Action movies from the 1990s have become cult classics and remain points of reference for how to create memorable action sequences even today. One of the harsh realities of rewatching 1990s action movies is realizing the overuse of comedy and cheesy one-liners that feel jarring in tone, compared to the grounded thrillers that came afterward. However, the larger-than-life action hero persona from that decade continues to be a fond memory for many who grew up watching these movies, and the natural evolution in writing and filmmaking from the pulpy action of the 1980s makes them beloved artifacts to revisit.

Some of the greatest action stars of all time, who debuted earlier, rose to prominence and cemented their status as cultural icons in the 1990s. The movies from the ’90s are marked by a rise in the use of CGI to create breathtaking action scenes. Moreover, action comedy movies from the 1990s are some of the decade’s best films. Martial artists rose to prominence in the ’70s and ’80s, when the fighting style blew up in American action movies, but the ’90s witnessed an interesting marriage of combat styles to give us some of the best choreographed fights ever.

10

Desperado (1995)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

Salma Hayek’s Hollywood breakthrough came in one of the most entertaining action movies of the 1990s. Robert Rodriguez, known for making movies with incredible ensemble casts, gives us a jam-packed thriller with intense gun action, starring the inimitable Antonio Banderas at the height of his action stardom. There is even a cameo from Danny Trejo, who brings his trademark action style to one of the more memorable fight scenes in the movie.

The choreography of the fights, the use of slow-motion, the cheesy one-liners, and the over-the-top explosions make Desperado the perfect blockbuster. The stunt work has to be seen to be believed, but while the action can go off the rails, the story is relatively grounded and makes for an unforgettable viewing experience. The highlight is, of course, the fight scenes, whose choreography is heavily inspired by John Woo’s gunfight movies, and it’s easy to see how Banderas’ character in Desperado inspired a new generation of action heroes that enthralled audiences throughout the ’90s and 2000s.

9

Blade (1998)

Directed by Stephen Norrington

Blade changed superhero cinema forever, and is the reason we have R-rated movies and TV shows in the genre, like The Boys and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool. The тιтular Blade is a movie character who helped reshape genre expectations by bringing profanity and extreme violence into the mix. Wesley Snipes ups the cool factor as the iconic vampire-hunter in a bloody action thriller that doesn’t slow down until the credits.

The nightclub scene from Blade has rightfully gone down in the history of action cinema as one of the greatest fight scenes of all time. With slick choreography, profane dialogue, and a covetable costume that inspires kids on Halloween every year, Blade is the quintessential R-rated action hero. There is no shortage of gore in Blade and the brilliant swordwork of the protagonist has stood the test of time so well, that Snipes’ cameo in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine became one of its most talked-about moments.

8

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Directed by George Lucas

It might be an unpopular opinion to have about a famous movie like The Phantom Menace, but unlike what many critics say, the film isn’t ruined by the minimal presence of Jar Jar Binks. It is a relatively interesting introduction to the Star Wars universe for anyone watching in chronological order of events, despite also having the questionable concept of the Midichlorian count. The film balances action, politics, drama, and comedy well to create a holistic experience for anyone seeing Star Wars for the first time.

The pod races with young Anakin continue to be some of the most thrilling sequences in all of Star Wars, with daring stunts and an exhilarating editing style that buoys the thrill of the ride. However, the most memorable sequence from The Phantom Menace, a scene that has gone down in the history of action cinema as one of the best fights, is the Duel of the Fates. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi face off against Darth Maul in a grueling lightsaber duel with some of the best lightsaber choreography in the entire franchise.

7

The Fifth Element (1997)

Directed by Luc Besson

Luc Besson’s whimsical action caper The Fifth Element is a unique space opera with a bizarre premise. It’s infamous for its poor representation of women, as female characters neither have real agency nor real significance in the events on screen. However, the one part of the movie that has aged well and will get you excited is the action in the film, especially the fighting.

Few other Bruce Willis action movies that aren’t Die Hard are as chaotic as The Fifth Element. Its set pieces have such different tones that it doesn’t make sense for them to gel well, but somehow the overall fanciful energy of the film brings them together. The most memorable of these set pieces, albeit with some questionable cinematography, is the dance battle where Milla Jovovich strikes an energetic balance between ballet and fighting.

6

Drunken Master II (1994)

Directed by Lau Kar-Leung

It is impossible to talk about action movies from the 1990s without bringing up Jackie Chan and his impact on action cinema during that decade. One of his crowning achievements in the ’90s was Drunken Master II, where he showcased the unique drunken boxing style that he made iconic and famous in the first movie. The balance between physical comedy and masterful kung fu makes for an unforgettable viewing experience.

