The ’90s were an amazing time for the action genre. Hollywood flexed its muscles creatively to bring us some groundbreaking films that made advancements in visual effects unlike anything moviegoers had ever seen before.

While these effects sometimes overshadowed storytelling, that didn’t stop audiences from flocking to the theaters to see big-screen favorites that oftentimes not only dominated the genre itself, but the box office as a whole. Here are the 10 action films that took the top spot in each year from 1990 to 1999.

1990 – Total Recall – $261.3 Million

Kicking off the decade of the 1990s was the science fiction action classic, Total Recall. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, this one starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a construction worker who’s bored with his life, and dreams of visiting colonized Mars. After he gets an implant in his head that allows him to experience the joys of the red planet without actually going there, all hell breaks loose in this film that pushed the limits of CGI at the time.

Though it only took fifth on the list of highest grossing films of the year behind the likes of Ghost, Pretty Woman, and Home Alone, its worldwide gross was enough to make it the top action film of 1990, beating out Die Hard 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A far inferior remake was attempted in 2012 that starred Colin Farrell, which didn’t even make the same amount as its original counterpart.

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day – $520.8 Million
Tri-Star Pictures

Another science fiction action film dominated the top spot in 1991, which also took home the prize as the highest grossing film of the year. Terminator 2: Judgment Day hit theaters on July 3rd, 1991, and to say expectations were high for this one would be an understatement. A sequel to the 1984 groundbreaking original, this one saw Arnold Schwarzenegger as the good guy, protecting John and Sarah Connor from the evil T-1000, portrayed by Robert Patrick.

Proving that sequels didn’t have to suck, James Cameron delivered the goods in this visually stunning masterpiece that left audiences wondering how he pulled off all those amazing special effects. It was followed by five more sequels, and a television show, and while a seventh film is in development, no word has come down the pike as to when it might be released.

1992 – Lethal Weapon 3 – $321.7 Million
Warner Bros. 

It had been three years since audiences were treated to a Lethal Weapon movie, so when Lethal Weapon 3 hit theaters on May 15th, 1992, viewers flocked to see this one, making it the fifth highest grossing film of the year, and the highest grossing Lethal Weapon movie in the quartet. This time around, Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover), were joined by Joe Pesci and Rene Russo as they tracked down an arms dealer who used to be an LAPD lieutenant.

Formulaic in nature, that didn’t stop audiences from enjoying the added comic relief of Pesci, or the sexual tension between Gibson and Russo’s characters (the pair would later marry in Lethal Weapon 4). While we were treated to a television adaptation of the film series in 2016, fans are still eagerly awaiting the fifth and final installment of the beloved franchise, which as of right now has no release date, but will be directed by Mel Gibson.

1993 – Jurassic Park – $1.057 Billion
Universal Pictures

Based on the novel by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park brought dinosaurs roaring to the big screen in 1993, claiming the top spot as not only the highest grossing action film, but the highest grossing movie of the year, beating out other such flicks as The Fugitive, Schindler’s List, and Mrs. Doubtfire. With many calling it director Steven Spielberg’s best movie since Jaws, it broke new ground in terms of CGI, leaving audiences stunned by the realistic prehistoric beasts brought back to life all in the name of capitalism.

With an ensemble cast that featured Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough, Jurassic Park had a lastic effect on cinema, and was selected to be preserved by the National Film Registry in 2018. It spawned five sequels, theme park rides, and a slew of merchandise that can still be found today, as dinosaurs never go out of style when it comes to kids who can never get enough of their favorite beasts.

Related: Jurassic Park Makes a Monstrous $1.7 million During 30th Anniversary Theatrical Run

1994 – True Lies – $378.8 Million
20th Century Fox

Yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger film makes the list by way of True Lies, which premiered on July 15th, 1994. The film saw the action star team up once again with director James Cameron to deliver a movie about a secret government agent who has trouble balancing his work and home life.

