The '90s were a pretty amazing decade for film. The rom-com was at its pinnacle; the comedies had us laughing 'til we cried; and we watched horror films for the actual plotlines.
Whether you're feeling nostalgic for a more recent golden age of film that reigned from 1990 to 1999, or you simply want to experience what it might have been like to live it the first time around, most of the must-watch movies of the decade can be seen now from the comfort of your couch.
We at Marie Claire have scoured the cinematic archives and rounded up the best '90s films of all time, featuring some of the most iconic characters ever to hit the big screen, from Mrs. Doubtfire and Hannibal Lecter to Cher Horowitz and Billy Madison. These films are ingrained so deeply in our culture that it'd be criminal not to see them all.
We've arranged them by genre, so you can easily navigate to your favorites on your next lazy Saturday for a visual jog down memory lane.
Below, we give you the best '90s movies ever made.
Best Romance Movies of the '90s
'The Bodyguard' (1992)
Whitney Houston made her feature film debut in this romantic thriller about a famous singer who hires a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) to be her bodyguard. She also pulled double duty with an accompanying full-length album that still holds the record for the best-selling soundtrack album of all time, selling more than 45 million certified copies worldwide.
'Ghost' (1990)
You'll never look at pottery the same way after seeing this supernatural romance starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. The pair plays a loved-up couple whose relationship is cut short when Sam (Swayze) is murdered. His spirit won't leave Molly (Moore) behind, however, without making sure she's safe—even if he has to enlist a little help from the human world to do it.
'Romeo + Juliet' (1996)
Hollywood may reboot Shakespeare's beloved classic every few years, but none will ever top the 1996 iteration starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio. The modern visual twist that director Baz Luhrmann gave the film, paired with the chemistry of its leads, is simply unrivaled.
'Titanic' (1997)
This sweeping love story from the late '90s is a fictionalized account of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio at his heartthrob-iest and Kate Winslet as two passengers of vastly different social stature who fall in love during the ship's first and final voyage. The 1997 tearjerker was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won 11—including Best Picture and Best Director.
'While You Were Sleeping' (1995)
What if you got engaged to the man of your dreams—only he wasn’t conscious when it happened? That’s basically the premise of this ‘90s gem starring Sandra Bullock as a transit token collector who is mistaken for her crush's (Peter Gallagher) fiancée while he’s in a coma. When he wakes up with no memory of her, she doesn’t have the heart to tell him and his adoring family the truth—but her lie just might cost her the one thing she’s wanted all along.
Best Dramas of the '90s
'A League of Their Own' (1992)
Directed by the late, great Penny Marshall, A League of Their Own offers us a historical looking glass into a time when women had to fight for their right to play ball. With everyone from Geena Davis and Rosie O’Donnell to Tom Hanks and Madonna popping up in the credits of this film about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, it's got plenty of star power—and heart.
'Boogie Nights' (1997)
Director Paul Thomas Anderson put himself on the map with this 1997 film about the pornography industry in the late '70s and early '80s. We relished in Burt Reynolds's mustache, gasped at Mark Wahlberg's prosthetic penis, and our eyes didn't leave the screen until the credits rolled.
'Boyz N' The Hood' (1991)
John Singleton's 1991 debut about three men growing up in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles put a new narrative onscreen that wasn't always portrayed. The breakout performances of Ice Cube alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morris Chestnut were also noteworthy.
'Cruel Intentions' (1999)
Cruel Intentions is a modern retelling of the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses and has since spawned even more spinoffs, including a prequel, sequel, and jukebox musical. It follows the tangled web of a group of wealthy teens in N.Y.C. played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. It's packed with scenes that remain iconic to this day, including that (MTV award-winning) kiss between SMG and Selma Blair.
'Dangerous Minds' (1995)
We’re not sure what’s more iconic here: Michelle Pfeiffer in that leather jacket, or the opening notes of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which instantly start playing in our minds the second we think of Dangerous Minds. Based on the experiences of real-life teacher LouAnne Johnson, Pfeiffer plays a caring educator who is determined to win over the hearts and minds of her disinterested inner-city pupils.
