If you search online for a list of the best DTV action movies, you will likely find 90s DTV movies ignored in favour of more recent titles. I don't think that this should be the case. The 90s were the golden age for DTV action. They may have been less polished than the newer movies but there was a flourishing DTV action scene that created its own action stars and plenty of new titles for fans.
So here are my best 90s DTV action movies. Please note that movies that had decent theatrical success are excluded although some of the movies below had token cinema releases. So you won't find Showdown in Little Tokyo or Class of 1999 on this list. There is also one movie that breaks the rule.
Joshua Tree (1993)
Directed by legendary stunt co-ordinator Vic Armstrong, Joshua Tree was shot in Super 35mm to be shown theatrically. Most of Dolph's movies had been shown at cinemas until that point but Joshua Tree went DTV. Lundgren escapes from prison to take revenge on those who double-crossed him. Armstrong used his extensive experience to make one of the best DTV movies of the 90s with exotic car chases and John Woo inspired shootouts. As one of the very best DTV action movies of the 90s, Joshua Tree should not be missed.
Timebomb (1991)
Michael Biehn stars in this action packed update of Manchurian Candidate. Director Avi Nesher's best movie takes inspiration from Total Recall with it's amnesiac agent realising his true past and being involved in a bigger conspiracy. Shot for $7 million, Timebomb features brutal and bloody action, with a great supporting cast that includes Robert Culp, Tracy Scoggins and Billy Blanks.
Nemesis (1993)
This is a bit of a cheat because Nemesis actually made $2 million at the US box office. However as a proper B movie it really fits in on this list. Look at the evidence, Olivier Gruner, Deborah Shelton, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brion James, Tim Thomerson, stop motion cyborgs. This kind of movie could never get a theatrical release now. Action packed with a great script, this is way better than director Albert Pyun's usual output. Nemesis takes its cues from Blade Runner and Terminator but manages to stand as one of the best B movies of the 90s. Avoid the crappy sequels which are typical Pyun quality movies. Did I mention the stop motion cyborgs?
PM were the gold standard for the sheer quantity and quality of most of their DTV action. PM are fondly remembered by 90s action fans for their low budget, high octane action films shot in LA, featuring car chases, shootouts, martial arts and explosions. Most of the budgets went on the action. Richard Pepin and Joseph Merhi usually directed the movies themselves and did very well until the B movie market collapsed in the late 90s and PM closed down in 2000.
PM made a lot of action movies and there weren't many duds, but a few classics are highlighted here. You could do a lot worse than just going through the entire PM back catalogue.
Check out my full guide to all PM movies.
Check out my full guide to all PM movies.
Rage (1995) - PM Entertainment
Top notch action spectacular starring Gary Daniels. There are some great stunts and over the top action in this movie, typical of what gave PM their action reputation in the 90s. Not to be missed!
Riot (1996) - PM Entertainment
Gary Daniels is an SAS veteran making his way through a riot zone. Daniels fans get plenty of opportunity to see their man dispatch a variety of villains with his martial arts skills. Sugar Ray Leonard has a supporting role too.
Recoil (1998) - PM Entertainment
Gary Daniels again, this time as a cop on the edge. This late-era PM movie is non-stop action, with car chases, shootouts and martial arts.
Last Man Standing (1995) - PM Entertainment
Jeff Wincott stars as a cop chasing bank robbers and crooked cops in another of PM's best. Plenty of action and great stunts.
Executive Target (1997) - PM Entertainment
Michael Madsen is a getaway driver caught up in a plot to kidnap the President, played by Roy Scheider. A good cast (also Keith David, Angie Everhart and Matthias Hues) and plenty of great PM action.
Zero Tolerance (1994) - PM Entertainment
Robert Patrick is the FBI agent on the edge who takes down the drug cartel that killed his family. Robert is great in the lead role and there is, of course, plenty of well-executed action.
Drive (1997)
Mark Dacascos in a DTV action movie widely regarded as one of the decade's best. The martial arts choreography is up to Hong Kong standards. A great vehicle for Dacascos, Drive deserves it's cult classic reputation.
Back in Action (1993)
Billy Blanks and Roddy Piper team up and deliver plenty of action in this excellent action movie from Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment (producer James Glickenhaus directed The Exterminator, McBain and Shakedown AKA Blue Jean Cop).
Tough and Deadly (1995)
Billy Blanks and Roddy Piper team up again for Shapiro Glickenhaus and deliver the goods. Richard Norton also appears as one of the villains.
Jeff Wincott, Brigitte Neilsen, Karen Shepard and Matthias Hues star in this excellent martial arts action movie. There are some excellent fight scenes - watch out for the Gauntlet scene!
Martial Outlaw (1993)
Jeff Wincott in one of his best action movies, featuring plenty of martial arts action. Wincott is great as usual in the lead role.
The Shooter (1995)
Nu Image
In the 90s DTV boom, Nu Image started out making low budget thrillers and action movies usually costing $2-4 million. Of course Nu Image has now become a major independent making films like Rambo and The Expendables. Most of their 90s output wasn't as good as PM but here are their best.
Cyborg Cop (1993) - Nu Image
David Bradley takes the lead in this post-T2 movie about a mad scientist out to create a robot army on a Carribean island. The effects aren't brilliant but its solid entertainment and lead to a couple of sequels.
Top of the World (1997) - Nu Image
Peter Weller, Dennis Hopper and Tia Carrera are the leads in this Las Vegas set action comedy heist movie from former A list director Sidney J Furie. Some nice action scenes and a strong supporting cast help this one along.
Known as Redline, Deathline and Armageddon. Rutger Hauer and Mark Dacascos play smugglers in a near future Russia. Dacascos plays the villain for a change but doesn't get to show off his martial arts skills. Plenty of action, exploitation and interesting sets from director Tibor Takacs.
Fist of Justice (1993)
Also known as Ballistic, Marjean Holden takes the lead role as an undercover cop. Don't miss a small but charismatic supporting role for future DTV superstar Michael Jai White.
SIS Extreme Justice (1993)
Commando director Mark L Lester followed up Showdown in Little Tokyo with this well made action movie about cops secretly carrying out their own brand of justice. A strong cast includes Lou Diamond Phillips, Scott Glenn and Yaphet Kotto.
Counterforce (1998)
Also known as Renegade Force and Six Angry Men. Influenced by Michael Mann's Heat, this action movie about bank robbers and the cops chasing them is notable for it's more realistic action scenes and tactics. Michael Rooker and Robert Patrick face off in the lead roles.
Mike Norris stars in this entertaining Most Dangerous Game remake set on an island. Don Swayze and Billy Drago contribute to the B movie vibe. Directed by Corman veteran editor RJ Kizer who also made Hell Comes To Frogtown.
A Grande Arte (1991)
Also known as High Art and Exposure. Before acclaimed director Walter Salles made Central Station and The Motorcycle Diaries, he made this excellent DTV action movie. I'm sure this was supposed to be released theatrically. Peter Coyote gets drawn into the world of knife fighting in South America, learning from expert Tcheky Karyo.
Blue Tiger (1994)
Virginia Madsen takes revenge on the Yakuza gang that murdered her child in this quality production. Madsen is great in the lead role in this action drama.
American Yakuza (1993)
Viggo Mortensen stars in this superior tale of cops and Yakuza gangs. Mortensen is an ex-con who gets mixed up with the Yakuza. Worth checking out.
The Assignment (1997)
Aidan Quinn is a soldier recruited by Donald Sutherland to kill Carlos the Jackal in this action thriller directed by Christian Duguay. The Assignment was released in cinemas and is very well made but didn't even make $1 million. That says more about cinema audiences than the movie!
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