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1990s High-Concept Action Films

21 movies  

Started by some comments on Hard Rain (1998).

What is "high-concept"?

{Best droning school debate voice} Wikipedia defines "high-concept" as a type of artistic work that can be easily pitched with a succinctly stated premise.1

  • E.g. "It's an armoured car heist but in the middle of a flood. I call it Hard Rain."

Probably the classic high-concept action film pitch since 1988 is "It's Die Hard in a... / on a... / at a... / {prepositions ad nauseam} a ...".

  • E.g. "It's Die Hard at an airport. I call it Die Hard 2."

I'll add films gradually, and if you're one of my mutuals here on eggplant.place, you can add films too!

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Movie

Waterworld (1995)
Waterworld
★ 6.2 6 ratings
Kevin Reynolds actor: Kevin Costner / Dennis Hopper …
In a futuristic world where the polar ice caps have melted and made Earth a liquid planet, a beautiful barmaid rescues a mutant seafarer from a floating island prison. They escape, along with her young charge, Enola, and sail off aboard his ship. But the trio soon becomes the target of a menacing pirate who covets the map to 'Dryland'—which is tattooed on Enola's back.
July 11, 2026