Many genres have their ‘golden era’ which is often held in higher estime than others. For horror fans, the ’80s is held in high regard for stand-outs like The Thing, Alien, Evil Dead, to name but a few; for sci-fi fans, the ’60s is often championed by films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes. When it comes to action, it is hard to overlook the 1990s as the genre was re-invented with hits like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Matrix, and The Fugitive.
Still, stepping outside the major hits of the ’90s in the action genre, fans also saw the rise of countless B-movie gems due to the direct-to-video market, bizarre genre mash-ups, and some of the grittiest action movies ever made. These films certainly have some grit to them, whether it be realistic violence or dealing with themes that show the darker side of society. Some are classics, some have cult followings, but all these gritty action movies deserve a second look.
10 The Substitute (1996)
Vietnam War veteran and mercenary Jonathan Shale returns to Miami after a failed operation that saw three of his comrades. Here he reconnects with his girlfriend, Jane Hetzko who is a teacher at the troubled and violent Columbus High School. When the leader of a brutal street gang known as the “Kings of Destruction,” Juan Lacas, assaults Jane and breaks both her legs, Shale decides to investigate by going undercover as a substitute teacher.
An Overlooked ’90s Action Franchise
The Substitute is one of those action films with a very clear line between who is good and who is evil; it is rather by the numbers in its approach. However, seeing one man get revenge against drug dealers and violent thugs is always going to make for a cathartic experience. Tom Berenger is an underrated action star, with several sequences in The Substitute standing out for their brutality and realism. The gritty action film earned a cult following, resulting in four sequels with Berenger in the lead. Three of them also happen to be in the ’90s for fans of the era.
Stream The Substitute on Prime or Plex
9 Desperado (1995)
El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), is a former musician turned gunslinger seeking revenge against a drug lord named Bucho, who killed his lover. Desperado unfolds in a small Mexican border town, as El Mariachi lashes out against the drug lord and his men. A showdown is complicated when he falls in love with Carolina (Salma Hayek), who decides to help Mariachi with his revenge.
Robert Rodriguez’s Action Masterpiece
Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado is the perfect mix of gritty with flash, a visual feast that can still get dirty; the opening bar scene is unforgettable even decades after the movie’s release. Antonio Banderas’ portrayal of El Mariachi is exceptional, and his pairing with Salma Hayek is peak ’90s nostalgia. The dark humor of the movie also helped cement its cult status. When revisiting Desperado, it is obvious to see why he would go onto mainstream success with movies like From Dusk Till Dawn and Machete.
8 Dead or Alive (1999)
Ryūichi, a Yakuza boss of Chinese descent, leads a small gang into Tokyo’s Shinjuku district in order to take control of the drug trade. This puts him in the path of Detective Jojima, a police officer tasked with investigating the rise of violent crimes. The two constantly engage in violent conflicts as Ryūichi and his gang start to push out the Chinese-led Triad gangs.
Sparked New Interest in Yakuza Movies
Much of the interest in Japanese Yakuza movies can be traced back to director Takashi Miike, with his various films throughout the ’90s that focused on the sensational lives of Japanese criminals. Of course, the genre goes much further back, but the gritty, action films of the 2000s owe much to Miike and works of his like Dead or Alive.
Extreme violence with many shocking sequences, the movie is more over-the-top than anything else on this list, but it encapsulates a very specific era of film in such a fascinating way that it is worth revisiting. Dead or Alive did spawn two sequels as well.
Stream Dead or Alive on Fandor, Arrow, Midnight Pulp, or Asian Crush
7 Pusher (1996)
Unfolding over the course of one desperate week of a small-time drug dealer’s life, Pusher starts with Frank getting caught up in a botched Heroine deal where he loses both the money and the drugs. This puts him in the sights of the drug kingpin Milo and his enforcers, who are putting pressure on Frank to repay his debt from the botched deal. Frank takes to the streets of Coppenhagen, hiding from the gang after him while trying to come up with the money.
Pushing One Man to the Edge
With a documentary-style approach to visuals and storytelling, Pusher marks itself as one of the most realistic crime/action movies to come out of the ’90s. It can even get uncomfortable as director Nicolas Winding Refndeals with the dregs and extremes of Denmark’s criminal underbelly with unflinching brutality. The movie also marks an earlier appearance by Danish stand-out Mads Mikkelsen before he gained international notoriety.
The Pusher is meant to be viewed as a trilogy, so if you enjoy the first film, ensure you also check out Pusher 2 and 3; you can skip over the 2012 remake.
You can stream Pusher on Fubo, Kanopy, or Plex
6 Trespass (1992)
Two firefighters, Vince and Don, believe they may have hit the jackpot when they find a treasure map in a burning building, pointing to a large haul of stolen gold. This takes them into an abandoned factory in St Louis, but when they arrive they find themselves cornered by a street gang also seeking the stolen goods. Now trapped in the factory and in unfamiliar territory, the two firefighters enter a violent battle against the gang in order to secure the life-changing bounty.
