The Top 10 Films of the 1990s

The 1990s saw an increase of CGI in films. Some of the earliest films using that advanced technology are Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), and Waterworld (1995). These movies gave audiences a sense of realism by adding the elements practical effects could not.

Box office records continued to be broken. Jurassic Park became the highest-grossing film of all time, but Titanic (1997) ousted it from its throne four years later.

Computer animation was also on the rise in the 1990s. Toy Story (1995) was the first feature-length film to be 100% computer-animated. The 1990s also saw the “Disney Renaissance,” the era when Disney used classic animation to create well-known stories. This renaissance started slightly before the ‘90s, with The Little Mermaid (1989), and ended with Tarzan (1999). Disney made only a few more classically animated films before converting almost entirely to the animation we see today.

Independent film was also on the rise. Studios such as Miramax and Lionsgate made films on a lower budget but gained decent attention from audiences. Quentin Tarantino started his career by producing his films through Miramax. Reservoir Dogs (1992) was a modest hit, but Pulp Fiction (1994) put him on the map with its worldwide success.

Here are some of my favorite films of the 1990s:

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

This is my all-time favorite movie. I love everything about it: Frank Darabont’s outstanding job as director, top-notch performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, and one of the best endings in film history. Robbins and Freeman play Andy and Red, two inmates serving life sentences at Shawshank Prison. They bond over many years of imprisonment and bring out the best in each other. This film originated from a short story written by Stephen King, who put aside his typical genre (horror) to create this classic drama.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

This is one of the most intelligent movies I’ve ever seen – not just because the protagonist, Will Hunting (Matt Damon), has an I.Q. of around 300. The screenplay is exceedingly well written, too (it did win Best Original Screenplay). Will has a unique gift of intelligence, but his lack of direction (and run-ins with the law) gets in the way of his potential. He gets a chance to avoid jail time by visiting a psychiatrist. He eventually bonds with Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), an alcoholic therapist still mourning the loss of his wife. Will and Sean learn from each other and develop a different outlook on life. This is a unique and original story, well-directed by Gus van Sant and well scored by Danny Elfman.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

This movie is a laugh riot. Every scene is hilarious, and it is certainly one of the funniest movies of all time if not, the funniest. Two goons mistake Jeffrey Lebowski, aka The Dude (Jeff Bridges), for a different Jeffrey Lebowski, and they break into his place and defile his rug. The other Lebowski owes the pair money, and The Dude tries to get to the bottom of the situation…mostly in an attempt to have his rug replaced. The Dude also gets help from his well-meaning bowling buddies (John Goodman and Steve Buscemi), even though things don’t usually work out for them. It is certainly a comedy of errors and Joel and Ethan Coen wrote and directed the film spectacularly.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

I had to watch this movie a few times to understand it completely. I think it’s because this was the first movie I saw that was told in a “non-linear” fashion. It was hard for me to comprehend the fact that the scenes didn’t necessarily play out chronologically. However, I praise this film for its originality in storytelling and style. Quentin Tarantino also wrote some of the best dialogue for this film. There are several scenes where two people are just talking to each other, and it surprisingly never got boring. The stellar cast includes John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis, all of whom are at their career-best in Pulp Fiction.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

Richard Linklater wrote and directed a fun, yet resonant film that deals with the joys and pressures of teenage life. On the last day of school in 1976, groups of teenagers hit the streets of Austin, Texas, looking for a good time. With electric performances, a stellar soundtrack, and numerous memorable one-liners, this film is a top-notch recommendation for anyone wanting a good time. It’s also fun to watch Matthew McConaughey in his film debut, with what became his life motto: “Just keep on livin’.”

Goodfellas (1990)

This is easily Martin Scorsese’s best film. There is so much to love about it: great performances, storytelling, and a great classic rock soundtrack. Ray Liotta plays Henry Hill, a member of an Italian-American mob run by Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro). Over two decades, Henry’s life goes on a slow downward spiral, trying to balance his time with the mafia against his marriage to Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco). Goodfellas is truly one of the definitions of a great film. Can anybody truly resist the “You think I’m funny?” scene with Joe Pesci (in his Oscar-winning role)?

Magnolia (1999)

I read that many people walked out of this movie when it was in theaters. It might have been because of the three-hour runtime, but I never found it boring at all. This film takes place in a single day in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Jim (John C. Reilly) is a cop looking for romance. Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a hospice nurse taking care of Earl (Jason Robards), a dying man whose trophy wife Linda (Julianne Moore) has a revelation that she may be in love with him. Earl’s dying wish is to make amends with his son Frank (Tom Cruise), a sleazy motivational speaker who sells secrets on how to seduce women. Some of these characters are far from likable, but the performances are what make this film.

American Movie (1999)

I don’t watch documentaries very often – I prefer fiction. I watched American Movie for the first time in one of my film classes and could not stop laughing. The humor is so genuine, and it comes out naturally. This movie chronicles the life of Mark Borchardt, a Wisconsin native who dreams of making a feature film. After various failed production meetings and budget concerns, he puts aside that dream to finish his short horror film, Coven. Mark and his devoted childhood friend Mike Schank encounter many snags along the way, such as picking up their producer from jail, gambling away some of their budget money, and trying to get Mark’s uncle to memorize his lines. American Movie is full of heart and laughs, and it is always a joy to watch.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Seriously, who doesn’t love Forrest Gump? It has everything an audience would want in it: humor, romance, war, drama, you name it. Tom Hanks plays the titular hero: a simple-minded, but good-natured man who inadvertently becomes a part of numerous notable events in American history. He was part of the All-American football team that met John F. Kennedy, he fought in the Vietnam War, and he was the inadvertent whistleblower in the Watergate Scandal. I’m a history buff, and this film serves as a long history lesson, even if the film is fictional. This is also one of my favorite Tom Hanks performances – and one that will always be remembered.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubrick’s last film is one that continues to echo in my brain. He passed away before the film’s release, but numerous sources said he lived to see the final cut. Kubrick was known as a strict perfectionist, and he commanded a film shoot that lasted over 400 days. Eyes Wide Shut is about Bill and Alice (Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman), a seemingly happily married couple. One night, though, Alice admits to Bill that she almost cheated on him. This understandably upsets Bill, but he doesn’t go over the edge. Instead, he goes on a strange odyssey while walking the streets of New York City. There is so much to love about this film, but the cinematography stands out above all else. There is so much to love about this film, but the cinematography and production design can’t be beat.

Happy watching!

If you missed my earlier posts, you can read about my favorites from past decades here: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.