'Edward Scissorhands' (1990)
Tim Burton's love for the strange and unusual abounds in Edward Scissorhands. Both creepy and quirky, it follows the journey of a scientist's unfinished human creation with scissors for hands as he travels from his eerie mountain castle home down into suburbia.
'Fargo' (1996)
This story about a husband (William H. Macy) who hires two criminals (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife (Kristin Rudrüd) so that he can receive a large ransom from his wealthy father-in-law is pretty unforgettable. It essentially put the Coen Brothers on the map. The film also earned Joel Coen Best Director bragging rights at the Cannes Film Festival.
'Fight Club' (1999)
The first rule of Fight Club is that we don't talk about Fight Club—but we're going to anyway. Its unnamed protagonist, played by Edward Norton, is dissatisfied with his white-collar job and does what anyone in his position would do: He starts a club for men who want to beat each other up for sport. There's a major plot twist that shook original audiences, who found the film to be rather polarizing, but it has since been cited as a smart meditation on toxic masculinity.
'Forrest Gump' (1994)
Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), an intellectually disabled man with a heart of gold, manages to find himself caught smack dab in the middle of some of the biggest historical events of his time, from the birth of Elvis Presley’s dance moves to the Watergate scandal. All he cares about, however, is reuniting with the one woman who’s always had his heart (Robin Wright).
'Good Will Hunting' (1998)
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon co-wrote this quintessential '90s film about a troubled yet brilliant young man named Will (Damon) who punches a police officer, is allowed deferred prosecution, and seeks therapy in the form of mathematics tutoring from a renowned professor (Robin Williams). They also won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for their efforts.
'Goodfellas' (1990)
Based on Nicolas Pileggi's best-selling novel Wiseguy about Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and his rise and fall as a mobster in New York in the '60s and '70s, this is the mob movie of all mob movies. With six Oscar nods under its belt, this Martin Scorsese piece starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci debuted in 1990 and cinephiles haven't stopped talking about it since.
'Jerry Maguire' (1996)
Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger showed us the money in this instant '90s classic from journalist Cameron Crowe. It's about a successful sports agent who has a epiphany about how deeply he's been valuing money over his relationships, and it took Crowe five years to write. The time was well spent—it earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay at the 1997 Academy Awards.
'Kids' (1995)
Kids is both a time capsule and a warning about the dangers of youthful hedonism, exploring the dark side of N.Y.C. for children left to their own devices. Directed by Larry Clark in his debut feature and written by Harmony Korine (then just 18 ), it's filmed like a documentary and follows a group of rabble-rousing Manhattanite teenagers (Chloë Sevigny among them) through a single day in the city.
'My Girl' (1991)
If you didn’t have a friendship like Vada (Anna Chlumsky) and Thomas J. (Macauley Culkin)’s growing up, you’ll always wish you had. The ending of this ‘90s coming-of-age drama will ruin you, but the lead-up to its tragedy will make it worth every bit of your while.
'Now and Then' (1995)
Now and Then will instantly transport you to a time when nothing mattered in life except your friends, your tree house, and your super secret crush. (And yes, it’s Devon Sawa.) Featuring an all-star lineup of baddies (Demi Moore, Christina Ricci, Rosie O’Donnell, Rita Wilson, Thora Birch, Gaby Hoffman, and Ashleigh Aston Moore), this one’s for the girls.
'Practical Magic' (1998)
The ‘90s were good to Sandra Bullock. Between her rom-coms (While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats), her action flicks (Speed, Speed 2), and her dramas (A Time to Kill), she was practically everywhere. We’d argue that none of her projects topped Practical Magic, however, in which she played one half of a witchy sister duo with an unhealthy outlook on love alongside Nicole Kidman.
'Pulp Fiction' (1994)
This 1994 black comedy, which interweaves stories of several characters involved in a world of crime and violence, cemented Quentin Tarantino in the Hollywood vernacular. His storytelling, combined with the acting talents of John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis, earned the film seven Oscar nominations.
