The decade of the 1990s produced some of the best movies ever made. Whether you were a fan of action, comedy, drama, or romance films, there was something for everyone to enjoy in the 90s. The movies made in the 90s are a testament to the golden age of Hollywood, and many of them are still regarded as some of the best films ever made.
This article will discuss eight-five of the best 90s movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ detailed with their year of release, directors, writers, cast, IMDb Rating, and their short description. This will give you an idea of the great films before watching them. Without further ado, here are the best movies of the 90s.
Titanic (1997)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
The “Titanic” is the story of a young socialite who’s traveling to Philadelphia with her blue-blood fiance Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) to meet his rich snob of a family. But things change when she meets struggling artist Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and falls madly in love. When the “Titanic” sinks on its maiden voyage, Jack and Rose must fight to survive on a makeshift raft while enduring freezing temperatures and dangerous conditions.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
Director: Steve James
Writer: Steve James, Frederick Marx
Cast: Arthur Agee, William Gates, Emma Gates
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
This classic documentary tells the story of two inner-city kids from Chicago who dream of making it to the NBA. Arthur Agee and William Gates never give up on their hoop dreams despite enormous obstacles, including drugs, violence, and poverty. It is among the best movies of the 90s you need to watch.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Ted Tally, Thomas Harris
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Lawrence A. Bonney
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
In this Academy Award-winning thriller, FBI trainee Clarice Starling is sent to interview notorious cannibalistic killer Hannibal Lecter to find clues that might help her find another serial killer, known only as “Buffalo Bill.” It is among the best 90s horror movies you need to watch.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster’s moll, and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedy crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time. You need to watch this movie for the whole story.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Thomas Keneally
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
The extraordinary true story of a Nazi party member risking his life to save more than 1,000 Jews from the gas chambers. This is among the best 90s movies you need to find and watch as soon as possible. You need to see how the Jewish got persecuted by the Nazis. It is among the best 90s action movies that you should watch.
Fargo (1996)
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car dealer, is bursting at the seams with debt, but he’s got a plan. He’s going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It’s going to be a snap, and nobody’s going to get hurt. This is until people start dying. You need to watch this movie to get the whole story.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Director: Frank Darabont
Writer: Stephen King, Frank Darabont
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
IMDb Rating: 9.3/10
Wrongly convicted of the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other prisoners, including an older inmate named Red, for his quiet strength and unquenchable spirit.
GoodFellas (1990)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Based on the true story of Henry Hill and his life in the mob, from his start as a small-time hood to his rise to become one of the most powerful men in New York City. This is one of the best 90s movies you need to watch before the end of time.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Writers: Linda Woolverton, Brenda Chapman, Chris Sanders
Cast: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Jesse Corti
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who’s been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. It is one of the best 90s movies on Netflix.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: Winston Groom, Eric Roth
Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
The presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the events of Vietnam, Watergate, and other history unfold through the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75. It is among the best movies of the 90s ever produced and one that you should watch as soon as possible.
Boyz n the Hood (1991)
Director: John Singleton
Writer: John Singleton
Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Lawrence Fishburne, Hudhail Al-Amir
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
This powerful coming-of-age drama focuses on three young black men growing up in South Central Los Angeles. With the absence of their fathers, Doughboy and his younger brothers Ricky and Tre are forced to assume adult roles to survive. It is one of the best 90s action movies ever produced.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Robert Rodat
Cast: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
As the invasion of Normandy approaches, an Army officer orders a private to find out if his brother is still alive. The young man’s mission is made more difficult by discovering truths about his brother’s situation. It is among the best 90s horror movies you need to watch.
Fight Club (1999)
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Jim Uhls, Chuck Palahniuk
Cast: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Meat Loaf
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground “fight clubs” forming in every city. But when the secret of the fight clubs gets out, the fights go too far.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron, William Wisher
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
A cyborg assassin known as the Terminator is sent back in time to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines. The resistance sends a protector back to stop the Terminator. It is one of the best 90s movies you shouldn’t miss on your watch list.
Toy Story (1995)
Director: John Lasseter
Writer: Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, John Lasseter
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Woody, an old-fashioned cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy, sees his position as Andy’s favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear action figure. If you haven’t watched this movie yet, it is now the right time to find and watch it.
