29 Years Ago Today: The Most Underrated ‘90s Action Movie Was Released, and It Still Holds Up

When you think of the best action movies in the '90s, films like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Fugitive, Die Hard 2,Speed, Face/Off and The Rock immediately come to mind.

The '90s were a defining decade for heart-pounding action movies. CGI was improving drastically, and movie studios didn't have to invest as much in high-quality special effects.

In the '90s, Hollywood was blessed with world-class action movie directors like James Cameron, Michael Bay, John Woo and Michael Mann.

So, it's easy to forget the ultimate hidden gem of '90s action films, Con Air. The Hollywood blockbuster was directed by Simon West and released on this day 29 years ago.

Nicolas Cage took center stage in a star-studded supporting cast that included Steve Buscemi, John Malkovich, John Cusack and Rachel Ticotin.

Cage portrays Cameron Poe, a former United States Army Ranger sentenced to seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter after inadvertently killing a threatening and intoxicated thug outside a bar.

Poe is transported on a plane featuring several dangerous high-profile criminals. After the criminals hijack the plane, Poe must find a way to work with authorities to regain control and safely reunite with his family.

‘Con Air' Exceeded Expectation at the Box Office

Con Air had an estimated budget of $75 million. Reviews for the film were mixed, with IMDB giving it a 6.9 rating. Additionally, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a mediocre "Tomatometer" score of 59 percent.

According to Box Office Mojo, Con Air went on to make $224 million worldwide. The movie may not have received universal praise compared to Terminator 2: Judgment Day or Face/Off, but it delivered for Hollywood financially.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 4:30 AM.