The 1990s were a great time foraction movies, although, amid major box office successes and beloved releases, there were countless lesser-known movies just waiting to be reappraised. While thebest action movies of the 1990sincluded classics likeFace/OffandThe Matrix, this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the sheer number of silly and outrageous stories that have not had the same kind of enduring legacy.From forgottenTerminatorripoffsto action movies barely anyone remembers anymore, all these films were a blast to go back and watch.
The biggest actionfilmmakers of the 1990sinclude notable names like the Hong Kong legend John Woo, although even that acclaimed director had movies that have been forgotten by general audiences. Major actors such as John Travolta, Dolph Lundgren, and Samuel L. Jackson starred in their fair share of silly stories during this time as well. While they may not be the most well-known movies,all these releases have incredible rewatch value.
The former professional linebacker andNFL star Brian Bosworth made his acting debut inStone Cold, a little-known 1990s action movie that was a blast to go back and watch. With Bosworth as Officer Joe Huff, this tough Alabama cop was blackmailed by the FBI into going undercover within a violent Mississippi biker gang. WhileStone Coldflopped at the box office and Bosworth earned a Razzie nomination for Worst New Star, it’s hard not to be won over by the sheer ridiculous nature of its plot.
Stone Cold’sbiggest flaw was that it was formulaic, but that’s no reason that it should linger in obscurity for all eternity. With fun action sequences and an enjoyable performance from Bosworth, there were enough explosions, bad one-liners, and beautiful women to keep action movie lovers happy for 95 minutes. AlthoughStone Coldwon’t go down in history as theCitizen Kaneof action movies, those looking for an underappreciated high-energy action movie from the 1990s to check out can’t go wrong with this one.
While the Hong Kong action filmmaker John Woo would receive acclaim for his iconic collaboration with John Travolta following the release ofFace/Offin 1997, this may not have happened at all if not for the pair’s first movie together,Broken Arrow. Starring Travolta and Christian Slater,Broken Arrowtold the story of terrorist thieves attempting to steal nuclear warheads and the U.S. government pilot and park ranger attempting to spoil their plans.
WhileBroken Arrowwould be far from Travolta’s most acclaimed role of the 1990s, it was yet another astounding example of his later career resurgence, which kick-started withPulp Fictionand became even more impressive following his work with Woo. With a fast-paced narrative and fun action sequences,Broken Arrowdeserves far more credit as an underappreciated releasein the careers of Woo, Travolta, and Slater.
8Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man (1991)
Directed by Simon Wincer
The neo-Western biker movieHarley Davidson and the Marlboro Manwas a forgotten 1990s action movie starring Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson. As a box office flop that was widely derided by critics at the time, going back and revisiting the movie today, it’s impossible not to enjoy its ridiculous concept, futuristic dystopian setting, and the off-the-wall story of crime, conspiracy, and camaraderie. While critics derided the movie at the time for being packed with buddy cop clichés, returning to it today, that’s a major part of its charm.
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Manwas pure, ludicrous entertainment and featured an incredible cast of characters, including an earlier performance from futureBreaking Badactor Giancarlo Esposito in a memorable role. With sharp dialogue between Rourke and Johnson, there’s an improvised feeling to this movie that makes it stand apart from the more polished nature of modern action movies. Add to this a great soundtrack filled with hard rock classics from bands like AC/DC andHarley Davidson and the Marlboro Manwas nothing but fun.
The Glimmer Manwas an underrated Steven Seagal movie that saw the martial arts star team up with Keenen Ivory Wayans as two police officers forced to work together to bring down a sinister serial killer. As the pair’s first case together, this killer’s modus operandi soon reveals a connection to the former CIA agent Jack Cole’s (Seagal) past. WhileThe Glimmer Manfailed to make the same impact as earlier Seagal films, such asAbove the LawandUnder Siege, its sadistic story was so outrageous it comes full circle and almost borders on humorous.
The mismatched partnership between Seagal and Wayans was central toThe Glimmer Man’sappeal, as Cole’s Buddhist beliefs were in stark contrast to the wise-cracking antics of Lieutenant Jim Campbell (Wayans.) WhileThe Glimmer Manbombed at the box office and its failure signaled a downturn in Seagal’s career, looking back on it today, it’s a blast to revisit and a must-watch for those who like silly, lesser-known action releases of the 1990s.
One action-packed disaster movie from the 1990s that deserves far more recognition wasHard Rain. Featuring an A-list cast including Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater, this story of thievery, survival, and man-made problems was a special-effects spectacle of pure, mindless entertainment. As an action heist thriller set in the midst of an ongoing storm, the over-the-top energy and frantic style ofHard Rainwas part of its appeal.
