50 Best ’90s Movies You Can Watch Right Now
While people talk about the auteur revolution of the 1970s or the warm, populist glow of the neon-drenched films of the 80s, the 1990s were an incredibly confident time in filmmaking. Romantic comedies have become deeper and darker; Black filmmakers were coming to the fore and telling their own stories; and technology has advanced to such an extent that things that were never possible before suddenly appeared on the screen. Plus, this was still an era when a mega-blockbuster could be an Edwardian period drama set on a ship with not a single superhero in sight. Strange days, indeed.
What does love have to do with this? (1993)
I’m not the only one to die on the “Angela Bassett Gets Robbed at the Oscars” hill (no disrespect to best actress Holly Hunter), but despite that, her performance here is extremely memorable, elevating what could have been a more standard biopic with a committed performance that never feels like mimicry. Tina Turner’s life story has such a powerful dramatic arc that it would be difficult for the film to go too far wrong. You can stream “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video .
Boyz in the Hood (1990)
Writer-director John Singleton’s debut earned him an Academy Award nomination, and the film’s reputation has only grown over time. The film follows Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who is sent to live with his father (Laurence Fishburne) in South Central Los Angeles, where he is beset by the pressures of gang culture. You can stream Boyz n the Hood on Starz or rent it on Prime Video .
Goodfellas (1990)
Martin Scorsese’s epic look at the life of real-life gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) is an undisputed classic of the genre. In fact, this is the film that many people think of first when gangster films are mentioned. Scorsese has rarely done better, but the acting in the film (Liotta, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco and Joe Pesci) is simply excellent. You can stream Goodfellas on Netflix and Max , or rent it from Prime Video .
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
It’s easy to forget that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan don’t date each other for almost the entire film, their chemistry is so memorable. A child’s plea (on a 1990s-style radio talk show) for a new girlfriend for his grieving father culminates in a memorable meeting at the Empire State Building. You can rent Sleepless in Seattle on Prime Video .
Waiting to Exhale (1996)
This Terry McMillan adaptation about the power of female friendship features a superb cast led by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon. You can stream Waiting to Exhale on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video .
Crow (1994)
Despite, or perhaps because of, the behind-the-scenes tragedy, Brandon Lee’s appearance and performance made the film a touchstone for a generation of tattooed, moody goth kids. Director Alex Proyas’ signature visual style is on full display here. You can stream The Crow on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Writer-director Richard Linklater’s surprisingly smart high school stoner film Dazed and Confused follows a group of rowdy Austin teenagers on the last day of school in 1976. The cast is great and the 70’s soundtrack is pretty good too. You can watch Dazed and Confused on Prime Video .
Boogie Nights (1997)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film, Hard Eight , became a cult classic but failed to make a dime at the box office; However, just a year later he broke through with this epic, set during the golden age of pornography in the 1970s. Mark Wahlberg plays Dirk Diggler, who rises and falls in his porn star career, and Julianne Moore and Burt Reynolds were nominated for Oscars, as was Anderson for his screenplay. You can rent Boogie Nights from Prime Video .
Eve’s Bayou (1997)
Kacy Lemmons’ Southern gothic drama is a sultry, genre-busting triumph. Jurnee Smollett plays 10-year-old Eva Baptiste, who witnesses her father’s betrayal but is forced to question her own eyes. Tensions rise within the family as the extent of her father’s betrayal becomes more apparent, and Eva turns to her Aunt Moselle, a gifted Hoodoo practitioner who helps Eva develop her own gifts. You can stream Eve’s Bayou on Peacock or rent it on Prime Video .
The Truman Show (1998)
In a rather shocking, prophetic comedy directed by Peter Weir ( Picnic at Hanging Rock , Dead Poets Society ), Truman stars Jim Carrey (emerging the era of the serious actor) as Truman Burbank, a man who doesn’t realize he’s the subject of a popular reality show, his entire life on display for the entertainment of countless viewers. The science fiction idea of light soon became our everyday reality. You can stream The Truman Show on Hulu , Kanopy and Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Terminator 2 (1991)
James Cameron reteamed Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger for an action sequel that took everything that was good about the first film and upped the ante. A deeply engrossing sci-fi spectacle. You can stream T2 on Paramount+ and Kanopy, or rent it from Prime Video .
