The 1990s saw a lot of action movies come and go, some of which were better than others. Big stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis dominated the theaters, and they had projects green-lit by name recognition alone. However, just because one high-octane film does well, it doesn't guarantee that another will resonate as well with audiences. Many movies come out with high hopes and prolific marketing, but the pay-off isn't quite what studios are expecting.

Many different metrics go into measuring a film's success. If the budget is high, the box office takings need to cover and even exceed it in order not to be considered a failure. The caliber of actors involved also has bearing. A lesser-known ensemble won't have as many expectations as a tried and tested cast with previous blockbusters. Explosive action films are typically projected to earn more than less popular genres, too. However, some action movies that should ideally be hits don't turn out that way, and these higher expectations make that even more disappointing.

10 Fallen (1998)

Directed By Gregory Hoblit

With a high-profile cast that included Donald Sutherland, John Goodman, and the star, Denzel Washington, Fallen had all the right ingredients. It was riding the wave of the action-packed detective thrillers, which had been doing exceptionally well at the box office when it came out. Films like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en proved that a dark and gritty plot with a good twist could translate to financial success and awards glory. With a lot riding on this project, it seemed destined for success.

According to Box Office Mojo, it only made around $25 million worldwide, and it received a lot of criticism for being too derivative of other, similar films of the time.

But despite its star-studded cast and tried-and-true premise, Fallen failed to deliver at the box office. According to Box Office Mojo, it only made around $25 million worldwide, and it received a lot of criticism for being too derivative of other, similar films of the time. It proved that too much of a good thing could definitely become stale with audiences. Washington wasn't too adversely impacted in the long run, as a year later, he starred in The Bone Collector, which grossed over $151 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).

9 The Meteor Man (1993)

Directed By Robert Townsend

Prolific '90s comedian Robert Townsend wrote, directed, and starred in 1993's The Meteor Man, an attempt at a superhero film. Given Townsend's success and respect within the industry, it would stand to reason that Hollywood would back a fresh new idea, but sadly, the concept wasn't one that audiences wanted. With a slew of bad reviews, disappointing jokes and a hint of self-indulgence, The Meteor Man failed to soar to the heights it was aimed at.

With an estimated budget of $20 million, The Meteor Man made only $8 million worldwide (via The Numbers) and holds a low score of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's rare to see a superhero film perform so poorly in this day and age, but there was a time before the MCU and DCEU that was a breeding ground for projects like this. Disted and not self-aware enough, it missed the mark on the comedy as well as the action.

8 Hudson Hawk (1991)

Directed By Michael Lehmann

After the huge success of Die Hard, Bruce Willis should have been an instant draw. He co-wrote Hudson Hawk, a heist caper that focused on stealing some Da Vinci paintings for a big-time crime lord. Willis used his tough charm well, and there have been films with much less substance and weaker plot lines. However, that still didn't help Hudson Hawk take off at the box office.

The critical response, reflected in the film's 31% Rotten Tomatoes score, could have been the biggest deterrent to Hudson Hawk's success. Many saw this as a vanity project and thought Willis didn't bring enough depth to the character or the story. Despite having Willis, Andie MacDowell and Richard E. Grant in the spotlight, the 1991 movie made $17 million against its budget of $65 (via Box Office Mojo). That didn't deter Willis from taking on more starring roles in action films, but this one marked a dip in the actor's filmography.

7 Memoirs Of An Invisible Man (1992)

Directed By John Carpenter

Part thriller, part comedy with a dose of quirky action, Memoirs of an Invisible Man was a vehicle for Chevy Chase to reclaim his leading-man persona. Co-starring Daryl Hannah, this messy film didn't find its footing, which was felt in the audience reception. Loosely based on the novel by H.F. Saint, the film has a low 28% Rotten Tomatoes score. The end result ended up costing money, which was disappointing with its high $40 million budget (via The Numbers).

Having only made back $14 million worldwide, Memoirs of an Invisible Man was a bona fide flop.

Despite a focus on innovative visual effects and a hefty marketing budget, the movie didn't resonate with viewers. Those involved didn't seem to suffer, with many of the stars going to have long careers in Hollywood. Still, the legacy of this disappointing action film lives on.

6 The Phantom (1996)

Directed By Simon Wincer

Based on one of the first comic book heroes, a lot was put into the production of 1996's The Phantom. Tim Burton had success with his Batman films, and Lois and Clark was a TV hit, so the superhero genre seemed to have had a renaissance. Taking on a lesser known protagonist was a gamble, and unfortunately, not one that paid off. The cartoonish plot was made worse by the stereotypical antagonists and lack of charm.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Zane had undergone a grueling fitness regimen and was undoubtedly looking at this project to be his star-making turn. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. With a whopping $45 million budget, it only made $5 million on its opening weekend and only $17 million in total (via The Numbers). Interestingly, despite this box office bomb, Zane told ComicBook.com that he'd like to return to the character in a sequel.