Featuring an all-star cast that also included Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton, and Tom Arnold, True Lies seamlessly blended action and comedy, and was well received by critics and audiences alike. In 2023, a television series based on the film debuted on CBS, but was canceled after 13 episodes due to low ratings. While there were talks of making a big-screen sequel to the film, nothing ever came to fruition thanks to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which pretty much squashed any plans Cameron had of making another film focusing on terrorism.

1995 – Die Hard with a Vengeance – $366.1 Million
20th Century Fox

Also becoming the highest-grossing film of 1995 by beating out the likes of Toy Story, and Apollo 13, Die Hard with a Vengeance saw Bruce Willis return as John McClane, this time teaming up with Samuel L. Jackson to stop a German terrorist group from blowing up New York, and stealing some gold bullion.

To get a sense of how generic the film was, the script was originally written to star Brandon Lee, with Jackson’s character supposed to be a woman. It was then bought by Warner Bros., who re-purposed it as a Lethal Weapon script, but later purchased by 20th Century Fox, who then turned it into a Die Hard sequel. Still, it was a fun film nonetheless, with some good action sequences, and excellent chemistry between Willis and Jackson.

1996 – Independence Day – $817.4 Million
20th Century Fox

Directed by Rolan Emmerich, who seemingly has an obsession with the end of the world if his other disaster movies are any indication, Independence Day was a runaway smash hit in 1996, taking the top spot of highest grossing movie of the year. It marked a turning point in Hollywood blockbusters, and took home the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

The ensemble cast was made up of the likes of Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, and Randy Quaid, who all worked together to stop aliens from taking over the world. Spawning books, video games, and a sequel, the film remains culturally significant today for the effect it had on the film industry at the time, advancing CGI to new heights, and bringing back the old-fashioned disaster movie that influenced later films like Armageddon, Volcano, and Deep Impact.

Related: Vivica A. Fox Says Independence Day 2 ‘Missed Out’ by Not Bringing Back Will Smith

1997 – The Lost World: Jurassic Park ($618.3 Million)
Universal Pictures

Another sequel makes the list, only this time instead of Terminators sent back to end humanity, its raging dinosaurs on the loose in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Directed again by Steven Spielberg, this time around there’s plans to open a dinosaur park in San Diego, but when things go awry (as they always do), the humans are left to battle the prehistoric beasts before they can wreak havoc on American soil.

Beating out other movies such as Men in Black, Air Force One, and The Fifth Element to take the top spot as the highest grossing action film of the year, The Lost World: Jurassic Park broke several box office records of the day, even if it wasn’t well-received from critics. Still, it’s known for being one of those rare cases where the film is better than the book that inspired it (The Lost World by Michael Crichton), and though it may not be as fun as the original, it’s a worthy addition to the franchise.

1998 – Godzilla – $379 Million
TriStar Pictures

1998’s Godzilla marked the 23rd film in the long-running franchise, and the first to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. Directed by Roland Emmerich, we see the famed kaiju migrate to New York City to have some babies, much to the chagrin of the authorities, who want to shoot first, and ask questions later.

Panned by critics, Godzilla would become the third highest grossing film of the year, and while it’s still made fun of today, that hasn’t stopped Hollywood from trying to bring other films in the franchise to the big screen, as there have been three more monster films to make their way to theaters, with a fourth titled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire on the way.

1999 – The Matrix – $463.5 Million
Warner Bros.

Closing off the decade of the ’90s was The Matrix, directed by The Wachowski Sisters. Starring Keanu Reeves as a computer hacker who comes to discover that things aren’t always as they seem, this film remains one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, and went on to influence a generation of filmmakers within the genre.

Nominated for four Academy Awards, and winning just as many, The Matrix is a once in a lifetime film, pushing the boundaries of not only visual effects, but choreographed action sequences that have gone to become highly influential in the superhero movies we see today. Spawning three sequels, an animated anthology film, and conspiracy theories galore, it still holds up today, even nearly 25 years later, and has become the benchmark for every science fiction action movie to follow.