A Glean movie guide
90s Action Icons: The Ultimate Guide
Explosions, Stunts, and Pure Adrenaline
From high-octane blockbusters to stylized thrillers, these are the decade's best.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A masterclass in practical effects and relentless pacing that redefined the sci-fi sequel.
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 revolutionary blend of cyber-thriller philosophy and groundbreaking martial arts 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.
- 03
Heat
A sprawling, realistic crime epic featuring one of cinema's most intense 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 high-concept masterpiece that maintains breathless 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.
- 05
The Fugitive
A perfectly executed cat-and-mouse thriller driven by smart writing and compelling performances.
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
Hard Boiled
John Woo’s stylistic peak, 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.
- 07
Face/Off
A gloriously over-the-top spectacle that embraces the decade's love for high-stakes absurdity.
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 military thriller, combining explosive set pieces with a charismatic cast.
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
Point Break
An iconic blend of extreme sports and undercover crime with a unique, soulful energy.
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
Leon: The Professional
A stylish, character-focused hitman story that balances grit with emotional depth.
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.
- 11
Mission: Impossible
A sleek, gadget-filled espionage thriller that launched one of action's biggest 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.
- 12
True Lies
A massive, entertaining spectacle that perfectly balances high-budget stunts with sharp comedy.
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.