A Deadly Showdown
Trespass boasts phenomenal performances across the board, including a career highlight for Bill Paxton. Moreover, the movie gives an insightful insight into race relations of the ’90s, while also keeping a steady, action-packed pace in the prolonged showdown between Vince and Don and the street gang after them.
Trespass is a bonafide hidden gem, originally met with lukewarm reviews and a box office performance only to garner a cult following years later. An enjoyable blend of action, drama, and crime that is certainly worth a revisit or a first-time watch.
5 Con Air (1997)
Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is a former U.S. Ranger who is about to get a second shot at life after being paroled after serving time for accidentally killing a man in self-defense. However, the flight he is on, filled with other convicts, ends up being hijacked by a gang led by Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom. Now looking to bring some of the USA’s deadliest criminals to a non-extradition country, Cameron must hide his identity while trying to thwart the plans of Cyrus so he can return to a normal life.
One of the Best Action Movie Casts of the ’90s
Despite being a box-office failure, you would be hard-pressed to find an action movie fan who has not seen Con Air. Here fans got to see Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, and Ving Rhames, to name a few, all share the screen in an action-packed and drama-heavy movie. Sure, it is a little campy and silly, but this was peak ’90s Nicolas Cage, and it has explosive action and a gripping tale of redemption that was so key in the majority of ’90s action productions.
You can stream Con Air on Hulu
4 King of New York (1990)
Frank White (Christopher Walken) was once the drug kingpin of New York before his arrest. Upon release from prison, Frank returns to the streets of New York looking to reclaim his title. This puts Frank up against the corrupt police force and other gangs, not wanting to secede their territory to the previous “King of New York.”
Uneasy is the Head that Wears the Crown
King of New York offers a fascinating character study of a brutal drug kingpin born anew in Christopher Walken’s Frank White; Franks’ return and violent push to reclaim his territory is offset by his desire to improve his community through philanthropy. King of New Yorkexplores themes of morality within the criminal underworld in a deeply engaging manner.
Add in a sleek neo-noir aesthetic and stand-out performances from the likes of Christopher Walken and Laurence Fishburne and you have a crime/action/thriller that begs to be revisited.
You can stream King of New York on Prime or The Criterion Channel
3 Ronin (1998)
The struggles of a group of mercenaries hired to steal a briefcase is told through a former intelligence agent, Sam, played by Robert De Niro. Alongside others, Sam has to navigate a complex web of deception around the missions that sees shifting alliances and rising tensions. Double-crosses, intense car chases, and violent confrontations with others looking to get their hands on the mysterious contents of the suitcase.
Car Chases Through the Streets of Paris
Gritty, immersive and realistic in its delivery of violence, John Frankenheimer’s Ronin certainly made its mark on the ’90s action genre. Fans also get Robert De Niro at his best, paired with the vastly underrated Jean Reno (Léon: The Professional, Mission: Impossible). The setting of Paris, and the multiple car chase scenes in its streets, also acts as a perfect backdrop for the stylized cinematography. Ronin will keep the audience guessing till the last moment, making for an engaging action experience.
2 Hard Boiled (1992)
Tequila Yuen (Chow Yun-fat) is an undercover cop whose life is changed when the bust of a major arms deal goes bad and a shootout erupts. During this event, Tequila’s partner is killed, putting the cop on a personal vendetta for revenge. At the same time, a conflicted gangster, Alan (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), takes on his own vendetta against the gangs for the killing of his brother. The paths of the two end up intersecting as they close down on their target, forming an unlikely alliance.
Setting the Standard for Action Sequences
We would be amiss to discuss ’90s action and not touch on the work of John Woo. While Woo would impress with his English language directorial debut Broken Arrow (followed by Face/Off a year later), Hard Boiled is exemplary of Hong Kong action cinema at its best. The movie has innovative action sequences, including the infamous hospital shoot-out scene, that set the golden standard for the genre. Besides Woo’s signature style (often imitated and seldom duplicated), the movie has emotional depth and great performances to keep viewers engrossed.
1 True Romance (1993)
A lonely comic book clerk, Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), falls for a call girl, Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette). The two begin a passionate romance, but when Clarence learns that Alabama is being hunted by her former boss, he steals a briefcase of cocaine from a pimp and books it to Hollywood to sell their stash and start a new life. This crime gets them entangled with gangsters and corrupt cops, leading to a series of violent confrontations.
The Perfect Pairing of Action Movie Heavy Weights
The pairing of Quentin Tarantino as writer and Tony Scott as director, made for a rather sublime, gritty, action experience that flew under the radar for many; moderate success critically and financially but garnering cult status years later. The movie contains the dark humor and dynamic characters one would expect from a Tarantino project, but excels under the sharp visual direction of Tony Scott. Throw in a bit of romance, and you have a deeply engaging, gritty action movie worth revisiting.
