The 1990s were full of incredible action movies that deserved a sequel, despite never really getting one. The 90s were responsible for some brilliant action movie franchises, from the Die Hard sequels to the continuation of James Cameron's Terminator with one of the single greatest action films of all time. However, the decade also produced plenty of classic action films that, for whatever reason, continue to stand alone to this day as one-off adventures.
In the modern age of filmmaking, the sequel rules all, with nearly every blockbuster that comes out having some form or another of brand recognition thanks to sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. Thus, it's hard to imagine that action films with even a modicum of success were allowed to remain untouched in their IP, no matter how much they may have deserved to see their stories continue. For one reason or another, some of the 90s' most exciting action movies never got to see their universes expanded upon.
10 True Lies
1994
Towards the end of Arnold Schwarzenegger's dominance as a movie star, True Lies remains one of the more underrated gems of the musclebound Austrian's filmography. The film posits Arnold as Harry, a U.S. Government Agent pretending to be a simple car salesman, fooling his family as to his true profession. What sounds like a corny comedic premise on paper turns out to be much more of a surprisingly compelling, action-packed story with plenty of impact.
Interestingly, True Lies did end on a note that heavily implied a sequel could be in the works. Eventually, Harry's wife, Helen, is inducted into the family business and becomes a super-spy herself, prompting the two of them to head out on a new mission as a power couple espionage duo in a new adventure. Sadly, three decades later, the outcome of this set-up was never explored.
9 Con Air
1997
Con Air was the pinnacle of the 90s and early 2000s fraught attempts to forge Nicolas Cage into a beloved action star with widespread appeal rather than the quirky horror character actor he was always meant to be. The film stars Cage as Cameron Poe, a highly-decorated Army ranger jailed for a crime he didn't commit. On the eve of his release, Poe is forced on a high-security plane full the country's most dangerous criminals, only for an in-air mutiny to occur, putting his freedom in jeopardy.
Con Air is a beautiful 90s time capsule, full of over-the-top characters from a time in which everything didn't need to be so market-tested. Steve Buscemi stars as a polite serial killer who befriends a little girl, and Nic Cage's southern drawl as Poe is endearingly hilarious. Sadly, the disaster-premise action movie wasn't able to extend Poe's adventures in a new film the same way Die Hard was able to with its everyman protagonist.
8 Face/Off
1997
Con Air wasn't Nicolas Cage's only 90s action movie outing whose sequel went sadly unproduced. Face/Off posits Cage as Castor Troy, an eccentric criminal mastermind who surgically swaps faces with his FBI Agent nemesis, played by John Travolta. The result is an incredible dichotomy of John Travolta over-acting in emulation of Nicolas Cage's over-acting while Cage does the same with Travolta's more reined in good guy.
Face/Off is pure unbridled 90s action joy, from the over-the-top performances from both leading stars to the incredible "gun fu" action scenes thanks to visionary director John Woo. Castor's gold-plated twin pistols gleaming in the carnage is an iconic image, and the tension of the vile criminal inhabiting Travolta's body and infiltrating his home life is genuinely palpable. While a sequel to Face/Off has supposedly been in development for some time, no one is holding their breath that the ironically beloved classic will ever see a follow-up.
7 The Rocketeer
1991
While the superhero film had yet to accrue the same level of pop culture dominance the genre enjoys today, The Rocketeer was a stylish action movie that gave an earnest early attempt. Based off the 40s pulp hero of the same name, the film revolves around a stunt pilot who comes across a fantastic jetpack that allows him to soar through the sky without the need of a plane. Much to his own chagrin, the device is also highly sought-after by Nazis, the FBI, and a fictionalized version of Howard Hughes.
Oozing with energy and atmosphere, The Rocketeer is an exciting "modern" reconstruction of early pulp sci-fi heroism. The film never managed to breach into household name territory, but for its dedicated cult following, the phenomenal cast and creative set design kept it relevant years later. Despite how the popularity of superheroes has continued to increase in the years since, no one has been brave enough to give The Rocketeer another spin.
6 The Fifth Element
1997
For as creative a science fiction world as The Fifth Element was able to create, the dreamy universe home to Leeloo and Korben Dallas somehow has never been explored for a second time. The bizarre action comedy stars Bruce Willis as Dallas, a down-on-his-luck cab driver who stumbles across an ancient cosmic secret in the form of a newly-formed semi-human woman. It's up to them and a monk from a secretive order to help prevent the destruction of the Earth.
