Right now is the perfect time to binge these iconic ’90s movies
The 1990s was an incredible decade for film, with directors like Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, M Night Shyamalan and Steven Spielberg bringing us some of their best work.
Then there are the actors like Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and Tom Hanks playing some epic leading men and the likes of Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman and Cameron Diaz reppin it for the ladies.
So let’s get into it.
Jurassic Park
Based on the premise of “cloning dinosaurs…what could possibly wrong?” this Spielberg film is an absolute classic – and the franchise is still going!
An incredible cast including our own Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L Jackson, and Richard Attenborough makes an appearance. Who would have thought the brother that doesn’t star in Jurrasic Park was more famous.
This film made palaeontology look way cooler than when Ross Geller did it.
Watch now: Netflix
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
This 1991 release might not have been the first Terminator movie, but this is where we started really paying attention.
Arnie brings us his catchcry of “I’ll be back” as he tries this time to save John Connor from being killed by a more advanced cyborg, the T1000.
Backed by an excellent cast (Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick) and Guns N Roses banger You Could Be Mine from Use Your Illusion II this one has really held up well.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Forrest Gump
“Life’s like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” is arguably truer now than when Forrest Gump originally delivered this line in 1994 in one of his absolute best performances (and that’s saying a LOT)
Forrest lives an incredible life and his simple wholesome spirit brings waves of smiles and tears throughout the journey.
Honestly, if you don’t like this movie, there could be something wrong with you.
Binge this one while eating a box of chocolates.
Watch now: Stan
Armageddon
NASA pulls together a very non-NASA-ish rag tag team of misfits to save the earth from an asteroid the size of Texas.
Bruce Willis, Steve Buscemi, Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton and Owen Wilson make up the cast of this 1990s disaster movie.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Very Bad Things
Before The Hangover, this bachelor party went horribly wrong – but you don’t even feel bad when it doesn’t work out for the cast, because they did some very bad things.
You’ll see John Favreau, Cameron Diaz and Christian Slater in this dark but approachable movie that’s perfect for binging.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Blade
Wesley Snipes is the hybrid vampire/human they call day-walker who kills vampires and kicks off the franchise alongside Steven Dorff and Kris Kristofferson.
Binge-worthy.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Interview With The Vampire
A sexy, dark vampire movie with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise that you can really sink your teeth into.
It shows that living forever really has a downside, but as it’s set as a retrospective interview back to 1791 – it’s aged quite well.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Point Break
Point Break is an action-packed crime drama where Keanu Reeves goes undercover to bring down a group of seasonal bank robbers called the Ex-Presidents.
Patrick Swayze shines as Bodhi and there’s even a cameo from Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
This is a binge banger for sure.
Watch now: Netflix
The Sixth Sense
This one scrapes in at 1999 but is a worthy inclusion.
“I see dead people”
Bruce Willis shows us his softer side (he plays a child psychologist instead of a tough guy) in one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best pieces.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Men In Black
Here come the Men in Black, galaxy defenders…
MiB manages the alien population and saves Earth from invasion in this light-hearted movie.
Will Smith joins Tommy Lee Jones to don suits and wipe memories until the good guys prevail.
Watch now: Prime Video
Bad Boys
Will Smith was on fire in the 90s and this movie is fast, fun and totally binge-tastic.
Tea Leoni is awesome as the female lead who kinda rescues herself.
Shame about the iconic car they crash at the end, but a worthy watch – iso or not.
Watch now: Netflix
Jerry Maguire
Show me the money!
Tom Cruise smashes this role as Jerry Maguire – a selfish sports agent who has an epiphany and falls for Renee Zellweger.
Maguire pivots his life, which aren’t we all right now?
Watch now: Prime Video
The Silence of the Lambs
It’s 1991 and Anthony Hopkins brilliantly and creepily plays Hannibal Lecter alongside Jodie Foster as Clarice.
Her performance is everything it needs to be. I have chills just writing about it.
If you like a thriller, this is a 90s iconic thriller you’ll love – and because it’s all serial killers and relationships it’s not too dated.
Binge away!
Watch now: Stan
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Still, in 1991, we have one of the most iconic movies of that year if not the decade – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
This film follows the folklore of Robin Hood – who stole from the rich and gave to the poor and may be the best movie adaptation of this story (there’s be a lot)
Kevin Costner is great – but the supporting cast is just as good including names like Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater and Alan Rickman (did he ever not play a baddie?)
