Growing up in the 90s, I didn’t realize how good we had it when it came to movies.
There are so many incredible films from the decade that choosing the best movies of the 1990s seems like an impossible task. It felt like every year was stacked with heavy hitters, with major Oscar snubs happening all the time in the 90s.
Don’t worry; I’m here to right the wrongs of the Academy and give recognition to the movies that deserved it.
Mission: Impossible
We had no idea how big the Mission: Impossible franchise would eventually become.
The modern movies are bigger on spectacle than anything else. Brian De Palma’s original adaptation of the popular television series was more of a high-stakes spy thriller that, while nonsensical at times, delivers every step of the way.
The Shawshank Redemption
Okay, enough wasting time; let’s bring up the Oscar snubs.
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best movies ever made, even if it took some time for critics and audiences to come around. I had the pleasure of visiting Shawshank in person in Mansfield, Ohio, and seeing the iconic locations from the film was nothing but pure magic.
Pulp Fiction
One day, Quentin Tarantino will win an Oscar for Best Director. It should have been here, though.
Yes, the 67th Academy Awards were stacked (Frank Darabont wasn’t even nominated for Shawshank!), but Pulp Fiction is a work of art that’s not just one of the best movies from the ’90s, but also one of the most important.
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L.A. Confidential
Sadly, there was never a world where L.A. Confidential was beating Titanic at the Academy Awards, but I wholly believe that it’s the best film of 1997.
It’s a perfect modern noir with all the characteristics you’d expect from a classic 1950s noir, from the femme fatale to the hardboiled crime drama. Yes, it’s a little awkward with the Kevin Spacey-sized elephant in the room, but it’s still a fantastic movie from start to finish.
Se7en
David Fincher’s Se7en features one of the greatest movie endings ever.
Even before Brad Pitt asks what’s in the box, Fincher’s thriller has us on the edge of our seats and stands the test of time as a well written, intelligent thriller.
Heat
One of the greatest crime dramas of all time, Heat is best known for its ensemble cast, featuring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer.
Remarkably, the film didn’t see a single nomination for major awards, which is a major insult. Michael Mann’s script and direction are a benchmark and inspiration for many filmmakers today, most notably Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
The Big Lebowski
The Coen Brothers would eventually win an Oscar for their work on No Country For Old Men, but The Big Lebowski is far and away their best work.
It’s the perfect mix of comedy and neo-noir thriller that keeps you intrigued from beginning to end. The movie is also incredibly quotable, thanks in part to Jeff Bridges’s performance as “The Dude.”
Goodfellas
I gotta be honest, I have no idea this movie only won one Oscar (Joe Pesci for Best Supporting Actor) at the 63rd Academy Awards.
There’s no chance Dances With Wolves, or many other movies from the 90s in general, are better than Goodfellas.
The Fifth Element
There are few, if any, sci-fi action movies that come close to matching The Fifth Element.
It has the right mix of action, comedy, and over-the-top zaniness that makes it not just entertaining but endearing as well. I love everything about this film.
Groundhog Day
It wasn’t all about action and drama during the ’90s. There was great comedy, too, and Bill Murray’s classic might be the best.
Groundhog Day has become a tradition. Every year on, well, Groundhog Day, AMC airs the movie as part of an all-day marathon.
Office Space
Mike Judge’s ’90s office comedy has become more than the cult classic it was upon release.
It’s a timeless comedy that does a perfect job of capturing the mundane craziness of working in an office. It may have been lost as a new generation becomes more accustomed to working from home, but it’s still a riot from start to finish.
Toy Story
Toy Story isn’t just one of the best movies from the 1990s; it’s also one of the most important ones.
The debut film from Pixar isn’t just a timeless animated classic, but also influenced the future of animated movies. More often than not, animated films employ computer animation over traditional, hand-drawn animation.
Jurassic Park
Speaking of influential movies, Jurassic Park‘s CGI still puts most modern movies to shame.
It’s also a fantastic adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel, but we wouldn’t expect anything less from Stephen Spielberg.
The Silence of the Lambs
Another big screen adaptation, The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most terrifying movies ever made.
Anthony Hopkins’ Dr. Hannibal Lecter is an all-time classic movie villain that strikes fear into our hearts. The only thing better than his performance is Jodie Foster’s.
Clerks
Kevin Smith’s independent black-and-white film was made on a budget of approximately $27,000, with an additional $230,000 coming in post-production.
The cult classic doubles not just as a fantastic comedy highlighted by brilliant dialogue that resonated with an audience of nerds, slackers, and unsure 20-year-olds who, like the film’s protagonist, don’t know what they want out of life.
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