The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

The Long Kiss Goodnight is the rare action thriller that’s both expertly choreographed and genuinely fun, a Christmas-lit blast of danger and wit that never forgets to give you characters to root for. Geena Davis is terrific as a woman discovering a lethal former self, playing the shift with confidence and a sly edge, while Samuel L. Jackson brings bruised warmth and razor-sharp comedy that turns their partnership into the movie’s beating heart. Director Renny Harlin keeps the set pieces big and clean, and Shane Black’s dialogue snaps with the kind of one-liners that make the mayhem feel gleefully alive rather than grim. It is very much a hard-R ride—bloody, profane, and proudly over-the-top—so if you want your thrillers sober and restrained, look elsewhere, but if you want a smart, crowd-pleasing adrenaline rush, this one still delivers.

The Long Kiss Goodnight is trying to be a slick, crowd-pleasing ’90s action thriller with an amnesia hook, a Christmas backdrop, and a buddy dynamic that lets the violence and jokes bounce off each other. When it works, it’s because Geena Davis commits hard to the physicality and Samuel L. Jackson brings just enough charm to keep the ride moving. The problem is the script often mistakes noise for tension—set pieces stretch on, the tone swerves between grim and goofy, and the conspiracy plot feels more loud than smart, so if you want a tight mystery with real weight, you may find it overblown and a bit dumb. Also, it’s very R-rated in a blunt, bloody way, so if graphic violence and relentless profanity aren’t your idea of fun, this is an easy skip.