A thrilling decade full of epic cinematic game-changers and trailblazers, the 1990s was a wonderful time to be action movie fans. It was massively successful for the action genre, seeing the release of incredible classics likeTerminator 2: Judgment Day,Point Break,Die Hard with a Vengeance, andThe Matrix, which dominated the box office and became highly influential on pop culture. While it produced countless remarkable action flicks, not all films that came out in the ’90s are beloved by fans today for their excellent quality.
Many ’90s cinematic blunders rank as some of the mosticonic so-bad-they’re-good moviesof all time. They are spectacularly awful, low-quality, and highly absurd action movies that fans can’t help but feel entertained and amused by. Over the years,these duds have garnered significant cult followings, being praised by audiences for how terrible they are. From an infamousBatmansequel to a bizarrely acted cop movie, here are the best of the worst action films the 1990s had to offer.
10’Batman & Robin' (1997)
Directed by Joel Schumacher
The most infamousBatmansequel,Batman & Robin, has also become one of the most iconic superhero flops ever. StarringGeorge Clooneyas the caped crusader Batman andChris O’Donnellas his trusty side-kick Robin, it sees the two facing a couple of challenging new foes, Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman).
It’s no secret thatBatman & Robinis considered one of the best"so-bad-it’s-good" superhero moviesever.Its legacy as an enjoyable but awful comic book film adaptation has endured over the years, becoming immortalized through pop culture and other references. From the cringy-worthy dialog to the abysmal, phoned-in performances to Schwarzenegger’s notorious ice puns, it all comes together to make a genuinely memorable cult classic that becomes increasingly hilarious with every rewatch.
Batman and Robin
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9’On Deadly Ground' (1994)
Directed by Steven Seagal
Admittedly, most ofSteven Seagal’s filmography is full of “so-bad-they’re-good” movies. While today he’s considered a cultaction icon of the ’90s, Seagal has his fair share of hilarious duds in his acting career, ranging from laughably mediocre to highly absurd. Take 1994’sOn Deadly Ground, a cheesy action-adventure film also directed by Seagal. Set mainly in the Alaskan wilderness, it follows its uniquely named protagonist, Forest Taft, on a lone environmental mission to bring down a greedy oil tycoon.
Look no further thanOn Deadly Groundfor good old-fashioned mindless action entertainment. Incorporating the best and worst clichés of Seagal’s other action films,the story leaves its viewers chuckling at some of its greatest unintentionally hilarious moments.It’s also worth watching two-time Academy Award-winning actorMichael Cainegiving a laugh-out-loud performance as the film’s main antagonist, Michael Jennings. He’s, hands down, the best part of the film and easily steals every moment of screen time with his unique charm andoh-so-memorably bizarre fake American accent.
On Deadly Ground
8’Double Dragon' (1994)
Directed by James Yukich
Double Dragonis a 1994 fantasy action film starringRobert Partick,Mark Dacascos, andScott Wolfbased on the iconic punch-em-up arcade game of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic future of Los Angeles, it follows two magically gifted martial arts brothers in a heroic quest to defeat a power-hungry tech billionaire hellbent on taking over the city.
While not quite as memorable as otherterrible ’90s video game adaptationslikeMortal Kombat,Super Mario Bros., orStreet Fighter, the absurdDouble Dragonstill endures as a cheesy masterpiece. It delivers a fun action thrill ride that doesn’t fail to entertain. Fans ofRobert Patrick’s iconic performance as the terrifying T-1000 in James Cameron’sTerminator 2will get even greater enjoyment out of the film as they see him shine in the spotlight as the film’s absurd and delightful antagonist, Koga Shuko. Viewers can’t help but laugh as he graces every moment with his hilarious charm and oh-so-bizarre hairstyle.
Double Dragon
7’Congo' (1995)
Directed by Frank Marshall
Based onMichael Crichton’s 1980 novel,Congois a 1995 sci-fi action-adventure film starringLaura Linney,Tim Curry, andErnie Hudson. Set in the jungles of Africa, it follows a team of scientists, explorers, and diamond hunters on a dangerous rescue mission to recover a lost expedition. As their journey takes them far into the treacherous wilderness, they soon unearth a mysterious lost civilization, home to a sinister race of murderous primates.
With its B-movie plot, clumsy performances, and shlocky special effects,Congomay not be one of the best movies of 1995, but it’s certainly one of the most enjoyable.It’s a comedic joyride from start to finish, with enough humor and even a few genuinely exciting action moments to keep the audience invested. Though some other “so-bad-they’re-good” ’90s movies overshadow this flick,Congois still a wildly entertaining laugh fest thatdeserves a cult following.
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6’Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III' (1993)
Directed by Stuart Gillard
DirectorJeff Rowewowed audiences with his wonderfully unique 2023 animated version,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. However, the iconicTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescharacters, unfortunately, haven’t always been easy to adapt to the big screen. While the early ’90s saw two moderately successful and entertaining film adaptions, their third installment,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, is best remembered today as the most enjoyable bad Turtles film ever made.
