A Glean movie guide
90s Action Icons
Pure adrenaline, no filler.
The decade that defined the modern blockbuster with high-concept thrills.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Matrix
A mind-bending sci-fi epic that redefined action cinema with its revolutionary 'bullet time' visual effects.
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 relentless chase film featuring groundbreaking liquid-metal effects and a legendary performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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
A sprawling crime saga famous for its visceral street shootout and the first on-screen pairing of Pacino and De Niro.
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 masterclass in high-concept tension where a city bus must stay above 50 mph to prevent a deadly explosion.
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, fast-paced manhunt that pits a wrongly accused doctor against a relentless U.S. Marshal.
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
An adrenaline-fueled undercover thriller that blends extreme sports culture with high-stakes 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.
- 07
The Rock
A high-octane assault on Alcatraz Island featuring explosive direction and 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.
- 08
Face/Off
A highly stylized, operatic thriller where an FBI agent and a terrorist literally swap identities.
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.
- 09
Mission: Impossible
A sleek and suspenseful spy thriller known for its intricate heist sequences and iconic silent vault break-in.
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
Leon: The Professional
A stylish and emotionally charged story of an elite hitman who takes a young girl under his wing.
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.