The Crying Game (1992)
Director: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Cast: Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, Forest Whitaker
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
A British soldier is held captive in Northern Ireland. He befriends a local boy, eventually murdered by his IRA captors. The soldier is then released and returns to England. Years later, he is contacted by the IRA again, asking him to assassinate a member of their organization.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Director: Harold Ramis
Writer: Harold Ramis, Danny Rubin
Cast: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
A weatherman is sent to cover a story about Groundhog Day. He finds himself living the same day over and over again. This is among the best movies ever released and one that you should find and watch when free.
The Matrix (1999)
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. This is among the best 90s movies you need to watch as soon as possible.
Jackie Brown (1997)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Elmore Leonard
Cast: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Jackie Brown is a flight attendant who gets caught smuggling money for her gunrunner boss. The cops pressure her to help them catch the kingpin, but she manages to slip away. However, when Jackie finds out that the gang boss has sent some freelancers after her, she’s forced to contact an old flame who can help her.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
A young man working at a movie theater decides to make a film about his life and finds success. Meanwhile, the theater where he works closes down. Boogie nights is among the best movies of the 90s you need to watch.
Speed (1994)
Director: Jan de Bont
Writer: Graham Yost
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
A young cop must prevent a bomb from exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Writer: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
As a janitor at MIT, Will Hunting has incredible potential but is contemptuous of education. When the dean forces the genius to work with a renowned professor and Will’s working-class friends to uncover his potential, the young man is forced to come to terms with his own talents.
The Lion King (1994)
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Writer: Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts (adaptation), Linda Woolverton
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones (Voices)
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
A young lion cub named Simba can’t wait to be king. But his uncle Scar has other plans, and he forces Simba to exile. After growing up in the jungle, Simba finally confronts Scar and reclaims his rightful throne. This is among the best 90s movies in animation ever released.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writer: Stanley Kubrick, Frederic Raphael, Arthur Schnitzler
Cast: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
A doctor begins to have strange hallucinations after his wife tells him about her sexual fantasies. He then starts to spy on her and becomes increasingly suspicious that she may be having an affair. You need to find time and watch this fascinating movie.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Callie Khouri
Cast: Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Keitel
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Separated from her waitress girlfriend, Thelma embarks on a road trip with the unpredictable Louise. As their adventures spiral out of control, they hit upon timely topics like rape and murder. Find and watch this movie as soon as possible.
Scream (1996)
Director: Wes Craven
Writers: Kevin Williamson
Cast: David Arquette, Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
A masked figure known as Ghostface begins killing off teenagers, and as the body count begins rising, one girl and her friends must figure out who the killer is before they become his next victims.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Jeff ‘The Dude’ Lebowski is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, who is roughed up and has his precious rug peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down his namesake, who offers him a job to deliver the ransom from a kidnapping.
Heat (1995)
Director: Michael Mann
Writers: Michael Mann
Cast: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Neil McCauley is a professional thief who specializes in big, risky jobs. He’s also a consummate professional, always planning and underestimating his opponents. Vincent Hanna is a cop who knows that it’s only a matter of time before McCauley slips up and pays for his crimes. When the two men finally meet, they realize that they have more in common than either would care to admit.
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Director: Richard Linklater
Writers: Richard Linklater
Cast: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Sasha Jenson
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
A group of Texas teenagers spends one last day together in 1976, trying to get high, drink beer, and chase girls. This is one of the best 90s movies you need to include in your watch list. You will love everything in it as it is among the best 90s action movies.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Director: Henry Selick
Writers: Tim Burton, Michael McDowell, Caroline Thompson
Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
The king of HalloweenTown, Jack Skellington, suddenly finds Christmas Town and decides to give the holiday a try. But things don’t go as planned, and it’s up to Jack to make things right before Christmas is ruined forever!
The Piano (1993)
Director: Jane Campion
Writer: Jane Campion
Cast: Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Ada McGrath is a mute Scottish woman sent to New Zealand with her young daughter for an arranged marriage. She soon grows homesick and returns to Scotland, only to find that her husband is not interested in her. It is among the best movies from the 90s that is still popular.
Babe (1995)
Director: Chris Noonan
Writer: George Miller, Dick King-Smith, Chris Noonan
Cast: James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Christine Cavanaugh
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
The film tells the story of a pig named Babe and his adventures as a farm animal. Babe, an orphaned piglet, is chosen to be a sheep dog’s companion after accidentally causing havoc at a farmer’s market.
