Its interesting to see how things shift from one form to the next. It can be anything from a small change to a giant breakthrough which influences the direction the thing, whether they music, cars, or art, goes. Movies, like other works, have changed and shifted a lot throughout the decades, with styles shifting and genres changing. One of the most interesting examples of movies shifting came with the action movie. From its origins in the late 1970s, the genre has shifted a lot over the years. From muscle bound action fests in the 80s, to special effects driven superhero slugfests in the 2010s. However, no other period in the action genre has been so dramatic in shift as the 90s. In one decade, we saw the action movie go from a muscle bound testosterone feast to being gritty, dark, and computer generated. What gives? Well, that’s what we’re here to answer as we explore why 90s action movies took such a dramatic turn from their 80s counterparts.
Changing the Face of Action
When the 90s were just begining, the action films being released seemed no different frm their 80s counterparts. Stars like Sly and Arnold still dominated screens, and the action was still explosive. However, shifts were occuring, even in more subtle ways. Arnold and Sly were now in more comedic roles like Kindergarten Cop, and the villians in these new films were so clear cut as before. While still being as evil as before, Villians were now being viewed with more sympathy, as victims of unjust systems, such as with Universal Soldier. We also saw a bit of a shift in action leads as well, with more female leads like Cynthia Rothrock getting screentime. It is in this early period that we see two films in particular that would go on to influence action filmmaking going forward. One of them was Terminator 2, which was best known for its novel use of CGI. CGI was barely used In film up until that point, but with the heavy usage of it in Terminator 2, it opened the door for other action films, like Independence Day, to increase its use.
The other big film of 1991 was Point Break, arguably the film that kickstarted the 90s for action movies. It starred Keanu Reeves, a fit but more normal looking actor, taking down a group of surfers who rob banks on the side. The film features many notable traits that became constant trends in the 90s. The bad guys were more sympathetic, unknowingly befriending the hero and seeing their thievery as a way of fighting a corrupt system. Its usage of surfing and skydiving also inspired films with more daring stunts like Cliffhanger and Mission Impossible. However, the film is notable for using Keanu since not only would he become a big action star in years to come, but he would also represent a shift in the action star for later movies. Gone were the days of muscle bound gods mowing down countless terrorists. Instead came more normal looking people thrust into abnormal circumstances who often had to use their brain as much as their brawn to save the day.
The shift towards this trend may have started with Die Hard, but it really accelerated through the 90s for a number of reasons. One was that techniques like stunt doubles, extensive training, and CG made action less challenging for more normal actors to endure. As well, there also was a cultural shift where the more masculine, conservative, and muscle bound 80s saw a backlash in the 90s. Rock stars went from wearing latex and playing metal, to wearing flannel and playing grunge. This shift was also felt in action movies, where Hollywood began to favor actors and actresses with better acting chops rather than physical ability. Overall, this is longest lasting legacy of 90s action movies, with stars like Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves still making action films to this day. However, there was still more developments to come as the decade continued.
An Aesthetic Makeover for Action
Later on in the decade, action movies began to show more noticeable changes, in both the direction and action. Until then, with few exceptions, direction in action movies was rather plain and straight forward. It emphasized the action and muscle, but did not do much to stylize shots or be weird. However, this started to change with Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989. With Batman, Burton would bring his Gothic and expressionistic tendances to the action packed superhero genre. Featuring dark, shadow written lighting, towering Gothic skyscrapers, and a grimy street look fitting for Gotham, Burton would take action outside of the bright jungles, and into the grimy darkness of the city. This direction ultimately proved successful as Batman would become the second highest grossing film of 1989, and inspire a wave of 1930s comic and pulp adaptations. These adaptations would also follow Batman in their stylization, with the comic grit of Dick Tracy, to the continued Gothic chic of The Shadow.
Stylization in action movies would continue afterwards, when a whole new generation of film makers who got their start with music videos like Michael Bay and David Fincher. The style that they brought to their music videos would subsequently be brought to their action movies as well, and would influence the genre for years to come. Meanwhile, at the same time, a film movement from across the pacific began to make big waves in Hollywood. In the late 80s, Hong Kong cinema would experience an action boom thanks to actors like Jackie Chan and directors like John Woo. John Woo in particular, with films like The Killer and Hard Boiled, would introduce a new, chaotic form of gunplay to action films. Featuring dynamic movements, high amounts of choreography, and debris everywhere, John Woo’s “Bullet Ballet” would make America take notice of this Hong Kong movement.
Soon, this bullet ballet style action and hyper stylized direction would come together in the 1994 release of The Crow. The Crow would not only incorporate the dark aesthetics of Burton and the bullet ballet of Woo, but would also incorporate many other elements that would become mainstays for the decade to come. It would have a more vulnerable, yet tough protagonist, an alt rock soundtrack of bands hot at the time, and a grungy yet attractive aesthetic that showcased the many counter cultural trends of that day. Overall, it was a film that reflected the culture of its time more than most action films of its time did, and would subsequently influence many similar works afterword like Blade, and the Matrix. The Matrix in particular feels like an evolution of The Crow: mixing many of its tropes with a techno soundtrack and impressive CGI to boot. It would also pick up where the Crow left off in terms of cultural influence. It would become one of the most popular films of 1999 and influence countless movies afterwards trying to mimic, or rip off the matrix. So in an ironic twist, the film that revolved around leaving the Matrix created a Matrix of its own.
Conclusion
Overall, the 90s were a chaotic and bizarre time for action films, but one that would change the medium in ways for years to come. It created more normal action stars with more acting prowess, incorporated stylization, and reflected the culture these films were being made in. It was also a time of great experimentation, resulting in some very special works that stand as some of the best the genre has ever scene. It is also a period that we can look at with some familiarity today, as the action movie landscape changes with the fall of superheroes. Like the 90s, there is no clear direction for the medium to go to. However, if films like John wick are any indication, we could be entering some interesting times, and with interesting times come interesting movies, and who knows, some of them might even be great.
Check out these other articles if you want more action movie content:
5 Great Action Movies from the 90s:
5 Great Action Movies from the 90s – Blu-ray Bros
The Rise and Fall of Superhero Films:
The Rise and Fall of Superhero Films: Can They be Saved? – Blu-ray Bros
What Will Replace Superhero Films?: