In this article I’m covering films 40-31. Ten more killer action movies that deliver everything from martial arts to gunplay. From the high seas to time traveling to a boarding school, these 10 movies deliver all of that and more. So, let’s dive into it.

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40. Under Siege (1992)

Coming in at #40 is a classic action flick from the 90s. It centers on a cook aboard a battleship taken over by mercenaries and for Steven Seagal saving the day won’t be a job. It’ll be an adventure in 1992’s Under Siege also starring Gary Busey, and Tommy Lee Jones.

This was certainly Seagal’s most well-received action flick and rightfully so as it takes the Die Hard formula and works it to precision. As a former SEAL, Seagal is a bit more subdued in this role but still oozes masculinity and it’s perfect for the needs of this tightly crafted plot. Under Siege blends gunplay, suspense, and Seagal’s trademark martial-arts to give the film plenty of contained action. The use of the ship gives the movies a realistic vibe that serves as a perfect playground for Seagal to save the day. But to me, where this movie shines is from the dual villains in Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey, who easily outshine Seagal. Busey is pleasantly sadistic, and Tommy Lee Jones is world-class-maniacal, and they are the stars of this film. You love to hate these guys and it makes Seagal taking them out so rewarding.

39. Hard Target (1993)

We’re jumping from one classic iconic action flick to another for my #39 movies, this one starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a drifter being hunted by killers and punching rattlesnakes in the full-throttle action from John Woo, 1993’s Hard Target also starring Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, and Yancy Butler.

Now Hard Target would give Van Damme the high-profile director to work with in John Woo and the result is an elegant dance of violent action, bravado, and melodrama. The humans hunting humans for sport has been done but in the hands of Woo and Van Damme it’s still a delightful ride. The plot is simple but effective, and the visual appeal still holds up today as Woo seemed to know just how to frame Van Damme to capture the energy of his moves. From kicking glasses off a dude’s face to diving while shooting, it’s a magically cheesy buffet of all the insanity we loved in mid-90s action. Van Damme is soaking in the scenery and Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo are fantastic villains. Hard Target doesn’t break many genre molds but it’s a crisply shot film filled with a blend of small-and-large-scale action that still holds up great.

38. Toy Soldiers (1991)

Now my #38 flick may be a bit forgotten to some but it’s a nostalgic favorite of mine. A Die Hard inspired thriller set in a boys school taken over by terrorists. These kids have no weapons, only one another in Toy Soldiers from 1991 starring Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Louis Gossett Jr, and Keith Coogan.

I assume I have this film higher on the list than most and I will admit there is a strong built in element of predictability. But to me it doesn’t get in the way of Toy Soldiers, being a thrilling Die Hard knock-off with a collection of lovable characters you want to see succeed. Sean Astin and Wil Wheaton anchor the young cast and the iconic Louis Gossett Jr. cements the entire film as the mentor figure and the one who believes in these kids to get the job done. This movie keeps a quick pace, it’s filled with close-calls, suspense, and bursts of practical action. But really where Toy Soldiers shines is in the fact it doesn’t try to do too much. It keeps these kids in their own lane, the story crafts a clever game of cat-and-mouse and the villains are evil enough to feel intimidating, but not too much to where you couldn’t imagine these kids outsmarting them.

37. Die Hard 2 (1990)

Moving along to #37 is a movie you could say was one of the first Die Hard knockoffs because when terrorists would take over Dulles International Airport on the verge of Christmas, John McClane would find himself once again in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although this time he would have shoes in Die Hard 2: Die Harder from 1990.

Easily the best Die Hard knock-off since the first Die Hard, Die Harder is like Home Alone 2. It does everything that worked well in the first movie and despite the predictability this sequel is on its own, is a strong action movie. The airport is the perfect playground for all the chaos and the buffet of chase sequences, shootouts, and fight scenes are plenty for this fast moving, real-time thriller. William Sadler is admittedly no Alan Rickman, but he gives the movie a menacing villain for McClane to battle with and the result is still one of the best action romps of the decade. Die Hard 2 has a charming genre atmosphere to it and McClane feels even more at home in this role to build on the character as he fights through an army of bad guys. Plus, the practical action and production design are fantastic, and it gives the entire film a gritty realism that still holds up today.

36. Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Next up at #36 is a film that certainly has a dramatic flair rather than being a traditional action film but in 1994 the truth would need a soldier and that man would be Harrison Ford returning as Jack Ryan in Clear and Present Danger from director Phillip Noyce also starring Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer, and Joaquim de Almeida.

There is just something about Harrison Ford in the role of Jack Ryan that can lure me in, and maybe higher on my list than most, I do think this is a fine action movie when the violence and intensity does kick in. Clear and Present Danger has a methodical pace and it’s not as in-your-face as most traditional action movies from the decade, but the strategic progression of this story is perfect for elevating intensity, emotion, and intrigue. This story is like a game of chess with many moving pieces but it’s easy to follow, it’s easy to invest in, and that results in the action hitting harder when it does strike. The entire cast from Harrison Ford, though the supporting players like Dafoe, to even the smaller characters are brought to life with realistic performances. This is another of those films that feels like it has history, that feels lived in, and to this day, it’s quality cinema.

