When people think of the 90s, images of oversized denim and crop tops likely come to mind. Sounds of classic 90s R&B or infectious pop might ring in people’s ears. The 90s were a decade with such a definitive identity, including with films. Action movies in particular shone during this decade, as special effects became bigger and plenty of films utilized big names in the acting world and beyond to draw in audiences.
During this time, movie lovers still flocked to the theaters since, unlike today, they didn’t have the convenience of streaming services. As such, films accounted for this theater-specific experience, leading to broad, expansive action films that sang on the big screen. From sequels to inventive original stories, here are the best action movies of every year in the nineties.
1990: Die Hard 2
Die Hard 2 is an action thriller sequel that stars Bruce Willis as protagonist John McClane, an LAPD lieutenant. The film takes place in a place many don’t want to be: an airport at Christmastime. For these government officials and law enforcement officers, the reasons are a lot grander than long check-in lines and high prices. McClane is there to pick up his wife, but his plans are made more complicated when a corrupt ex-Colonel and terrorists threaten to crash the plane.
Something goes wrong at every turn, but McClane is dedicated to righting the situation, putting himself in compromising and precarious positions for the sake of the greater good. The film has amazing action sequences, such as McClane sneaking up on the bad guys in the vent system. Even if viewers assume that our main character will beat the bad guys, it’s still thrilling to see exactly how he does it.
1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Edward Furlong in a story that blends action and science fiction seamlessly. The film is set in the “far-off” future (2029) when artificial intelligence has taken over the world. This A.I., called Skynet, and a human resistance have been to war and left the world in rough shape. To try and alter their predicament, Skynet sends a Terminator to 1995 to kill the future leader of the resistance as a child.
This future resistance leader, a soldier who is also his mother, and a reprogrammed Terminator, spends the film trying to prevent this assassination. With such high stakes, watching the two killing-machine Terminators go at it is more than just enjoying fight scenes, audience members are invested in the future of humanity. The special effects and filming techniques were innovative at the time and hold up well even today.
1992: Juice
While the scope of Juice is admittedly much smaller than some of the other entries on this list, it doesn’t lack tension or entertainment. Many familiar faces helped tell the story, including actor Omar Epps and the late rapper Tupac Shakur in his first acting role. Set in Harlem, the film follows four friends who are trying to get “juice,” which is a stand-in for clout and respect in their neighborhood. To do this, they resort to neglecting school and instead committing crimes.
The dynamic between the four different boys is fascinating to watch, seeing how far certain members of their friend group are willing to go and just how strong their friendship loyalties lie. While the stakes may not be life-ending, you’ll understand just how dire it is for characters like Quincy who struggle between what he believes is right and what his friends do.
1993: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park is one of the greatest and most successful films of all time. Based on the book by Michael Crichton, after the release of the first installment, it went on to have a life all its own. The movie is about a wildlife park filled with dinosaurs that were genetically engineered and now serve as entertainment for the park’s visitors. However, the power goes out, and the dinosaurs follow suit, wreaking havoc all over the island and putting a particular group of visitors in danger.
Not only is the premise fantastic, the visual effects are fantastic and the feeling you’ll get when you watch the film is as large as life as the dinosaurs on screen. Whether the characters are sprinting through the jungle or hiding in labs, this movie never falls short of high-octane sequences.
1994: Léon: The Professional
Léon: The Professional is a French film that deserves a lot more hype. Sure, many know it as Natalie Portman’s debut, but the story is strong on its own merit. The film centers on an unlikely pairing: a professional hitman named León (played by Jean Reno) and a pre-teen girl named Mathilde who is orphaned (played by Portman). As some may infer from his profession, León isn’t a fan of people, preferring to keep his own company.
Yet when he discovers Mathilde’s family was murdered, he is compelled to take her in. Mathilde doesn’t crumble completely in the wake of her tragedy. Instead, she wants revenge, and she knows just the guy who can help her enact it. Violent, gritty, heartbreaking, and at times unexpectedly funny, Leon: The Professional puts a twist on the mentor-mentee trope.
1995: Heat
Heat is a heist action film starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, among others. We have two classic opposing sides in this one: a group of criminals looking to earn cash and the law enforcement officials wanting to put a stop to them. De Niro plays career criminal Neil who, along with his crew, commits a robbery that ends with multiple murders. Lieutenant Hanna is one of several tasked with solving the crime.
While all of this is going on, each man is grappling with how to balance their professional lives with their personal ones, giving more depth to them as people. The film is a back-and-forth of each side trying to outwit the other. There are many standoffs that will have viewers holding their breath.
1996: The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight has a title that might give off the impression that it’ll be a swoony romance that ends in an assured happily ever after. Not the case with this action thriller. Starring Samuel L. Jackson and Geena Davis, this is another entry on this list with a dynamic duo at its forefront. Samantha (played by Davis) is a teacher who has a daughter and boyfriend living a seemingly ordinary life. Of course, her life has been anything but.
Everything about her, down to her name, had to be filled in after she was found ashore years prior suffering from amnesia. She’s tried countless times to figure out who she was before and now with the help of private investigator Mitch Hennessey, answers may finally come. Not only is the chemistry between the two leads electric, but seeing the arc of both characters will make the two-hour runtime zip by.
1997: Air Force One
For those who like a good dose of political intrigue with their action movies, Air Force One will be right up your alley. Fictional President James Marshall, portrayed by Harrison Ford, is on a diplomatic trip in Moscow, Russia. While he, his family, and his team are on a flight back home via Air Force One the aircraft is intercepted by terrorists.
Marshall manages to escape, but others aren’t so lucky, including his wife and daughter. He has to weigh meeting the demands of the terrorists with the safety of his family and the world. Some of the most tense moments come from the negotiation scenes, where Marshall has to analyze his words and strategize. Don’t worry, Marshall doesn’t rely on others to get in there and save the hostages. Because of his close ties, this president uses his military background to get his own hands dirty.
1998: Rush Hour
Easily the most lighthearted on this list, Rush Hour proves that action films don’t have to take themselves too seriously. Our two main characters Chief Inspector Lee and Detective Carter are both law enforcement officers, but in two distinct settings. Lee is from Hong Kong, but finds himself in Los Angeles to locate a Chinese diplomat’s daughter. While there he is paired with Carter who knows the area and has to keep an eye on Lee.
Throughout the film, the two go from resenting this forced-upon partnership to bringing out the best in each other. While some aspects of the film don’t age great, the film does highlight the two’s cultural differences while also poking fun at misconceptions some have of other cultures. This comedy is a nice palate cleanser in the action genre.
1999: The Matrix
The Matrix is another milestone movie that changed cinema. Keanu Reeves stars as Thomas (and later “Neo”), a computer hacker who, like most of the world, is unknowingly trapped inside the Matrix, a virtual reality of sorts. Neo becomes aware of the Matrix and that humans’ actual bodies are used to supply energy and thus sets him off on a quest to free humanity from seemingly indestructible artificial intelligence.
With its use of “bullet time” to give the appearance of slow motion, this film is a pleasure to watch for more than the great acting. Yet even with these slowed-down shots, the plot never puts its foot on the brakes, providing viewers with a fast-paced film that manages to not feel rushed.