A Glean movie guide
90s Action Essentials
High stakes, higher octane.
The decade that defined the modern blockbuster through practical stunts and digital leaps.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Matrix
A revolutionary blend of philosophy and groundbreaking "bullet time" choreography.
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 seamlessly fuses practical effects with early digital wizardry.
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, atmospheric crime saga featuring one of the most realistic shootouts 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.
- 04
Speed
A relentless, high-concept thriller that never lets its foot off the gas.
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 perfectly executed cat-and-mouse thriller driven by smart characters and massive 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
Point Break
A stylish, adrenaline-fueled ride that captures the extreme sports obsession of the early nineties.
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.
- 07
Face/Off
John Woo’s operatic masterpiece of stylized "gun fu" and delightfully over-the-top performances.
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
The Rock
The definitive 90s blockbuster, pairing explosive Michael Bay spectacle 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.
- 09
Leon: The Professional
A gritty, tactical urban thriller with a surprising amount of heart and a legendary villain.
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.
- 10
Hard Boiled
An essential Hong Kong action classic renowned for its breathtaking, long-take shootout sequences.
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.