Wesley Snipes has delivered some of the most electrifying action performances in movies outside his famous Blade series, showcasing his martial arts skills, charisma, and ability to dominate high-stakes fights and chases. Films like Passenger 57, New Jack City, Demolition Man, and The Expendables 3 stand out as his top non-Blade action gems, packed with explosive sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats[1]. Let’s dive deep into these standout movies and more, exploring what makes each one a must-watch for action fans, from Snipes’ breakout roles in the early 90s to his later comebacks.
Start with Passenger 57 from 1992, one of Snipes’ earliest big action hits that put him on the map as a tough guy hero. In this film, Snipes plays John Cutter, a former cop turned airline security expert who gets caught on a hijacked plane full of terrorists led by the slick villain Charles Rane, played by Bruce Payne. The story kicks off when the plane takes off from Florida, and Rane’s crew seizes control mid-flight, turning the cabin into a battlefield. Snipes shines in the close-quarters combat, using his black belt-level karate to take down goons one by one. Remember the iconic line, “Always bet on black,” delivered right before he drops a terrorist out of the plane’s emergency door? That scene alone is pure adrenaline, with Snipes flipping and punching through tight spaces while the plane bounces through storms. The movie mixes airplane thrills with ground fights after a crash landing, including a brutal showdown in an abandoned amusement park where Cutter uses roller coaster tracks and bumper cars as weapons. Directed by Kevin Hooks, Passenger 57 was a box office success, grossing over $44 million on a tiny $3 million budget, proving Snipes could carry an action flick solo[1]. Fans love how it feels like Die Hard on a plane, but with Snipes’ smooth style making every kick and gunfight look effortless.
Moving to New Jack City in 1991, this crime-action thriller shows Snipes in a different light as the ruthless drug lord Nino Brown, one of his most memorable villain turns. Directed by Mario Van Peebles, the plot follows Nino building a crack cocaine empire in New York City’s crumbling projects during the 80s crack epidemic. Snipes nails the role with icy stares, sharp suits, and zero mercy, barking orders to his crew while plotting takeovers of entire buildings. The action ramps up when undercover cops Scotty Appleton (Ice-T) and Nick Peretti (Judd Nelson) infiltrate his operation. Explosive scenes include a raid on Nino’s fortified apartment complex, where bullets fly and bodies pile up in slow-motion shootouts. Snipes gets hands-on in a chase through alleyways and a climactic rooftop battle with automatic weapons and grenades. What sets this apart is the real grit—no superhuman stunts, just street-level violence that feels raw and intense. The film pulled in nearly $48 million worldwide and became a cultural touchstone for 90s hood movies, with Snipes’ Nino often ranked among the best movie kingpins[1][3]. His performance mixes menace with charm, like when he quotes Machiavelli while snorting his own product, making you root against him even as he’s magnetic.
Demolition Man from 1993 teams Snipes with Sylvester Stallone in a futuristic action blast that’s equal parts laughs and explosions. Snipes portrays Simon Phoenix, a cryo-frozen psycho killer thawed out in the year 2032 to stop a crime wave in sanitized San Angeles, a utopian city where swearing is illegal and everything’s touch-free. Stallone’s John Spartan, the tough cop also frozen, gets revived to hunt him down. Snipes steals every scene as the unhinged villain, cackling through fights with flamethrowers, chainsaws, and museum weapons like spears and muskets. The highlight is the three-way brawl in a Roman Colosseum exhibit, where Phoenix slices through security with glee. Later, they crash through hallways in high-speed chases using hovercraft and jackhammers. Directed by Marco Brambilla, the movie blends over-the-top action with satire on future society, grossing $159 million globally[1]. Snipes’ wild energy contrasts Stallone’s stoic hero perfectly, and lines like “I’m Captain Jack on the bridge!” during a sub-zero fight add fun flair. It’s Snipes at his most playful in action mode, proving he could match A-listers punch for punch.
Money Train from 1995 keeps the 90s vibe rolling, with Snipes as John Powell, a transit cop alongside Woody Harrelson as his foster brother Billy. The duo plans to rob the heavily guarded money train that collects New York subway fares, but things explode when a pyromaniac villain, Torch (Robert Blake), starts torching riders for kicks. Action kicks in with subway chases on speeding trains, fistfights on the tracks, and a fiery climax inside the armored money car. Snipes leads intense hand-to-hand brawls, dodging flames and flipping thugs off platforms. The film faced backlash for a scene involving blackface makeup on Snipes’ character, but the stunts hold up, including a daring leap between moving trains[1]. It earned $35 million domestically, riding the buddy-cop wave like Speed but underground.
The Art of War in 2000 ramps up the espionage angle, with Snipes as Jack Wagner, a UN operative framed for assassinating the Chinese ambassador. Directed by Christian Duguay, the plot twists through New York shadows as Wagner uncovers a corporate conspiracy. Snipes delivers slick wire-fu fights, rooftop pursuits, and a standout car chase smashing through traffic. He wields gadgets like exploding pens and grapples in elevator shafts, blending Jason Bourne-style realism with his signature kicks. Though it bombed at the box office, fans praise Snipes’ athleticism in sequences like the subway knife fight[1].
Unstoppable from 2004 is a gritty straight-to-video gem where Snipes plays Dean, a tough ex-Marine guarding a shipment of explosives across Mexico with co-star Kim Coates. Betrayals lead to desert shootouts, truck flips, and a warehouse massacre where Snipes mows down mercenaries with machine guns. The low-budget feel amps the intensity, much like his later DTV efforts[1].
The Expendables 3 in 2014 marked Snipes’ big comeback post-prison, playing Doc Ganis, a knife-wielding assassin broken out of jail by Stallone’s Barney Ross. The all-star cast includes Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Antonio Banderas, but Snipes shines in dual-wielding blade fights and a helicopter assault on a villain’s yacht. His character’s tax evasion quip nods to real life, adding meta humor. Directed by Patrick Hughes, it grossed $214 million, reviving Snipes’ action cred[1][5].
Gallowwalkers from 2012 is a wild horror-action hybrid, with Snipes as Aman, a cursed gunslinger hunting demons in a dusty wasteland. He wields blessed bullets and faces undea
