50 Best Action Movies From The 1990’s
This was a decade that gave us some of the most iconic action films of all time, and I've compiled a list of the top 50 that you won't want to miss.
What We Cover In This Article
- This article compiles a list of the 50 best action movies from the 1990s, featuring legendary actors and talented filmmakers.
- The list includes a diverse range of films, from high-octane thrillers to martial arts classics to sci-fi blockbusters.
- Some of the most featured actors on the list include Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Keanu Reeves, and Harrison Ford.
- Some of the most featured directors on the list include John Woo, James Cameron, Luc Besson, Michael Bay, Tony Scott, Renny Harlin, and Jan de Bont.
- The list is organised into years to give it a timeline feel.
Darkman
Sam Raimi's Darkman is a unique blend of superhero and horror genres, with Liam Neeson delivering a standout performance as the titular character. The film's impressive practical effects and action sequences make it a must-watch.
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Die Hard 2
Bruce Willis returns as John McClane in this sequel to the classic action film. Die Hard 2 ups the ante with more explosions, more bad guys, and more of the snarky humour that made the first film a hit.
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La Femme Nikita
Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita is a stylish and thrilling French action film that launched the career of Anne Parillaud. The film's gritty realism and intense action scenes make it a standout in the genre.
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The Hunt for Red October
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Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this sci-fi action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Total Recall is a wild ride that features impressive practical effects, exciting action sequences, and a memorable performance from Schwarzenegger.
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day
James Cameron's sequel to The Terminator is a masterpiece of action cinema. With groundbreaking special effects, intense action sequences, and standout performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, T2 is a film that every action fan needs to see.
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Point Break
Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break is a high-octane action film that features some of the most impressive stunt work of the decade. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze deliver great performances as an FBI agent and a bank-robbing surfer, respectively.
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The Last Boy Scout
This buddy cop film stars Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans as an unlikely pair of detectives. The film's sharp dialogue, over-the-top action sequences, and great chemistry between the leads make it a fun and entertaining watch.
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Backdraft
Ron Howard's Backdraft is a thrilling firefighting drama that features impressive special effects and intense action sequences. Kurt Russell delivers a solid performance as a firefighter trying to uncover the truth behind a series of arson attacks.
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The Rocketeer
This period superhero film is a fun and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and a charming performance from Billy Campbell as the titular character. The film's retro aesthetic and sense of adventure make it a standout in the genre. A fantastic ensemble cast featuring: Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton and more...
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Batman Returns
Tim Burton's sequel to Batman is a dark and atmospheric superhero film that features impressive production design and standout performances from Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
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El Mariachi
Robert Rodriguez's low-budget action film is a thrilling and stylish tale of revenge. The film's impressive action sequences and memorable performances make it a must-watch for fans of the genre.
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Hard Boiled
John Woo's Hard Boiled is a classic action film that features some of the most impressive gunplay ever committed to film. Chow Yun-Fat delivers a fantastic performance as a cop on a mission to take down a ruthless crime boss.
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The Last of the Mohicans
Michael Mann's historical epic is a thrilling adventure film that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe.
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Demolition Man
This sci-fi action film stars Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes as a cop and a criminal who are cryogenically frozen and thawed out in the future. The film's satirical take on the future and its over-the-top action sequences make it a fun and entertaining watch.
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Cliffhanger
Sylvester Stallone stars in this high-octane action film that features impressive stunt work and thrilling action sequences. The film's stunning location, shooting, and intense pacing make it favourite amongst action fans.
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Hard Target
John Woo's first American film is a thrilling action film that features some of the director's signature gunplay and impressive stunt work. Jean-Claude Van Damme delivers a solid performance as a drifter who becomes embroiled in a deadly game of survival.
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In the Line of Fire
This political thriller stars Clint Eastwood as a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the President from a dangerous assassin. The film's tense action sequences and standout performances from Eastwood and John Malkovich make it a tense ride worth watching.
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The Fugitive
Harrison Ford delivers a fantastic performance in this thrilling action film based on the classic TV series. The film's intense pacing, impressive action sequences, and great supporting cast make it a standout in the genre.
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True Lies
James Cameron's action-comedy is a fun and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis.
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Speed
This high-octane action film stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock as a cop and a civilian who must stop a bus rigged with a bomb from exploding. The film's intense pacing, impressive stunt work, and great chemistry between the leads make it a must-watch.
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Leon: The Professional
Luc Besson's action film is a stylish and thrilling tale of a hitman and a young girl who form an unlikely bond. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman deliver fantastic performances.
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Blown Away
This thriller stars Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones as a bomb disposal expert and a terrorist who is engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse. The film's tense action sequences and bubbling tension between the leads make for pure entertainment.
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The Legend Of Drunken Master
Jackie Chan's martial arts film is a thrilling and entertaining romp that features some of the most impressive fight scenes ever committed to film. Chan's incredible physicality and comedic timing make this a must-watch for fans of the genre.
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No Escape
This sci-fi action film stars Ray Liotta as a prisoner who must fight for survival in a futuristic prison. Keep an eye out for a cool decapitation!
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The Crow
Brandon Lee's final film is a dark and atmospheric superhero film that features impressive action sequences and a standout performance from Lee. The film's gothic aesthetic and sense of tragedy make it a must-watch.
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Bad Boys
Michael Bay's action film is a fun and entertaining buddy cop movie that features impressive action sequences and great chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
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Desperado
Robert Rodriguez's follow-up to El Mariachi is a thrilling and stylish action film that features some of the most impressive gunplay ever committed to film. Antonio Banderas delivers a fantastic performance as the titular character.
