A Glean movie guide
The Ultimate 90s Action Mixtape
The golden age of the blockbuster.
Relive the decade of high-concept plots, legendary heroes, and practical stunts.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A masterclass in pacing that redefined the sci-fi sequel with groundbreaking effects and genuine heart.
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 mind-bending fusion of philosophy and revolutionary choreography that changed action cinema forever.
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
Speed
A relentless, high-concept thriller that turns a simple bus ride into a masterclass in sustained tension.
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 crime epic featuring one of the most realistic and intense urban 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 Fugitive
A perfectly executed cat-and-mouse thriller driven by a desperate search for the truth and iconic chases.
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
The Rock
The quintessential high-octane blockbuster, blending tactical military action 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.
- 07
Point Break
A stylish cult classic that perfectly captures the 90s obsession with extreme sports and undercover heists.
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.
- 08
Leon: The Professional
A visually striking and emotionally charged story of an assassin that balances grit with unexpected heart.
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.
- 09
Face/Off
A wild, stylized masterpiece of gunplay and high-concept identity swapping from director John Woo.
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.
- 10
Independence Day
The definitive 90s disaster movie, delivering massive scale, iconic destruction, and pure popcorn fun.
Strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived. Its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
- 11
Mission: Impossible
A sleek espionage thriller that launched a legendary franchise with its intricate plots and tense set pieces.
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 James Cameron production that expertly blends world-class stunts with domestic 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.