Sister Act 2: Out of Habit Again (1993)
Both Sister Action films are great, but if you’re looking for some ’90s vibes, this one sees Whoopi Goldberg’s Deloris Van Cartier reassemble the group (the nuns) to save a town school that’s facing closure. It all culminates in a stage performance featuring jams, baggy overalls, white boy rap and Lauryn Hill. This will be a primary source for historians of that era. You can stream Sister Act 2 on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Bound (1996)
A wildly sexy neo-noir starring ex-con Corky (Gina Gershon) and mobster Violet (Jennifer Tilly), in which they display the greatest cinematic chemistry of all time, using their relationship to fuel the self-doubt of heterosexual male mobster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). The Wachowskis achieved success in their feature debut. You can stream Bound on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video .
Live End (1992)
New queer cinema pioneer Gregg Araki’s most famous film is probably Mysterious Skin , but his angry, freewheeling early work The Living End is the purest expression of his talent as a director. Araki’s film is a primal scream in which a pair of HIV-positive drifters kill a homophobic cop and go on a “fuck it” trip. You can stream The Living End on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Toy Story (1995)
In the early days of digital filmmaking, Pixar proved that in the right hands, computer animation could have heart and soul. Tom Hanks lends his voice to the all-star cast of the beloved movie about a bunch of toys that come to life when Andy isn’t looking. You can stream Toy Story on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video .
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The illusion of the footage found here was so convincing that people believed they were watching the real thing. Of course, now we are much less gullible. You can stream The Blair Witch Project on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Watermelon Woman (1996)
In Cheryl Dunye’s independent rom-com, Cheryl explores the story of a fictional movie star from the black golden age while searching for love and trying to hold down a job at a video store. The film explores complex themes without succumbing to self-seriousness. You can stream The Watermelon Woman on The Criterion Channel or rent it on Prime Video .
Candyman (1992)
From an era when black characters in horror films were almost exclusively victims, Tony Todd’s frightening and seductive Daniel Robitaille stalks the Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago to avenge past racial violence, as well as win back a lost love. You can rent Candyman from Prime Video .
Mulan (1998)
“Be a man,” demands one of the film’s catchiest songs, but it has a double meaning; Our main role is that of a young woman who takes her father’s place to defend Imperial China from the invasion of the Xiongnu. Slightly underrated, at least from a Disney perspective, this is a fun and action-packed musical that proves that women can do anything men can do and that cross-dressing is a viable path to success. You can stream Mulan on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video .
Office space (1999)
The Great King of the Hill arrived just a couple of seasons later, and fans of Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head could be forgiven for not expecting the kind of biting satire that Office Space offers. If anything, the film’s take on the meaningless shapes and hoarding of staplers that make up the world of the modern white-collar worker feels more accurate now than ever. You can stream Office Space on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video .
Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur drama remains a favorite. What’s even more shocking is that the special effects remain impressive despite decades of innovation. It’s still the best dinosaur rampage movie ever. You can stream Jurassic Park on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video .
The Addams Family (1991)
Director Barry Sonnenfeld and company had a lot of fun turning The Addams Family lore into a full-blown tribute to weirdness—just when we needed it most. Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci lead the cast. The sequel is even better. You can stream The Addams Family on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video .
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
The joke here is that the wacky Brady Bunch from the 70s sitcom are living their lives in the pseudo-punk 90s. It doesn’t have to work in feature-length format, but its commitment to episodes—and replicating the look and feel of the beloved sitcom—makes it a camp classic. You can watch The Brady Bunch on Kanopy or rent it on Prime Video .
Poetic Justice (1993)
John Singleton followed Boyz N the Hood with this relatively mild romantic drama starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. You can stream Poetic Justice on Starz or rent it on Prime Video .
First Wives Club (1996)
It’s no Shakespeare, but Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton have a lot of fun as three divorced women seeking revenge on the husbands who left them for younger women. The ending, set to “You Don’t Own Me,” is hilarious. You can stream The First Wives Club on Paramount+ and Kanopy, or rent it on Prime Video .