Babe: Pig in the City (1991)
Director: George Miller
Writer: George Miller, Judy Morris, Mark Lamprell
Cast: Magda Szubanski, Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Daily
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Since his first adventure, Babe has been living happily with the widow and her husband on their farm. But when their new baby turns out to have a pig’s tail, Babe is forced out of the house and must live on his own. He eventually stumbles upon a circus, where he becomes the star attraction.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Director: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Writer: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, Heather Donahue
Cast: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Three film students vanish after traveling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind. This is among the best 90s movies ever acted and one you shouldn’t miss on your watch list.
Clueless (1995)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Writer: Amy Heckerling
Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
A rich high school girl tries to boost a new pupil’s popularity but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way. The girl is Cher, the new pupil is Tai, and the story covers two school years.
L.A Confidential (1997)
Director: Curtis Hanson
Writer: James Ellroy (novel), Curtis Hanson, Brian Helgeland
Cast: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Three detectives in the L.A.P.D.’s corrupt underbelly investigate a series of murders that may be linked to a powerful senator. You need to watch this movie to get the full story. You will definitely like it. It is one of the best 90s movies on Netflix right now.
Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Director: Christopher Guest
Writer: Christopher Guest
Cast: Christopher Guest, Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
A small-town theatre group’s attempt to put on a musical about the town’s history is disrupted by the arrival of a Hollywood director. What happens next? You need to watch this awesome movie for the full story.
Men in Black (1997)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Ed Solomon, Lowell Cunningham
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
IMDb Rating 7.3/10
The discovery of an anomaly at the edge of our solar system sends an investigative team to the outer limits of the galaxy, where they meet an alien who’s posing as a human. What happens next? Please watch the movie to get the details.
Unforgiven (1992)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: David Webb Peoples
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when a corrupt lawman threatens him and his cattle crew. It is among the best 90s movies you need to find and watch, especially during this festive season.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
A millionaire industrialist creates a theme park featuring living dinosaurs from prehistoric DNA. Before long, the dinosaurs escape, running amok in the park and terrorizing the guests. You should watch this movie to see what happens next.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Director: Mike Figgis
Writer: John O’Brien (novel), Mike Figgis
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
A Hollywood writer decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. After he is too drunk to drive home, a prostitute talks him into renting a room for the night. The next morning, he wakes up determined to make the best of his situation, which turns out to be easier said than done.
Malcolm X (1992)
Director: Spike Lee
Writer: Arnold Perl, Alex Haley, Malcolm X (the Book)
Cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
This biopic of civil rights leader Malcolm X chronicles his life from birth to death, including his conversion to Islam and tenure as a Black Panther. If you understand who Malcolm X was, you need to find this one of the best movies of the 90s.
Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Director: Ang Lee
Writer: Emma Thompson (screenplay), Jane Austen (novel)
Cast: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, James Fleet
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
In this adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood must deal with the sudden loss of their father and the resulting financial difficulties. They both find love but in very different ways.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: J.F. Lawton (screenplay)
Cast: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
This is one of the best movies you need to watch when free. Here, a man in legal business hires an escort for his social events. However, he falls in love with the prostitute on the visits, and the rest is history. What happens next? Please watch the movie for the details.
The Truman Show (1998)
Director: Peter Weir
Writer: Andrew Niccol (screenplay)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Truman Burbank is a man whose entire life has been televised into one reality show without his knowledge. His only friend is the one cameraman who doesn’t follow him around. Truman thinks his life is normal but begins to notice things aren’t right and tries to find out what’s going on with his world.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan (screenplay)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
A boy haunted by ghosts (can’t see or feel) asks a psychic to help him. The psychic tells him he’s not dead and that the ghosts are trying to contact him for a reason. This is among the best 90s movies you need to watch one of these weekends.
The Fugitive (1993)
Director: Andrew Davis
Writer: David Twohy (screenplay), Jeb Stuart (story), Roy Huggins
Cast: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) is falsely convicted of murdering his wife. Dr. Sam Shephard (Samuel L Jackson) comes to believe that Dr. Kimble’s story was true and finds evidence that proves that he was framed by a respected businessman, Philip Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones). The two men work together to track down Dr. Kimble’s wife’s true killer, and Gerard finally gets his man at the top of a very tall building.
