Iconic 90s Films You Completely Forgot Existed

Iconic 90s Films You Completely Forgot Existed


July 22, 2025 | Alex Summers

Iconic 90s Films You Completely Forgot Existed


A Forgotten Goldmine Of 90s Cinema

The 1990s was a blockbuster decade. While some films like Titanic and Jurassic Park are still iconic, others have quietly faded into the background. It’s time to shine a spotlight on those often-overlooked gems—you probably forgot they existed, but they’re absolutely worth rediscovering.

90Sfilms-Msn

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Galaxy Quest (1999)

This blend of sci-fi adventure and parody lovingly mocks Star Trek while honoring its fandom. The ensemble cast, which includes Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver, elevates the humor with sincerity. It’s endlessly quotable and remains a cult favorite that many still overlook.

Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest (1/9) Movie CLIP - How Did I Come to This? (1999) HD by Movieclips

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Strictly Ballroom (1992)

Baz Luhrmann’s debut brings explosive color, camp, and rebellion to the world of competitive ballroom dance. It’s about daring to be different, even when tradition pushes back.

Strictly Ballroom (1992)Strictly Ballroom | 'Disqualification' (HD) - A Baz Luhrmann Film | MIRAMAX, Miramax

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The Rocketeer (1991)

Before the MCU took off, The Rocketeer delivered pulpy superhero fun with a vintage vibe. Set in 1930s Hollywood, it mixes gangsters, Nazis, and art deco air battles into a crowd-pleasing adventure. It’s a swashbuckling love letter to a bygone cinematic era.

The Rocketeer (1991)THE ROCKETEER Best Action Compilation (1991), JoBlo Superheroes

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The Last Seduction (1994)

Linda Fiorentino is magnetic as Bridget Gregory, a seductive con artist who manipulates every man around her. The film leans into the femme fatale trope, giving us a woman who’s unapologetically ruthless. Sleek, smart, and taboo-breaking, it still feels edgy today.

The Last Seduction (1994)🎥 THE LAST SEDUCTION (1994) | Trailer | Full HD | 1080p, MOVIE PREDICTOR

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As Good As It Gets (1997)

Jack Nicholson plays a grumpy, obsessive-compulsive author who slowly softens thanks to a single mom and a wounded dog. Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear are equally brilliant in this heartwarming yet thorny dramedy.

Screenshot from the movie - As Good As It Gets (1997)TriStar, As Good As It Gets (1997)

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Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

John Cusack plays a hitman attending his high school reunion in this sharp blend of rom-com and crime comedy. The film thrives on its odd tonal balance—deadpan assassins, personal growth, and nostalgia collide. It’s weirdly heartwarming and endlessly rewatchable.

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) | John Cusack | Theatrical Trailer, The Abandoned Theater

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Quick Change (1990)

Bill Murray’s only directorial credit is a smart, offbeat heist comedy about a crew who can’t escape New York after robbing a bank. It's a hilarious takedown of city bureaucracy and urban frustration. Geena Davis and Randy Quaid round out the chaotic trio.

A screenshot of the movie Quick ChangeWarner Bros., Quick Change (1990)

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The Ref (1994)

Denis Leary kidnaps a bickering couple on Christmas Eve and becomes an unwilling marriage counselor. The film is wickedly sarcastic and sharply written. It's one of the most underrated anti-holiday comedies ever made.

Screenshot of the movie The RefTouchstone, The Ref (1994)

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White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes hustle basketball courts in this street-smart sports comedy. It’s fast-talking and fashion-forward, but beneath the banter, it explores race, pride, and vulnerability.

White Men Can’t JumpWhite Men Can't Jump (1/5) Movie CLIP - Slow, White, Geeky Chump (1992) HD, Movieclips

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Strange Days (1995)

Set on the eve of Y2K, this cyberpunk thriller explores the consequences of memory trading, police brutality, and systemic collapse. Kathryn Bigelow's direction brings urgency and grit to a script penned by James Cameron. It’s a sensory overload that feels shockingly relevant now.

Strange Days (1995)Strange Days (1995) Trailer, RetroBiografen

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Orlando (1992)

Tilda Swinton shines as a gender-shifting noble who lives for centuries in this surreal period fantasy. Adapted from Virginia Woolf’s novel, it’s philosophical and visually stunning. It was ahead of its time on gender and identity.

Orlando (1992)Official Trailer - ORLANDO (1992, Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Sally Potter), Trailer World

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Fearless (1993)

After surviving a plane crash, a man begins living without fear, disconnected from emotion and consequence. Jeff Bridges delivers one of his best performances in this poignant exploration of mortality and trauma, and the emotional climax is unforgettable.

Fearless (1993)Clip HD | Fearless | Warner Archive, Warner Bros. Classics

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Mumford (1999)

A quirky newcomer sets up shop as a therapist in a small town and unexpectedly begins healing the residents. But his own secret identity may derail the town’s progress. It’s a charming tale of truth, connection, and the lies we tell ourselves.

Mumford (1999)Mumford (1999) Trailer | Loren Dean | Hope Davis, Film Trailer Channel

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Before Sunrise (1995)

Two strangers, played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, spend a single night wandering Vienna and falling in love. Richard Linklater’s dialogue-driven romance is delicate, philosophical, and achingly romantic. It redefined what a love story could be.

Before Sunrise (1995)Before Sunrise (1995) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

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Zero Effect (1998)

Bill Pullman plays a reclusive, brilliant detective whose awkwardness hides his brilliance, with Ben Stiller as his exasperated assistant. It’s a quirky riff on Sherlock Holmes, and a true hidden gem of 90s indie cinema.

