The journey through the Top-100 Action Movies from the 1990s continues covering films 70-61, a collection of movies that deliver a wide range of action-packed suspense. From alien drug dealers, to thrills on the river, to a trip to a hockey game, this list has a little bit of everything. So, let’s dive into it.

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70. Striking Distance (1993)

In at #70 is an action thriller set on the river centered on a burnt-out detective assigned to river duty. But they shouldn’t have put him in the water if they didn’t want him to make waves. Which is exactly what Bruce Willis does in 1993’s Striking Distance also starring Sarah Jessica Parker, and Dennis Farina.

Now this movie has its flaws. Front and center would be Parker and Willis lacking the needed chemistry. Willis also feels like he’s mildly checked out and relying on borrowed character tropes to fill this performance. But the river element, and family dynamics of Striking Distance create a history that I think builds an engaging lived-in atmosphere. It has strong elements of mystery as the bodies keep piling up in the river, and the supporting cast is strong, led by Farina. This one goes through the genre motions without question, but the splashes of action ramp up the intensity when needed and the moody vibe can lure you in despite its predictability. Striking Distance isn’t flashy, and it lacks a lot of charisma. But the action is well staged, it’s gritty enough, and the chase sequences both on the streets and the river are adrenaline pumping which does make this an unassumingly fun ride.

69. Sudden Death (1995)

Next up at #97 is an underrated Van Damme flick set at a hockey game. They said Game 7 would be a war, but they didn’t know the half of it when terror went into overtime in 1995’s Sudden Death from director Peter Hyams, also starring the late great Powers Boothe.

I won’t argue Sudden Death isn’t a Die Hard retread. However, the timing of this plot with the progression of the hockey game is undeniably effective at ramping up the tension and keeping the pace moving. This stadium is a fantastic playground for all the action and Van Damme is all over the building from the basement to the rooftop to the ice during the game and it’s admittedly all a bit silly, yet more than fun enough for a fast-paced thrill ride with Van Damme in the lead. Powers Boothe takes this generic role and completely sells it to make the character his own and sure this movie’s framed on borrowed elements, but the hockey infusion makes it more than unique enough to stand on its own. Sudden Death would come towards the end of Van Damme’s A-list run but the action holds up nicely for a turn-your-brain-off adventure.

68. Rush Hour (1998)

Moving along to #68 is I think the first full out buddy comedy to hit this list and it is an iconic one. When the East would team with the West. Two cops. One who’s all talk. Another who is all action, and they would be Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in 1998’s Rush Hour.

I would assume many would put this film higher up on their lists and I certainly do enjoy it. But the teaming up of Chan and Tucker didn’t grab me like they seemingly did for the rest of the world. The humor in Rush Hour feels a bit one-note and it’s more chuckle worthy than laughable but when the action kicks in this movie is a delightfully satisfying ride. Moments of action are humorous, others are suspenseful, and the two tones complement one another well. Tucker gets his spots of action but really, it’s all fueled by the stunt work and martial-arts skill of Jackie Chan. When Chan’s doing his thing this movie’s a blast, the action set-pieces and choreography are all sound, and really this movie, for me at least, is just missing a charismatic villain. However, as it stands Rush Hour is still a strong film.

67. Last Action Hero (1993)

Now my #67 movie was heralded as the next great American action adventure, and it was headlined by arguably the biggest action star in the world with Arnold Schwarzenegger would star in 1993’s Last Action Hero directed by John McTiernan.

This is certainly a movie that’s aged well over time and garnered more appreciation over the years. It’s not a perfect flick but you have to appreciate its ambitiously unique plot. Last Action Hero is an action film inside an action film and the meta layering and over-the-top sequences are a great time. This film is filled with spectacle and dumb laughs and it’s effective with Arnold behind the wheel as he showcases his comedic chops, while also reminding people why he is an action icon. It gets dumb more often than not but that’s the point and seeing Arnold in a subtle parody of the genre he helped build. It’s filled with all the massive action you would expect and from the cameos to the stunt work, to the ridiculous one-liners, scoring, and cartoonish villains Last Action Hero is a timestamp to all the silliness we love from the action genre.

66. Run Lola Run (1998)

Written and directed by Tom Tykwer my #66 pick is probably the most unique film on this list as a young woman has 20 minutes to come up with 100,000 Deutschmarks to save her boyfriend in the high intensity action thriller Run Lola Run from 1998 starring Franka Potente.

While familiar with fans of the genre, this is certainly a forgotten film among general audiences. However, one that still holds up great because of its high anxiety atmosphere and it’s able to engage you in the character’s decision making. Run Lola Run is essentially three separate stories, with their own endings, that all overlap and affect each other. This adds a heightened intrigue as to what will happen next and where things will go, which to be honest was a rarity from the action genre during the era. Potente delivers a thrilling performance with all the needed layering and the practical action gives the movie this studier layer of realism that’s perfect for the tone of the plot. Run Lola Run may have been a film you have seen when scrolling streamers and never pressed play on but once you do it will sweep you up in the suspense.

