Action films from the 1990s were ruthless, adrenaline-riddled, and wild feats of daring. People were shot. Buildings were blown up. Sometimes all at the same time. It was safe to say no one was safe in a nineties action movie. Memorable villains have sworn vengeance, plotting to take over the world or someone else’s place in it. Unlikely heroes face incredible odds, thinking on their feet to make great escapes. Action films in the 1990s were a dime a dozen, but some were so good, they deserve to have a reboot.

Speed (1994)

Speed stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock aboard a bus rigged to explode if it falls below 50 miles per hour. A bomber with a vendetta forces Reeves’ character to keep the pedestrians on the bus and the bus moving while finding a way to disarm the bomb. The fact that the sequel takes place on a cruise makes the original worthy of a remake.

Samurai Cop (1991)
Cinema Epoch

Samurai Cop is one of those so-bad-it’s-good movies. A cop that happens to be a samurai sounds ridiculous. In the right context, the premise could work with a more believable backstory. The cop can be an American cutup who studies Japanese culture, including the samurai moral code of Bushido. He only masters the art of being a samurai from a sensei he meets in secret. With the choreography and physical comedy of a Jackie Chan movie, a remake of Samurai Cop is possible.

Toy Soldiers (1991)
Tri-Star Pictures

Toy Soldiers is about an all-male boarding school who defend their alma mater from terrorists. Sean Astin from The Goonies fame plays Billy, who manages to escape and gather intelligence about their enemy. He and his classmates rely on their resourcefulness to evade danger and outsmart their captors. The teenage thrills are elevated in this action film, and a remake with new actors would be welcome.

Backdraft (1991)
Universal Pictures

Backdraft is a simple action film following a team of Chicago firefighters in pursuit of a serial arsonist. The firefighting profession, the call of duty, and the dangers it presents, are convincing on screen and true to life. The film was directed by Ron Howard and released the same year as Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Silence of the Lambs. This hidden gem had competition and got a 2019 sequel, but a remake with a singular or different focus would be a fire worth starting.

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Hudson Hawk (1991)
Tri-Star Pictures

Hudson Hawk stars Bruce Willis as the titular character. As a cat burglar, he pulls capers using low-tech tools while singing show tunes. The surreal action comedy employs slapstick with sound effects. For example, a popular running gag shows Hawk being separated from his favorite drink, a cappuccino, to continue his heists. A unique and misunderstood film, Hudson Hawk deserves a new audience with a remake.

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Darkman (1990)
Universal Pictures

Darkman has a comic book revenge story inspired by the Universal monster films. Scientist Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is disfigured after being left for dead by a mobster. The treatment for his burns leaves him mentally unstable with superhuman strength. Fueled by rage, he searches for the men who turned him into a monster. The film (directed by Sam Raimi who made the Spider-Man trilogy) was followed by two sequels. A remake with a Marvel-sized budget could give Darkman a darker tone.

Face/Off (1997)
Paramount Pictures

Face/Off is a fast and loose action film with an absurd plot. A cop (John Travolta) and a criminal (Nicolas Cage) switch places and faces through a pseudo-scientific procedure. They swap identities and personalities after an experimental face transplant. While the cop puts a stop to the other’s underworld schemes, the criminal plans to take over the cop’s life. The action sequences are untouchable, but the story needs an overhaul.

Assassins (1995)
Warner Bros.

Assassins follows ex-assassin Rath, played by Sylvester Stallone, and the overzealous assassin Miguel, played by Antonio Banderas, on a manhunt for each other. They try to kill each other while outrunning the police, one for his life and the other for sport. Computer hacker Electra, played by Demi Moore, is spared by Rath as they attempt to bring down the renegade hitman. This underrated action film could use a reboot.

Short Time (1990)
20th Century Fox

Short Time is a buddy cop flick with heart. A seasoned cop is on the verge of retirement until a blood test sample mix-up at the hospital. He is given another patient’s diagnosis of a rare blood disease. Over the course of the film, the cop changes his worries about the future and begins to live in the present, appreciating the time he has now. The sincerity makes this action film a rare treat, and a remake would be fun to see.

Double Team (1997)
Sony Pictures Releasing

Double Team stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dennis Rodman in a disjointed espionage thriller. The action is well done, but the deadpan and dialogue are deader and duller than dishwater. What’s even duller is the chemistry between Van Damme and Rodman.

Van Damme’s character indirectly kills a terrorist’s lover and child during an assassination attempt, prompting the latter to kidnap his pregnant wife.

Rodman is a colorful exhibitionist with a punk fetish who tags along without rhyme or reason. If any action film needs a reboot, it’s Double Team.