Zero Effect (1998)Zero Effect (1998) - Investigating The Bed, lenkawiggle

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A Simple Plan (1998)

When three friends find a crashed plane full of money, paranoia and greed slowly unravel their lives. Sam Raimi directs this chilling story about morality under pressure. It’s like Fargo without the dark comedy—just dread.

A Simple Plan (1998)A Simple Plan | Original Trailer | Sam Raimi, 1998, Arrow Video

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Deep Cover (1992)

Laurence Fishburne stars as an undercover cop drawn deeper into the criminal underworld he’s supposed to dismantle. It’s a stylish, gritty thriller with heavy themes of identity and corruption. Bonus: the Dr Dre/Snoop Dogg title track is iconic.

Deep Cover (1992)🎥 DEEP COVER (1992) | Trailer | Full HD | 1080p, MOVIE PREDICTOR

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The Iron Giant (1999)

A lonely boy befriends a towering robot in this emotionally rich Cold War allegory. Misunderstood at release, it has since become one of the most beloved animated films of all time. Its final scene is guaranteed to leave a lump in your throat.

The Iron GiantThe Iron Giant: Signature Edition - Official Trailer [HD], Warner Bros.

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Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Quentin Tarantino’s debut turned the crime genre upside down with nonlinear storytelling, incredible dialogue, and shocking violence. The iconic warehouse standoff and ear-cutting scene remain burned into cinema history.

Harvey Keitel factsReservoir Dogs (1992), Miramax

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Safe (1995)

Julianne Moore plays a woman who grows increasingly ill from her sanitized, suburban life—or so she believes. This eerie, atmospheric film quietly critiques consumerism, environmental anxiety, and isolation as director Todd Haynes creates dread out of everyday banality.

Screenshot from the movie Safe (1995)Film4, Safe (1995)

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Love And A .45 (1994)

This punk-infused, violent romance channels the chaotic energy of Natural Born Killers on a tighter budget. Gil Bellows and Renée Zellweger play young lovers on the run in a world of crime and noise. It's wild, stylish, and soaked in 90s attitude.

Love and a .45 (1994) Love and a .45 (1994) Trailer (2020), OM Trailers

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Red Rock West (1993)

Nicolas Cage stumbles into a small-town murder plot in this noire thriller full of mistaken identities and shifting allegiances. With its dusty landscapes and tense pacing, it feels a bit like a reimagined Western. Dennis Hopper adds an extra layer of menace.

Screenshot from the movie - Red Rock West (1993)Propaganda Films, Red Rock West (1993)

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Joe Versus The Volcano (1990)

Tom Hanks plays a terminally ill office worker who agrees to jump into a volcano—but ends up discovering life instead. It’s whimsical and strangely existential, while also being a message about courage and love.

Rom-com factsFlickr

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The Big Hit (1998)

Mark Wahlberg leads a crew of hapless hitmen in this absurd action comedy. It’s gleefully over-the-top, and packed with slow-mo shootouts and self-aware satire.

The Big Hit (1998)THE BIG HIT (1998) | Action, Comedy, Crime | Full Movie, PAM UNiverSE

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The Player (1992)

Robert Altman’s satirical masterpiece tears apart Hollywood’s soulless machinery with one long, unbroken tracking shot and a heap of meta-cameos. Tim Robbins stars as a producer who murders a writer and watches his career soar. Equal parts comedy and condemnation.

The Player (1992)The Player (1992) Official Trailer - Tim Robbins, Robert Altman Hollywood Drama Movie HD, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

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Breakdown (1997)

Kurt Russell is terrifyingly believable as a man whose wife disappears during a road trip, triggering a desperate solo search. This white-knuckle thriller is fast, furious, and underrated. A perfect example of lean, suspenseful storytelling.

Breakdown (1997)Breakdown (1997) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD], Unseen Trailers

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Kalifornia (1993)

A couple researching serial killers unknowingly brings one along for the ride—played chillingly by Brad Pitt. It’s a disturbing tale of evil hiding in plain sight, and Juliette Lewis is heartbreakingly vulnerable as Pitt’s naive partner.

Kalifornia (1993)Kalifornia (1993) - Official Trailer (HD), Shout! Studios

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Light Sleeper (1992)

Willem Dafoe is excellent as a high-end drug dealer reflecting on his empty life as the city changes around him. Paul Schrader infuses the film with existential melancholy and neon-lit loneliness, creating something that’s poetic, somber, and deeply human.

Light Sleeper (1992)Light Sleeper (1992) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers

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Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (1999)

Forest Whitaker plays a soft-spoken assassin who lives by ancient samurai code while navigating the brutal modern underworld. Jim Jarmusch’s minimalist direction and RZA’s moody soundtrack elevate the film into something incredible—part fable, part hip-hop elegy.

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (1999)Ghost Dog: How To Face Absurdity, Sophia

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Exotica (1994)

Set in a mysterious exotic club in Toronto, this haunting drama slowly reveals the grief and obsession binding its characters. Atom Egoyan crafts a layered narrative that’s quietly devastating. It’s not about sex—it’s about emotional survival.

Exotica (1994)Exotica (1994) Trailer, Lost Reels

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But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

Natasha Lyonne plays a teen sent to a hilariously straight-laced conversion camp when her parents suspect she’s gay. With its campy sets and biting satire, this queer cult classic skewers gender norms and repression. It’s bold, funny, and decades ahead of its time.

Best Lesbian Movies With Happy EndingsBut I’m A Cheerleader (1999), Lionsgate

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George Of The Jungle (1997)

Brendan Fraser is utterly loveable with his performance in this goofy live-action parody of Tarzan. With its fourth-wall breaks, slapstick humor, and surprising charm, it delighted a generation of 90s kids. It's still a joyfully silly watch.

George Of The Jungle (1997)George Of The Jungle - George Vs. Lion, Lion Within

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