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Die Hard with a Vengeance
Bruce Willis returns as John McClane in this sequel to the classic action film. The film's intense action sequences and great chemistry between Willis and Samuel L. Jackson make it a must-watch.
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Heat
Michael Mann's crime epic is a thrilling and intense film that features standout performances from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. With two of the world's biggest stars going toe to toe, who wouldn't want to watch this fantastic film.
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Judge Dredd
This sci-fi action film stars Sylvester Stallone as the titular character, a judge, jury, and executioner in a dystopian future. The film's over-the-top action sequences and impressive production design make it a fun and entertaining watch.
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Crimson Tide
This submarine thriller stars Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington as a captain and an executive officer who clash over the decision to launch nuclear missiles. The film's tense action sequences and standout performances, in particular Hackman (very intense and one of my favourite roles of his) makes this so much more enjoyable.
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Sudden Death
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this action film as a fire marshal who must stop a group of terrorists from blowing up a hockey arena. The film's intense action sequences and impressive stunt work make it a fun and entertaining watch.
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Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise stars in this action-packed spy film based on the classic TV series. The film's impressive action sequences and standout performances from Cruise and Jon Voight solidify it's inclusion in this list.
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From Dusk Till Dawn
Robert Rodriguez's horror-action film is a thrilling and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino.
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Twister
This disaster film features impressive special effects and intense action sequences as a group of storm chasers attempt to deploy a new weather-tracking device. With strong performances from Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, coupled with some remarkable SFX at the time, this is a must.
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The Long Kiss Goodnight
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Con Air
This action-packed thriller stars Nicolas Cage as a former Army Ranger who must stop a group of dangerous criminals from escaping during a prison transport. This film has gone on to garner a cult following and one of Nic Cages best! "Put the bunny back in the box"
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Starship Troopers
Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi action film is a thrilling and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Casper Van Dien and Denise Richards. An underrated gem of a film!
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Men in Black
This sci-fi action-comedy stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as agents who must protect the Earth from alien threats. The film's impressive action sequences and standout performances from Smith and Jones make it a must-watch.
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Air Force One
Harrison Ford stars in this action-packed thriller as the President of the United States, who must stop a group of terrorists who have hijacked Air Force One. Ford vs Oldman, doesn't get any better.
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The Fifth Element
Luc Besson's sci-fi action film is a thrilling and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich.
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Face/Off
John Woo's action film is a thrilling and entertaining romp that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from John Travolta and Nicolas Cage.
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Ronin
John Frankenheimer's spy thriller is a tense and suspenseful film that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Robert De Niro and Jean Reno.
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Enemy of the State
This spy thriller stars Will Smith as a lawyer who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy. Tony Scott delivers an outstanding action thriller, showcasing his excellent storytelling skills. Will Smith shines in his role, allowing the actor to take center stage over his star persona. Gene Hackman, as always, brings his impressive character-driven gravitas to the mix, resulting in a remarkable film.
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The Mask of Zorro
This swashbuckling action film stars Antonio Banderas as the titular character, a masked vigilante who must stop a ruthless villain from taking over California. The film's impressive action sequences and standout performances from Banderas and Anthony Hopkins make it a must-watch.
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Deep Blue Sea
This sci-fi action film features impressive special effects and intense action sequences as a group of scientists attempt to create a cure for Alzheimer's disease using genetically engineered sharks.
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The Matrix
The Wachowski siblings' sci-fi action film is a groundbreaking masterpiece that features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne.
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The Boondock Saints
This crime thriller features impressive action sequences and standout performances from Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus as a pair of Irish-American brothers who become vigilantes. I have been delightfully surprised by The Boondock Saints during my years of watching independent films. It convincingly demonstrates that a massive budget is not a prerequisite for creating an exceptional action movie.
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Top Featured Directors:
- James Cameron - Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), True Lies (1994)
- John McTiernan - Die Hard 2 (1990), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
- Jan de Bont - Speed (1994), Twister (1996)
- John Woo - Hard Boiled (1992), Face/Off (1997)
- Renny Harlin - Cliffhanger (1993), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Top Featured Actors:
- Bruce Willis - Die Hard 2 (1990), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Fifth Element (1997)
- Arnold Schwarzenegger - Total Recall (1990), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), True Lies (1994)
- Sylvester Stallone - Cliffhanger (1993), Demolition Man (1993)
- Keanu Reeves - Point Break (1991), Speed (1994), The Matrix (1999)
Year with most films on the list: 1994 (with 8 films)
Highest Box Office Films on the List:
- Men in Black (1997) - $589,390,539
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - $519,843,345
- The Matrix (1999) - $463,517,383
- True Lies (1994) - $378,882,411
- Speed (1994) - $350,448,145
(Note: Box office figures are worldwide gross earnings, not adjusted for inflation.)
The 1990s were a fantastic decade for action movies, and this list of the top 50 films is a testament to that. From classic sequels to groundbreaking originals, these films feature some of the most impressive action sequences and standout performances in cinematic history. Whether you're a die-hard action fan or just looking for a fun and entertaining movie to watch, these films are sure to deliver. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Please let us know in the comments if you would have added any other film to this list.
Richard is a movie fanatic and avid film writer for www.rewindzone.com, a nostalgic movie blog website featuring articles on classic films and actors from the past. With a friendly, dry-humoured tone and a concise, critical approach, Richard provides balanced opinions on topics and uses real-life examples for illustration. His expertise in film shines through in his writing, and he always recommends movies with a passion.
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