All 17 Jean-Claude Van Damme Movies From The ’90s, Ranked

Jean-Claude Van Damme was among the biggest action stars of the 1990s, a decade that boasted just as many misses as hits for the Belgian martial artist. While most will think of JCVD’s work in the late ‘80s on iconic movies Bloodsport and Kickboxer, it was during the 1990s that Van Damme truly started to break through in Hollywood as he began making a name for himself alongside titans like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. While Van Damme struggled to achieve the same widespread cultural relevance as those two stars, among action movie enthusiasts he’s just as much of a legend.

Many of the best Van Damme movies were released during the 1990s as he punched, kicked, and fought his way through action, comedies, sci-fi, and thrillers. Whether it was showing off his dark side as sinister villains or with hilarious blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo appearances, there was a variety to Van Damme’s 1990s output that showcased an actor finding his footing in Hollywood. While JCVD never really got his due as a major action star, and his worst movies have somewhat tarnished his legacy, this was a decade that also featured some all-time great releases.

17

Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Private Luc Deveraux

Universal Soldier The Return Poster

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Universal Soldier: The Return

R

Action

Sci-Fi

Release Date

August 20, 1999

Runtime

83 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Michael Jai White

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Daniel von Bargen

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Bill Goldberg

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It’s hard to admit, but Jean-Claude Van Damme’s worst movie of the 1990s was a sequel to one of his very best. Universal Soldier: The Return was the universally reviled fourth entry in the long-running sci-fi franchise that signaled the end of an era in Van Damme’s career, as its total failure critically and commercially meant it was the action star’s last widely released movie in the United States until The Expendables 2 in 2012. With a generic story, subpar action, and terrible performances, even JCVD superfans can skip this one.

16

Inferno (1999)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Eddie Lomax

01183121_poster_w780.jpg

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Inferno

R

Action

Drama

Romance

Release Date

September 25, 1999

Runtime

95 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Eddie Lomax

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Pat Morita

    Jubal Early

  • Headshot Of Danny Trejo

    Danny Trejo

    Johnny Six Toes

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Gabrielle Fitzpatrick

    Rhonda Reynolds

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While Inferno was loosely based on the Akira Kurosawa samurai movie Yojimbo, it sadly did not have any of the enduring appeal of that all-time great Japanese movie. Instead, Inferno saw Jean-Claude Van Damme play a veteran soldier with a death wish whose purpose is reignited on a revenge mission after an encounter with a gang of thugs. With a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this action movie, which was also released under the title Desert Heat, was a total dud.

15

Double Team (1997)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jack Paul Quinn

01109476_poster_w780.jpg

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Double Team

R

Action

Science Fiction

Release Date

April 4, 1997

Runtime

93 minutes

Cast

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  • hEADSHOT oF Dennis Rodman

    Dennis Rodman

    Yaz

  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jack Quinn

  • Headshot OF Mickey Rourke

    Mickey Rourke

    Stavros

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Paul Freeman

    Goldsmythe

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The action comedy Double Team received plenty of accolades, although they were not the kind of accolades that actors and directors usually hope for, as it earned several Razzie Awards and even a Stinkers Bad Movie award. With plenty of criticism going toward Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dennis Rodman as the “Worst Screen Couple” of 1997, this story of a counter-terrorist agent and flamboyant arms dealer taking down an elusive terrorist known as Stavros (Mickey Rourke) just missed the mark. Although Double Team has its apologists, major plot holes stopped it from standing among JCVD’s best action movies.

14

Knock Off (1998)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Marcus Ray

01206516_poster_w780.jpg

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Knock Off

R

Action

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

September 4, 1998

Runtime

91 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Marcus Ray

  • Headshot Of Rob Schneider

    Rob Schneider

    Tommy Hendricks

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Lela Rochon

    Karen Lee

  • Headshot Of Paul Sorvino

    Paul Sorvino

    Harry Johanson

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Jean-Claude Van Damme teamed up with Rob Schneider for the comedian’s first dramatic role in Knock Off, the story of a fashion designer joining forces with a C.I.A. agent to combat terrorism. While there were some enjoyable action sequences and enough cheesy dialogue that this may appeal to the so-bad-it’s-good crowd of movie lovers, Knock Off’s plot was too muddled to make much of an impact. As director Tsui Hark’s second American film following Double Team, the filmmaker opted to call it a day on U.S. productions following this movie and return to work in Hong Kong.

13

The Quest (1996)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chris Dubois

01414292_poster_w780-1.jpg

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The Quest

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Drama

Release Date

April 19, 1996

Runtime

95 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Christopher Dubois

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Roger Moore

    Lord Edgar Dobbs

  • Headshot Of James Remar In The premiere of

    James Remar

    Maxie Devine

  • Headshot Of Jack McGee In The 2011 Writers Guild Awards

    Jack McGee

    Harry Smythe

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As a film co-written, directed by, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, The Quest was an ambitious martial arts adventure that followed a New York thief sold into slavery in 1925 who must earn back his freedom in a martial arts tournament. With Van Damme and Roger Moore in the lead roles, The Quest harkened back to the classics of old Hollywood productions, although it never quite reached the heights of the films it was influenced by. Best described as a noble failure, The Quest was an interesting but uneven addition to Van Damme’s filmography.

