15 Forgotten 90s Action Flicks That Still Hold Up

Nineties action movies still pack a punch when the pacing feels tight and the stunts look real. You remember the grit, the practical effects, and the simple goals that keep scenes moving. Some titles slipped past crowds back then, yet they play surprisingly well today. So, if you want a throwback that still thrills, this roundup will help.

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The Long Kiss Goodnight

Back in 1996 this winter set thriller paired Geena Davis with Samuel L Jackson in a story about a teacher with a hidden past. It was overlooked as holiday comedies and big franchise films crowded screens. Marketing leaned awkwardly between humor and hard action which confused some viewers. The movie still holds up thanks to crisp pacing, sharp quips, and inventive set pieces. Snowy chases, kitchen fights, and a bridge showdown give it staying power.

What keeps interest high is the lively chemistry between the leads and the clean geography in every sequence. Practical stunts and clear stakes make scenes easy to follow. Production design lands a cozy small town mood that flips into chaos when needed. A strong score and steady editing keep energy up from start to finish. Viewers who revisit it find a confident, punchy watch that never drags.

Strange Days

Premiering in 1995, this near term thriller followed a street hustler who sells recorded memories during a tense New Year’s countdown. The film was forgotten after a soft box office and mixed early reviews. A dark tone and hard subject matter limited word of mouth. It holds up now because the first person recording sequences feel bold and the tension still bites. Technology fears, media spin, and street level danger feel timely again.

Another reason it plays well today is the committed work from Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett. Nighttime Los Angeles looks vivid with handheld energy and neon glow. Chase scenes keep physicality front and center without messy cuts. The finale ties personal choices to wider unrest in a tight way. Fans who return to it find grit, mood, and ideas that still click.

Hard Target

In 1993 John Woo brought balletic mayhem to New Orleans with Jean Claude Van Damme as a drifter who protects a family. Crowds moved on quickly due to studio trims and a crowded late summer slate. Some viewers expected a different tone and missed the grace in the action. It holds up because fights are staged in wide frames and the editing respects movement. Slow burn tracking shots and clear setups make the payoffs land.

The setting adds flavor through warehouse docks, parades, and French Quarter alleys. Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo play icy villains who keep pressure on every scene. A swamp chase on fan boats still feels fresh on rewatch. Sound design favors real impacts over noise that muddies space. This one rewards anyone who loves clean, readable action.

Rapid Fire

Viewers in 1992 met Brandon Lee as an art student pulled into a mob war after witnessing a murder. The film faded after limited promotion and bigger studio titles took the spotlight. Some critics missed the simple charm of its hand to hand work. It holds up because the fights show full body movement and smart use of props. The tempo stays brisk without losing the thread.

Locations in Chicago and Los Angeles add grit with rooftops, alleys, and bridges. Powers Boothe provides a grounded counterweight as a weary detective. Shootouts are staged with clear lines of sight that keep tension honest. A final warehouse run uses levels and cover in a logical way. Fans of physical martial arts find plenty to enjoy here.

The Replacement Killers

By 1998 Chow Yun-fat led a stateside thriller that paired him with Mira Sorvino against an underworld boss. The movie was overlooked as audiences chased larger franchises and disaster spectacles. Initial reviews focused on plot simplicity and missed the style on display. It holds up thanks to clean gunplay, glassy visuals, and tight scene construction. Iconic two handed stances and well timed reloads still look great.

What adds charm is the small human beats between bursts of action. Sorvino brings warmth and quick thinking that balance the cool lead. Shootouts in a print shop and a movie theater remain standout chapters. Framing choices keep distance and angles easy to read. The film plays like a focused, polished action calling card.

Johnny Mnemonic

In 1995 Keanu Reeves played a data courier with a neural storage device racing against the clock. The film was forgotten after middling reviews and a tone that bounced between cyber pulp and noir. Early CGI drew mixed reactions that distracted from strong ideas. It holds up now because the premise feels closer to real tech concerns. Practical sets, street clutter, and analog hardware give the world texture.

Dina Meyer and Takeshi Kitano add backbone with calm, steady turns. Action beats mix gunfire, blade work, and weird gadgets in a fun way. The Yakuza enforcer with a monowire tool remains a wild visual. A nightclub shootout shows tight blocking that still plays well. Fans who revisit it often find more charm than they remember.

Soldier

Late 1998 brought Kurt Russell as a trained fighter discarded for a newer program and forced to defend a scrap colony. The movie was overlooked after weak marketing and comparisons to bigger space titles. Sparse dialogue made some viewers think it lacked heart. It holds up because the physical storytelling is strong and the world feels lived in. Junkyard trenches, rain, and rust tell the story as well as words.

Action sequences use weighty vehicles, heavy weapons, and tight corridors. Russell’s quiet performance sells resolve without speeches. The final showdown turns industrial walkways into tense, narrow arenas. Family themes come through in small gestures and firm choices. This one plays better now as a focused, stripped down action piece.

