Skip to main content
Close

Top 10 Best 90’s Action Films

By Riley Webster · April 15, 2013

The 90's were an amazing time for action movies.  Maybe I'm saying that purely out of the bias that I was raised in the 90's, so that was the action era I know the best.  A lot of the recent action films have a cool aesthetic, but it's also always the exact same aesthetic — the grittier, the more serious, and the more shaky, the better (supposedly).

Well, the 90's were, for the most part, about having FUN.  What a shocker.  And the following 10 movies are just about the most fun I can have watching a movie from that decade. 

As always, a casual mention of the ones that just missed the list: Hard Boiled, Mission Impossible, Ronin, Air Force One, Die Hard 3, and Cliffhanger.  I also didn't know what to do with a lot of ones that are sort of "in-between" action and other genres — Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, L.A. Confidential, and Heat I would all classify as drama's with great action scenes in them, and stuff like Men in Black and Congo are more fantasy/comedies.  So they aren't on here.  But the remaining should still get the testosterone pumping…  

10. Eraser (1996)

I have a horrible confession to make — I'm not a huge Arnold Schwarzenegger fan.  I enjoy Predator and the Terminator flicks, but for the most part I find even his bloody 80's films to be pretty pedestrian.  But with Eraser, Arnold didn't just have his tongue in cheek, he had his whole mouth in cheek (that joke made more sense in my mind than on paper).  Eraser is an absolutely hilarious movie, but that doesn't take away from the fact that as an action film, it's still superior to most of Arnold's efforts.

In the movie, Arnold stars as a Witness Protection specialist who uncovers a massive conspiracy plot involving high-tech weapons (and Vanessa Williams, for good measure).  James Caan is the villain, and clearly enjoys hamming it up as much as possible.  And in terms of plot and performances, that's pretty much it — nothing else to report. 

But ohhh, the hilarious pleasure you'll have watching it!  There are scenes so sublimely ridiculous, they could easily fit in a satire of action films, such as the shoot-out in the airplane, or the great scene where Arnold blasts an alligator away and says "You're luggage!"  I never fail to have a hoot watching Eraser.  It's dumb, loud, and funny as shit, but also packed with explosive scenes and exciting moments.

9. The Rock (1996)

Let's all agree that Michael Bay is pretty much the biggest clod in Hollywood today.  That's not an indictment on his films, mind you — I'm merely talking about his attitude, his arrogance, and his refusal to ever accept criticism or take the blame on himself (remember back when his film The Island tanked, and he said it was because Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson weren't famous enough?)  But with that said, let's also all agree that The Rock, his action flick from 1996, is one of the best of the decade.

Starring Nicholas Cage (in one of his first forays into action), Ed Harris, and the delightful-as-always Sean Connery, The Rock is about a former military man taking Alcatraz Island hostage with a bunch of nuclear bombs, and the team sent in to stop him.  Once again reminding us all what modern Hollywood films have clearly forgotten, the best action films are ones that take place within a single confined area — this time, the expansive and impressive Alcatraz prison itself.

The action is intense and extremely violent, and the cinematography is surprisingly subdued for a Michael Bay movie (this is a good thing, by the way).  Let's also not forget the terrific musical score by Nick Glennie-Smith, Hans Zimmer, and Harry Gregson-Williams.  It's a blast of a movie.  Pun intended.  Ho, ho, ho.

8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

I came to the party late with Terminator 2; wasn't allowed to see it when it first came out, and never watched the flick until, oh, 2003 probably.  But despite the fact that I'd never seen a Terminator film before, I enjoyed the hell out of T2, and my appreciation hasn't really wavered.  Oh, it's plenty dated at times — Edward Furlong's portrayal of John Connor is about one step above Bart Simpson.  And the dialogue, as usual for a James Cameron film, ranges from mediocre to piss-poor.

But, also standard for a Cameron movie, that doesn't matter much when compared to the sheer spectacle of the production.  Say what you will about his lack of screenwriting prowess, but the man sure knows how to make an action scene, and T2 contains some of his very best — the large semi-truck chase, the helicopter battle, the climax in the steel mill….I mean, these are action classics that will be loved and studied long after the frantic messiness of the Transformer's films are forgotten. 

The CGI still holds up today as well; the liquid metal Terminator is a wonderful villain, and the idea of making Arnold's original T-1000 a good guy this time around adds an emotional element very much lacking in the first installment.  Also make sure to check out the extended edition, now found on most DVD and Blu-Ray copies, which I think is a far stronger film.