'Schindler's List' (1993)
Schindler's List is based on the true story of industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who, with the help of his wife (Caroline Goodall), saved more than 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factories during World War II. It earned Steven Spielberg his first Oscar win for Best Director and took home six other Academy Awards.
'Selena' (1997)
Jennifer Lopez's breakout acting role was as the Tejano music star Selena in a biopic about her life. The songs are nostalgic, the performances are heartfelt, and the story of Quintanilla-Pérez's tragic death at the age of 23 is resonant. Fair warning: You'll be belting out "Dreaming of You" at the top of your lungs for weeks to come after viewing.
'Shawshank Redemption' (1994)
Stephen King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption made the prime time with this Oscar-nominated flick about two inmates serving a life sentence at one of the country's harshest prisons. Documenting their tight-knit relationship over many years, it's longer than most films and devastating at times, but it's one you're sure to treasure it.
'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
Can you say "feminist classic?" It's hard to overstate the influence Ridley Scott's thrilling adventure about two best friends on the run from the law had on the film industry. Its leads, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, shared an unparalleled bond as the titular Thelma and Louise, putting them in a category all their own.
'The Truman Show' (1998)
Reality TV was just entering the chat when this Jim Carrey film debuted. Hundreds of tiny cameras have been watching Truman Burbank's (Carrey) every move for close to 30 years as a part of an extreme social experiment called The Truman Show. The only problem? He's unaware that he's the main character—and he's about to find out the hard way.
'Varsity Blues' (1999)
James Van Der Beek proved he was no one-trick pony with Varsity Blues. Breaking away from his Dawson’s Creek persona, he took on the role of Mox, a nice guy-turned-small-town football hero. Tapped to be the high school quarterback in the wake of a teammate's (Paul Walker) injury, Mox gets a whole lot more than he bargained for when he realizes the team’s coach is willing to risk just about anything to get his district title—including his players.
'The Virgin Suicides' (1999)
Based on the novel of the same name by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides marks not only Sofia Coppola’s directorial debut but the start of her long-running collaboration with Kirsten Dunst. It tells the story of five sisters born to overprotective parents who all die mysterious and dramatic deaths in the '70s. Their tragic ends still haunt the now-grown-up neighborhood boys who loved the girls from afar. Widely praised for its depiction of adolescent angst, this dark tale of melancholy and mystery will likely haunt you for a long time to come, too.
Best Comedies of the '90s
'American Pie' (1999)
We were first introduced to Jim (Jason Biggs), Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), Stifler (Seann William Scott), Stifler’s mom (Jennifer Coolidge), and the rest of the American Pie gang at the tail end of the ‘90s, forever changing the teen comedy landscape. Raunchy, real, and gut-bustingly funny, this film was a cultural phenomenon that spawned several franchise follow-ups.
'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery' (1997)
Mike Myers's goofy send-up of the secret agent genre is still quoted decades later, and for good reason: It's extremely funny. Jam-packed with plenty of big names and memorable characters, this is satire so brilliant it makes legitimate secret agent movies seem silly by comparison.
'The Big Lebowski' (1998)
The Coen Brothers couldn't have known the kind of impact their film The Big Lebowski would have when it came out in 1998. A slacker-y gentleman (Jeff Bridges) gets mixed up in a case of mistaken identity with a rich man and his petulant young bride, forcing him and his bowling buddies to go to war with some nihilists in down-and-out L.A. If you’ve never seen it, now is the time to figure out what everyone’s been quoting for the last 20 years. The Dude abides.
'Billy Madison' (1995)
This comedy classic singlehandedly kick-started America’s love affair with Adam Sandler. The actor not only starred in, but co-wrote this screenplay about a man-child who must prove to his wealthy father that he’s capable of taking over his company by heading back to school to earn his diploma, starting from kindergarten. Spoiler alert? Hilarity ensues.