There was even a Grammy Award-winning title track “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” by Bryan Adams and this power ballad spent 16 weeks at the top of the UK charts.
Watch now: Stan
Robin Hood Men In Tights
A different take on Robin Hood…
They are men… manly men… men in tight…tight tights!
Perhaps one of the most hilarious movies of the 90’s is this Robin Hood Parody.
In either case, if you’ve never seen it (poor form on your behalf), if you have seen it – then it’s time to watch it now.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Cruel Intentions
Did the Placebo song ‘Every you Every Me’ just start playing in your head?
While there is no way to stream Cruel Intentions at the moment we couldn’t not include it on the list.
If there is a movie that defined the 90’s for teenagers at the time – Cruel Intentions would have to be right up there if not number one.
Sarah Michelle Gellar at the high of her Buffy days partnered with Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon – throw in sex, drugs and unpredictable twists and turns and you have a 90’s smash.
Watch now: Once it hits a streaming platform in Australia we will be all over it.
White Men Can’t Jump
It is hard work being this good!
At the peak of basketball popularity in the early 90s there was Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and of course Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Wayne’s World
Party time, excellent…
What a romp! This movie is an absolute hoot from start to finish – and yeah, it’s old, but a lot of the jokes still hold up.
If you like music, laughs, your dufus mates and sticking it to the man, you’ll get a kick out of this.
The theme of the artists torn between staying true to their art Vs becoming commercial is still relatable too.
No-one want to be a sell-out.
Schwing!
Watch now: Stan
Also, why not treat yourself and go back to back with Wayne’s World 2.
Clerks
We were too young to know this was a bit arty. We just knew it was different – and in a good way!
This is a great movie, it’s fresh, raw and relatable even now as two convenience store clerks, Dante and Randal annoy customers, discuss movies and play hockey on the roof.
The search for meaning as teenagers never gets old.
Binge at will.
Watch now: Stan
Kindergarten Cop
Scraping in, just, at 1990 this is a charming movie that will warm your heart as Arnie plays an undercover cop totally out of his depth as a kindergarten teacher.
“It’s not a tumour”
It’s nice to see tough guys can be soft.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Fight Club
We don’t talk about fight club.
Just watch Helena Bonham Carter, Edward Norton and Brad Pitt in this existentialist and iconic movie from 1999.
I’ve said too much.
Watch now: Prime Video
Speed
Who knew Sandra Bullock could drive a bus so well? No-one saw that coming.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves try to save the day without letting the bus explode by dropping under 50 miles an hour (80.47 kph) including around corners…implausible but still completely watchable with a good amount of tension while the story unravels.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Toy Story
The original Toy Story movie came out in 1995 and covers adult themes of jealousy and friendship in the charming way only animation can.
We get to know Woody and Buzz Lightyear well over the years, but this is where it all began and is definitely worth a rewatch.
To infinity, and beyond!
Watch now: Disney +
Pulp Fiction
Bad-assery abounds in this epic Tarantino film starring Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Ving Rhames and Uma Thurman.
If you don’t know what they call a Royale with Cheese in France – you MUST put this on your movie binge list.
Even if it’s just to see the most bad-ass scene ever where Samuel L Jackson delivers a bible verse with great vengeance and furious anger.
Watch this again, I double dare ya!
Watch now: Stan
Good Will Hunting
In 1997 a young Matt Damon starred in a warm but gritty story he co-wrote with Ben Affleck that grossed $225m and won 2 Oscars.
Will Hunting (played by Matt Damon) is a genius janitor and once his amazing brain is discovered he must re-think his whole existence.
With a cast including the amazing Robin Williams, Ben Affleck and Minnie Driver this movie has held up well to the test of time.
Watch now: Stan
The Matrix
When reflecting on the current state of things, what IS reality?
Would you take the blue pill or the red pill?
The Matrix is an absolute staple of the 90s movie scene and sees Keanu Reeves play Neo, our often-confused protagonist as he works out what’s real and what’s part of the matrix.
With a stellar supporting cast including Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving this reality-bending tale of human farming and rebellion is a must for your 90s movies binge pleasure.
Watch now: Stan
Mission: Impossible
Do do do do, do do do do, doodoodooo doodoodooo…
Tom Cruise owns the screen as Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF).
In this high-action movie about stolen classified information Cruise must clear his name after he’s the sole survivor of a failed mission.