Se7en (1995)
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker
Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Two detectives, one young and motivated and the other with experience, track a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. The detectives grow closer and closer to him after each sin.
Set It Off (1996)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Writers: Kate Lanier (screenplay), Takashi Bufford
Cast: Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Four African-American women decide to get even with the people that have hurt them. Cleopatra “Cleo” Sims is a brilliant businesswoman who was taken advantage of by a con artist, so she brings her friends Syd and Frankie together to plot out their revenge.
As Good As It Gets (1997)
Director: James L. Brooks
Writer: Mark Andrus (screenplay), James L. Brooks (story)
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Melvin Udall is a cranky, bigoted, and obsessive-compulsive writer who needs to take care of his dog and can’t stand the company of other people. When he’s forced to take in a neighbor, Carol Connelly, who is recovering from a break-up, he starts to change for the better. One of the best movies from the 90s you need to watch.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Six criminals are hired to rob a diamond store. They all have their own roles to play, but things soon go awry. Four of the six men are arrested, and the other two must track them down and figure out what went wrong.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Director: Cameron Crowe
Writer: Cameron Crowe
Cast: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renee Zellweger
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Jerry Maguire is a sports agent who is fired for telling the truth. He starts his own agency with the help of his assistant, and as they grow bigger, the pressure to keep up with more considerable clients increases. Jerry soon learns that it’s not just about money but also about humanity. It is one of the best 90s movies on Netflix you need to watch.
The Fifth Element (1997)
Director: Luc Besson
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
In the future, when a taxi driver needs to get somewhere quickly, he calls an air taxi. Korben Dallas is one such driver, and when he’s asked to transport a special package to the evil Mangalores, he gets caught up in a fight to save the world. It is among the best 90s movies you need to watch.
The English Patient (1996)
Director: Anthony Minghella
Writer: Anthony Minghella, Michael Ondaatje
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, William Dafoe
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The story of a badly burned man cared for by a nurse in an Italian villa during WWII. As his memories come back to him, we see the events that led to his current state. What happens next? Watch this movie for the whole story.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Director: Nora Ephron
Writer: Jeff Arch (screenplay), Nora Ephron (story), David S. Ward
Cast: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
A recently-widowed man’s son decides to call a radio station to find his father a new wife. The son’s plan works, and the man eventually falls in love with the woman he hears on the show. However, they have never met in person. This is a fascinating movie you need to watch.
Wayne’s World (1992)
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Writer: Mike Myers, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
Cast: Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Rob Lowe
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Wayne and Garth are two heavy-metal music fans who broadcast a local Public-access television show from Wayne’s parents’ basement. But when a sleazy TV exec moves in next door, the duo becomes reluctant local celebrities as they try to keep their program on the air and protect their neighborhood from encroaching big business.
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Writer: Ed Decter, John J. Strauss, Bobby, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
A young man gets a crush on his high school teacher and follows her to college but loses touch with her. Years later, he runs into her again, and they start dating. Unfortunately, she is still carrying around baggage from her past relationships.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Caroline Thompson, Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
In a Gothic fairy tale, an artificial man is left alone, and his inventor dies. He becomes a friend of a local girl, which brings him to the attention of her jealous boyfriend, who will lead to encounters with the town inhabitants.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Writer: Terry McMillan (novel), Ronald Bass
Cast: Taye Diggs, Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
A single mother and successful reggae artist travels to Jamaica to find the father she hasn’t seen in years and ends up finding love. However, her new relationship is tested when her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life.
Casino (1995)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Nicholas Pileggi (book), Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
This movie is a tale of deception, greed, and the love of money between two friends. One is a casino executive, and the other is a mafia enforcer. What happens in this movie? The pals compete against a gambling empire, a fast-loving socialite, and a fast-living life. You need to watch this movie to get the whole story.
Election (1999)
Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, Tom Perrota
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
A high school teacher’s personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections. What happens? This is among the best 90s movies that will leave you at the edge of your sofa. Find it now for the whole story.
Magnolia (1999)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast: Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Jason Robards
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
The lives of several people are shaken up after a car accident in the San Fernando Valley. You should watch this movie to see what happens and life after the accident. It is among the best 90s horror movies you need to watch.
