Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Best Movies That Totally Epitomize The 1990s

People Share The Best Movies That Totally Epitomize The 1990s
Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash

The 90s were a magical time.


We were past the overloaded pop-culture fest of the 80s and weren't quite to the optimistic cynicism of the 00s. The 90s were their own kind of mad, with films and movies embodying the ideas of the time.

Hope. Music. Rebellion. Confronting the idea that one day we're going to have to grow up and how to fight it.

And sometimes, those movies hold up extremely well, giving you the feeling it's 1995 again, you're in the theater with your buddies, and Will Smith is going to turn in a good performance.

Reddit user, noisyturtle, wanted to know how to relive the 90s when they asked:

"What is the most '90s movie ever?"

You could argue there was something magical about that time, something that maybe the 80s and the 00s couldn't quite capture. A cynical-type of hopeful glance at a world coming our way, and how we would ready ourselves for this.

Peter Pan grew up? Oh no!

We Peaked

"Independence Day. Cheesy, semi serious at times, and ends with the main characters smoking cigars."

Batmanlover1

"I stand by my statement that Independence Day represented the absolute peak of American power, hubris and self-confidence on the world stage. It's been all downhill from there."

Begle1

There You Are, Peter

"Hook. Something about that film just makes it feel like the 90's. So magical. Miss you Robin."

ok_chaos42

"my gramma recorded Hook on vhs waay back when, i watched every other weekend for yeaars, along with ninja turtles 2, til the tape wore out and she ended up getting me a real copy. i had a whole bunch of Hook action ficures n everything. watching it now makes me smile still, i get to see robin save the day and brings up some good memories of ol gramma G."

buckut

An Army Of Talking Buttocks Rise

"Ace Ventura, Pet Detective"

Mariska_vanDriel

"Warning: Aholes in mirror are closer than they appear!"

-Jim Carey

blackout-loud

We really thought music was going to play a much larger role in our lives back then. While music is still around, it certainly doesn't hold the same weight as 90s films portrayed it having.

Record Stores Are Forever, Man!

"Empire Records"

pulp-fictional

"I think this one wins. A movie about a cd/record store under threat of being taken over by the chain cd/record monopoly with the full grunge attire to boot. Man I miss the 90s."

Skylineviewz

"Not my favorite movie of the 90s, but definitely the one that captures the feel of the decade best. There's even a post credits bonus music video with the Gin Blossoms if memory serves"

pursuitofleisure

Trick Question...

"Airheads has to rank up there."

"Fraser, Buscemi and Sandler. Radio was still sort of relevant."

"Farley in a guest role?"

The_Soapmakers

"Lemmy is God."

Tobias_Flenders

The 90s Were A Time Of Change

"10 Things I Hate About You"

wildblueheron

"Very late 90s, almost early 2000 for me."

DANCE5WITHWOLVE5

"Yeah...they are almost 2 different eras. Early to mid 90s grunge era was more subdued, cynical, apathetic. Somewhere around 97, things quickly changed to more colorful, upbeat, "poppy"... almost like the 80s were starting again."

Cool_Dark_Place

And then there's these, films that fully embody the outlandish, unrealistic expectations we though the world was going to deliver us in the 90s but never did.

Fortunately, we have the movies to revisit that wonderful period of life.

Just As Shakespeare Intended

"Romeo+Juliet. That soundtrack was everything."

"Kids. It's spooky how much of that movie was accurate to growing up in the city."

ChiAnndego

Pure. 90s. Cringe.

"Reality Bites"

andtheyweresinging

"Reality bites is the most gen x phrase ever"

Echterspieler

"21 year old me seeing that movie in the theater had a very different opinion about the main characters than 46 year old me when I watched it on tv a few years ago."

Kellyros

Everywhere In LA Takes 20 Minutes

"Clueless"

IntoTheMystic1

"I had another thought, but yours is actually the right answer."

dachshundaholic

"LUUUUCCCYYYYYYY!!! Where’s my white collarless shirt from Fred SEGAL?!?!?"

therealpanserbjorne

Too Light For You?

"The Craft"

dead-crimson

"YES! For those too ~alternative~ for Clueless and routinely hung out in the occult section of Waldenbooks at the mall."

madame-brastrap

A Movie That Came Out Thirty Years Ago To Remind You What It's Like To Be In Your 20s

"Clerks"

uwroo

"I’m not even supposed to be here today!"

donniedarko955

"I feel that mall rats is far more 90’s. Especially since something like that couldn’t be realistic long after that point."

"With clerks being black and white it feels more timeless."

shellwe

90s Kids. With. Attitude.

"Home Alone"

llcucf80

"this is embarrassingly too far down the list. come on Reddit. It's even December now!"

Miseryy

We can never go back. However, that's what films are for, aren't they? A way to capture the moment, allowing us to travel to a place in time we're nostalgic for.

And all of that fashion.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

ICE agents at Atlanta airport
Megan Varner/Getty Images

The White House Just Tried To Rebrand ICE Agents As 'NICE Agents' With Hilariously Propagandistic Graphic

The White House was criticized for sharing an image to rebrand ICE agents as "NICE" agents, including a poster of an agent kneeling next to a child that has been condemned as blatant propaganda.

The decision came after President Donald Trump shared a post from a supporter urging him to change the name of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to National Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would change the acronym from ICE to NICE. Trump said in a post on Truth Social it would be a "GREAT IDEA!!!"

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jimmy Failla
Fox News

Fox News Reporters Caught On Hot Mic Joking About How Lax Security Was Before Correspondents' Dinner

Fox News reporters were criticized after they were caught on a hot mic joking about the unusually lax security at the White House Correspondents Association dinner before a shooting disrupted the event.

Their commentary followed a security scare at the Washington Hilton, where President Donald Trump and senior officials were quickly moved to safety after shots rang out outside the ballroom. Investigators believe the suspect fired one or two rounds. The Secret Service returned fire but missed, and the suspect was later apprehended near a staircase leading into the ballroom.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of King Charles shaking hands with Donald Trump
@AdamJSchwarz/X

Trump Just Totally Met His Match When He Tried His Macho Handshake On King Charles In Viral Clip

President Donald Trump was widely criticized for attempting his awkward tug-of-war-style handshake while greeting King Charles III at the White House on Monday, only for Charles to shut him down.

Charles addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday, becoming only the second British monarch to do so after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who spoke in 1991. His speech came as Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain’s refusal to back the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Pastor Calls Out Christians Who Claim 'God Protected' Trump At Correspondents' Dinner In Spot-On Tweet

Reverend Benjamin Cremer, a pastor and writer who often comments on the intersection of politics and Christianity, called out MAGA supporters' reaction to the shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and lamented the idolization of President Donald Trump.

Cremer's words followed a security scare at the Washington Hilton, where Trump and senior officials were quickly moved to safety after shots rang out outside the ballroom. Investigators believe the suspect fired one or two rounds. The Secret Service returned fire but missed, and the suspect was later apprehended near a staircase leading into the ballroom.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mara Wilson
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Former Child Actor Mara Wilson Reveals Heartbreakingly Disturbing Reason That Led To Her Not Wanting To Act Anymore

You probably know her as Matilda or possibly as the youngest daughter, Natalie Hillard, in Mrs. Doubtfire, or maybe the inquisitive and too-smart-for-her-age Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street.

But for former child actor Mara Wilson, that's where most people's knowledge of her stops, and the reasons behind that are heartbreaking.

Keep ReadingShow less