The Best Action Thriller Of 1993 Is Officially Free To Stream On YouTube

The 90s were an incredible time for movies, with some releases still regarded as among the greatest in their genres. Movies of the decade are often less experimental than the 80s, but they have a charm and feel you cannot find in newer movies, whether because of the pacing or the cast.

The 90s also saw numerous hard-hitting thrillers, and many have stood the test of time. Se7en, for example, premiered in 1995 and stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as detectives. They are investigating a string of murders seemingly linked to the seven deadly sins. However, their suspect is no ordinary criminal, and is always one step ahead.

Heat is a 90s crime thriller, widely regarded as a masterpiece. The movie stars Robert De Niro as Neil, a career criminal, and he and his team pull off numerous daring heists across the city. Al Pacino is Vincent Hanna. He’s a veteran cop who leads a task force to stop Neil from pulling off his next big score. The movie takes time to explore each character’s motivations, with several poignant scenes, including a face-to-face in a café over coffee, and a finale Heat fans still discuss today.

Those two titles only scratch the surface of brilliant thrillers released in the 90s, and another heavy-hitter in the genre came out in 1993. The Fugitive stars Harrison Ford as a man on the run, accused of murdering his wife. It’s an intense movie, as a grand mystery unfolds. Better yet, the movie is now free to stream on YouTube in the US, and is arguably required viewing for fans of the genre.

Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones Face Off In The Fugitive

Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive. The authorities accuse him of murdering his wife, and a judge sentences him to death. An incident on the bus to prison causes the vehicle to crash. Kimble escapes, desperate to prove his innocence and clear his name. He’s smart and resourceful, but he’s also an ordinary guy, adjusting to life as a wanted man.

Kimble’s life quickly becomes far more complicated when Deputy Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) is assigned to the case. He’s a skilled detective with plenty of police resources at his disposal. He’s also ruthless. Gerard remains a grounded character in The Fugitive. He’s cold and calculating, laser-focused on catching Kimble rather than answering questions about the doctor’s unusual movements while on the run.

The cat-and-mouse chase between Kimble and Gerard is a massive highlight of the movie, and one exchange perfectly summarizes their relationship. Early in the movie, Gerard chases Kimble into a drain tunnel. When the pair meet for the first time, Kimble shakily says that he didn’t kill his wife. Gerard coldly replies, “I don’t care.” A busy conspiracy unfolds in The Fugitive, but like Pacino in Heat, Jones is brilliant as a veteran Deputy.

The Fugitive Remains A ’90s Action Classic

The Fugitive is an exceptional ’90s thriller, and even won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It’s a fast-paced movie, but events hit so much harder because it takes time to set the scene and explore its characters. When we first meet Dr. Kimble, he’s a broken man in a police interrogation room. He’s not a wise-cracking hero. He’s in shock, panicking, and he doesn’t immediately realize how guilty he looks.

We previously mentioned that Kimble is smart and resourceful, but he isn’t an action hero. Several daring escapes clearly take their toll as he fights to stay one step ahead of the law. The Fugitive’s action scenes are a highlight, but the story is gripping, too. We slowly learn what happened the night of Kimble’s wife’s murder. Kimble claims a man with a mechanical arm broke into his home. It’s such an outlandish statement that even the audience isn’t sure it’s true.

Even if we believe that a one-armed man broke in and killed Kimble’s wife, the question remains: why? The Fugitive is so watchable because we’re discovering everything as Kimble does. He needs evidence strong enough to convince the police to reopen his case, and that’s no easy task with a manhunt underway and a merciless deputy on his tail.

Release Date

August 6, 1993

Runtime

131 minutes

Director

Andrew Davis