12

Legionnaire (1998)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Alain Lefèvre

01225692_poster_w780.jpg

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Legionnaire

R

Action

War

Adventure

History

Release Date

December 3, 1998

Runtime

98 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

    Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

    Luther

  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Alain Lefevre

  • Headshot Of Steven Berkoff

    Steven Berkoff

    Sgt. Steinkampf

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Nicholas Farrell

    Mackintosh

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Legionnaire saw Jean-Claude Van Damme play a French boxer in 1925, forced to join the Foreign Legion to evade a mob boss who paid for him to lose a fight he refused to throw. While those looking for a typical Van Damme adventure culminating in overcoming the odds at an epic martial arts tournament will be left disappointed, Legionnaire was a compelling exploration of the French Foreign Legion and the alliances and brotherhood that develop between fellow soldiers. With a chance for Van Damme to show off his dramatic side, there was a lot to love about Legionnaire.

11

Maximum Risk (1996)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Alain Moreau / Mikhail Suverov

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Maximum Risk

R

Action

Thriller

Release Date

September 13, 1996

Runtime

100 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Alain Moreau / Mikhail Suverov

  • Headshot Of Natasha Henstridge

    Natasha Henstridge

    Alex Minetti

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jean-Hugues Anglade

    Sebastien

  • Headshot Of Zach Grenier

    Zach Grenier

    Ivan Dzasokhov

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Jean-Claude Van Damme pulled out all the stops for his dual role in Maximum Risk, the story of a French police detective who finds his life in peril as various parties hunt him down, believing him to be the mob informant Mikhail Suverov. Featuring encounters with Russian gangsters and corrupt American officials, the only ally Van Damme can seem to find is his doppelganger’s girlfriend (Natasha Henstridge) in this thrilling life-or-death story. As a film packed with stunts and car chases, Maximum Risk wasn’t a perfect movie, but it will certainly keep fast-paced action fans happy.

10

Street Fighter (1994)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel William F. Guile

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Street Fighter

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Thriller

5.8/10

Release Date

December 23, 1994

Runtime

102 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Colonel William Guile

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Raul Julia

    General M. Bison

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Video game adaptations are notoriously difficult to pull off, and the Street Fighter movie has had a mixed response among lovers of the arcade classic. With Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel William F. Guile, Street Fighter maintained the game’s classic characters and signature aesthetic, which, although appearing absolutely ridiculous in live action, was a commendable creative decision. With plenty of action, a unique sense of humor, and a woefully miscast Kylie Minogue in a starring role, Street Fighter had its highs and its lows.

9

Death Warrant (1990)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Detective Louis Burke

Death Warrant (1990) - Poster

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Death Warrant

R

Action

Crime

Mystery

Release Date

September 14, 1990

Runtime

89 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Louise Burke

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Robert Guillaume

    Hawkins

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Cynthia Gibb

    Amanda Beckett

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    George Dickerson

    Tom Vogler

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Death Warrant starred Jean-Claude Van Damme as a police detective going undercover in prison to discover the truth behind a series of murders, only to come face-to-face with his nemesis who swears revenge on him. While Death Warrant was brought down by a weak and predictable storyline, its action sequences more than made up for this, and it was thrilling to see Van Damme give one of his greatest acting performances.

8

Nowhere To Run (1993)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Sam Gillen

01279602_poster_w780.jpg

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Nowhere to Run

R

Action

Drama

Thriller

Romance

Release Date

January 15, 1993

Runtime

94 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Sam Gillen

  • Headshot Of Rosanna Arquette In The Los Angeles premiere of 'Paul T. Goldman'

    Rosanna Arquette

    Clydie Anderson

  • Headshot Of Kieran Culkin

    Kieran Culkin

    Mike ‘Mookie’ Anderson

  • Headshot Of Ted Levine

    Ted Levine

    Mr. Dunston

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Nowhere to Run began with the escaped convict Sam Gillen (Van Damme) finding refuge at a widow’s farmhouse after his partner was fatally wounded, and before long helping her fight back against the ruthless contractor who was trying to take over her land. With an emotional core, Nowhere to Run was certainly one of Van Damme’s better films and has even built up a cult following over the years. As a strong showcase of Van Damme’s acting talents, Nowhere to Run highlighted that, given the right material, JCVD can deliver a performance that brings depth and sincerity to his character.

7

Double Impact (1991)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Alex Wagner / Chad Wagner

01109417_poster_w780.jpg

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Double Impact

R

Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

Release Date

July 31, 1991

Runtime

110 minutes

Cast

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Jean-Claude Van Damme played two roles in Double Impact, the story of identical twin brothers who were separated after their parents were murdered and who reunite 25 years later to enact their revenge. As Van Damme’s third movie with Sheldon Lettich, who wrote Bloodsport and directed Lionheart, Double Impact was an exciting reunion that didn’t quite manage to reach the heights of the pair’s previous collaborations.

