The 1990s were an incredible time foraction movies, with many fantastic releases that mainstream audiences have largely forgotten. While cinematic classics likeSpeed,Terminator 2, andThe Matrixfranchise were all released during this time, many more hidden gems failed to achieve long-lasting cultural relevance and are ripe for rediscovery by a new generation of action movie lovers. Luckily, the advent of streaming and the widespread availability of movies means these films can finally achieve the attention they rightfully deserve.
There were plenty ofunderrated 1990s action movies from the decade’s biggest stars, as performers like Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Keanu Reeves have had several fantastic forgotten films. Whilemany of these movies have built passionate cult followings, the fact that they are not very well known to the average movie viewer is truly a crying shame. Although they may have been badly received by critics at the time of release, with the power of hindsight, it’s clear these forgotten action movies had a lot to offer.
Hard Rain
Cast
Hard Rain follows a small-town sheriff and an armored car driver as they confront a gang of criminals during a massive flood. Directed by Mikael Salomon and featuring Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater, the film explores themes of survival and morality amidst natural and human threats. It combines elements of action, thriller, and disaster genres, set against the backdrop of relentless rain and rising waters.
Hard Rainpitted humanity against the unstoppable destructive force that is nature itself for a heist thriller set against the backdrop of a major storm. Starring Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater, this story of thievery, survival, and man-made treachery was a fast-paced, special effects-filled showcase of pure, mindless entertainment. Whileit’s easy to criticizeHard Rain’sscript as lackluster and its narrative as unbelievably outrageous, it also featured strong performances from the entire cast, and its over-the-top energy was a big part of its appeal.
WhileHard Rainreceived negative reviews upon release and has been described as “the biggest bomb of 1998” (viaGames Radar), it was also packed with tension and ticked all the right boxes for those looking for some 1990s guilty pleasure viewing. A true highlight ofHard RainwasBetty White in one of her best moviesas Doreen Sears, the elderly resident who refuses to be evacuated from the storm. With a uniquely implausible concept,Hard Rainwas a lot more fun than it was logical.
Ricochet
Ricochet is a 1991 action thriller directed by Russell Mulcahy, starring Denzel Washington as Nick Styles, a rookie cop who becomes a hero after taking down a notorious villain.Years later, the villain, Earl Talbot Blake, escapes from prison and seeks revenge against Styles, who must confront his troubled past to stop him.
Denzel Washington’s impressive career, which balanced popcorn-friendly action movies with critically acclaimed dramatic roles, might not have been the same if he had not starred inRicochet, his very first action movie. This highly underrated release proved Washington had the range to become a true action hero as he starred in this nail-biting story of revenge. As a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse, Washington starred as Assistant District Attorney Nick Styles being pursued by a vengeful criminal he helped put away years before.
Despite being a stylish and exciting action movie,Ricochetdidn’t have the same impact as more successful 1990s action filmsand underperformed at the box office. As a dark and violent story made even better by a deranged turn from John Lithgow as the killer Earl Talbot Blake,Ricochetis a movie that has truly been slept on by action movie fans. With strong performances and snappy dialogue,Ricochetdeserves much more attention.
Kuffs
Kuffs is a 1992 action-comedy film starring Christian Slater as George Kuffs, a high school dropout who inherits his deceased brother’s police district. Balancing elements of humor and action, George navigates the challenges of running his brother’s patrol special unit and uncovering criminal activities with the help of his girlfriend, played by Milla Jovovich. The film deals with themes of responsibility and justice, set against a backdrop of San Francisco.
Christian Slater made a name for himself during the 1990s with acclaimed roles in classics likeTrue Romance, although this decade also boasted plenty of his most underrated movies. One prime example of this wasKuffs, a forgotten action comedy whereSlater played an underachieving slacker caught up in the world of for-hire policing. While the concept ofKuffs, which saw Slater taking over his brother’s policing roles after his murder, was quite unbelievable, the strong performances and unique sense of humor made up for this.
With a breaking of the fourth wall style that saw Slater talking directly to the camera,Kuffswas a slick action movie that didn’t attempt to break any new ground and instead focused on delivering a solid action movie. While criticisms thatKuffswas derivative of other films, such asBeverly Hills Cop, were justified, it wore its influences on its sleeve and had its own quirky appeal. AlthoughKuffsat times struggled to balance its more violent sequences with its lighthearted comedic tone, there was still a lot to love about this underrated release.