7. Run Lola Run (1998)

Call it the best art-house action film ever made.  Despite the movie being extremely avant-garde and Rashomon-esque (can that be a new word, now?), Run Lola Run is also gripping, involving, and exciting as hell.  Tom Tykwer (who recently co-directed the amazing Cloud Atlas) burst onto the indie scene with this German import, and it's since become a deserving cult classic.

Run Lola Runis split into three major sections, each showing the same event happening differently each time.  Lola needs money because her gangster boyfriend lost his payment to another gangster, and she only has 20 minutes before he robs a grocery store in desperation.  And so…she runs.  A lot.  She frequently bumps into the same people and same scenario's, but every time the movie turns back the chronological clock, the events all happen in different and bizarre ways.

The frenetic camera work, choppy editing, and pulsating techno-score are all reminiscent of the action films of today.  But back then, it was a breath of fresh air, and the screenplay was far more intelligent and subversive than usual.  Ignore the fact that it's all in German, or that it doesn't follow a linear storyline.  Just strap yourself in and enjoy the run.

6. Mask of Zorro (1998)

Mask of Zorrois a great example of not all remakes being pointless exercises in stealing audience's money.  It's a movie filled with adventure, romance, comedy, excitement, but most importantly of all — passion.  Not Antonio Banderas slicing off Catherine Zeta Jones' clothes kind of passion, but the passion of a group of filmmakers really wanting to tell a story and have an audience enjoy it.  Spielberg's name is on the film as an Executive Producer only, but I think his level of boundless joy is evident all over.

Martin Campbell directed this in between his James Bond gigs (Goldeneye and Casino Royale), and this was just before the screenwriters really made it big with Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean.  Hell, I think this was even the start of Banderas and Zeta-Jones' massive sex appeal at the box office.  It didn't launch a ton of careers, technically, but it opened a lot of eyes and doors in that this team took an incredibly stale movie property and injected it with a lot of life and juice.

Mask of Zorro is just plain a delightful flick, with some truly wonderful swashbuckling action scenes that are better than anything found in the Pirates movies.  Great dialogue, involving characters, nasty villains, wonderful heroes, gorgeous damsels, and a fantastic musical score all contribute to one of the more enjoyable films of the 90's.  Just please, whatever you do — avoid the sequel.  Yikes.

5. The Fugitive (1993)

"I don't care!"  Frankly, I can't think of a better line of dialogue in any action movie — one that so perfectly encapsulates a realism and cynicism that we usually don't see in our brainless, spoon-fed entertainment.  If you haven't seen Andrew Davis' Oscar nominated film (and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?), the line was spoken by Tommy Lee Jones, playing a cop on the hunt for Harrison Ford's falsely accused hero.  Ford says "I didn't kill my wife!" and Jones responds with "I don't care!", and it's just about the most honesty a movie character can muster.

The screenplay by Fugitive is filled with moments like that — lines that seem simple and even standard for a second, but the more you think about it, the smarter they are.  Of course the cops don't care if he murdered his wife or not — they have a job to do, and that job is catching Harrison Ford.  And what a pursuit it becomes!  Fugitive is chock-full of superb 90's action scenes, where the camera is steady and the editing is cohesive.  There's a helicopter chase, a pursuit in the sewers, a cat-and-mouse through a parade…aww, hell, the whole movie is one big chase scene. 

Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for his performance as Deputy Gerard, and it was deserving of the praise (well….maybe Ralph Fiennes deserved it that year for Schindler's a bit more, but whatever).  The script is brilliant, the direction assured, and the action spot-on.  Easily the best remake of a television show that has ever been; and don't come back at me with Charlie's Angels, cause I'll slap you.

4. The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix, along with stuff like Star Wars and Darkwing Duck, WAS my childhood.  It was the first R-rated film I was allowed to see, way back in Grade 6, and boy did I eat it up.  It's stature has diminished slightly in the past few years, primarily because of the public's hatred for the two Matrix sequels, and the general feeling of "overload on Matrix-load" that occured during the same time.  But putting aside all that, the first Matrix is still a wonderful film, and the action scenes have rarely been equaled before or since.

Matrixwas written and directed by the Wachowski's (Larry and Andy back then, Lana and Andy today) in only their second major feature film.  They clearly went all-out with their passion and gusto for telling this generation's Blade Runner; a post-apocalyptic techno universe where bullets can be dodged, buildings can be jumped, and black leather trench-coats can be the epitome of awesome.  The performances by Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne were all fine, but really, no one went to see Matrix for great acting.