6

Sudden Death (1995)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Darren McCord

Sudden Death - Poster

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Sudden Death

R

Action

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

December 22, 1995

Runtime

111 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Darren McCord

  • Headshot Of Powers Boothe In The Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Los Angeles Premiere

    Powers Boothe

    Joshua Foss

  • Headshot Of Raymond J. Barry

    Raymond J. Barry

    Vice President

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Whittni Wright

    Emily McCord

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Director Peter Hyams and Jean-Claude Van Damme followed up the success of Timecop the previous year with Sudden Death, yet another exciting, action-packed thriller. With JCVD as a lone fire marshal against a group of extortionists holding unsuspecting NHL fans and players during the Stanley Cup Finals, Sudden Death was yet another in a long list of Die Hard-inspired single-location action movies. While Sudden Death may lack some of the wit that made Die Hard so spectacular, it made up for it with its superior set pieces.

5

Lionheart (1990)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Lyon “Lionheart” Gaultier

01230762_poster_w780.jpg

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Lionheart

R

Action

9/10

Release Date

June 7, 1990

Runtime

105 minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Harrison Page

    Joshua Eldridge

  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Leon Gaultier

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With a screenplay co-written by Jean-Claude Van Damme himself, Lionheart brought together everything action movie lovers enjoy about its lead star as he played a French Foreign Legionnaire enterting a U.S. underground fighting circuit to raise money for murdered brother’s family. By leaning into the appeal of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies from this, Van Damme was slowly building a reputation as a major action star for the 1990s with Lionheart. While Lionheart was a packed with non-stop action, it also offered the star a chance to show off JCVD’s more compassionate side.

4

Hard Target (1993)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance Boudreaux

Hard Target (1993) - Poster

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Hard Target

NC-17

Action

Crime

Thriller

6/10

Release Date

August 20, 1993

Runtime

97 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

  • Headshot Of Lance Henriksen

    Lance Henriksen

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Hard Target was the Hong Kong action movie legend John Woo’s first American film and saw Jean-Claude Van Damme play a homeless drifter helping a woman locate her missing father in New Orleans. While Woo’s later movie Face/Off has been remembered as one of the greatest action movies of the 1990s, it was unfortunate that Hard Target rarely got its due for its extraordinary action scenes and stylized aesthetic. Sadly, many of Van Damme’s movies were harshly judged upon release, but looking back, it’s clear that this was a top-tier action movie that’s worthy of far more praise.

3

Last Action Hero (1993)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Himself

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Last Action Hero

PG-13

Adventure

Action

Comedy

8.5/10

Release Date

June 18, 1993

Runtime

130 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Arnold Schwarzenegger In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's 'FUBAR' Season 1

    Arnold Schwarzenegger

  • Headshot OF F. Murray Abraham

    F. Murray Abraham

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While Jean-Claude Van Damme’s appearance in the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic Last Action Hero was brief, it was also one of the most enjoyable cameos in his entire career. This satirical action movie was filled with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor as the lines between fact and fiction blended when the fictional Detective Jack Slater gate-crashed his own movie premiere, which was being attended by none other than Van Damme. While JCVD was only seen for a moment on the red carpet, this was an incredible blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo that added to the film’s enduring legacy.

2

Timecop (1994)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Agent Max Walker

timecop poster

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Timecop

R

Sci-Fi

8.2/10

Release Date

September 16, 1994

Runtime

99 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Max Walker

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Mia Sara

    Melissa Walker

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Jean-Claude Van Damme showcased his exceptional ability to blend action and sci-fi with the cult classic Timecop. With Van Damme as a time-traveling police officer traversing different periods as he uncovers the crimes of a crooked politician, this incredible Peter Hyams movie was shockingly panned by critics but was a hit with viewers and became one of the star’s biggest successes as a lead actor, taking in over $100 million at the box office (via The Numbers.) While it’s easy to criticize plot inconsistencies, when viewed in terms of pure entertainment value, Timecop was Van Damme at his very best.

1

Universal Soldier (1992)

Jean-Claude Van Damme as Luc Deveraux / GR44

Universal Soldier Movie Poster

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Universal Soldier

r

Action

Sci-Fi

Release Date

July 10, 1992

Runtime

102minutes

Director

Roland Emmerich

Writers

Roland Emmerich

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Jean-Claude Van Damme

    Jean-Claude Van Damme

  • Headshot Of Dolph Lundgren In The 9th Annual Filming Italy Los Angeles

    Dolph Lundgren

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Jean-Claude Van Damme’s biggest success of the 1990s came with Universal Soldier, a sci-fi classic that showcased the martial artist’s incredible potential as a Hollywood star. Starring JCVD as a U.S. Army soldier who was killed in the Vietnam War, this fallen soldier was brought back to life through a secret government program that saw him revived for an elite counter-terrorism unit. With an equally compelling villain in the form of Dolph Lundgren as a psychotic megalomaniac intent on killing the super soldiers, Universal Soldier was far more than the Terminator 2 clone it has occasionally been dismissed as.

Source: The Numbers