Action movies of the 90s are a separate category of cinema, with many superhits but even more underrated works.

Despite their predictability and implausibility, action and adventure films are in demand among audiences who watch with curiosity the confrontation between "good" and "bad" characters, accompanied by vivid visuals and brisk dynamics. In the 1990s, many films in this genre were released that are rarely remembered and deserve attention.

Darkman (1990)

Having failed to get permission to adapt the pulp magazine "The Shadow," Sam Raimi, in his signature style with elements of trash and horror, created a story about a superhero (starring Liam Neeson) who has the ability to change his appearance, which helps him fight enemies.

The Rocketeer (1991)

Directed by Joe Johnston, this comic book film about a pilot who comes into possession of a device that gives him super strength attracts both with its retro atmosphere and its cast (Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, and above all Timothy Dalton alongside the beautiful Jennifer Connelly).

Trespass (1992)

In the creation of Walter Hill, based on a script by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, two firefighters (Bill Paxton and William Sadler) try to find a gold treasure in an abandoned factory and end up in a fight with gangsters (Ice-T and Ice Cube) who arrive there by unfortunate coincidence.

The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk (1993)

Like Jackie Chan, Jet Li showed his best skills not in Hollywood but in his homeland, in films about martial arts masters filled with philosophical reflections and spectacular fights, such as "The Legend," which remained little-known compared to the "Once Upon a Time in China" trilogy.

The Chase (1994)

Compared to a number of forgettable projects with Charlie Sheen, this comedy stands out decently. He plays a criminal who, by a ridiculous twist of fate, takes a millionaire's daughter (Kristy Swanson) hostage and faces pursuit by intrusive TV reporters.

Nick of Time (1995)

In John Badham's film about an ordinary working man (Johnny Depp) who, to save his own child, is forced to obey the orders of a mad terrorist (Christopher Walken), the action keeps you on edge because it unfolds in "real time."

Set It Off (1996)

In F. Gary Gray's drama, which was a box office success but is now somewhat forgotten, four friends from a Black neighborhood (Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise) decide to rob banks out of desperation and soon get a taste for it, which inevitably leads them to tragedy.

Breakdown (1997)

Before directing the not-so-successful "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," Jonathan Mostow made a thrilling and intriguing thriller about a man (Kurt Russell) who shows character and resourcefulness in a desperate search for his wife, who disappears in unfamiliar wilderness in broad daylight.

The Big Hit (1998)

Much like in "Grosse Pointe Blank" released a year earlier, the plot centers on a hitman (Mark Wahlberg) whose good nature and messy personal life interfere with his work, especially when he develops sympathy for the girl he has kidnapped (China Chow).

Payback (1999)

Due to disagreements during production, Brian Helgeland's film became less gritty than the director intended, but it still remains interesting thanks to its visual style and the charisma of Mel Gibson as a vengeful man who sets out to collect a debt from the accomplices who shot him in the back.