A Glean movie guide
90s Action Essentials
The Golden Age of the Blockbuster
High-octane blockbusters and gritty thrillers that defined a decade of cinema.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Matrix
A groundbreaking fusion of philosophy and stylized combat that redefined the genre for the new millennium.
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 and practical effects that remains the gold standard for action sequels.
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
Speed
A relentless, high-concept thriller that maintains incredible momentum 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, tactical crime epic featuring one of the most realistic and intense street shootouts in film 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 Rock
Peak 90s blockbuster energy featuring a high-stakes military siege on Alcatraz Island.
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.
- 06
Face/Off
A wild, high-concept premise brought to life with John Woo’s signature operatic and explosive action style.
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 Fugitive
A perfectly executed chase movie that balances intelligent plotting with massive, memorable 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.
- 08
Point Break
The ultimate adrenaline-fueled undercover thriller set against the world of extreme sports and bank robberies.
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
Mission: Impossible
A tense, gadget-filled spy thriller that launched one of the most durable and successful action 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.
- 10
Hard Boiled
A legendary display of Hong Kong action cinema featuring some of the most intricate shootouts 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.
- 11
Leon: The Professional
A stylish and emotionally resonant story of a hitman and his unlikely apprentice in a corrupt city.
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
Die Hard with a Vengeance
A high-energy scavenger hunt across New York City that successfully revitalized the iconic series.
New York detective John McClane is back and kicking bad-guy butt in the third installment of this action-packed series, which finds him teaming with civilian Zeus Carver to prevent the loss of innocent lives. McClane thought he'd seen it all, until a genius named Simon engages McClane, his new "partner" -- and his beloved city -- in a deadly game that demands their concentration.