competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Casitas in Ventura County, California, United States.

[nb 1][3] It was held from 30 July to 5 August and the dominant nations were missing from the event due to the Eastern Bloc boycott.

[4] East Germany was the dominating country for the men's coxed four competition; since the 1977 World Rowing Championships, they had won this competition every year but at the most recent world championship in 1983, New Zealand claimed the title, displacing East Germany to the silver medal.

[3][5][6][7][8][9] Both these Eastern Bloc nations were part of the boycott in 1984, and that left New Zealand as the reigning world champion as the favourite for the event.

[3] The USA was also highly rated, having won world championship silver and bronze in 1981 and 1982, respectively,[9][10] and gold at the Pan American Games in 1983.