'The Birdcage' (1996)
Robin Williams plays a gay cabaret owner in Miami who convinces his drag queen partner (played by Nathan Lane) to pose as a woman when their son announces he's engaged to the daughter of a conservative senator. It's funny, warm, and a surprisingly progressive LGBTQ+ movie for its time, showing that there's no one way a loving family has to look.
'Can't Hardly Wait' (1998)
It’s the last night of high school, and Preston Meyers (Ethan Embry) has nothing to lose—except, maybe, his dignity, as he plans to confess his love to the most popular girl in school, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Think Sixteen Candles, but for the ‘90s set.
'Dazed and Confused' (1993)
Richard Linklater struck comedic gold with Dazed and Confused: Jam-packed with an ensemble cast (hey Matthew McConaughey and Parker Posey!) navigating their last day at their 1970s Austin high school, it's simultaneously goofy, nostalgic, and weirdly heartwarming, all at the same time. Oh, and the soundtrack is killer.
'Death Becomes Her' (1994)
Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rosselli, and Bruce Willis—need we say more? The fantastical satire about two women (Streep, Hawn) who have a years-long rivalry over the same man (Willis) and take a potion promising eternal youth to one-up each other is an all-out romp.
'Drop Dead Gorgeous' (1999)
It’s hard to believe how many members of this cast went on to be film icons, from Kirsten Dunst and Amy Adams to Kristie Alley and Allison Janney. Styled as a mockumentary, Drop Dead Gorgeous depicts a beauty pageant in a small Minnesota town that goes awry when someone starts killing off the contestants. Every character is hysterical, and the midwestern accents are a real treat.
'Empire Records' (1995)
So quintessentially '90s, you'll be in awe. Empire Records had a little bit of everything that made the era great (and, some, well, not so great). There's killer music, breakout performances from before-you-knew-them stars, and impeccable fashion that looks new again 30 years on. Who cares that it has, like, 10 plots? Immerse yourself in the nostalgia.
'Friday' (1995)
Recently unemployed Craig (Ice Cube) finds himself in a bind when he and his buddy Smokey (Chris Tucker) have to come up with $200 in a single day. 30 years later, this film will make you laugh until your stomach hurts.
'Groundhog Day' (1993)
This hilarious comedy doubles as a 101-minute-long thought experiment in philosophy. It follows a curmudgeony weatherman (Bill Murray) as he's inexplicably caught in a time loop that forces him to live the same day over and over (and over) again until he changes his selfish ways.
'Happy Gilmore' (1996)
Adam Sandler plays a washed-up hockey player who’s desperate to make enough money to stop his grandmother’s home from being repossessed. He’s also got a golf drive that can rival the pros—and if he can control his temper long enough to beat them at their own game, he just might save the day. Get this one on your watch list stat, then follow it up with the 2025 sequel that saw stars coming out of the woodwork to be a part of it.
'Home Alone' (1990)
Yes, it's a Christmas movie, but it's also one of the most iconic films of the decade—it was the highest-grossing live-action comedy film in the United States from its release in 1990 until 2011 (when The Hangover Part II overtook it). It stars Macaulay Culkin as a young boy who's left home alone by accident as his family flies to Paris for vacation. For Kevin, it's all fun, games, and macaroni and cheese—until he's contending with burglars, that is.
'Jawbreaker' (1999)
This '90s cult classic starts with a prank between friends that goes horribly, horribly awry when teen queen Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan) accidentally kills her bestie by gagging her with a jawbreaker. The humor is dark but brilliant, and Rose McGowan is an undisputed goddess in it, villain vibes and all.
'Liar Liar' (1997)
Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is a divorce attorney who makes his living by lying. Max (Justin Cooper) is Fletcher’s son, and he’s made a birthday wish that his father can't tell a lie for one whole day—and it just came true. Unfortunately for Fletcher, he’s due in court, and his defense rests on one big whopper.
'The Mask' (1994)
The Mask not only put Cameron Diaz on the map, it cemented Jim Carrey’s status as a bonafide movie star. Together, they razzled and dazzled us with their turns as an unlikely green cartoon-like superhero taking down gangsters by night and working as an unassuming banker by day, and the sexy club singer who has captured his heart.