The First Wives Club (1996)
Director: Hugh Wilson
Writer: Olivia Goldsmith (novel), Robert Harling
Cast: Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Three divorced women join together to get even with the men that did them wrong. What did the husbands do? They left for the younger women. If you are looking for a movie to watch this weekend, this is the one.
American Beauty (1999)
Director: Sam Mendes
Writer: Alan Ball
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
A suburban father in a mid-life crisis becomes obsessed with his daughter’s best friend. What happens next? You need to watch this movie to understand the whole story. It is among the best 90s movies that have left viewers with more questions than answers.
GoldenEye (1995)
Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Jeffrey Caine, Michael France, Ian Fleming
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
James Bond is back and better than ever in this action-packed thriller. When a ruthless media mogul tries to destabilize the world economy, Bond must outwit him and stop his evil plan. With help from beautiful Natalya Simonova (Famke Janssen) and Russian agent Xenia Onatopp (Joely Richardson), Bond must end the madman’s scheme and save the world from certain destruction.
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Director: Forest Whitaker
Writer: Terry McMillan, Ronald Bass
Cast: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Four very different women (all friends) find themselves waiting for something to happen in their lives. When they all start to experience some unusual coincidences, they begin to believe that something bigger is going on and their waiting is not in vain. As they come to terms with what this might mean for them, they must also deal with the emotional baggage from their pasts.
Ghost (1990)
Director: Jerry Zucker
Writer: Bruce Joel Rubin
Cast: Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
After Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is killed in a botched mugging, he begins watching over his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore) and best friend Carl (Tony Goldwyn). He learns that his death was part of a plot by an evil spirit called the “grim reaper” to collect souls early and teams up with a phony psychic (Whoopi Goldberg) to find the mastermind. One of the best movies from the 90s that’s still famous.
The Bestman (1999)
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Writer: Malcom D. Lee
Cast: Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
When Harper, a successful New York artist, falls in love with Nikki, a beautiful executive who is always in control, he realizes that she may be too good for him. As their relationship progresses and Harper gets to know Nikki’s large and close-knit family, he becomes increasingly convinced that her perfect home life might not mesh with his less than ideal one. You need to watch this movie for the whole story.
The Parent Trap (1998)
Director: Nancy Meyers
Writer: David Swift (screenplay), Erich Kastner, Nancy Meyers
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Twins Hallie and Annie were separated at birth after their parents divorced. Hallie, an all-star athlete, lives with her dad in California, and Annie, a cello prodigy, lives with her mom in Boston. When they accidentally switch places at a summer camp, they have to pretend to be each other until they get back home.
Friday (1995)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Writer: Ice Cube (screenplay), DJ Pooh
Cast: Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Craig and Smokey are two South Central Los Angeles teens who smoke weed, drink malt liquor, and chase women daily. When their favorite hangout spot is threatened by a redevelopment project, they have to find a new place to chill. It is among the best movies of the 90s you need to watch.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writer: William Shakespeare (play), Craig Pearce (screenplay), Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Director Baz Luhrmann’s colorful and contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic love story of two young star-crossed lovers. As their feuding families fight to destroy their love, Romeo and Juliet begin a secret affair and maneuver through a war between the Capulets and Montagues.
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Director: Wayne Wang
Writer: Amy Tan (novel), Ronald Bass (screenplay)
Cast: Rosalind Chao, Kieu Chinh, Tamlyn Tomita
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Four Chinese women in San Francisco invite their American-born daughters to join them for a week of celebration and reflection at a traditional tea house. The mothers all share stories about their lives in pre-revolutionary China and the immigrants’ experiences and problems of raising their four very Americanized daughters.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Director: Anthony Minghella
Writer: Patricia Highsmith (novel), Anthony Minghella (screenplay)
Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Tom Ripley is a talented mimic, liar, and thief. In the beginning, he kills a man named Dickie Greenleaf for his identity. Ripley becomes rich and pretends to be Greenleaf while assuming the young man’s life role until everyone believes that Tom is actually Greenleaf himself.
Elizabeth (1998)
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Writer: Michael Hirst (screenplay)
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Liz Giles, Rod Culbertson
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The early 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. A young girl, Elizabeth, is betrothed to a nobleman, but she falls in love with another and runs away to become a pirate. This is among the best movies from the 90s you need to include in your watch list.
