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63 Best 90s Movies that Look, Sound & Feel Like the 90s

Looking for a list of the best 90s movies that look, sound, and feel like the 90s?

Congratulations, you found it!

This list only contains the best movies written, produced and set in the 90s. Movies with an authentic 90s flavour, sure to inspire nostalgia.

The list contains iconic 90s movies like Clueless, Friday, and Empire Records. It also contains films that were more critically successful.

What makes each film one of the best 90s movies written, produced, and set in the 90s?

Each movie boasts one or more of the following:

• Internet Movie Database (IMDb) user score of 7.0 (out of 10) or higher
• Rotten Tomatoes (RT) “tomatometer” freshness score of 70% or higher (as voted by RT critics)
• RT audience score of 70% or higher
• Metacritic “metascore” of 70% or higher (as voted by third party film critics)

(Except Bio-Dome, I added that movie because I think it’s funny, and it reminds me of the 90s.)

I determined each movie’s rank by combining its IMDb, Metacritic, and Rotten Tomatoes (critic and viewer) scores, and then dividing that number by 4 to calculate an “average score.”

This generated a ranking score that reflects a balanced perspective.

The various ranking scores and metrics reveal interesting, sometimes surprising, insights into the highest and lowest-ranking films.

But I didn’t stop there. After compiling the list, I grouped the films according to genre. Searching for patterns that shed light on why viewers and/or critics ranked each movie favourably, or less than favourably.

If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into these movies, let’s meet up down below, after you’re finished reviewing the list.

The Best 90s Movies with Authentic 90s Vibes

*click the movie title if you’d like to watch any of the movie’s trailer to refresh your memory

Rank	Movie Title	Release Date	Avg. Rating	RT Audience Score	RT Critic Score	Imdb rating	Metacritic score
1	The Truman Show	1998	89	89	94	8.2	90
2	Before Sunrise	1995	88	93	100	8.1	77
3	Being John Malkovich	1999	87	87	94	7.7	90
4	American Beauty	1999	87	93	87	8.3	84
5	Reservoir Dogs	1992	87	94	90	8.3	79
6	Good Will Hunting	1997	86	97	94	8.3	71
7	The Usual Suspects	1995	86	96	87	8.5	77
8	Rushmore	1998	86	91	90	7.6	86
9	Heat	1995	84	94	83	8.3	76
10	Groundhog Day	1993	84	88	94	8	72
11	Fight Club	1999	83	96	80	8.8	66
12	Face/Off	1997	83	82	93	7.3	82
13	Se7en	1995	82	95	83	8.6	65
14	Magnolia	1999	82	82	89	8	77
15	American History X	1998	82	96	84	8.5	62
16	Election	1999	82	79	92	7.3	83
17	Clerks	1994	82	89	90	7.7	70
18	The Big Lebowski	1998	81	93	80	8.1	71
19	True Romance	1993	81	93	93	7.9	59
20	The Sixth Sense	1999	81	86	90	8.2	64
21	Speed	1994	81	76	95	7.3	78
22	In the Line of Fire	1993	80	79	96	7.2	74
23	Swingers	1996	80	89	88	7.2	71
24	The Professional (Léon)	1994	80	95	74	8.5	64
25	Office Space	1999	80	93	81	7.6	68
26	Grosse Pointe Blank	1997	79	86	82	7.3	76
27	As Good as It Gets	1997	79	86	86	7.7	67
28	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels	1998	79	93	75	8.1	66
29	Chasing Amy	1997	78	87	83	7.2	71
30	Go	1999	78	91	78	7.2	72
31	Jerry Maguire	1996	78	84	79	7.3	77
32	Love Jones	1997	78	97	76	7.3	65
33	The Rainmaker	1997	76	78	82	7.2	72
34	Scream	1996	75	80	81	7.4	65
35	The Game	1997	75	84	77	7.7	61
36	Funny Games	1997	75	72	83	7.5	69
37	Singles	1992	75	73	79	6.7	80
38	Clueless	1995	74	76	81	6.9	68
39	Friday	1995	73	91	76	7.2	54
40	Falling Down	1993	73	84	75	7.6	56
41	Wayne’s World	1992	73	84	79	7	57
42	The Blair Witch Project	1999	72	86	57	6.5	81
43	Enemy of the State	1998	72	78	71	7.3	67
44	The Negotiator	1998	72	74	79	7.3	62
45	There’s Something About Mary	1998	71	61	84	7.1	69
46	The Rock	1996	71	85	67	7.4	58
47	True Lies	1994	71	70	76	7.3	63
48	Natural Born Killers	1994	70	81	51	7.2	74
49	Die Hard With A Vengeance	1995	69	83	59	7.6	58
50	Dumb and Dumber	1994	67	84	68	7.3	41
51	Cruel Intentions	1999	65	80	54	6.8	56
52	Reality Bites	1994	64	74	62	6.6	54
53	Kids	1995	64	77	46	7	63
54	Mallrats	1995	63	82	58	7	41
55	American Pie	1999	63	61	61	7	58
56	The Craft	1996	60	65	57	6.4	52
57	The Boondock Saints	1999	59	91	26	7.6	44
58	Varsity Blues	1999	59	76	45	6.5	50
59	Can’t Hardly Wait	1998	55	63	40	6.5	52
60	She’s All That	1999	55	54	55	5.9	51
61	Empire Records	1995	53	83	31	6.7	30
62	Half Baked	1998	48	28	81	6.6	16
63	Bio-Dome	1996	25	51	4	4.4	1