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
One of the greatest rom-coms of the decade has the requisite tragic setup from which not only emerges a great romance but also some memorable Bollywood dance numbers. You can stream Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on Netflix and Prime Video .
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Another of Hayao Miyazaki’s triumphs , Princess Mononoke, takes place in a medieval fantasy Japan. Ashitaka becomes infected from an animal attack and seeks a natural cure – only to discover that humanity’s activities have angered the gods and upset the natural balance. If this is not the director’s best film, it is the best reflection of his talents. You can stream Princess Mononoke on Max or rent it on Prime Video .
Romeo + Juliet by William Shakespeare (1996)
After the director’s phenomenal film Strictly Ballroom , Baz Luhrmann burst into the mainstream with a return to Shakespeare. His signature style combines operatic beauty with hyperactive camerawork, and it’s all on full display here, shedding new light on the tragedy with some help from then-teen heartthrobs Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. You can stream Romeo + Juliet on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video .
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino made a splash with his non-linear, retro-styled neo-noir, endlessly quotable and filled with memorable scenes. Uma Thurman is phenomenal, but there are no weak links in this large ensemble. You can stream Pulp Fiction on Hulu , Peacock and Pluto TV, or rent it on Prime Video .
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Cleverly combining CGI and cel-animation, Ghost in the Shell features cyborg agent Major Motoko Kusanagi in pursuit of a man who is hacking into the mind. Like Blade Runner before it, the film explores the nature of human consciousness and the idea that we may be just another kind of machine. You can stream Ghost in the Shell on Kanopy and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video .
Ghost (1990)
Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, at the height of their box office success, lead this witty, crowd-pleasing supernatural romance about a banker killed in a seemingly random attack and the girl he leaves behind. Bruce Joel Rubin won an Oscar for screenplay, and Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for a stunning scene, although it was clearly a late prize for The Color Purple . You can stream Ghost on Kanopy and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video .
Blade (1998)
In a Marvel movie before there was such a thing, Blade stars Wesley Snipes as a totally badass protagonist: he’s a vampire who can walk around in daylight, hunting down the world’s most vicious bloodsuckers for kicks. The film is suitably gory and endlessly stylish, and leads into an even better sequel directed by Guillermo del Toro. You can rent Blade from Prime Video .
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
It seems like every generation has its own Tom Ripley. Adaptations of Patricia Highsmith’s novel series are perhaps more common than audiences even realize: Purple Noon , An American Friend and Ripley’s Game starring John Malkovich are just a few examples, along with the spiritual successor Saltburn , now joined by the Netflix series Ripley . The film floats on top of this sea of sociopaths, and Anthony Minghella’s confident and stylish direction gives a deniability and sympathy to Matt Damon’s Ripley, a murderer and conman, that makes you almost feel sorry for him. You can stream The Talented Mr. Ripley on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Happy Together (1997)
Wong Kar-wai’s romantic drama stars Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a pair of lovers in a tumultuous and, frankly, ill-considered relationship in Buenos Aires. There isn’t much of a plot here, but it doesn’t need to be: these two are mesmerizing, as is Wong’s impeccable pacing and Christopher Doyle’s cinematography. You can stream Happy Together on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it on Prime Video .
Showgirls (1995)
Like most of Paul Verhoeven’s films, his admittedly cheesy film can be seen as either dark satire or unintentional camp. Either way, it’s a lot of fun, and while it quickly gained a reputation for being trash, it’s far more watchable than many other better-reviewed films. You can stream Showgirls on Tubi and Pluto TV.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tim Burton was at the top of his game when he directed this very strange but sweet fable, which also served as a fitting swan song for Vincent Price. You can stream Edward Scissorhands on Disney+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion (1997)
Our prospects (Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow) approaching 30 have not yet achieved significant significance, so they decide to improve their resume – with mixed results. Sorvino and Kudrow are so charmingly stupid here that it’s impossible not to root for them against the mean girls. For all its comedy, the film makes a compelling case that it’s better to be a slacker than an ambitious jerk. You can rent Romy and Michelle on Prime Video .