This is the 16th highest-grossing movie of all time, so a great addition to your 90s movie binge fest.
Watch now: Stan
Home Alone
Could a list of 90s movies be complete without Home Alone?
We don’t think so!
We don’t know HOW someone can leave an entire child behind when heading off on holiday, or how Macaulay Culkin dreamed up all the ways to foil the burglar’s plans, but this is total 90s nostalgia at its binging best.
Watch now: Disney +
There’s Something About Mary
THAT hair gel scene!
Cameron Diaz was an iconic 90s actress who in this film played the Mary there was something about.
If you have ever mused about having another chance at a high school relationship as adults, this quirky tale will give you some lols.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Titanic
Paint me like one of your French girls…
3.14 hours of the love story of poor Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and rich Rose (Kate Winslet) never fails to get to them feels.
This movie will go down in history as one of the greats – 90s and otherwise.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Babe
This pig might not fly, but he’s still special!
Babe is a pig who goes his own way and doesn’t want to conform to society’s rules about how pigs are supposed to behave.
Totes relatable tbh.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
The Mask
Not all heroes wear masks.
Jim Carrey was prolific in the 90s and this movie came out the same year as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber (another 2 flicks on this list).
Part superhero movie, part cheese-before-bed nightmare this is a change of pace and a true testament to Carrey’s acting chops.
This Jekyll and Hyde type personality split that happens when Carrey dons the Loki mask will have you wondering if you have an evil inner self too.
Watch now: Netflix
Saving Private Ryan
You either like war movies or you don’t. Except when it comes to Saving Private Ryan. That is if you can get through the first 20 or so minutes.
Add it to your binge list to see Tom Hanks, Vin Diesel, Ted Danson, Matt Damon and a great extended cast in a WWII story of mateship that doesn’t glorify battle.
With 5 Academy Awards and a Golden Globe, you’ll not regret a re-watch of this one. And since it’s set in the 1940’s it’s not really aged at all.
Dumb and Dumber
Dumb and Dumber is so 90’s!
This has to be one of the greatest comedy movies not just one of the best in the 90’s.
You will never get sick of watching the dumb adventure of best buds Lloyd and Harry.
Watch now: Netflix
Billy Madison
Finishing the list with a giggle, we know you’ll love binging on the quacktastic Billy Madison.
To be fair Adam Sandler movies could have their own binge list…but this isn’t it, so we had to choose one and that’s hands down Billy Madison.
Sandler is the heir to a Fortune 500 company and needs to prove to Daddy dearest that he’s not a loser, so he can one day take over the company.
So, he goes back to start school from the beginning with only two weeks to pass each grade and a nemesis trying to thwart his progress.
Also, jump on 8 Best Adam Sandler movies to binge
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Yeah baby!
Still some of Mike Myers best work to this day. The original and the best in the series. Austin Powers is the 60’s International Spy we all loved in the 90’s.
Watch: Netfix
Independence Day
“We will not go quietly into the night!” We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!
The Fresh Prince saves the world by beating up on some aliens – what’s not to love?
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
A movie about a pet detective wouldn’t normally sound that appealing, however, when Jim Carrey brings Ace Ventura to life we have another classic 90’s comedy to enjoy.
And it still holds up!
Watch now: Stan
The Mighty Ducks
Quack, quack, quack!
The movie that was responsible for a 5,000% (not accurate) increase in rollerblade sales.
Nothing can stop the ‘Flying V’ as Coach Gordon Bombay takes these group of misfits to championship glory.
Watch now: Disney +
Scream
For many in the ’90s, this was your first step into the world of horror movies and no doubt made you scared to answer the landline late at night.
Do you like scary movies?
Watch now: Stan
Clueless
As if we would have an iconic 90’s movies list and not include Clueless.
Alicia Silverstone was one of the girl of the 90’s and Clueless was the peak of her popularity.
Watch now: Netflix
The Craft
You couldn’t have been a teenager in the ’90s and not have watched The Craft.
A girl unites with three outcast teenage girls at her Catholic prep high school. They practise witchcraft against those people who irk them. When one of them quits the group, the others retaliate.
Will be watching this one again over and over.
Watch now: Apple TV – Rent or Buy
So there you have it, a bunch of the best ’90s movies to binge
Just spare a thought for how much easier this is now without the VHS tapes.
Put on some popcorn, you’ve got a lot of hours of movies ahead of you!