I Come in Peace
I Come in Peace follows Houston detective Jack Caine, played by Dolph Lundgren, as he investigates a string of bizarre murders linked to an alien drug dealer who hunts humans for their endorphins. Partnered with an FBI agent, Caine faces off against the extraterrestrial threat in a battle to save humanity. The film blends sci-fi and action elements, directed by Craig R. Baxley and released in 1990.
AlthoughI Come in Peaceis often dismissed as aforgottenTerminatorripoff, the truth is that this Dolph Lundgren movie truly holds up. Also released until the titleDark Angel,I Come in Peacetold the story of renegade cop Detective Jack Cain, who teamed up with an FBI to track down a killer drug-dealing alien from outer space. As an epic sci-fi story that took what worked aboutThe Terminatorand expanded upon it, this underrated hidden gem has built up a reputation as an enjoyable cult classic.
WhileI Come in Peacecan be criticized as derivative, its witty script and clever premise helped elevate it above other movies that attempted to cash in on Schwarzenegger-style action movies. Highly memorable one-liners like “I come in peace” and “you go in pieces” also contributed to this movie’s unique appeal. As a cult classic just waiting to be rediscovered by mainstream viewers,I Come In Peacehad plenty to offer.
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Showdown in Little Tokyo is an action film directed by Mark L. Lester, starring Dolph Lundgren as Sergeant Chris Kenner and Brandon Lee as Detective Johnny Murata. Set in the underworld of Los Angeles, the film follows the two officers as they form an alliance to bring down a notorious Yakuza crime boss, Yoshida, played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. The movie combines martial arts action with a crime-fighting narrative.
Dolph Lundgren and Brandon Lee proved they made an excellent action movie duo inShowdown in Little Tokyo.This buddy cop story about two detectives trying to take down the Yakuza in Los Angeleswas badly received by critics at the time but has since built up a cult following.Showdown in Little Tokyoalso marked the American acting debut of Bruce Lee’s son, Lee had previously built up his reputation in Hong Kong action movies likeLegacy of Rage.
Showdown in Little Tokyowas misunderstood at the time of its release but has since gained praise for its fast-paced action and charismatic, humorous performances. Lundgren and Lee had great onscreen chemistry, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa deserves extra praise for his role as the sinister villain Funekei Yoshida. Overall,Showdown in Little Tokyomore than delivered on its promise of B-movie action fun and deserves far more recognition.
Snake Eyes
Snake Eyes, directed by Brian De Palma, is a suspense thriller starring Nicolas Cage as a corrupt Atlantic City cop who witnesses an assassination during a boxing match. As he investigates, he uncovers a web of conspiracy and deceit, challenging his loyalty and morality. The film also features performances by Gary Sinise and Carla Gugino, and showcases De Palma’s signature style and craftsmanship in building tension.
Although this boasted some of his very best action movie performances, likeCon AirandFace/Off, there were plenty more underrated1990s Nicolas Cage movies. One major example isSnake Eyes, a highly underappreciated Brian De Palm film bursting with style and energy. While the narrative of this mystery thriller was justifiably criticized for lacking depth, this almost didn’t matter as its incredible atmosphere and impressive cinematography made for spellbinding viewers.
It’s fair to say thatSnake Eyesdoes not live up to the best work by either Cage or De Palma, but some serious suspense and trashy energy made this an underappreciated hidden gem. As the flamboyant police detective Rick Santoro, Cage gives an outrageous performance that will appeal to fans of his unique body of work. It’s not a perfect movie by a stretch of the imagination, but the suspenseful mystery of corruption and deceit at the heart of its missing woman story madeSnake Eyesan intriguing release.
Johnny Mnemonic
Johnny Mnemonic is an action sci-fi film directed by Robert Longo and based on William Gibson’s novel. The film follows data courier Johnny, who carries a large implant in his brain that holds significant information that could change everything - but a yakuza member takes on a hit request and sends a dangerous assassin to stop incriminating information from getting out.