WhileHard Rainreceived negative reviews and bombed at the box office at the time, revisiting it today, it’s difficult not to be won over by its sheer ridiculousness. With a fun, minor appearance from Betty White as an elderly resident who refuses to be evacuated from her home while the community around her is literally falling apart,the sheer implausibility ofHard Rainmade it all the more entertaining.
While the late actor Ray Liotta kicked off the 1990s with a bang through his iconic leading role in Martin Scorsese’sGoodfellas, this decade included some silly, lesser-known releases from the New Jersey actor. One of the most slept on wasNo Escape, a sci-fi action movie set in a dystopian future. With Liotta as J.T. Robbins, a former reconnaissance marine serving life imprisonment on an island filled with savage and cannibalistic prisoners,No Escapesaw this convicted officer do everything he could to make it off the island alive.
With a high-stakes action movie setup,No Escapewas filled with violent and sadistic antagonists and was far better than its reputation suggests. As an exciting dystopian spin on classic prison break movie tropes, this ambitious testosterone-driven film had plenty of frantic energy, although it certainly wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test as there was not a single woman among its cast. WhileNo Escapemay not work as a high art, those looking for a fast-paced, action-packed movie experience can’t go wrong with this lesser-known release.
While some viewers might immediately dismissI Come in Peaceas a lacklusterTerminatorripoff, this Dolph Lundgren movie was actually a lot of fun. Also known under the titleDark Angel, I Come in Peacetold the story of a renegade cop teaming up with the FBI to track down a killer, drug-dealing alien from outer space. With a suitably ridiculous set-up, this sci-fi story was an underrated release that has quietly built up its reputation as a cult classic among cheesy movie fans.
The influence of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 cannot be ignoredwhen it comes to the villainous alien Talec, yet the clever premise and strong script helped elevateI Come in Peaceas a film worthy of being considered on its own merit. With dialogue, such as Lundgren’s hilarious utterance of “I come in peace, and you go in pieces,” this silly one-liner alone was enough reason to check out this lesser-known gem.
The cult classicShowdown in Little Tokyowas truly one of Dolph Lundgren’s greatest movies and deserves far more recognition than it has ever received. As a buddy cop story about two Los Angeles cops with differing views on justice, central to this movie’s success was the undeniable chemistry between Lundgren and his co-star Brandon Lee. With these two action legends facing off against the Yakuza all while trying to protect a beautiful woman,Showdown in Little Tokyowas a fun-filled action moviethat never pretends to be any deeper than it is.
Showdown in Little Tokyomay appear shallow on the surface, yet looking back, it’s astounding just how much this underappreciated film got right. With great performances from Lundgren and Lee, a consistently high level of energy, and an enjoyable sense of humor, this was about as good as it gets when it comes to B-movie action fun.
Tsui Hark, the Hong Kong filmmaker behind wuxia releases likeZu Warriors from the Magic Mountainand theOnce Upon a Time in Chinaseries, made his American debut with the lesser-known action movieDouble Team. With Jean Claude Van Damme as the counter-terrorist agent Jack Quinn, things heat up once he’s tasked with bringing the ruthless criminal mastermind Stavros (Mickey Rourke) to justice. The stakes became even higher after Stavros abducted Quinn’s pregnant wife, and the mission became personal.
Double Teamwas a blast as it was filled with unique characters, such asDennis Rodman’s characterization of Yaz, an eccentric arms dealer who agrees to help Quinn defeat Stavros. With Van Damme kicking ass and doing what he does best, perhaps the most enjoyable thing aboutDouble Teamwas it didn’t strive toward anything grander than entertaining the viewer and showing them a good time. While this is probably part of the reason it hasn’t endured as well as the more well-known action movies of the 1990s, it’s a prime reason to go back and check outDouble Team.
The Long Kiss Goodnightbrings together just about every trope and cliche in the action movie playbook in the most enjoyable way possible. With Geena Davis as an amnesiac schoolteacher who sets off on a mission to restore her memory, the realization that she’s actually a highly skilled government assassin only opens the door to a dark conspiracy of which she’s at the center. Featuringenjoyable supporting performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Brian Cox, the over-the-top energy, implausible plot, and committed performance from Davis made this a must-watch release.
As a high-octane, big-budget action movie,The Long Kiss Goodnightticked all the right boxes and deserved to act as the inception point for a major franchise starring Davis. Sadly, plans for a sequel titledThe Kiss After Lightning(viaJoBlo) never came to fruition. WhileThe Long Kiss Goodnighthas achieved a kind of cult status and has been rightfully praised by manyaction moviefans, it’s not nearly as well known as it should be…