Deeper Analysis of the Best 90s Movies that Reflect the 90s Aesthetic

Sweet! I’m happy you decided to explore these movies a little further. They really are a unique lens for looking back at the 90s.

For context, I was born in 1980 and spent most of the 90s as a teenager. I spent a lot of time (maybe too much time) watching movies in the 90s.

I’ve seen all 63 movies on the list, and confirm that they all look, sound, and feel like the 90s.

I can also confirm that they’re all decent movies, in their own unique ways.

Except There’s Something About Mary. I didn’t like it, and actually turned it off before finishing it.

In my opinion, Mary’s brother Warren, a person with a developmental disability, is depicted in a dehumanizing way that propagates harmful stereotypes.

However, the other 62 films are worthy of recognition as being amongst the best 90s movies that capture the essence of the 90s.

As mentioned above, I grouped the movies by genre to look for patterns.

While it’s difficult to make too many generalizations about such a diverse collection of movies, released over a large period of time, I’ll point out what I noticed.

Please note, that for the rest of the article, anytime you see the term “best 90s movie(s),” it references to the best 90s movies created in the 90s that look, feel, and sound like the 90s.

Analysis of the Best 90s Movies by Genre

Drama

American Beauty (1999), Good Will Hunting (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Before Sunrise (1995), Rushmore (1998), American History X (1998), Magnolia (1999), Love Jones (1997), The Rainmaker (1997), Election (1999), Fight Club (1999)

The best 90s movies within the drama genre are often characterized by their emotional depth. As well as their focus on complex human experiences.

Comparison with 80s Dramas

80s dramas were often presented in straightforward narratives.

In contrast, 90s dramas such as Magnolia and The Truman Show experimented with more complex and unconventional storytelling. Weaving multiple storylines or exploring meta-narratives.

Both decades produced films with rich character development.

However, 90s dramas delved into darker and more introspective themes. Such as existential crises in American Beauty and racial tensions in American History X.

Reflecting a shift towards more serious and gritty subject matter.

Dramas like Fight Club explored the complexities of the human mind and identity, which were less prominent themes in 80s dramas.

Notable 90s Drama Trends

Movies like American Beauty and Good Will Hunting were widely praised for their impactful storytelling and strong character development.

Love Jones had moderate box office success, despite being as smart, as it is romantic.

Love Jones was also groundbreaking in its depiction of urban black life. A space and community that historically wasn’t depicted in meaningful ways up until this era.

The Truman Show introduced a unique narrative, exploring the line between reality and media influence.

An important theme during a time when “reality TV” was becoming more popular. Infiltrating spaces that were previously considered private.

American History X tackled the heavy theme of racism and redemption in an explicit way.

Making it hard to look away, or glaze over the violence that people still face, because of the colour of their skin.

This movie still continues to be discussed, debated, and disputed. It’s a complicated story, that if nothing else, sparks important conversations.

Fight Club challenged societal norms and consumer culture with its dark, philosophical narrative.

It went on to gain a strong cult following despite mixed initial reviews.

Fight Club was adapted from a book by Chuck Palahniuk. It showcases the author’s unique style, and the anti-consumerism, pro-individual empowerment themes Palahniuk is known for.

These themes would continue to be important in the 90s as the digital sharing economy was being created.

Influence of 90s Drama Movies on Modern Cinema

Modern dramas continue to draw inspiration from the 90s emphasis on character depth and complex narratives.

Films like Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight follow the 90s tradition of exploring deep emotional and social issues.

The innovative narrative structures of Magnolia and The Truman Show have influenced contemporary films like Babel and Birdman, which use multiple storylines and meta-commentary.

