The 1990s were a great time for cinema. During the decade,Disney experienced their Renaissance, dropping classics likeBeauty and the BeastandThe Lion Kingon an almost yearly basis,Star Warsreturned to the big screen with the release ofStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceand stars likeTom HanksandJim Carreydominated the box office. At the same time,a burgeoning independent film scene was growing, culminating in the release of all-time greats likeBefore SunriseandBeing John Malkovich.
However, while the ’90s was host to a seemingly endless list of timeless classics,there are a few that stand above the rest as absolutely essential watches; movies that are genuinely great films, but that have also left a huge impact on the film industry as a whole. These arethe 10 essential movies of the 1990s, ranked based on their level of enjoyability and overall impact.
10’The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
Directed by Jonathan Demme
Jonathan Demme’sThe Silence of the Lambsis, to this day,the only horror film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. StarringJodie FosterandSir Anthony Hopkins, the film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Foster) as she investigates a string of murderers perpetrated by serial killer “Buffalo Bill” (Ted Levine), with occasional assistance from Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins), an imprisoned, cannibalistic serial killer with insight into the case.
The Silence of the Lambsisan absolute masterclass in acting. Hopkins' is appropriately menacing as Lecter, bringing tension to each of his scenes with his presence alone, whileFoster is easy to root for as Starling, lending the film an engaging protagonist who is given a surprising amount of depth. Demme is also a notable asset to the film,adding a ton of suspense with his expert direction. The contributions of all three, supported byone of Hollywood’s most thrilling scripts, combine to makeTheSilence of the Lambsan essential ’90s film that everyone should see at least once.
The Silence of the Lambs
9’The Shawshank Redemption' (1994)
Directed by Frank Darabont
1994’sThe Shawshank Redemption, a silver screen adaptation of theStephen KingnovellaRita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, focuses on Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd Redding (Morgan Freeman), also known as “Red”, two convicts serving lengthy sentences at Shawshank State Prison. The film was a major critical success, earning itself seven Oscar nominations (including one for Best Picture), while stillwidely being viewed as one ofthe best adaptations of King’s worksto this day.
A large part of what makesShawshanksuch a stand-out isits exploration of male friendships.Andy and Red are able to make it through the hardships of the prison system primarily because of their bond with each other; the fact that they remain loyal to each other helps them to maintain hope. Their friendship is brilliantly brought to life by Robbins and Freeman,with Freeman earning himself a number of award nominationsin the wake of the film’s release. The fact that it’s a genuinely great drama anchored by some truly stellar performances makesThe Shawshank Redemptiona necessary watch for anyone catching up on their ’90s viewing.
The Shawshank Redemption
8’Clerks' (1994)
Directed by Kevin Smith
Directed byKevin Smithand produced on a shoestring budget,Clerksis an independent filmfocused on Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran), a convenience store clerk who comes in on his day off. Despite only expecting to cover for a few hours, Dante ends up stuck at work for the whole day, encountering a wide variety of annoying customers, all while being pestered by his best friend, Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson), who works at the video store next door. The film becamean icon of ’90s independent filmmaking, while alsolaunching Smith’s career.
An important part ofClerks' charm is the inexperience behind it. O’Halloran and Anderson aren’t the best actors in the world, but their performances feel exceedingly authentic, making Dante and Randal very memorable characters. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they’re backed by some especially well-written dialogue.Smith is extremely talented at writing rapid-fire, funny character interactions that are filled with plenty of genuine heart to balance out his signature crass humor, and that skill is on full display here, despite it being his debut feature. Like many ’90s comedies, it hasn’t aged perfectly, butClerksis still worth a watch, especially for any young filmmakers looking for inspiration.
7’Pulp Fiction' (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The sophomore film ofQuentin Tarantino,Pulp Fictionisperhaps the most iconic independent film from the ’90s. Featuring an all-star cast including heavy-hitters likeJohn Travolta,Samuel L. Jackson,Uma ThurmanandBruce Willis, the film was a box office hit, withTarantino’s distinct style making it an instant stand-out, both upon its initial release, and in the decades since.
Despite the fact that it was only his second film,Pulp Fictionsees Tarantino firing on all cylinders. The script is witty and engaging, enhanced by perfect casting, and each scene is masterfully shot and paced. Jackson and Travolta, who play hitmen Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega respectively, are also notable. The two actors share fantastic chemistry, with their partnership lending the film some of itsmost quotable lines. In the over 30 years since its release,Pulp Fictionhas remaineda fan favorite within Tarantino’s filmography, while also being heavily influential to independent filmmakers, solidifying it as one of the most essential ’90s movies.
Pulp Fiction
6’Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Directed by James Cameron
The follow-up to 1984’sThe Terminator, an already well-regarded film in its own right,Terminator 2: Judgment Dayis often viewed as one ofthe best action films of all time. Picking up years after its predecessor,T2followsa now hardened Sarah Connor(Linda Hamilton) as she defends her son, John (Edward Furlong), from the murderous T-1000 (Robert Patrick), with the help of a pacified T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Terminator 2: Judgment Daywas a massive hit at the box office, and for good reason.Schwarzenegger is at his bestin the film, effortlessly blasting and quipping his way through each of its memorable action set pieces, butHamilton is an equally compelling lead, given plenty of time to shine as Sarah.The shapeshifting T-1000 became an iconic villain, because of both Patrick’s intimidating performance and theincredible special effects work on display, much of which still holds up to this day. Simply said,Terminator 2is a nearly perfect action film, cementing it as an absolutely essential watch from the ’90s.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
5’Toy Story' (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter
Centered on Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll stricken with jealousy when he is seemingly replaced by Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a shiny, new astronaut action figure,Toy Storywas a huge hit with audiences and critics alike in 1995. Not only was it technologically groundbreaking in beingthe first animated film created using purely CGI, but it was also a genuinely great movie,winning over kids and their parents with its likable characters and engaging story.
