The 10 Best Action Movies Of The ’90s, According To Letterboxd

It seems like action movies from the ’90s are their own genre separate from films released in other decades. There’s just something about the aesthetic, storylines, and even the recurring actors that makes this era stand out. Some of the most iconic action flicks ever came out during the ’90s.

Finding the best ones to watch can be a tall task, so a good way to figure out the greatest is to look at the average ratings on Letterboxd. To narrow things down, only films where the main genre is action were selected, so something more centered in sci-fi like The Matrix won’t be considered.

10 Tokyo Fist (1995) – 3.88

• Stream on Arrow

Asia is often a hotbed for some of the most unique and interesting action films throughout history. The ’90s were no different and movies like Tokyo Fist are a prime example of that. The plot follows a man who takes up boxing to help deal with the various stresses that come up in his life.

Things get taken to the next level when he fights both his ex-fiancée and old friend, who start to date each other. While not a traditional action film with guns or big set pieces, this works due to the grounded nature as some of the fight scenes here are truly brutal. The most common rating is four stars (32%).

9 Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993) – 3.92

• Stream on HBO Max

These days, live-action superhero movies are all the rage, often dominating at the box office and being massive blockbusters. The ’90s were more of a mixed bag in that department with many feeling that the decade’s best was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, an animated tale.

A rare DC cartoon to get a theatrical release, Mask of the Phantasm wasn’t a box office hit but was critically acclaimed for the voice acting, animation style, themes, and more. In this story, Batman has to navigate a romance while also uncovering the mystery of a vigilante assassin he’s being mistaken for. Four stars (34%) is again the most common score.

8 Bullet In The Head (1990) – 3.93

• Not Available to Stream

The action genre and John Woo are basically synonymous with each other. The filmmaker has been at the helm of several iconic action flicks like Face/Off, Hard Target, and more. Despite an impressive filmography, Woo’s greatest work could arguably be Bullet in the Head.

The movie follows a trio of close friends who leave Hong Kong for war-time Saigon to become criminals but they all suffer through terrible experiences along the way, shattering their lives. Featuring the acting talents of Tony Leung and many John Woo trademarks, this is a classic. 31% of users gave this four stars.

7 Sonatine (1993) – 3.97

• Stream on Paramount+

Once again, it’s another movie in the genre to come straight out of Asia, with the Japanese release Sonatine. While not a huge hit commercially at first, this Takeshi Kitano film has gone on to garner a large fan base and is held in high esteem. In fact, it received four stars 34% of the time.

Kitano also stars as the lead character, a Yakuza gangster who wants out of that life only to be sent to mediate a gang war that is ultimately insignificant. While the fight scenes and action are the things that will grab the audience, the look into the life of a man struggling with his position is the true highlight.

6 Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993) – 4.03

• Stream on HiDive

In 1989, the well-received Patlabor: The Movie was released but a few years later, the sequel arrived and was considered to be an improvement. Patlabor itself is a major media franchise that includes manga, television series, novels, and more, with Patlabor 2: The Movie possibly being the high point.

Unlike past iterations of the story, this version focused on more political themes, centering on a terrorist attack. The use of giant robots gives this the epic feeling of a blockbuster action flick and the animation style still holds up decades later. 62% of reviews have this between four and five stars.

5 Hard Boiled (1992) – 4.06

• Not Available to Stream

Not only is Hard Boiled yet another phenomenal action movie out of Asia but it’s also directed by John Woo, adding another feather in the cap of the filmmaker. This starred Tony Leung again (who modern audiences will recognize from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as well as Chow Yun-fat before he became a household name.

What works so well about this movie is that the premise is quite simple. It’s just a case of a police officer teaming up with an undercover agent to take down the triad criminal organization. Hard Boiled is also notable for being Woo’s final film before transitioning to Hollywood. Four stars (33%) is the most common rating given out.

4 Léon: The Professional (1994) – 4.10

• Stream on Netflix

This French action film is what helped put Luc Besson on the map as a director who could deliver in a big way, which he’d go on to do again with releases like 1997’s The Fifth Element and 2014’s Lucy. That being said, Léon: The Professional likely still ranks as his greatest work.

The movie follows the titular Léon (Jean Reno), an assassin who takes in a young girl (Natalie Portman) as his protégée after her family is murdered by a crime lord (Gary Oldman). It was praised for being stylish, thrilling, and surprisingly heartwarming while launching Portman’s career. Most reviews have it at four stars (34%) but it also got the perfect score often (24%).

3 Heat (1995) – 4.15

• Stream on Starz

It has long been said that director Michael Mann is the best (or at least very close to the best) when it comes to filming shootouts. That was evident in 1995’s Heat, which boasts some spectacular gunfights throughout its near three-hour runtime. While the action is great, that’s actually not where this movie shines brightest.

One of the biggest selling points of this heist film is the cat and mouse game between Al Pacino’s detective and Robert De Niro’s thief. The scene where they finally share the screen is one of the most memorable and iconic of the era. 26% of users have this at five stars, while 31% gave it four.

2 Fallen Angels (1995) – 4.16

• Stream on The Criterion Channel

Hong Kong continued to pump out excellent movies throughout the ’90s and the highest-rated of those on Letterboxd is Fallen Angels. It might not have a director and actors who are widely known in American cinema but they all come together for something special.

An interesting aspect of this film is that it tells two different stories. They follow a hitman, an entrepreneur, two women, and more as their lives intertwine in subtle but intriguing ways. This concept worked to the point where 31% of reviewers gave it four stars, while 26% have it at five.

1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – 4.21

• Stream on AMC+

No director does the blockbuster quite like James Cameron. Long before the days of Titanic and Avatar, he helmed the Terminator franchise. In the eyes of many viewers, the series peaked with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which helped make Arnold Schwarzenegger into a true action hero.

After playing the villain the first time around, Schwarzenegger’s Terminator returns here to assist Sarah Connor and her son against a more advanced cyborg assassin. It is held up as one of the greatest action movies ever by major audiences and aspects like the CGI still holds up today. The most common rating is five stars (30%).

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