Following Keanu Reeves' massive action movie smash hitSpeed, he turned his sights to the cyberpunk genre, not withThe Matrix, which came later, but with the highly underrated sci-fi action movieJohnny Mnemonic. This dystopian story about a man holding confidential information inside his head due to a brain implant was based on a short story by cyberpunk legend William Gibson. While it was badly received at the time,Johnny Mnemonicwas a major precursor toThe Matrix’ssuccessand, in many ways, just a few years ahead of its time.
With endless style and a richly imaginative world,Johnny Mnemonicblended engaging sci-fi concepts with film noir aesthetics to produce a compelling cult classic.Johnny Mnemonicwas influential enough that the Wachowskis used it as a template for describingThe Matrixto investors (viaThe New Yorker.) The film also received an updated version in 2022 titledJohnny Mnemonic: In Black and White, which Gibson said better aligned with the original vision of his story (viaScreen Slate.)
Blue Steel
Blue Steel, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, is a 1990 action thriller about a rookie cop who becomes entangled with a psychopathic killer. The film explores themes of power and obsession while delving into the complexities of law enforcement. Ron Silver co-stars as the antagonist, with supporting roles by Clancy Brown and Elizabeth Peña. The tension-filled narrative examines justice and morality within the urban landscape.
It was a tragedy that director Kathryn Bigelow’s forgotten action movie Blue Steel did not get more attention. With an astounding performance from Jamie Lee Curtis as a rookie cop engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse with an obsessive psychopath, this over-the-top story of law, lunacy, and lust saw its star echoing the appeal of her breakout role inHalloweento face off against yet another unstoppable foe.Blue Steelhad plenty of style and was a darkly brutal story of atmospheric tension.
As Megan Turner, Curtis delivered a tough and vulnerable performance that showcased her impeccable talent. While there were aspects of this forgotten thriller that truly beggar belief, everything was delivered with such assurance that it’s easy to forgive the unrealistic aspects of its narrative. WhileBigelow would later take home Best Picture at the Oscars for her war thrillerThe Hurt Locker,Blue Steelwas an earlier indication of her often underrated filmmaking prowess.
New Jack City
New Jack City is a crime thriller following the rise of gangster Nino Brown, who leads the Cash Money Brothers in the crack cocaine trade. As Nino’s operation flourishes, detective Scotty Appleton goes undercover, becoming a dealer to infiltrate and dismantle the notorious drug empire.
WhileNew Jack Citywas well-received when it was first released and even held enough cultural relevance to have the hip-hop genre new jack swing named after it (viaRed Bull Music Academy), the film rarely gets spoken about when discussing the best action movies of the 1990s. With anincredible performance from Wesley Snipes, who played Nino Brown, a New York drug lord during the crack epidemic, this high-stakes crime story followed an NYDP detective going undercover to take down Nino and his gang.
With an all-star cast, a stellar soundtrack, and a truly engaging story that addresses social and political issues,New Jack Citywas an accomplished film that carried forward the legacy of Blaxploitation cinema during the 1970s. With stylish direction from Mario Van Peebles,New Jack Cityfelt like an urban reimagining ofScarfaceas Snipes’ larger-than-life villain highlighted the violent excesses of drug running. Despite confidently carrying an important anti-drug message,New Jack Cityhas been hugely underrated in the decades since its release.
Strange Days
Strange Days is a science fiction film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, set in the near future of 1999. The plot revolves around ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), who deals in illegal virtual reality recordings. As the city erupts in chaos, Nero uncovers a conspiracy linked to the recordings, involving a range of characters played by Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis. The film explores themes of technology and socio-political unrest.
Witha screenplay co-written by James Cameronand astounding performances from Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, and Juliette Lewis,Strange Dayswas a big-budget sci-fi epic mostly forgotten by mainstream viewers. With urgent themes of racism and abuses of power,Strange Dayswas influenced by contemporary events like the murder of Rodney King, the trial of O.J. Simpson, and the 1992 LA Riots. Based on an electronic device that allowed users to experience other people’s recorded memories and physical sensations, this dark satire failed to meet the studio’s expectations at the time.
As a box office bomb that grossed just under $8 million domestically against its $42 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo),Strange Days’failure derailed Bigelow’s career for more than a decade. This was a crying shame, asStrange Dayswas an incredibleaction moviethat, for those in the know, has become a cult classic. As a movie overlooked by audiences and misunderstood by critics at the time, it’s one that’s definitely worth revisiting.