The existential themes explored in Fight Club continue to inspire modern dramas such as Black Swan and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Crime and Thriller

Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Usual Suspects (1995), Heat (1995), Se7en (1995), Face/Off (1997), True Romance (1993), In the Line of Fire (1993), The Professional (Léon) (1994), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), The Game (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), The Negotiator (1998), Natural Born Killers (1994), Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995), The Rock (1996), True Lies (1994)

90s Crime and thriller films are noted for their intense narratives, complex characters, and stylized violence.

90s heist films are also credited by many, with reviving the genre after a decade and a half of relative dormancy.

Comparison with 80s Crime and Thrillers

80s crime and thrillers tended to focus on action-packed plots with clear heroes and villains.

In contrast, 90s films such as The Usual Suspects and Se7en offered more intricate plots, complex characters, and darker themes.

Emphasizing psychological depth and moral ambiguity.

Notable 90s Crime and Thriller Trends

Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects stood out for their intricate plots and unexpected twists. Both films quickly becoming cult classics.

Heat is often praised for being one of, if not the, best heist thrillers ever made.

The film is also anchored by incredibly strong performances feom Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

At the time, Pacino and De Niro were at the top of their game and were pretty much a sure bet for box office success.

But this was the first time we’d ever seen them on screen at the same time. Making their pairing an event, in and of itself.

Se7en and Face/Off pushed the boundaries of the thriller genre with their dark, philosophical themes and high-octane action.

True Romance was written by Quentin Tarantino but directed by Tony Scott (Days of Thunder, Top Gun). It was cool, goofy, face-paced, exciting, and over-the-top all at the same time.

True Romance and Reservoir Dogs established Tarantino’s trademark style.

Fans quickly became enthralled with his style of blending multiple genres to tell multiple stories.

All of which converge brilliantly in an epic climax, typically involving a high stakes shootout, as noted by Roger Ebert in his review of True Romance.

Tarantino’s movies, and movies like Heat, brought a new type of stylized action to the screen that continues to influence movies today.

Leon: The Professional is a gritty and violent example of deep and interesting narrative storytelling.

The story is abut a professional hitman who reluctantly takes in a 12-year old girl.

Their relationship develops into that of a teacher and student. Subverting the master and apprentice movie trope in unusual and thought-provoking ways.

The Game and Enemy of the State provided thrilling narratives centred around paranoia and surveillance.

Influence of 90s Crime and Thriller Movies on Modern Cinema

Many modern crime movies and thrillers have adopted a 90s style of storytelling that involves complex narratives and character-driven stories.

Films like Inception and Sicario reflect the influence of 90s innovations in plot structure and character complexity.

Comedy

Groundhog Day (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998), Clerks (1994), Office Space (1999), As Good as It Gets (1997), Swingers (1996), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Chasing Amy (1997), Go (1999), Jerry Maguire (1996), Scream (1996), Funny Games (1997), Singles (1992), Clueless (1995), Friday (1995), Wayne’s World (1992), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Mallrats (1995), American Pie (1999), Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), She’s All That (1999), Empire Records (1995), Bio-Dome (1996)

90s comedies varied widely in style and substance, from satirical and dark humour, to light-hearted and romantic.

Comparison with 80s Comedy

Popular 80s comedies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Breakfast Club often focused on high school and teenage experiences. Blending humour and heartfelt moments.

In the 90s, comedies such as Clueless and American Pie continued this trend but added edgier humour and more explicit content.

Both decades used comedy to reflect and critique contemporary culture.

However, 90s comedies often had a more cynical and ironic tone. Reflecting a shift towards postmodern sensibilities.

Notable 90s Comedy Trends

Groundhog Day and The Big Lebowski became cult classics for their unique premises and memorable characters.

Clerks and Office Space became known for their authentic depictions of mundane everyday life.

Both movies don’t sound that interesting when you read their synopsis, but that’s part of their appeal.

They both manage to find laughs in the absurdity of the ordinary, everyday monotony of working a 9-5.

As Good as It Gets and Jerry Maguire combined humour with emotional depth. Earning critical acclaim for their performances and heartwarming narratives.

Swingers and Grosse Pointe Blank offered witty dialogues and relatable themes (minus being a hitman of course.

These movies are cool, funny, and surprisingly endearing.

Clueless captures the fashion and culture of the 90s and is aimed at teens. The same teens it also critiques and spoofs as it depicts a satirical view of high school in the 90s.

It’s actually a cute movie and is very funny. A great example of a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, while celebrating some of the silliness that it makes fun of.

Dumb and Dumber thrives on outrageous humour and memorable gags, appealing more to mainstream audiences.

This was peak Jim Carey. A time when everything he said seemed to be funny.

The movie is absurd and ridiculous, but in the best ways possible.

Some of the most memorable parts are the most obscure. My personal fave is the little speed wobble that Lloyd’s mini motorbike does when he’s riding it on the desert highway.