Sliding Doors (1998)
Director: Peter Howitt
Writer: Peter Howitt
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
A London woman’s life diverges into parallel universes based on whether she catches a train, and one of these universes will undergo a future-changing shift when she comes face to face with herself just as her boyfriend is about to propose. You need to watch this movie as soon as possible.
The Bodyguard (1992)
Director: Mick Jackson
Writer: Lawrence Kasdan
Cast: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
In this movie, a former Secret Service agent gets hired to guard a pop singer whose lifestyle is complicated, just like the presidents. What does he do? It would be best to watch this movie to get the whole story.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
Director: David Mirkin
Writer: Robin Schiff (screenplay)
Cast: Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Janeane Garofalo
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Two ditzy women, long estranged from their high school classmates, go to their 10-year reunion, planning to lie about their lives and jobs. But when they get there, they find that most of their classmates are in the same boat. The two friends decide to come clean and have a great time anyway.
Sisters Act (1992)
Director: Emile Ardolino
Writer: Paul Rudnick
Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
When a singer witnesses a murder, she hides and finds refuge in a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds an even greater cause to fight for when she must save her fellow sisters from the clutches of a greedy developer. It is among the best 90s action movies you need to watch.
Selena (1997)
Director: Gregory Nava
Writer: Gregory Nava
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, John Seda
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
The story of Selena Quintanilla, a Tejano singer who rose to fame in the 1990s. The film follows her life from young adulthood to her tragic death at age 23. This is one of the best 90s movies you need to watch before the end of time.
Out of Sight (1998)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Frank (screenplay), Elmore Leonard (novel)
Cast: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Jack Foley, a smooth-talking thief who’s just broken out of jail, kidnaps a US Marshal and goes on the run with her. But as they grow closer during their trip south, Jack finds that escaping his past isn’t as easy as he hoped it would be.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Richard Linklater (screenplay), Kim Krizan (screenplay)
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
On a trip to Vienna, American Jesse and French Celine fall in love one night and impulsively cross the border into Hungary for a few hours. Once the couple comes back, they must face reality and separate. Jesse desperately wants to make a long-distance relationship work, but Celine isn’t sure if it’s what she wants.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Director: Mike Newell
Writer: Richard Curtis (screenplay)
Cast: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, James Fleet
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
At his best friend’s wedding, Charles is struck by the beauty of Carrie, who is there with her boyfriend. Later that night, he runs into Carrie and takes her home, but she escapes out of his bedroom window. Charles then begins a quest to find her that seems endless. It is one of the best 90s movies on Netflix you need to watch.
Tommy Boy (1995)
Director: Peter Segal
Writer: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner (screenplay)
Cast: Chris Farley, David Spade, Brian Dennehy
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Tommy Callahan is heir to an auto parts empire. But when his father dies, the board of directors shows him the doer. He’s forced to go on the road with the sales manager, who’ll stop at nothing to get Callahan out of the company by any means necessary.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Director: John Madden
Writer: Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard (screenplay), William Shakespeare (play)
Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
A struggling young playwright is forced to stage his latest work with an out-of-work actor and a disgraced thespian as the lead. This is one of the best movies you need to watch as soon as possible. It has all the details you will want to know in this movie.
Rushmore (1998)
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson (screenplay)
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
A young student at a prestigious private school, Max Fischer, falls for one of his teachers, Rosemary Cross. He competes with Herman Blume, an older industrialist, for her attention. What happens next? Let’s not squeeze all the juice. Watch this movie for the whole story.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay), Neil Gaiman
Cast: Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yuko Tanaka
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
A prince of a royal family is transformed into a demonic beast, Nago, after he tries to take the life of an infant prince. The young child who escaped this attack is found by wolves and grows up to become Ashitaka. He soon discovers that his destiny lies in putting an end to the war between the forest gods and humankind.
The ’90s was indeed an excellent time for movies. Not only did we get to enjoy some great comedies, but the animated movie genre took off with films like Shrek and Pixar’s Toy Story. You can watch these incredible movies on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. So what are you waiting for? Get some popcorn and a beverage of your choice and enjoy re-watching these best 90s movies on Netflix, just like you did when they first came out! And don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family. They’re sure to love it!