Although critically panned by critics and audiences upon release, over the years,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IIIhas slowly garnered a reappraisal from fans who laugh and love rewatching its terrible moments. Whether it’s the mangled plot or the hilariously lousy turtle costumes,there’s always something to point out and enjoy about this lackluster sequel. Whileit may not be the best entryin the Turtles franchise, it leaves a lasting impression on its viewers enough to make them smile.
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5’Double Team' (1997)
Directed by Hark Tsui
’90s action starJean-Claude Van Dammeand NBA sports legendDennis Rodmanjoin forces inHark Tsui’s comedic action spy thrillerDouble Team. Co-starringMickey Rourkeas the film’s main antagonist, it follows the two odd couple partners in an international game of cat-and-mouse to stop a deadly terrorist before he can seek revenge against them for the death of his son.
Double Teamis a spectacularly cheesy ’90s action movie marked by incredibly hammy acting, impractical stunts, and odd fighting choreography.
It’s impossible not to enjoy the sheer amount of absurdity and hilariousness shown inDouble Team. It’s a spectacularly cheesy ’90s action movie marked by incredibly hammy acting, impractical stunts, and odd fighting choreography, featuring one of the most ridiculous andwildly entertaining explosive endingsimaginable. At least Van Damme and Rodman know the type of movie it is, and they more than blend into the ridiculousness. Its sheer stupidity deserves a watch, and audiences will surely laugh and cheer at just how wild and strange it can get.
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4’Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot' (1992)
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode
Witha fake-sounding titleand an unusual pair-up, viewers can expect nothing but hilariously bad entertainment fromRoger Spottiswoode’sStop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. Released in 1992, this oddball action comedy stars ’80s leading manSylvester StalloneandEstelle GettyofThe Golden Girlsfame as mother-son crime-fighting duo dishing out street justice in a case to find an elusive killer.
It’s incredibly funny to see how self-awareStop! Or My Mom Will Shootis. The film is in on the joke of how entirely ridiculous its premise is, and it goes all-in on it.It’s harmless fun and an absolute laugh riot from beginning to end, both intentionally and unintentionally. While Stallone has since cited the film as one of the worst of his career,Stop! Or My Mom Will Shootcertainly is one of his funniest.
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
A tough Los Angeles cop finds his life turned upside-down when his meddlesome and overprotective mother visits him. Her intervention in one of his investigations leads to a series of comedic misadventures, as he struggles to balance his professional duties with managing her increasingly involved presence.
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3’Street Fighter' (1994)
Directed by Steven E. de Souza
Based on the iconic Capcom game from the late ’80s,Street Fighteris a 1994 martial arts action adventure film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme andRaul Julia. Directed bySteven E. de Souza, it follows a capable and highly decorated Allied Nations commander, Col. William Guiles (Van Damme), as he leads the charge to defeat the sinister warmongering General M. Bison (Julia) before he can enact a dubious plan to create an army of genetically modified super-beings.
A box office success,Street Fighterwas ruthlessly panned by critics, who ridiculed it for its lackluster performances and cheesy dialog. It missed the mark on the video game’s popularity, butit’s still a delightful action flick with enough over-the-top thrills and campy moments to entertain. It’s also worth seeing the talented and charming Raul Julia in his last film role before his passing. He easilysaves this bad film with his stellar acting, and every moment of his screen presence makes it all the more enjoyable.
Street Fighter
2’Mortal Kombat: Annihilation' (1997)
Directed by John R. Leonetti
Regarding terrible video game movie adaptions, few are as iconic andinfamously memorable asMortal Kombat: Annihilation. As a direct sequel to the 1995 originalMortal Kombat, the story picks up right after the cliffhanger ending. It follows the Earthrealm’s mighty heroes in their next challenge to save the world from the power-hungry Shao Kahn.
Mortal Kombat: Annihilationfeels like the definition of a “so-bad-it’s-good” movie.It’s a cheap-looking, mediocre, poorly acted and incoherent messthat has nothing working for it. Ultimately, this chaotic combination of terrible elements is the reason why it’s so iconic. It’s objectively bad, with not an ounce of creativity or quality but tons of terrible moments that make it impossible to look away. Whether it’s the over-the-top dialog or the unbelievably fake CGI effects, there is no part that fans have come to appreciate.
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
1’Samurai Cop' (1991)
Directed by Amir Shervan
When it comes to “so-bad-it’s-good” action movies of the ’90s, nothing topsAmir Shervan’s B-Movie action classicSamurai Cop. Today seen asone of the best bad movies in cinematic history, it follows its titular katana sword-wielding police officer, Joe Marshall (Mathew Karedas), along with his partner Frank Washington (Mark Frazer), as they take to the streets of Los Angeles to bring down a ruthless Yakuza crime syndicate.
Samurai Copis an amusing buddy cop action flick with memorable cheesy dialog, over-the-top characters, and laughable fight sequences.
Samurai Copthrives on how ridiculous and terrible it is and never once tries to be anything else. It’s an amusing buddy cop action flick with memorable cheesy dialog, over-the-top characters, and laughable fight sequences. Despite its cheap, direct-to-video, amateur-looking quality,Samurai Cophas become a memorable cult classic of the highest caliber and certainly won’t be forgotten by fans. Indeed, this movie is theShowgirlsof action movies; what can be better than that?