35. Executive Decision (1996)

We’re sticking with the government/military theme for my #35 pick, a movie that takes a group of terrorists, an elite team of commandos, and an analyst, a flight attendant, and puts them all on an airliner in the thrilling Executive Decision from 1996 starring Kurt Russell, Halle Berry, and a star-studded ensemble cast.

Executive Decision is a movie that I think gets a bit overlooked because the thrilling high-altitude adventure that it delivers is filled with edge-of-your seat suspense, tension, nail biting action, and a fantastic collection of performances led by Kurt Russell and Halle Berry. The plot is able to keep you guessing and the organization of the story layers creates a strong rewatch value. The mission is simple, but the ramifications couldn’t be greater. This naturally pulls you into the story and will have you hanging on every movie this small group of heroes will make to save the day. Executive Decision is often more known as the film Steven Seagal dies at the beginning of, but Kurt Russell acts his ass off in this one much like Berry and everyone really and it gives the film a collection of lived in characters that only amplifies the intensity of the central mission.

34. Timecop (1994)

We’re traveling through time for my #34. They killed his wife 10 years ago and there’s no time to save her, until now 1994s Timecop starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver, and Gloria Rueben. Directed by Peter Hyams.

I don’t think Timecop gets the love it should for being a well-crafted time-travel action flick. Van Damme is strong in this role, he’s able to bring the emotional layering, but still easily feels like the tough action lead when needed to give the lead an engaging duality. And the plot is unique where many films in the genre were missing such. Timecop keeps a quick moving pace, and it doesn’t overdo the time-travel aspect to get convoluted. But most importantly the story doesn’t get in the way of what makes a Van Damme movie great, that being the action and seeing him kick ass which he gets ample opportunity. I also think the blend of practical action, with solid digital effects for the time period are able to give this film a lasting visual appeal. Van Damme coming in and out of time still looks crisp and the practical stunt-work still holds up to give the entire film a timeless feel.

33. Enemy of the State (1998)

In at #33 is a cyber action thriller starring two Oscar winners. The only privacy left is inside your head in Tony Scott’s Enemy of the State from 1998 starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman.

I was a little torn when pondering including Enemy of the State on this list. Admittedly it’s slightly more of an adventure flick but I had to put it on here regardless. Because when the action does kick in, it’s a perfect complement to the compelling plotline and with Will Smith in the lead you’re pulled into the middle of the intensity effortlessly as he fights for his life. The cyber thriller element of the story creates a strong and appealing atmosphere and Smith and Hackman together are a dynamite duo. Enemy of the State effectively keeps its foot on the gas and the hurdles thrown at Smith’s character seem insurmountable and that’s what makes this a riveting ride of cyber terror and practical action. It’s not as flashy as many of Smith’s other films but it’s still one of his best, and most well-rounded flicks.

32. The Crow (1994)

Coming in at #32 is a film set in a world with no justice where one man has been chosen to protect the innocent in 1994s The Crow starring the late Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, and Ernie Hudson from director Alex Proyas.

Still one of the best CBM’s ever The Crow is a film that creates atmosphere as good as one can. This story will immediately lure you into this dark and seedy world and will instantly connect you with the pain of the central character. Brandon Lee would be tragically shot during the filming of this movie and the performance he brought to The Crow was leaps and bounds his best. I won’t argue this is much more of a dark drama than a pure action movie but when the action does hit, it’s hyper violence at its most elegant. And most meaningful because of the emotional investment you have with this man seeking justice against those who commit evil. Michael Wincott is awesome in the shoes of the villain and Ernie Hudson leaves his impression. Few films are as gloomy and tragic both on and off the screen as The Crow, but regardless it’s a film that can command your attention no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

31. Con Air (1997)

And in at #31 is a film that’s as fun as it is cheesy. It stars Nicolas Cage as an unlucky convict onboard Con Air from 1997 also starring John Malkovich, John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames and many others from director Simon West.

Nicolas Cage would deliver a trio of blockbuster action flicks between ‘96-’97 and in the middle was this wildly adventurous action bonanza that feels comically masculine like the action movie from the 80s, with all the cutting-edge spectacle the genre would be known for in the mid to late 90s. Con Air is a ridiculous ride of awesome action, bravado, special-effects, and Cage and Malkovich fighting on screen and competing for who could chew the scenery more. And the result is a humorous ride of well-directed genre excess. The ensemble cast is impressive, everyone gets their moments both large and small to leave their impression. Cage is like a parody of the action star without knowing it and surprisingly it’s perfect for the tone of this roller coaster of melodramatic action. Con Air is not without its flaws, but few films are better when it comes to sitting back with your friends and remembering the nostalgia of 90s action cinema.

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Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 

SilverScreen Analysis & Movies Never Say Die!

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