'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993)
Robin Williams's character is recently divorced and missing his children, so he dresses up as a female housekeeper, whom he calls Mrs. Doubtfire, to be closer to them. The film—hilariously funny, witty, and iconic—was one of Williams’ greatest successes.
'My Cousin Vinny' (1992)
We can recite nearly every line of My Cousin Vinny, and yet, we still drop everything to watch it every time it’s on TV (which is often). Marisa Tomei flat-out nailed her role as a city slicker who finds herself in unfamiliar territory when her boyfriend (Joe Pesci) winds up representing his nephew in an Alabama murder trial he’s completely unprepared for. Between her über-teased hair, her Brooklyn accent, and her iconic lines (“You’re a smooth talker, you are, you are!”), we fell head over heels for her Mona Lisa Vito. She even won an Oscar for the role!
'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997)
Former high school losers, unite! In this offbeat, wacky, heartfelt movie, Romy and Michele try not to get bullied at their high school reunion by pretending they invented Post-Its. What starts as a wacky comedy of errors turns into a refreshing take on letting your inner weirdness shine through.
'Rushmore' (1998)
Rushmore is the first Wes Anderson movie to nail the director’s signature style. Jason Schwartzman stars as the precocious, ambitious oddball Max, who is friends with a much older man played by Bill Murray. The two eventually go head-to-head when a pretty new teacher (Olivia Williams) catches their eyes. The best scene, of course, is near the end when we see the fruits of Max’s playwriting labor in action.
'Sister Act' (1992)
This film (and to a lesser extent its sequel) has so many things going for it: a charismatic Whoopi Goldberg performance, gorgeous songs, and plenty of hilarious hijinks. In the iconic original, lounge singer Deloris is put into witness protection in a run-down San Francisco convent and transforms their choir into an absolute powerhouse.
'Tommy Boy' (1995)
The '90s were to Chris Farley what peanut butter is to jelly: They just go together. When Tommy Boy came out, Farley was trading his fifth and final year at Saturday Night Live for this goofy comedy about a deadbeat son who must try to save the family business after his father's death. It went on to become a huge part of the actor's legacy and a decade-defining film.
'Welcome to the Dollhouse' (1995)
Growing up sucks—something Welcome to the Dollhouse portrays all too well. Todd Solondz’s coming-of-age film was ahead of its time, starring a young Heather Matarazzo as the painfully awkward and unpopular seventh grader Dawn, who will stop at nothing to be accepted by her classmates (or at least kiss a boy). An earnest exploration of the trials and tribulations of puberty, it’ll take you right back to middle school. (Cringe.)
Best Rom-Coms of the '90s
'10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)
10 Things I Hate About You is a modernized, teenage-drama version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. In it, Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) convinces bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) to take surly indie girl Kat (Julia Stiles) out on the town so that her father will let Cameron go out with her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). It's one of Ledger's most charming performances, and it leads to a passionate, angsty romance with Kat that had '90s girls everywhere swooning.
'Benny & Joon' (1993)
Sam (Johnny Depp) is an eccentric man with an affinity for suspenders and a preference for slapstick comedy over verbal communication. Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a bright young woman who suffers from hallucinations and lives in the care of her big brother, Benny (Aidan Quinn). They’re an unlikely pair, but given the chance, they might find a way to make things work. It's tender, warm, and it showcases a different kind of love: one that’s perfectly imperfect.
'Clueless' (1995)
This 1995 modern retelling of Jane Austen's Emma centers on Cher (Alicia Silverstone): a superficial, attractive, wealthy 16-year-old in Beverly Hills. A well-meaning if sometimes misguided matchmaker for her friends and teachers alike, she's not only armed with an interactive carousel of incredible clothing options, but she's got a heart of gold.
