Best 90s movies

Best 90s Movies

No decade saw a bigger boom in the movie industry than the 1990s. The decade gave us countless classics from all genres. For many kids growing up in the 90s, the era was like a snapshot of the world with its slacker culture, raging music, and break away comedies. As a nod to this iconic era, let’s take a look at the best 90s movies.

Rom-Coms

The 90s was a peak time for the rom-com genre. Audiences were embracing new possibilities of the age old recipe of ‘boy meets girl’. Here are some favorites:

1. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) – Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell star in this British comedy that follows the loves lives of a group of friends.

2. When Harry Met Sally (1989) – The debate over whether men and women can be friends is explored by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in this classic.

3. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan sparkle in this romantic comedy about a man mourning the loss of his wife, and how fate finds her a new love.

4. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) – Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney battle it out in this endearing, feel good comedy.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) – A modern, twist on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, this teen comedy follows the life of two teens as they learn to love.

Action Movies

The 90s was a time of excessive style and stone-cold heroes. Kick-ass babes and alpha males ruled the silver screen. These are the action movies fans go back to time and time again:

1. Die Hard (1988) – Bruce Willis’s unforgettable role as John McClane, the lovable NYPD detective who takes on a building full of terrorists, is a great example of 80s action and 90s style.

2. The Matrix (1999) – This sci-fi classic introduced us to ‘bullet time’ and revolutionized computer generated graphics and special effects. Keanu Reeves plays Neo, a hacker dragged into a world of mind bending martial arts and action sequences.

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as the Terminator and with him, the trickiest of tough guy roles. Robert Patrick and Linda Hamilton round out the cast and make this sequel a groundbreaking blockbuster.

4. Jurassic Park (1993) – Steven Spielberg brings dinosaurs to life and back to the jungles of Isla Nublar with this blockbuster. A thrilling adventure, Jurassic Park has become a childhood staple.

5. The Bourne Identity (1998) – Matt Damon stars as the titular amnesiac Jason Bourne becoming a master of weapons and espionage. Featuring thrilling car chases, fight scenes, and clever trickery, this movie spawned a whole franchise of similar spy thrillers.

Family Movies

The 90s was a golden age for family movies. Kids could settle in with a bowl of popcorn and experience the magic of animated movies and live-action family comedies. Here are some of the best:

1. Aladdin (1992) – This Disney classic continues to enchant audiences with its vibrant animation, fast-pace story and iconic songs.

2. Toy Story (1995) – Pixar revolutionized the art of animation with their magical debut of this film about a group of toys that come to life.

3. The Lion King (1994) – Another Disney classic, the Lion King inspired a musical that still plays around the world and introduced us to the classic ‘HakunaMatata’.

4. Home Alone (1990) – Macaulay Culkin is the star of this movie about a little boy left home alone in a madcap adventure.

5. The Sandlot (1993) – It’s a classic coming-of-age story with a team of misfit kids and their baseball adventures.

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Adventures

The 90s were full adventure, from cyber space to Hogwarts. Here are some of its defining movies:

1. The Matrix (1999) – Cited in the action category, The Matrix is pure science-fiction. It’s a thrilling ride of action and philosophical musings on what it means to be human.

2. The Truman Show (1998) – Jim Carrey stars in this hilarious movie about a man whose life is an elaborate television show.

3. Fight Club (1999) – Brad Pitt and Edward Norton star in this dark comedy about a man always searching for the next adrenaline rush and growing disillusioned with the world around him.

4. Men in Black (1997) – Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones team up as a thinking man’s action comedic duo in the fight against aliens in this sci-fi classic.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) – Rowling’s series of books were adapted into this British classic by Chris Columbus.

Dramas

The 90s saw the emergence of movies that centered on the every day stories of regular people. These movies were often poignant, sometimes heartbreaking and always full of thought-provoking performances. Here are some that made a lasting impression:

1. Boyz N The Hood (1991) – A searing look into gang life in South Central L.A. with a cast of John Singleton’s then-unknown actors who gave powerhouse performances.

2. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Quentin Tarantino’s classic piece of postmodern cinema follows a colorful blend of characters whose paths cross in unexpected ways.

3. Silence of the Lambs (1992) – Anthony Hopkins delivers a chilling performance as Hannibal Lecter while Jodie Foster follows a trail to uncover the identity of a serial killer.

4. Fargo (1996) – The Coen Brother’s classic crime drama follows a desperate car salesman who pays two thugs to kidnap his wife.

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Andy Dufrense (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to a life in prison. With the help of a friend he attempts to build a full life behind these prison walls.

The 90s were a decade of innovation and entertainment and film was a big part of that. With advances in digital effects, computer animation and themed films, this decade was a classic for moviegoers. And no matter what genre you prefer, the 90s had something for everyone.

These are some of the highlights from the 90s but there were plenty of other great choices too, so now it’s time to go on a 90s movie marathon and reminisce about the decade that had us all hooked.