They went for the explosive action scenes and eye-popping special effects, both of which haven't dated at all.  Sure, the "bullet-time" effect has been spoofed a billion times since, but just try and watch it's use in the first Matrix and not get goosebumps.  The Wachowski's bizarre mixture of pseudo-philosophy with steam-punk aesthetics elevated Matrix from being not only a great sci-fi action flick, but a great movie period.

3. Jurassic Park (1993)

If there was ever a movie I would have real trouble living without, it's Jurassic Park.  Alongside Nolan's Batman trilogy, it's probably the greatest example of "brainless entertainment".  It never attempts to reach the quasi-philosophical heights of The Matrix, nor the potent drama of The FugitiveJurassic Park exists simply as a thrill ride — to make an audience scream, laugh, grip their armrests, and have a tremendous amount of fun.

When I first saw Jurassic, my mom was so scared of me being forever traumatized by dinosaurs that she fast-forwarded through all the dinosaur scenes.  Imagine that — watching Jurassic Park but not getting to see any dino's other than a sick triceratops.  And I still loved it!  Jurassic Park tells a simple story the world now knows — a group of people are sent to a remote island to judge a secret theme park with real-life dinosaurs, all of which escape and wreak havoc, of course.  But it's simplicity is actually a good thing, and we become involved not so much in the rather one-dimensional characters, but merely in wanting to survive and get the hell off the island. 

I could quote this movie all day long — for me, every line is hilarious, in a good way of course.  Steven Spielberg directs it better than anyone gives him credit for; the fact that he juggled directing this and Schindler's List at the same time proves how adept the man really is.  For pure unadulterated enjoyment (and a ton of terrifying moments to boot), Jurassic Park delivers almost to the extent that Jaws does.

2. Speed (1994)

Most high-concept thrillers tend to sink into their own pit of "how will our heroes get out of this one???"  It becomes tiresome, watching our good guys endlessly jump out of one sticky situation to the next, often because the chances of their survival, and the ways of becoming saved, are idiotic to the extreme.  Jan de Bont's Speed is the classic example of just that kind of high concept action flick, only done exceptionally well.  Keanu Reeves undergoes just about every conceivable challenge during the film, but rarely, if ever, does the movie jump the rails of logic and reason (Ok, except for the "bridge gap" scene).

Speedis a modern action classic of the highest order.  Reeves is his usual wooden self, but it plays off well with the scenery chewing of Dennis Hopper's hilariously maniacal bad guy and Sandra Bullock's adorable love interest.  The plot is well known — there's a bomb on a city bus, and if it goes under 50 mph, the bus will explode.  I knew about this concept before even seeing the movie at the young, impressionable age of 14. 

But the fun is in the details.  Watching Reeves and the fellow cops try and mastermind a way out of this dilemma is exciting, action-packed, and thrilling.  The movie doesn't cheat or cop-out, and the fantastic action set-pieces of the bus chase are bookended by two other relentless scenes, featuring an elevator and a speeding train.  For breakneck action that doesn't insult your intelligence, Speed is top of the books.

1. Face/Off (1997)

I don't think there's ever been a more perfect blend of the operatic and the absolute ridiculous.  Face/Off is the best encapsulation of 90's action filmmaking I can think of — endlessly entertaining, wonderfully inventive, and completely silly from beginning to end.  John Woo directs it with wonderful panache, and yes, it's beautifully stuck in the 90's — there's long takes, rarely hand-held cameras, and you can actually tell what the hell's going on during an action scene.  Glorious.

Long has Face/Off been one of my most favourite films, action or otherwise.  The screenplay is ingenious in presenting an impossible and completely impractical idea (a cop switches faces with a criminal in order to gain inside information, and then the criminal takes the cop's face when awakening from his coma) and turns it into just about the most fun you can have at the movies.  Yes, the plot is ridiculous.  We know this, and so do the filmmakers — you don't make a film called Face/Off and consider yourself above implausibility.  But the writers and director John Woo both embrace the campiness and take it completely seriously — so much so, that often the movie works as pure drama as well as intense action and black comedy.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of Face/Off, though, is the two lead performances.  Nicholas Cage and John Travolta don't simply mimic their characters once the faces change, they mimic the actual actors as well.  The more you see the film, and the more you know the body of work for both Travolta and Cage, the more you can see the two having an absolute blast picking apart each other's idiosyncrasies — Travolta suddenly hamming it up like Cage, and Cage quickly reverting and sounding more whimpy.  It's a tremendous achievement for both, and in a way, one of the best public practical jokes two actors have ever done to each other.

Face/Offis just about a perfect movie.  The action scenes are spectacular, the plot surprising, the performances wonderful, and the lead villain delightfully evil.  I love every second of it.