A Glean movie guide
90s Action Essentials
Pure adrenaline from a golden era.
The decade of high concepts, practical stunts, and legendary heroes.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Matrix
A mind-bending blend of philosophy and revolutionary 'bullet time' combat that redefined the genre.
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.
- 02
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A masterclass in pacing that combined groundbreaking effects with a surprisingly 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.
- 03
Heat
An intense, sprawling crime saga featuring one of cinema's most realistic and celebrated urban shootouts.
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.
- 04
Speed
A relentless, high-concept thriller that perfectly captures the 'die hard on a bus' energy of the 90s.
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.
- 05
The Fugitive
A gripping pursuit film anchored by powerhouse performances and a perfectly executed mystery.
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
Face/Off
A wild, stylized spectacle of dual identities and John Woo’s signature operatic action choreography.
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.
- 07
The Rock
A high-stakes assault on Alcatraz that serves as the ultimate blueprint for the 90s popcorn blockbuster.
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.
- 08
Hard Boiled
An absolute essential of Hong Kong cinema featuring some of the most intricate gunplay ever filmed.
A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who's working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them.
- 09
Point Break
A stylish blend of extreme sports and undercover tension that defined the decade's cool factor.
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.
- 10
True Lies
A massive James Cameron production that expertly balances domestic comedy with world-class action set pieces.
A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.
- 11
Leon: The Professional
A gritty and stylish look at an unlikely bond forged through tactical urban combat and revenge.
Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.
- 12
Mission: Impossible
A tense, gadget-filled spy thriller that launched one of the genre's most enduring and successful franchises.
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.