The trademark action sequences that only he could have pulled off make Drunken Master II one of Jackie Chan’s best action movies from the 1990s. The film is mostly a series of action set-pieces connected by an emotionally charged narrative rooted in Chinese mythology. Jackie Chan’s drunken fighting is truly one of a kind, and the choreography not only looks stunning but seems unbelievable and impossible to pull off.

5

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Directed by James Cameron

Edward Furlong, one of the most mᴀssive 1990s stars who seemingly disappeared from stardom, rose to prominence with Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He plays a young John Connor and represents the heart of the rebellion as an inspirational character at his age, learning about his role in the future, and helping the Terminator connect with humanity. Furlong’s charm and Schwarzenegger’s looming presence make them an iconic duo.

Director James Cameron brings his A-game to the movie, giving us a story filled with heart that moves from one elaborate action set piece to the other, without ever losing sight of its end and not trivializing the emotional experiences of its characters. Schwarzenegger is the quintessential ’80s action star, and he continued to enthrall audiences through the ’90s with his impressive physique, fast choreography, and slick screen presence as a gun-toting hero.

4

Rush Hour (1998)

Directed by Brett Ratner

Rush Hour is most famous for revitalizing the buddy cop genre, thanks to the incredible chemistry between actors Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Their comedic talents gel well to give us some of the most memorable interactions in action comedy history. Tucker stands out as the comedic presence, delivering punchline after punchline with his trademark comic timing that makes him such a pleasure to watch.

Chan, on the other hand, bringing his unique set of skills to Rush Hour, is the defining physical presence, creating iconic gags with his control over his body. While the movie is more remembered for its hilarity, it also features some incredible fight scenes. Tucker and Chan have entirely different styles of fighting, and the contrast creates both a thrill and a source of comedy. Jackie Chan is impressive as always as a hero with incredible martial arts skills who can dispose of enemies in the blink of an eye.

3

The Mask Of Zorro (1998)

Directed by Martin Campbell

Martin Campbell has an impressive filmography of action thrillers. For both Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan’s turns as James Bond, he has directed arguably their best movies, Casino Royale and GoldenEye, respectively. While the recent Jackie Chan movie he directed may be forgettable, Campbell’s turn directing Antonio Banderas gave us one of the most influential adventure movies of all time.

Banderas stars as the тιтular Zorro in The Mask of Zorro. He’s an epic hero with unbelievable swashbuckling skills and a romantic aura about him. Zorro is an idenтιтy instead of a single person, and a major chunk of the movie depicts Sir Anthony Hopkins as Zorro, pᴀssing on his skills and his mantle to Banderas’ Zorro. The training scenes exhibit the choreographers’ grasp of combat maneuvers. However, the highlight has to be Banderas’ sword fight with Catherine Zeta-Jones, which is charged with Sєxual tension and buoyed by the duo’s chemistry.

2

Hard Boiled (1992)

Directed by John Woo

Few international filmmakers have had as big an impact on the action genre in Hollywood as John Woo. Unfortunately, his time directing a Mission: Impossible movie isn’t remembered fondly as it is the disappointing second movie the franchise bounced back from later, but that’s because his style isn’t appropriate for the franchise. His trademark style is much better exhibited in his Hong Kong productions that inspired Hollywood movies for years.

Hard Boiled is a non-stop, gory action thriller with remarkable gun fights which are choreographed perfectly to highlight the physical prowess of its cast. The iconic use of slow-motion that defines Woo’s filmography makes the choreography look even more epic, giving us mind-blowing moments to cheer. However, what stands out about Hard Boiled is its focus on the emotional experience of its characters without slowing down the action. Woo grounds his gritty and over-the-top action sequences through an emotional narrative you’ll get invested in.

1

The Matrix (1999)

Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski

1999 was one of the best years in movie history, and among the films the year had to offer, few are as influential as The Matrix. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that it changed both the sci-fi and action genres forever. It takes the theory of reality being a simulation and expands on it to create a vibrant, energetic, and engrossing world of mind-altering experiences characterized by gothic outfits and stylized editing.

Made just before Y2K, The Matrix is a brilliant marriage of technology and artistry, heavily employing CGI and slow motion to create some of the most memorable stunts of all time. The fights are largely based on martial arts and beautifully choreographed. The editing of the fights buoys their exciting nature by blending rapid cuts with slow-motion to create a trippy effect. Moreover, the set pieces are elaborate and given due attention to highlight the exquisite choreography so that each blow can be felt through the screen.