The world of The Fifth Element is dripping with unexplored lore that is only ever hinted at, from the histories of the various alien races to the circumstances leading up to the cyberpunk dystopia that Earth has become. This makes it all the more surprising that the film was never afforded a sequel or spin-off of any kind, barring an obscure racing game for the Playstation 2 titled NYR: New York Race. Regardless, the ZF-1 remains one of the most iconic action movie guns of all time.
5 Unforgiven
1992
Sequels aren't as common in the Western genre, with every film bearing the description essentially being a sequel of its own in the way it enhances the setting. Still, if there was one Western from the 90s that deserved a dedicated follow-up, it's Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. Directed by, produced by, and starring Clint Eastwood, the film follows an aging outlaw and gunslinger who comes out of retirement for one last job.
The premise is eerily reflective of Clint Eastwood's own career at the time, having definitively aged out of such exciting roles by the time the early 90s rolled around. Indeed, Unforgiven is Eastwood's definitive last Western, though a sequel that examined his legacy through the eyes of a child or mentee wouldn't have gone amiss. The closest thing to an Unforgiven sequel is the 2013 remake of the same name, which re-imagines the plot in a feudal Japan setting, as the reverse has been done many times throughout the history of Westerns.
4 Pulp Fiction
1994
Still considered by many to be the best film made by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is an action movie masterpiece that needs little introduction. The piecemeal story unfolds from the perspective of one character at a time, weaving a tumultuous tale of criminals double-crossing one another in an episodic series of vignettes that loosely connect as they leap through time. From the performances to the dialogue to the messy dark comedy, Pulp Fiction has remained 90s action movie royalty for a good reason.
Barring the Kill Bill duology, Quentin Tarantino doesn't seem to be one for sequels, preferring his work to stand alone as completed stories. But if there's one film of his that deserves a sequel, it's Pulp Fiction, which only gave the briefest of glimpses into the lives of characters that are assuredly quite interesting outside of their storylines in the film. After all, it never was revealed just what was in the glowing briefcase.
3 Rumble In The Bronx
1995
The number of exciting Jackie Chan-led martial arts movies that never got a sequel could easily fill up a list all on its own. As far as the 90s are concerned, however, it truly is a wonder that Rumble in the Bronx never spawned a Jackie Chan star vehicle franchise on the same level of Rush Hour or Police Story. One of Jackie Chan's many outings playing a Hong Kong cop, Rumble in the Bronx sees him becoming entangled with the world of American crime in New York City while visiting the country for a family event.
The intersection of American gangster culture and Jackie Chan's kung fu skills is quite an entertaining concept, filled with both thrilling beatdowns and hilarious fish-out-of-water jokes. It would've been easy to see this particular Jackie Chan character find himself in other unfamiliar environments, perhaps carving an opportunity for further rumbles in brand-new cities. Featuring some of Jackie Chan's most impressive stunt work and fight choreography, it's a shame nothing else ever came of Rumble in the Bronx.
2 Six-String Samurai
1998
The 90s aren't usually thought of as an impressive decade when it comes to indie movies, but for those who know where to look, the opposite is often proven true. Enter Six-String Samurai, a creative post-apocalyptic film made independently on a shoe-string budget. The film centers on a lone drifter named Buddy (Clearly evoking the late great Buddy Holly) who is equally skilled with a sword and a guitar. It's up to him to survive the grueling trials of the wasteland with a new companion, a rescued stray child simply called Kid.
Six-String Samurai isn't a widely known film, but those that are aware of it are justified of an elite cult that sing the cutting edge musical satire's praises. It's easy to see that Six-String Samurai crawled so movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and series like Fallout could run, offering one of the earliest examples of an irreverent wasteland filled with wacky characters and exciting improvised action. In a perfect world, the film would easily become a blockbuster series, with a desne post-apocalypse worth exploring further.
1 Army Of Darkness
1992
Though the Evil Dead series is known more for its horror and comedy stylings, in truth, the series is more of an action franchise at times, thanks largely to Army of Darkness. Picking up right where Evil Dead 2 left off, Army of Darkness sees Ash flung into the middle ages, with his only hope of getting home being a mysterious ancient spell. In his attempts to get back to the future, Ash also has to find a way to fend off the eponymous army of Deadites from ravaging the feudal community which quickly made him a king.
Army of Darkness is certainly more of an action movie than a horror movie, with the impressive scale of its setpieces and slapstick humor hardly qualifying as horror, campy blood and gore notwithstanding. The film would sadly be the last direct movie sequel of the original Evil Dead continuity, though the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead would continue Ash's story years later. Considering the set-up offered by the alternate ending in which Ash is accidentally sent to a dystopian future by mistake, it's surprising this movie didn't get a direct follow-up soon after.
