A Glean movie guide
90s Action Essentials
The golden era of the blockbuster.
The decade that defined the modern blockbuster with high-concept thrills and iconic stunts.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A masterclass in pacing that revolutionized visual effects while delivering a deeply emotional core.
Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.
- 02
The Matrix
A genre-defining spectacle that blended philosophical depth with groundbreaking, stylized combat.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
- 03
Speed
The ultimate high-concept thriller that maintains relentless tension from start to finish.
Tensions run high when a crazed bomber rigs a Los Angeles bus with a device that will kill everyone on board if the vehicle's speed dips below fifty miles per hour.
- 04
Heat
A sprawling, atmospheric crime saga featuring one of the most realistic street battles in cinema history.
Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.
- 05
The Fugitive
A perfectly executed manhunt that balances intelligent mystery with pulse-pounding set pieces.
Wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to death, Richard Kimble escapes from the law in an attempt to find the real killer and clear his name.
- 06
The Rock
A quintessential 90s spectacle that pairs explosive military action with a charismatic lead duo.
When vengeful General Francis X. Hummel seizes control of Alcatraz Island and threatens to launch missiles loaded with deadly chemical weapons into San Francisco, only a young FBI chemical weapons expert and notorious Federal prisoner have the skills to penetrate the impregnable island fortress and take him down.
- 07
Face/Off
A wild, high-concept identity swap that showcases the peak of stylized, operatic action direction.
In order to foil a terrorist plot, an FBI agent undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a criminal mastermind. The plan turns sour when the criminal wakes up prematurely and seeks revenge.
- 08
Point Break
A cult classic that perfectly captures the early 90s aesthetic through high-stakes extreme sports.
In Los Angeles, a gang of bank robbers who call themselves The Ex-Presidents commit their crimes while wearing masks of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Johnson. Believing that the members of the gang could be surfers, the F.B.I. sends young agent Johnny Utah to the beach undercover to mix with the surfers and gather information.
- 09
Independence Day
The definitive disaster epic that brought large-scale alien invasion thrills to the mainstream.
Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
- 10
Mission: Impossible
A slick, suspenseful spy thriller that launched one of the most enduring franchises in the genre.
When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has penetrated the CIA, he's surprised to learn that he's the prime suspect. To clear his name, Hunt now must ferret out the real double agent and, in the process, even the score.