'The Cutting Edge' (1992)
You may know Moira Kelly best as Lucas Scott’s mom on One Tree Hill, but in the early ‘90s, she was a prima donna ice skater forced to team up with an unpolished hockey player (D. B. Sweeney) for a shot at Olympic gold. Despite their complete and utter disdain for one another, these two actually make a pretty decent pair—until they go and fall in love.
'Father of the Bride' (1991)
It was practically a ‘90s rite of passage to get all choked up watching disbelieving dad George Banks (Steve Martin) walk his darling daughter Annie down the aisle (and in sneakers, no less—a true sign of the times). The sweet rom-com also spawned two equally hilarious sequels.
'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' (1998)
Stella (Angela Bassett), a successful 40-something stockbroker, is convinced by her best friend (Whoopi Goldberg) to go on a much-needed beach vacay. While soaking in the sun, she falls for a young islander named Winston (Taye Diggs), and she's forced to reconsider her demanding life back home. Let's just say Angela Bassett can do no wrong.
'Never Been Kissed' (1999)
Never Been Kissed sees Drew Barrymore hitting the high school circuit as an undercover reporter trying to land her first big scoop. Naturally, nothing goes according to plan, and instead of digging up the dirt on her (hot) teacher Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan), Josie (Barrymore) finds herself planting some unexpected romantic roots.
'One Fine Day' (1996)
Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney as two divorced parents with too much on their plates to get their kids to school on time, let alone fall in love, One Fine Day is a masterclass in the ‘90s rom-com. There are no wild plot twists, overcomplicated backstories, or toxicity here—just two people falling head over heels for each other over a shared day of chaos.
'Notting Hill' (1999)
My Best Friend's Wedding may have had Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett, but it was Notting Hill that spawned one of the most classic lines of the '90s. You know the one: "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her?" It was also the highest-grossing British film of all time for a period, though it’s since been knocked well off that pedestal by a spate of other quintessential British films, such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and the Paddington series.
'Pretty Woman' (1990)
Who could forget the movie that made Julia Roberts a star (and earned her a best actress Oscar nom in 1991)? Playing Vivian Ward, a Hollywood sex worker hired as an escort by a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere), Roberts managed to transform a film with a script that originally detailed the dark landscape of sex work in L.A. into one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time—all thanks to that megawatt smile.
'Reality Bites' (1994)
Winona Ryder was the OG manic pixie dream girl of the ‘90s, and never was it more apparent than in her role as Lelaina Pearce in Reality Bites. In it, she plays a budding filmmaker caught in a hopeless love triangle with her sophisticated new boyfriend and her platonic friend (Ethan Hawke), who’s never really been platonic. (Fun fact: She cut that pixie herself.)
'Shakespeare in Love' (1998)
The Best Picture Oscar winner of 1999, Shakespeare in Love stars Joseph Fiennes as the Bard of Avon himself. He's fallen on hard times and is looking to score a hit with his new play, Romeo and Juliet. Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow is a noblewoman with dreams of becoming an actress, societal laws be damned. Not only is this film surprisingly progressive, but it’s also still plenty hot.
'She's All That' (1999)
She’s All That truly had it all: a magical makeover, plenty of eye candy (hello, Freddie Prinze Jr.), and a completely unrealistic coordinated dance scene led by Usher. Centered around a shy, nerdy girl (Rachael Leigh Cook) who is suddenly transformed into an absolute babe with a haircut and an outfit change, she captures the attention of the school’s most popular jock—TBD if it's for the right reasons.
'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle is as much a thinkpiece about romance films as it is one itself—and my goodness, what a classic. The first pairing of the'90s rom-com dynamo that was Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, it's a film about loss, love, and fate, with just as many brilliant one-liners as you might expect from a Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron effort.
'You've Got Mail' (1998)
Ryan and Hanks reunited for this 1998 hit, proving an undeniable chemistry between the pair. It's a now-quaint story of two professional rivals who meet and fall in love in an anonymous online chat room. They just don't make 'em like this anymore!