To this day,Toy Storycontinues to beone ofthe best animated films of all time. The script, whileheartfelt and filled with great messages for the entire family, is also genuinely funny, effectively drawing on both Hanks and Allen’s backgrounds in comedy. It should also be noted thatToy Storyhas aged remarkably well visually. Humans look uncanny, as Pixar hadn’t quite mastered animating them yet, but Buzz, Woody and the rest of Andy’s (John Morris) toys still look fantastic, as does the world that they inhabit.The film’s influence is also undeniable as, after its release, hand-drawn animation was slowly phased out, only appearing in a few scattered releases here and there nowadays.Toy Story’s influence and quality make it an absolute must-watchfor anyone trying to revisit the ’90s.
4’The Matrix' (1999)
Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
Following Neo (Keanu Reeves), a man who learns that his entire life has only existed within a simulation before becoming a part of the Resistance against its artificial overlords,The Matrixwas a huge breath of fresh air for the action genre upon its initial release, showcasing new and innovative special effects, whilemasterfully integrating elements of gun fu, a style of action choreography originally popularized byJohn Woo. The film wound up being a huge financial success,heavily influencing where the action genre would go in the future.
To this day, the action sequences inThe Matrixare exceedingly fun to watch.The fight choreography is consistently entertaining, enhanced by the over-the-top visuals and Reeves' performance, which is frequently cheesy, but fitting nonetheless. The film is also notable for cementing Reeves as an action star in the minds of many, opening the door for theJohn Wickfranchise in the future.FutureMatrixmovies are admittedly a mixed bag, but the original isa must-watch for its action choreography alone.
The Matrix
3’Titanic' (1997)
Prior toTitanic, James Cameron had already made quite a name for himself in Hollywood. The director had been at the helm of a number of hits, includingTerminator 2andTrue Liesearlier in the ’90s, butTitanicreached a different level of success entirely. The iconic romance between Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet)surprised many by becomingthe highest-grossing film of its time, a title which it would hold on to until Cameron would dethrone himself with the release of 2009’sAvatar.
Perhaps the largest factor contributing toTitanic’s success was its core concept.The love story between Jack and Rose is captivating, with DiCaprio and Winslet being perfect in their roles,but setting the story around the well-known tragedy of the Titanic also allows it to be an impressive visual spectacleon par with Cameron’s more action-oriented work. The scenes depicting the sinking of the titular ocean liner are incredibly well-done, and effectively set the film apart from many of its contemporaries. Admittedly, the film’s pacing may not appeal to everyone, butTitanicis still an absolutely essential romance filmthat everyone should see at least once.
2’Schindler’s List' (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Schindler’s Listisbased on the real life story of Oskar Schindler(Liam Neeson), a German business person who, during World War II, secretly worked to protect members of the Jewish community from the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps by employing them at his factories.The film is an absolutely heartbreaking depictionof the Holocaust, opening the door for deeper conversations regarding the historical tragedy, making itnot just a great movie, but an incredibly important one.
In all honesty,Schindler’s Listis a perfect movie. Each and every performance is emotional and entirely convincing, with Neeson doing a brilliant job of showing Schindler’s gradual shift from being an apathetic bystander to a man desperate to save as many people as possible.Ralph Fiennesis another highlight as Amon Göth, a Nazi leader without a shred of humanity, save for a single scene where Fiennes gives viewers a peek behind the curtain, only to violently yank it shut once again. DirectorSteven Spielbergalso did some of the best work of his entire career, proving to audiences just how effectively he could tell a more mature story. Shortly after its release,Schindler’s Listwould win Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards, earning Spielberg his first Oscars, and solidifying it as an absolutely essential ’90s watch.
Schindler’s List
1’Jurassic Park' (1993)
The same year that Steven Spielberg releasedSchindler’s List, winning him an Oscar for Best Picture, he also releasedJurassic Park, which became the highest-grossing film of its time.Based on the hitMichael Crichtonnovelof the same name,Jurassic Parkfollows a group of scientists as they attempt to survive on an island overrun by dinosaurs after a visit to an experimental theme park takes a turn for the worse.
A huge factor inJurassic Park’s success was its breathtaking special effects work. Spielberg combined groundbreaking CGI with impressive animatronics fromspecial effects legendStan Winstonto create sometruly incredible dinosaurs that dazzled audiences in the ’90s, and still hold up today. However, while the dinosaurs are a great visual spectacle,the film wouldn’t have been the hit that it was without itscompelling cast of characters. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) has a genuinely great arc where he learns to be better with kids through working to ensure the safety of young Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards) Murphy, but Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are also very likable characters, guaranteeing thatthe audience is genuinely invested in the survival of the main cast the entire way through. The fact thatJurassic Parkis so enjoyable in every aspect makes itthe single most essential ’90s movie.