The Saint

Arriving in 1997, this stylish caper cast Val Kilmer as a master of disguises caught in a chase over cold fusion notes. It slipped from memory when spy franchises and louder blockbusters dominated. Some viewers wanted a lighter tone and missed the grounded set pieces. It holds up thanks to practical chases through Moscow streets and tight foot pursuits. The disguises serve the story rather than stall it.

Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue bring an easy rhythm to tense scenes. European settings give stone alleys, bridges, and train yards a real presence. Car sequences use narrow lanes and slick roads to good effect. The score keeps a cool pulse without shouting over dialogue. Fans who rewatch it find a nimble mix of romance and action.

No Escape

The year 1994 delivered Ray Liotta as a former soldier trapped on a prison island ruled by violent factions. The film was forgotten as modern thrillers pushed cleaner, urban settings. A grim tone and limited star cameos slowed buzz. It holds up because the survival framework is tight and the fights feel immediate. Jungle traps, rough camps, and cliff paths keep danger close.

Supporting turns from Lance Henriksen and Stuart Wilson add color to the rival clans. Practical explosions and grounded brawls maintain a raw edge. The final raid uses torches, ladders, and boats with sensible staging. Costume work sells different tribes without looking silly. This one remains a sturdy, tense action survival watch.

Drive

In 1997 Mark Dacascos teamed with Kadeem Hardison for a buddy chase about a bio enhanced fighter on the run. The film was forgotten due to limited release and a home video path that hid its impact. Many missed how polished the fights were for the budget. It holds up because the choreography is clever, fast, and easy to follow. Gags with hotel furniture and alley rails keep the energy light.

Chemistry between the leads gives laughter between bruising rounds. A bar fight and a factory finale show smart use of ladders, chains, and platforms. The villain crew brings distinct styles that create varied matchups. Stunt timing and clean camera moves make exchanges readable. Action fans who find it usually become instant supporters.

Hard Rain

Audiences in 1998 saw Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman in a heist that unfolds during a devastating flood. The movie was forgotten after weather disasters in other films soaked up attention. A midwinter release and shifting marketing muddied the message. It holds up because the waterlogged set pieces are inventive and tense. Jet skis in bank hallways and submerged jail cells still feel fresh.

Production used real water stages that give weight to every struggle. Small town details like a church shelter and boarded shops add texture. The script keeps alliances unstable which sustains suspense. A finale inside a flooded vault brings clever problem solving. This one rewards viewers who enjoy environmental challenges tied to action.

The Peacemaker

Back in 1997 George Clooney and Nicole Kidman tracked rogue warheads across Europe and New York. The film slipped from memory as larger spy series took the headlines. Viewers expected jokes and got a straighter tone which caused a mismatch. It holds up because the set pieces are grounded and the pacing stays steady. Train yards, city bridges, and tight apartments set clear arenas.

Performances show urgency without cartoon edges. A car chase through narrow streets uses real speed and careful angles. The final church sequence keeps tension high with simple, direct blocking. Music supports rather than overwhelms conversations and key turns. Rewatchers often find a solid, level headed thriller that moves.

Ricochet

In 1991 Denzel Washington played a patrol officer who rises through the ranks while a vengeful criminal tries to ruin him. The film was overshadowed by larger action hits and later thrillers with similar themes. Some viewers saw it as a loud cable staple and forgot the craftsmanship inside. It holds up because the plot stays tight and the cat and mouse games feel personal. The stakes grow from career moves, family risk, and public image.

John Lithgow brings a gleeful menace that fuels every turn. Action beats include prison escapes, construction site standoffs, and courthouse chaos. Early nineties Los Angeles provides steel frames, cranes, and open lots that look real. Editing keeps cause and effect in view which helps the suspense. This remains a punchy thriller with bite.

The Shadow

Moviegoers in 1994 met a pulp hero with psychic tricks and a flowing cape set against bright art deco backdrops. The film was forgotten after mixed reviews and tough competition from comic juggernauts. A tone that shifts between playful and dark puzzled some audiences. It holds up because production design and miniatures create a striking city. The action uses sets with trap doors, mirrors, and skylights in clever ways.

Alec Baldwin plays the lead with sly humor, and the supporting cast adds charm. Practical effects sell illusions without losing clarity. Street chases use period cars that slide and screech with real heft. Costumes and props lean into radio era flair without looking cheap. Fans who revisit it see a stylish time capsule with engaging momentum.

The Phantom

In 1996 Billy Zane brought a purple suited jungle hero to the screen with a light touch and clear fistfights. The film faded when darker comic films set the tone for the decade. Family friendly energy and bright colors kept teen audiences away. It holds up because the stunt work is clean and the adventure beats move quickly. Jungle ruins, rope bridges, and seaplanes give it a pulpy charm that still plays.

Zane’s athletic work sells swings, slides, and quick combos. Catherine Zeta Jones and Treat Williams add spark to air and sea sequences. Villain lairs use practical sets that invite real interaction with props. The finale ties maps, relics, and hidden caves into a tidy showdown. This remains a breezy action throwback that rewards an easygoing rewatch.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.