Best Scary Movies and Thrillers of the '90s
'The Craft' (1996)
If you didn't want to be a teen witch, did you even grow up in the '90s? The Craft had a very specific hand in fueling that desire: Watching a group of teen girls pull out their best witchcraft to get revenge on their enemies in a bout of supernatural justice did something to our very souls. Of course, things go south quite quickly as the girls become too powerful for their own good, and their spells have harsher consequences than intended, leading their once-tight coven to turn on each other in brutal ways.
‘Fear’ (1996)
Mark Wahlberg sparked many a teen girl’s sexual awakening with his role as Nicole's (Reese Witherspoon) mysterious new boyfriend, David McCall, in Fear...at least until we figured out that his character wasn’t exactly the sweet, charming guy poor Reese thinks he is. (We knew those abs were too good to be true.)
'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997)
This ‘90s teen horror gave us one of Hollywood’s most successful couples in Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, who met on the set of this Jennifer Love Hewitt-led hit. The slasher movie is about a group of teens who get their karmic payback for drunkenly running over a pedestrian and covering up the evidence. It was recently revived for a just as star-studded 2025 reboot—with some of the original actors appearing in cameos.
'Interview with a Vampire' (1994)
Putting Brad Pitt opposite Tom Cruise in a film was enough to cause a female viewing frenzy in 1994, and more than 30 years later, we’d be willing to bet that still holds true. Over two hours, Pitt gives an oral history of his character Louis de Pointe du Lac, who is transformed into a vampire by Lestat de Lioncourt (Cruise) and lives as his companion until fate—and a little girl-turned-vampiress named Claudia (Kirsten Dunst)—drives them apart.
'Scream' (1996)
Scream isn't just a horror classic—it's a '90s classic, period. The slasher flick starring Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, and former couple Courteney Cox and David Arquette turned the genre on its head with its ultra-meta script, and went on to have multiple successful spin-offs.
'Se7en' (1995)
It's not necessarily an easy watch, but this David Fincher serial killer movie is a tense, well-acted, riveting drama that doubles as a compelling whodunit. The film improves the more you watch it.
'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is an imprisoned psychiatrist, cannibal, and serial killer, whose insight and advice FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) seeks for a new case. The psychological thriller is creepy AF, but the movie is good. It's also, at this point, the first and only horror film to ever win an Oscar for Best Picture.
'The Sixth Sense' (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan is the king of plot twists—a fact he forever cemented with 1999's The Sixth Sense. The actors are pretty top-notch, too: It features Bruce Willis in his '90s heyday as a child psychologist alongside a pint-sized Hayley Joel Osment.
Best Action Movies of the '90s
'Armageddon' (1998)
You don’t have to enjoy space movies or even action films to enjoy Armageddon. This genre-bending film will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between as Bruce Willis and his gang of merry, oil-drilling misfits (Ben Affleck, Owen Wilson) set out to save the world from impending doom.
'Jumaji' (1995)
Jumanji was a visual triumph in the ‘90s, bringing living room lions, giant mosquitoes, and sneaky pelicans to life with verve as part of a mystical board game with the power to manifest different elements of the jungle into the present. It also gave us one full hour and 40 minutes of all-too precious screen time with the legendary Robin Williams.
'Jurassic Park' (1993)
Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg, was hailed for its mix of practical effects and groundbreaking computer-generated imagery, making it the kind of blockbuster that embodies movie magic. (Listen, it's hard to forget a pack of dinosaurs sprinting across a lush, green field.) Before the release of 1997's Titanic, it was also the highest-grossing film of all time, and has since spawned various sequels.
'The Matrix' (1999)
In this futuristic dystopian sci-fi film, people exist in a simulated reality called “The Matrix,” and only a select few (Laurence Fishburne, Keanu Reeves) can enter and exit. It has been critically acclaimed for its innovative visual effects and cinematography, but we also have to give it up for the patent leather coats.
'Men In Black' (1997)
Think FBI, but for out-of-this-world monsters. As one of the N.Y.P.D.'s finest, James Edwards (Will Smith) has no idea what he's signing up for when he joins the Men in Black, but he and his partner "K" (Tommy Lee Jones) quickly rise to the challenge they're faced with: saving the Earth from some super creepy aliens.