65. Out for Justice (1991)

In at #65 is another of those early in the decade action flicks that feels like it came from the 80s. Its centered Brooklyn cop avenging the death of his partner when Steven Seagal would be Out for Justice from director John Flynn also starring William Forsythe.

I would consider this to be Seagal’s most violent film. It’s a mash-up of tropes from the genre but the martial-arts from Seagal and his over enthusiastic gravitas carries the appeal as he soaks up every scene with his immaculate ponytail. The fight sequences are gritty and unrelenting, and this is another of Seagal’s early 90s action films that feels like it came right out of ‘85. To me though the true star of Out for Justice is William Forsythe who goes about as all-in on a character as you can and that’s what you want from a villain. He’s no physical match for Seagal but this film’s villain through Forsythe’s performance is completely unhinged and it elevates the movie greatly. And with all the gunplay, breaking bones, and bloody violence, Out for Justice is textbook early-Seagal, and still one of his best.

64. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

1998 was a lethal summer with my #64 film, a feel-good curtain-call for one of the truly great action franchises and I’m of course talking about Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon 4 starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Rene Russo, Joe Pesci, Chris Rock, and Jet Li.

Some may not like this entry in the franchise as much as me and it’s nowhere near the level of the first two. But I think Lethal Weapon 4 with its mildly cheesy focus on family and an added emphasis on humor just works. It’s like Lethal Weapon meets Rush Hour and the added comedy may not always work, but it never really undercuts the suspense either. Gibson and Glover are great together again and seeing them as aging cops certainly has its appeal. But what makes this movie work so well is the fantastic, large-scale action set-pieces that rely on practical effects and old-fashioned stunt work. The freeway sequence is just as awesome today visually, and Jet Li’s martial-arts skills add a gritty element as well. And it’s nostalgic seeing these characters in a more comical sense without forgetting the action roots and buddy chemistry that made the franchise great.

63. Marked for Death (1990)

A retired DEA agent will take on a Jamaican drug lord in my #63 selection. They attacked his family. They killed his partner. And they made the wrong guy very angry when Steven Seagal would be Marked for Death from 1990 also starring Keith David.

Seagal’s first few movies were pretty much chopped and swapped pieces of the same story. Yet Marked for Death works very well for a few reasons. First, Keith David is a great sidekick, he elevates the film with his presence and his chemistry with Seagal dials him back just right. The action is hyper-violent and well shot overall to showcase Seagal’s fast-paced fight styling. And the villains, despite being overly stereotypical, are a viable menage for Seagal. Led by the eccentric Screwface who’s a charming wildcard. Marked for Death is pulled from the 80s, it’s gritty, unassumingly cheesy in places, and it all works to deliver a quick moving action thriller that doesn’t really do anything new but does give its lead plenty of opportunities to kill bad guys in a variety of violent ways, and sometimes that’s all you need from an action film.

62. The Professional [Léon] (1994)

Moving along to #62 is another film written and directed by Luc Besson about the perfect assassin, an innocent witness and a detective who went too far in 1994’s The Professional, also known as Léon starring Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman, and Danny Aiello.

I assume many people would have this film higher on their lists and I do think it’s an impressive movie. The action when it hits is hyper-violent and unyielding. The performances from Reno and Portman are able to give their chance friendship an element of sincerity you can invest in. Besson’s direction is some of his finest work and Gary Oldman is ultra-sleazy in the role of villain. His sadistic charisma is perfect for the needs of the story and Oldman delivers one of the decade’s most vile villains. But even so I enjoy all the action and think it’s just right for this film. The Professional to me plays more like a drama fueled with gritty suspense and when sitting down for an “action movie” this wouldn’t necessarily be a title I would seek out.

61. I Come in Peace [Dark Angel] (1990)

And in at #61 is a wildly fun action sci-fi thriller with a total 80s vibe. It stars Dolph Lundgren as a Houston cop, up against something that isn’t human in Craig R. Baxley’s, I Come in Peace, also known as Dark Angel from 1990.

This movie is pure 80s and Dolph Lundgren is awesome in the lead. This one centers on an alien drug dealer coming to earth to harvest a drug from human bodies and it’s as amazing as it is ridiculous. This alien essentially uses compact discs that shoot out of his arm to take people out and it’s a riot of mindless action. Lundgren is delivering one-liners as this movie goes through the genre checklist and it’s a great time. It is unique despite its absurdity, and it’s filled with explosive action. They must have had a coupon for pyrotechnics because the slow-motion shots of characters running from massive explosions are plentiful. And I Come in Peace is just mindlessly engaging because of how wild it is. And Matthias Hues is great as the massive alien villain who comes in peace but goes in pieces.

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Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 

SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die!

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