The 1990s experienced a major transformation in action Cinema, with the rise in Hollywood of stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cage and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the arrival of directors like John Woo and Michael Bay. The films were not as wacky as in the 80s, but they were not yet as anchored as in the 2000s.
Sensational violence, slow motion, great heroes, firearms, explosions, exaggerated decorations that have remained on the reasonable side of the ridiculous and credible but extravagant martial arts define the careers of the best action stars of the 1990s. The best comedies of action in the 1990s are not as stupid as the Action Comedy of the 80s, and their humor. observation.
The rise of gravelly action films in the 1990s and certain events in the early 2000s finally lead to a brighter and anchored action cinemaBut for those who like a mixture of sensationalism and seriousness, the 90s are undoubtedly the best decade of action films. Each year of the 1990s, there were great action films.
1990 – The Nikita Woman
Luc Besson continuously proves to be a frustrating director due to gender dynamics and boring lack of concentration on female characters, even when they are protagonists in his films. However, despite the disappointing trajectory of its history, holder Nikita in her 1990 film has become a cult icon over the years, because of her incredibly well choreographed action scenes.
Even if you cry on the screen so that Nikita makes the more logical choice for herself The Nikita womanYou cannot help but be impressed by its prevailing screen. She is An influential action hero who embodies the 90s Aesthetics, through waterfalls and fashion, and the scenes where she has just carried out missions as a political assassin is perfect.
1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The follow -up of the action film are rarely better than the original, but James Cameron Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a marked improvement compared to the original, because it develops on tradition, develops the concept of terminators with emotions and human concerns, and presents the young John Connor of Edward Furlong, one of the best cinema protagonists of the 90s, which helps the terminator to discover his humanity.
Moreover, Linda Hamilton like Sarah Conner is a pioneer icon Who, alongside Ellen Ripley de Sigourney Weaver, changed action cinema forever by contesting the gender standards that led the division of roles in Hollywood films. She is magnificent, both as an actress offering a poignant performance and as a star of the action holding the right one in the parts by side and opposite Schwarzenegger.
1992 – Hard boiled
The cinema of the 90s and action in general would not be the same without the contribution of John Woo to the genre. While his influence on Hollywood was more direct when he was a director working in the United States, his Hong Kong productions left such a big brand on Hollywood action cinema, because They presented the American public to his undoubted style.
A cop decides to avenge his partner after the latter was shot dead by members of a ringing ring of firearms, and he joins an infiltrated cop posing as a hitman for the same gang. Excessive force meant something different before Hard boiledwhich highlights extreme sensational violence, supported by a great fight of action films of choreography.
1993 – The Fugitive
He didn’t kill his wife, but Marshall doesn’t care. An emblematic film of man hunting which is referenced in almost all cop shows and many crime films, The fugitive is undoubtedly the best Harrison Ford’s un franchise film. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is forced to become a fugitive from the law to erase his name after being convicted for having killed his wife.
“Very well, listen, ladies and gentlemen, our fugitive has been on the run for ninety minutes. The average speed of the feet on unequal soil, less injury, is 4 miles per hour. This gives us a radius of six miles. What I want from each of you, is a difficult to target each gas station, the farm, farmouse, Henhouse, Outhouse and Wooden mouth in this wood Zone.
The above speech has left an indelible cultural imprint on criminal cinema, and Kimble is perhaps the most famous character of Ford outside of his film franchises, even more than the fictitious American president James Marshall Air Force One. The fugitiveThe action scenes are unique knowing that Kimble is not an action hero, and his stunts are executed with despair.
1994 – Léon: the professional
Natalie Portman, 12, made her debut as an actress in Luc Besson Leon: the professionalWhere she plays the unconventional apprentice of the protagonist holder of Jean Reno, who is a experienced hitman. Although the film is a venerated classic of action which has been redone and referenced several times in the last three decades, it has a more disturbed heritage today and has been reassessed.
The relationship between Leon and Mathilda (Portman) seems to be ladle according to today’s standards and the actress herself commented on the similarity with the taboo age scenario Lolita. However, the film’s action sequences and the mortar sets are incredibly elegant, Portman’s performance is of first order, and the best part is the chaotic and measured performance of Gary Oldman as an eccentric villain.
1995 – Heat
The best action film reached 30 years in 2025 is one of the greatest action films in cinematographic history. Michael Mann’s film is so emblematic that it is the golden norm for Cinema action for 30 years. It has a carefully designed balance between action and emotion. He highlights a story of emotionally rich obsession without compromising his action.
Heat’s scene where Val Kilmer recharges a pistol is so effective and realistic that the Marine Corps uses it as a reference to train new recruits.
Despite most with scenes of slow and meditative characters that look at the distance and rumination on their roles in the world and the nature of their professions, Heat feels less like a winding room and more as A deliberately march to rhythm towards a fantastic peaks culminating This would ultimately become the definitive action sequence par excellence of the whole decade.
1996 – The Rock
A year after making his debut as director of the action comedy WickedMichael Bay made a film that tried to be the new Die hard And got closer. Sean Connery, similar to his most famous role, plays a British agent, and Nicolas Cage plays an FBI chemist, who is the John McClane The rockalias Die hard in Alcatraz.
The characters must arrest an avenger general who threatens to start the biological war by attacking San Francisco if his requests are not satisfied. While the choreography of the action of the signature of Bay adorns the pieces, the director devotes time to the characterization and development of the intrigue, Make a high -voltage rewatchable action classic Instead of the usual and usual inconsistent mess with which it is often associated today.
1997 – Face / Off
I still do not fully understand the nuances of the shamanic style of action again that Nicolas Cage has developed and is known to use his performance, but Face / OFF is proof that it works. Putting in front of an equally anxious John Travolta, Cage offers one of its most memorable performance, although it often seems caricatured because of its commitment to the bit.
Face / OFF takes place in a world where facial transplantation surgery is a reality, and it would end in snow in dramatic mask decorations Mission: Impossible II. The action is elegant in the hands of John Woo, but between the idle and the One-Liners, it is Difficult to remember who is Travolta and who is cage While the intrigue twists does not stop coming.
1998 – Run Lola Run
As if running a check clock is not a sufficiently exciting premise, Run to run also becomes philosophical on inevitability. Holder Lola has 20 minutes to collect a large sum of money and meet her boyfriend, or he will be forced to steal a bank, but according to minor choices made during his race, the result can vary considerably.
The premise of high octane and the tight execution time of 80 minutes keep you glued to your seat until the end. Run to runThe exploration of the way in which the very consequence even without consequences have deep effects on our lives also make it a fantastic and stimulating film. The action is dizzying, exciting and rapid and scary, but the brain aspect follows it.
1999 – The Matrix
Wachowskis have changed cinema with The matrixwhich could be the most influential film of the 90s. He shaped the culture of fans through electronic babbles, costume celebrations and forums filled with conspiracy theories that he inspired around Y2K. His themes, his costume conceptions and his visual grammar also make him one of the greatest Gothic films of all time.
The fantastic use of CGI action cinema because the polished look, the slowdown perfectly executedAnd the smooth aesthetics of the film continues to inspire directors today. The scenes where Neo slides between the balls or stop the balls are always ambitious artifacts of the genre, even if CGI technology has advanced so much in the last 25 years.