Love Jones (1997)
The chemistry between Larenz Tate and Nia Long is off the charts after they meet at a Chicago club. Their passionate connection is threatened by an old relationship and her impending move to New York. You can rent Love Jones from Prime Video .
The Ring (1998)
Before the (good) American remake, there was an excellent Japanese original about a mysterious film that curses its viewers to death over the course of seven days. The image of Sadako crawling out of the TV is indelible. You can stream Ring on Shudder, Kanopy and The Criterion Channel, or rent it from Prime Video.
Malcolm X (1992)
Spike Lee brings his signature directorial style to this epic, ensuring that it is more than your average biopic. Denzel Washington is completely lost in the title role. You can stream Malcolm X on Paramount+ or rent it on Prime Video .
Before Sunrise (1995)
Richard Linklater follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) as two people who meet on a train and spend the night walking the streets of Vienna and chatting about life and love. That’s all there is to it, but it’s all written and performed with such intelligence and emotion, honestly, that it feels like we’re actually getting a very satisfying meal, surpassed only by its even better 2004 sequel. You can rent Before Sunrise from Prime Video .
Friday (1995)
Craig and Smokey (Ice Cube and Chris Tucker) are just a couple of guys hanging out looking for something to do. They should be careful what they wish for as they will be involved in burglaries, shootings and overly excited pastors on this Impossible Friday. Like all the best buddy-stoner comedies, it’s all wickedly funny. You can stream Friday on Max and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video .
Baby (1995)
Mad Max director George Miller teamed up with Chris Noonan (who was nominated for two Oscars here) to create this big-hearted yet darkly comic barnyard fable for all ages. It had such an impact that star James Cromwell immediately gave up eating meat. You can stream “Babe” on Peacock or rent it on Prime Video .
Heat (1995)
Michael Mann’s crime drama pits an LAPD detective against a career criminal, and their cat-and-mouse game reveals they’re as similar as they are different. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are at the top of their careers. You can stream The Hit on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video .
Scream (1996)
Wes Craven has reinvented the slasher film with this funny, gory, and smart film that breaks and shatters everything we love about the genre. We’re still living in the horror movie world that Craven created, and not just because the franchise is still going strong, stronger than ever. You can stream Scream on Max or rent it on Prime Video.
Menace Society II (1993)
The Hughes brothers’ early masterpiece, Menace , believably recreates the world of the era’s Watts and Crenshaw neighborhoods in Los Angeles, as Tyrin Turner’s Kane tries to escape violence only to find himself drawn even deeper. You can stream Menace 2: Society on Pluto TV or rent it on Prime Video .
White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
Wesley Snipes gives a smart and funny performance in this basketball-themed comedy-drama, as does Woody Harrelson, although of course Rosie Perez steals every scene she’s in. It was one of director Stanley Kubrick’s favorite films . You can stream White Men Can’t Jump on Hulu or rent it on Prime Video .
Defense from Temptation (1990)
James Bond III writes, directs and stars in this horror classic as Joel, a minister in a long line of ministers who nevertheless becomes disillusioned and travels to New York to visit his old friend K (Kadeem Hardison). As it turns out, the first attractive woman (Cynthia Bond) Joel meets during the party is an actual succubus preying on unsuspecting black men. Samuel L. Jackson and Bill Nunn also star. You can stream Def by Temptation on Shudder, Prime Video and Peacock .
Party Girl (1995)
An irresponsible club girl (the utterly unforgettable Parker Posey) is rescued from prison (she threw an illegal rave) by her librarian godmother and is forced to take a job cataloging books to get her life back on track. It’s a brilliantly funny indie comedy, but also a surprisingly faithful recreation of the rave culture of the time, showing some real diversity and avoiding all the common stereotypes. You can stream Party Girl on Hulu , Peacock and The Criterion Channel, or rent it from Prime Video .
Titanic (1997)
In today’s world of blockbusters designed to be as comfortable and safe as possible, be the film that made an entire generation of moviegoers weep loudly. You can stream Titanic on Prime Video .