Funny for Some; Not for Others

Mallrats, Friday, and Bio-Dome struggled with critics, but found a niche audience (like me), who appreciated their irreverent humour and cult appeal.

Movies like these 3, are important because they provide an entertainment space for people looking for something different.

Even if they are ridiculous, goofy, and sometimes so stupid, it’s funny.

If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing either of these movies, you’ll know that they’re full of memorable one liners like Bye Felicia,” “that kid is back on the escalator,” and “grape smugglers.”

Influence of 90s Comedy on Modern Cinema

Modern comedies often draw from the irreverent and satirical style of 90s films.

The influence of The Big Lebowski can be seen in contemporary cult comedies like Napoleon Dynamite.

Additionally, the workplace humour of Office Space paved the way for TV shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation.

Following the release of Clerks, Kevin Smith quickly established himself as a marquee director.

A comic book nerd that was hilarious in front of the camera, and who was capable of writing characters that people could relate to, while growing up in he 90s.

Smith’s impact on the film industry showcased what low-budget indie filmmaking was capable of amidst the sea of Hollywood big-budget spectacles.

Inspiring generations of filmmakers that followed him.

Horror and Psychological Thrillers

Scream (1996), Funny Games (1997), The Sixth Sense (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The horror and psychological thriller genre in the 90s was marked by innovative storytelling and deep psychological explorations.

Comparison with 80s Horror and Psychological Thrillers

Some popular 80s horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Fly focused on supernatural and body horror with explicit effects.

In contrast, some 90s horror like The Blair Witch Project and The Sixth Sense emphasized psychological horror and atmosphere, using subtlety and suggestion to create fear.

Scream revitalized the slasher genre by blending self-aware humour with traditional horror elements. Effectively creating a new template for modern horror films.

Notable 90s Horror and Thriller Trends

The Sixth Sense captivated audiences with its supernatural elements and iconic twist ending.

Traits its writer M. Night Shyamalan, became known for following the success of the film.

The Blair Witch Project revolutionized the horror genre with its found footage style. Creating a sense of realism and immediacy.

It proved that an indie film with a minimal budget, that relied on what audiences imagined, being scarier than anything shown on-screen, could be a box office success.

The marketing of the film as being a “true” story using “real” found footage was also genius. It went viral before going viral was a thing.

Funny Games took a more disturbing approach by directly confronting viewers with their own complicity in consuming violent media. Making it a unique and unsettling psychological thriller.

Influence of 90s Horror and Thrillers on Modern Cinema

The psychological and atmospheric approach of 90s horror has greatly influenced modern horror films.

The found footage style of The Blair Witch Project inspired films like Paranormal Activity and a number of others.

The psychological depth and twist endings of The Sixth Sense have become a staple in modern horror. Influencing movies like The Others and The Babadook.

The self-referential and meta-humor introduced by Scream can be seen in contemporary horror films like Cabin in the Woods.

Funny Games remains influential for its bold, confrontational style. Echoed in films that seek to challenge and provoke audiences, such as The Strangers.

Movies That Can’t Be Defined by a Singular Genre

Imdb classifies Being John Malkovich as a Comedy, Drama, Fantasy.

It offers a surreal exploration of identity and consciousness. Appealing to both critics and audiences for its originality and imaginative storytelling.

The movie was written by Charlie Kaufman, and directed by Spike Jonze. To people that became important in Hollywood in large part because of this movie.

In the movie, a man finds a portal into the mind of John Malkovich and then he and his wife take turns inhabiting Malkovich. Experiencing things that he experiences, and influencing him as if he is their puppet.

They then decide to sell that experience to others, while Malkovich struggles with losing control of his mind, but not knowing why.

The movie was celebrated for its unique concept and execution. People that like this movie, often LOVE this movie. Appreciating its unconventional storytelling.

This movie is hard to categorize. As seen with this film, Tarantino’s movies, and other 90s filmmakers and writers, blending genres and mashing them together to break typical genre conventions, was something that some 90s movies became known for.

It’s a technique and style that is still explored and appreciated in modern film.

Final Thoughts on the 63 Best 90s Movies

Grouping the best 90s movies by genre helps reveal the decade’s diverse cinematic landscape.

The 90s were a decade of innovation and transformation in film. With each genre pushing the boundaries of storytelling, character development, and thematic exploration.

These movies captured the essence of the 90s while setting new standards for modern cinema. Influencing the way stories are told and experienced today.

The innovations in storytelling, character development, and thematic depth from the 90s continue to influence modern cinema.

What are your thoughts on the importance of the 63 best 90s movies that look, sound, and feel like the 90s?

Drop a comment below to share your favourites, or to point out any patterns or trends that you noted.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a rad rest of your day!