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Top 20 Movies of the 90s
A countdown of the favourite movies of the 1990s by Katalyn Louis Parks.
20. Pretty Woman (1990, Garry Marshall)
A classic romantic comedy that barely makes it into this chart being released in 1990, and although the costumes and general feel of the movie is, to me, like an 80s movie, it is still technically a 90s flick. This brilliant movie kicked off impressive careers for both Julia Roberts and Richard Gere during the 1990s.
19. Fargo (1996, Joel & Ethan Coen)
A thrilling and humorous film from the Coen brothers, this was an instant cult classic and a stroke of genius from two of the greatest filmmakers of recent years. Winning two Oscars and being nominated for a further five Academy Awards, this film belongs in your collection!
18. Aladdin (1992, Ron Clements & John Musker)
One of Disney’s greatest achievements as Disney went from being humorous to hilarious with the casting of Robin Williams for the voice of the Genie. This is one for the whole family that certainly takes me back to the 1990s.
17. Goodfellas (1990, Martin Scorsese)
This gangster classic again barely makes it into the list of movies from the 90s but is instantly recognised as a classic of its time. Ray Liotta is brilliant in this story about Henry Hill, a boy from New York who always dreamed of being a gangster! And the story is beautifully told too.
16. Fight Club (1999, David Fincher)
An action thriller that packs a punch. This film is highly absorbing with a few twists and turns that will keep your eyes fixed on the screen. I don’t want to give too much away if you haven’t seen it but this is a brilliant movie.
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas ( 1993, Henry Selick)
Most would call this a triumph of animated cinema where others would call it Tim Burton’s best! This definitely reminds me of when I was younger in the 90s and I hope it brings back nostalgic memories for you too!
14. Toy Story (1995, John Lasseter)
Pixar’s first feature length animation with each frame taking 4-13 hours to create, but isn’t it worth it? This is the story that every kid told themselves; that toys come to life when they leave the room. But here Pixar told it in a way that made us want to hear it again and again, even through to adulthood I still love this movie!
13. Life Is Beautiful (1997, Roberto Benigni)
This Italian masterpiece captured the hearts of people all over the world in the 1990s with this tale of World War II and its impact upon the people and their families. A must see for anyone but be warned, tissues are needed!
12. Reservoir Dogs (1992, Quentin Tarantino)
Yet another fine piece of work from Mr Tarantino. This man can do no wrong in my eyes! This slick masterpiece was released in 1992 and coined a generation of parodies, copycats and homages that continue to be made to this day.
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, James Cameron)
Although technically a 90s movie, its still reminiscent of the 1980s where the Terminator franchise first came about. A must see for all science fiction fans, although in the most part, not as good as the first.
10. Beauty and the Beast (1991, Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise)
Another appearance for Disney and this is a genius adaptation of the popular fairytale that inspired it. A magical adventure for the whole family and, again, takes me back to when I was a child and would watch this until I could watch no more!
9. Independence Day (1996, Roland Emmerich)
My absolute favourite alien invasion movie with a few possible exceptions, this is an incredibly entertaining movie that I could watch over and over, and I did in the 90s! Will Smith is of course brilliant and Jeff Goldblum is amazing in a humorous story of how aliens tried to conquer Earth. It’s also incredibly moving in some parts and could possibly have you reaching for the tissues.
8. The X Files: Fight the Future (1998, Rob Bowman)
Where would this countdown be without the ultimate 90s franchise of: “The X Files”? This movie was probably at the peek of X Files fame and recognition and came at a time when everybody thought it couldn’t get any better. And how wrong we all were! I could probably talk about this film for hours on end because The X Files is very dear to me, as I’m sure if you’re reading this and hence probably a child of the 90s, it is to you too.
7. Forrest Gump (1994, Robert Zemeckis)
Tom Hanks won his second Academy Award for his portrayal of Forrest Gump, a not-so-bright athlete from Alabama who stole the hearts of many in this story of his life. Beautifully filmed by the great Robert Zemeckis the film takes the audience through the history of America through the eyes of the innocent and childlike Forrest Gump. Incredibly moving and also holds one of cinema’s greatest quotes: “Run, Forrest! Run!”
6. The Sixth Sense (1999, M. Night Shyamalan)
This is a movie I remember seeing countless times in the 1990s, despite only being 9 years old upon its release. This is an incredible movie which manages to scare and move the audience in equal proportions. A favourite for many and amazing work by Mr. Shyamalan.
5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994, Frank Darabont)
An extremely moving tale of an innocent prisoner seeking freedom from Shawshank prison. Based on a story by Stephen King this is an affecting story, beautifully filmed and easily one of the greatest films of the 90s, if not all time.
4. Jurassic Park (1993, Steven Spielberg)
Steven Spielberg is the one who beat Star Wars Episode IV to the number one spot as the highest grossing movie worldwide with this movie, and rightfully so. This is a wonderful escapist movie that brings back memories of parents removing me from the room whenever anyone got eaten! Definitely deserves a spot in the ranking.
3. The Matrix (1999, Andy & Larry Wachowski)
This visual spectacular wowed critics upon its release, however some less enthused critics didn’t like its ‘too-different’ style. If you ask me, these people are idiots! This is a brilliant movie combining a terrifically intricate plot with amazing special effects and innovative cinematic techniques! A must have in any DVD collection!
2. Pulp Fiction (1994, Quentin Tarantino)
Probably Mr Tarantino’s greatest achievement, Pulp Fiction amongst Tarantino’s other work is a God among many kings. But this is the one that did it for me. This film canonised Tarantino’s status as a saint among filmmakers and it’s a title he holds proudly to this day.
1. Titanic (1997, James Cameron)
The second appearance from James Cameron with the highest grossing movie to date: Titanic. This is a beautifully done piece, subtly blending romance, disaster, action and, at times, comedy to create the ultimate entertainment experience. This is a film I watched repeatedly in the 90s, if not for the romance then for the adventure and the history and fact behind the story. It’s beautifully written by Mr Cameron himself and the on screen chemistry between all the actors is amazing. It truly is a film for everyone and it’s no wonder that it’s still number one today.