'Mission: Impossible' (1996)
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is a secret agent disavowed by his organization after losing his entire team of spies. On the run, he's forced to complete a dangerous mission for an arms dealer. Over-the-top plot aside, it's an excuse for Cruise to do his own (ultra-cool) stunts, like hanging from ceilings and the top of trains.
'Point Break' (1991)
Once you see Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze as shirtless surfers in Southern California, you'll thank us for recommending Point Break. The film has a wild premise—it's about an undercover FBI agent who's working to solve a string of recent burglaries in the SoCal area—but our best advice is to ride the wave and enjoy.
'Saving Private Ryan' (1998)
Sure, there had been war films before Steven Spielberg's World War II drama Saving Private Ryan, but none were quite as gripping as this. When Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) is captured behind enemy lines, Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) and his squad embark on a mission to save the Ryan family's last living son. Each young man on the mission undergoes a personal journey along the way, mixing plenty of heartfelt emotion with heart-pounding action.
'Speed' (1994)
The gist of this movie is simple: Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are trapped on a bus that's loaded with explosives, all of which will blow up if the bus's speed ever drops below 50 miles per hour. It's a technical feat with impressive camera work and mind-boggling stunts that will have you on the edge of your seat for its entire runtime. Plus, the palpable chemistry between Reeves and Bullock is made all the better knowing they were secretly crushing on each other during filming.
Best Family Movies of the '90s
'Aladdin' (1992)
If you ask us, the ‘90s were Disney’s golden era. Coming hot on the heels of Beauty and the Beast, the House of Mouse struck gold once more with its tale about a poor “streetrat” with dreams of marrying the Princess of Agrabah. Now, all he needs is a little luck, his trusty sidekick (Abu!), and a bit of genie magic to make his dreams come true.
'Beauty and the Beast' (1991)
Beauty and the Beast was on repeat in just about every kid's household in the '90s, and with its singalong-worthy musical numbers, who could blame us? We'll still put this on on a rainy day, and you better believe we'll be belting out every word. Fun fact? Beauty and the Beast is the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
'The Lion King' (1994)
The Lion King represents the peak of the Disney Renaissance, and the box office records it set worldwide are the proof. Believe it or not, it's a clever retelling of Hamlet, with just as much drama and heart as Shakespeare's OG script—only the love, friendship and betrayal is all going down in the animal kingdom.
'Matilda' (1996)
No matter how old you were when you first watched Matilda, it inevitably made you feel the same sense of wonder you once had as a child. Starring Mara Wilson as a gifted young woman with the power to make things happen with her mind, it’s a story about bravery, strength, and finding your power against all odds.
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)
Tim Burton's claymation classic sparked a heated debate that has endured throughout the years, with one question at its center: Is this a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? Why not call it both and sit back, relax, and enjoy the gorgeous animation, thoughtful plot, and extremely catchy songs of this animated beauty?
'The Parent Trap' (1998)
Identical twins Annie and Hallie (Lindsay Lohan) never knew the other existed until they crossed paths at summer camp. The only logical response? Trade places with each other so they can meet their estranged parents for the first time while simultaneously plotting to get them back together. We're forever thankful to director Nancy Meyers for casting Dennis Quaid as their father.
'The Sandlot' (1993)
The Sandlot was to ‘90s kids what Stand By Me was to the '80s—a heartwarming coming-of-age film about the power of friendship and acceptance, and, in this case, sports. After Scott “Scotty” Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood as an outsider, he’s taken under the wing of Benjamin “Benny the Jet” Franklin Rodriguez (Mike Vitar), a popular boy who teaches him how to play baseball. Together with the rest of their friends, they take on stepparents, the scary dog next door, and the rival Little League team.
'Toy Story' (1995)
The first-ever full-length Pixar tale changed the game for animated movies forever. This tale about what toys do when we leave the room (spoiler: they come to life and exist in their own complex societies) was truly groundbreaking and spawned several heartwarming sequels.