5 Judge Dredd (1995)

Directed By Danny Cannon

Sylvester Stallone remains an action superstar to this day, but not every one of his films has had the same amount of success. Judge Dredd, a campy dystopian based on a comic book hero, certainly didn't land among Stallone's best movies. The no-nonsense main character is on a mission to be the "police, jury, and executioner." Unfortunately, this premise didn't strike a chord with viewers. Neither completely comedic, nor cleverly satirical enough, Judge Dredd toes the line between being self-aware and completely self-indulgent.

Despite having a budget of $90 million, the movie's U.S. takings fell short at $34 million (via Box Office Mojo). Even the film's worldwide gross ($113 million) barely made up for its budget. The story wasn't over for the character, as he's returned to the screen many times after. The film is now somewhat of a cult classic, and fans enjoy the "so bad, it's good" feel of it. Stallone's run of films in the 1990s was prolific, and this blip didn't affect him too much — but for a while, Judge Dredd had been a punchline of sorts.

4 Super Mario Bros. (1993)

Directed By Annabel Jankel & Rocky Morton

Before Super Mario Bros. Movie, there was a '90s cult classic take on the video game franchise. The Nintendo game had already been a huge hit, so it seemed natural to try and bring it to a different audience. Taking the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles approach, the fully live-action cast includes Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as the titular plumbers. Taking on King Koopa (Dennis Hopper), the two traverse New York City with a mix of comedy and action.

The film has gained a lot of traction over the years due to the focus on nostalgia and appreciation of the lighter things in life, but at the time of its release, it failed to break even. With only $20 million grossed against its $48 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), the film was not a success. Even though it teased potential sequels and franchises, they never happened. Thankfully, neither the game nor the actors were greatly affected, with the Super Mario franchise growing into the biggest gaming property in the world.

3 Cutthroat Island (1995)

Directed By Renny Harlin

It has to be said: Cutthroat Island's concept was ahead of its time. The film came out long before Pirates of the Caribbean but didn't have any semblance of the same success. A swashbuckling action adventure set among the honorable code of the pirates, the studios had huge hopes for Cutthroat Island. Davis was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but even her star power and a $98 million budget could not help this film avoid the plank. It only wound up making $10 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).

Geena Davis is still a well-respected actor who chooses her roles carefully, but the failure of the film was disappointing with her at the helm.

In a landscape of beefy G.I. Joe types, it might have been a gamble to have a female-led action film, and it's possible that this contributed to Cutthroat Island's poor performance. Geena Davis is still a well-respected actor who chooses her roles carefully, but the failure of the film was disappointing with her at the helm. By all intents and purposes, this movie should have drew more crowds with its exciting premise and star, but it fell short of what it could've been.

2 True Romance (1993)

Directed By Tony Scott

The combination of '90s stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette should surely have been enough to set the box office alight, but it didn't happen with True Romance. Even though the legacy of this film is undeniable, it did not do well upon its initial release. Written by Quentin Tarantino, it had his unique brand of storytelling that would go on to become a hallmark of his films. The film was quirky and entertaining, but it just didn't draw the same crowds as Tarantino's other works.

The unlikely love story only just earned back its $12.5 million budget, bringing in $12.6 million worldwide (via The Numbers). This was despite starring some of the most exciting actors in Hollywood. It's hard to imagine a film with Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, and Samuel L. Jackson in its cast wouldn't be a bigger hit. However, it goes to show that the 1990s were an unpredictable decade for films.

1 Last Action Hero (1993)

Directed By John McTiernan

Arnold Schwarzenegger's level of fame in the 1990s was unmatched, so seeing a flop like Last Action Hero from him was quite a surprise. The concept of the movie was actually quite clever, perhaps too clever. As a young boy (Brad Renfro) seemingly enters the world of his favorite action film, he must team up with the star of the film in order to make it out of this high-octane world. With so many meta references to action movie tropes, the film mixes humor with a lot of explosions and exhilarating car chases.

It was clear that the budget for this movie was high, $85 million to be exact, so to only bank $50 million worldwide was underwhelming to say the least (via Box Office Mojo). Arnie had already had a successful foray into the action comedy genre, with Kindergarten Cop, and, on paper, this film should have even sured it. That's not what happened, but it did serve as inspiration for a few more successful action movies to come.

Source: Box Office Mojo, The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes, Chicago Tribune, ComicBook.com