Nick offers his selection of 25 underrated blockbusters from the 1990s…
Blockbusters in the 90s were a strange beast.
Below are 25 of the most underrated blockbusters of the 90s.
Lead Will Smith is at the height of his powers, bringing effortless charisma to an everyman role.
You wont see anything quite like it on this scale.
So for years I only had an imagined version of the film in my head.
It turned out to be weirder than I could think up.
But it remains a gothic fantasy come to life on-screen, and a true work of art.
In many ways its the ultimate 90s blockbuster.
If the film industry of the 90s could be represented in one film,Twisterwould be it.
But its a film well worth revisiting.
So obviously it was doing something right.
(d. Stephen Norrington, 1998)
NoBlade, no Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Comic book movies didnt have to be terrible!
Lesser known characters could be just as appealing as the Batmans and Supermans!
AfterBlade, a light seemed to switch on at many studios.
A multi-billion dollar genre was born.
Plus,Bladealso gave us thefinest quotein all of comic book movie history.
With stunning special effects, mini-mayhem, and exciting set-pieces,Small Soldiersis a treat.
But its by far and away the better movie.
Case in point, the astronauts sacrifice to save the world.
Its also superbly faithful to the cartoon, especially in their brilliant version of theopening credits.
Thats filmmaking on the biggest scale, so far removed from green-screen as to be almost a different medium.
But it means thatWaterworldholds up, looking far superior to later blockbusters.
Sometimes that leads to steaming piles of crap no-one wants to even acknowledge the existence of (Stop!
In 1996 a risk-taking cop and a crime lord are cryogenically frozen.
Woken up in 2032, they find their world changed beyond recognition.
The whole film is a blast from start to finish, and great original sci-fi.
Just with a less memorable theme tune and villain, which are pretty key for Bond films.
As several recent efforts have proven, Peter Pan is almost an impossible property to get right.
ButHookcaptures the same magic of the original story and the Disney animation.
But then again, perhaps anyone but Spielberg would have made a film likePan.
(d. Steven Spielberg, 1997)
Ok, so it wasnt Jurassic Park revisited.
Then to cap it all off we have at-rex rampaging around San Diego.
Oh, and a monkey.
Determined to root out the truth, Ryan heads to the jungles of Colombia.
Whats not to like?
Director Renny Harlin is a master at this sort of thing, andCliffhangerdoesnt disappoint.
Its an absolutely absurd film from start to finish, essentially a fantasy rock climbing film.
But this isnt even the most out there cut.
Mainly because the stunts were absurdly overblown.
But damn it, its good!
Far superior toInsurrectionandNemesis, it was the best odd numberedStar Trekmovie until the 2009 J.J. Abrams reboot.
The less said aboutNemesisthe better.
at the beginning).
Emilio Estevez is once again a compelling Billy, along with support from Kiether Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips.
(d. Russell Mulcahy, 1994)
The superhero franchise that never was.
Returning to the USA, he becomes a playboy by day, vigilante by night.
Its a visual delight, and full of great moments.
People didnt want brooding back in the 90s.
