The 32 best '90s movies

jurassic park
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

There's absolutely no dou🦂bt about it: the '90s was a great decade for cinema, gifting audiences countless classics wꦍhich will continue to entertain generations to come.

This was an era which saw filmmakers decide to break the rules with self-aware, self-referential, and meta works which nodded towards what had come before whilst putting a new spin on the genre tropes we were all too familiar with. Meanwhile groundbreaking technology meant they could also push boundaries like never before, especially thanks to advanced developments in CGI. Independent cinema ﷽also experienced a boom with their releases now seeing similar levels of popularity as blockbusters, whilst international movies started to reach wider audiences too.

But with so many great movies to discover from one of the best decades in cinema history, you may be wondering where on Earth to start. That's where we come in, with our ranking of the best '90s 𒆙movies you should be adding immediately to your watch list. Or if you have seen them already, they are certainly worthy of rewatch after rewatch. 

32. Before Sunrise (1995)

before sunrise

(Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

The first installment in Richard Linklater's Before trilogy introduces audiences to Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and C&eacut꧃e;line (Julie Delpy) as they meet on a train, de♛ciding to disembark in Vienna to spend the night together. Everything is stripped back so the focus is purely on the duo who detail their contrasting thoughts on life and love, with the natural chemistry between them being totally electrifying. Whilst the film is unashamedly romantic it never feels forced or melodramatic, always remaining grounded in reality making it easy to believe in their relationship. This one is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with.

31. Notting Hill (1999)

notting hill

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

British writer and director Richard Curtis is a romantic-comedy master, as he has proven countless times with films including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones' Diary, and Love Actually. However, this story of the relationship between an English bookseller (Hugh Grant) and a famꦡous American actress (Julia Roberts) is arguably the jewel in ꦅhis crown thanks to its irresistible charm. Although the tale doesn't dive deep and the cheese is aplenty, that simply doesn't matter as everything is delivered with sophistication, especially the witty humor. The press junket scene where Grant's William Thacker pretends to be a journalist from Horse & Hound is still one of the best moments in rom-com history. 

30. La Haine (1995)

la haine

(Image credit: MKL Distribution)

Written and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, French thriller La Haine details a day and night in the lives of a trio of friends from a poor immigrant neighbo🌄rhood in Paris (portrayed by actors Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, and Saïd Taghmaoui). It's a tough watch as the film takes an uncompromising look at the very real issues many were facing in '90s Par💜is, with Kassovitz's rage driving the story forward. However, it's more than worth it thanks to the emotionally charged storytelling, striking black-and-white cinematography which brings to life the Parisian concrete jungle, and the blistering performances from our central trio.

29. Schindler's List (1993)

schindler's list

(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

1993 was quite the year for director Steven Spielberg as he followed up the magical Jurassic Park with a very different but also impressive movie: World War II drama Schindler's List. Telling the true story of Oskar Schindlꩵer, a German man who is credited with saving the lives of 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust, i♈t is a remarkable tale which is nothing short of a miracle. What is perhaps most striking about the movie is how Spielberg depicts both the harrowing horrors of the Holocaust and the tender humanity that somehow still existed during these dark times. 

28. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

saving private ryan

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Director Steven Spielberg's World War II drama 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Saving Private Ryan is best known for its remarkable opening scene - the brutal 24-minute depiction of the Omaha Beach D-Day landing, which remains one of the 👍most honest depictions of war ever seen on screen. It's a powerful beginning, but the rest of the film also impresses with its compelling story, jaw-dropping action, and unflinching look at the savagery of war. As we go on the journey to find Private Ryan (Matt Damon) to bring him home safely following the deaths of his three brothers who are killed in🦄 action, you will find yourself shifting closer and closer to the edge of your seat, gripped by the drama. 

27. Speed (1994)

speed

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

If we are really being honest, the concept of hit action film Speed alone sells it as one of the very best '90s movies: Keanu Reeves' Officer Jack Traven must stop a bus that has been rigged by a terrorist to explode if its speed drops to below 50 miles per hour. The premise really is that simple, but the movie is all the better because of it, being a slick thriller that never, ever takes its foot off the accelerator. Just maybe skip the disappointing sequel 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Speed 2: Cruise Control (yes, really, that's what they named it).

26. Aladdin (1992)

aladdin

(Image credit: Disney)

The Disney Renaissance era delivered many gems as the studio returned to form, with one of these treasures being Aladdin, a tale adapted from the Arabic folktales One Thousand and One Nights. The story is as classic as they come: a street urchin unleashes a genie after discovering a magic lamp, using the wishes to di♚sguise himself as a wealthy prince to win the heart of a princess. However, while the tale of Aladdin is delightful and the music some of Disney's best (from "Prince Ali" to "A Whole New World"), undoubtedly the star of the show is Robin Williams as the Genie, delivering one of the most iconic voice performances of all time.

23. Beauty and the Beast (1991) 

beauty and the beast

(Image credit: Disney)

The lyrics of 1991's Beauty and the Beast's best song couldn't be more accurate, as this 'tale as old as time' has indeed remained timeless. Following the story of the young Belle as she becomes imprisoned in the Beast's castle, the monster must learn to love in order to break a curse so he can transform back into the prince he once was. The beautifully elegant animation is as swoon-worthy as the sweeping romance at the center of t𝔉his tale, with features several wonderful musical numbers thanks to the talents of arguably Disney's best composer, Alan Menken.