The 1990s were a singular decade in cinema. Never before has the world seen so many hair drapes, thumb rings, and mini skirts wrapped in flannel. It popularized the practice of having a popular artist sing a rap song about the events of the movie during the end credits, which should never have gone out of style as far as I’m concerned. And visual effects experienced a major shift from practical to digital, with decidedly mixed results. (For every Jurassic Parkthere were five Spawn movies.)
If you grew up during the 90s and want to fill your veins with nostalgia, or are too young to remember them and want to experience what it was like to wear a vest over a t-shirt, Netflix has got you covered. The streaming service has an impressive collection of landmark films from the 90s that should be considered required viewing for any scholar of the decade. This is by no means a definitive list, but it is the list I compiled, which means it is 100% correct and beyond reproach .
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best 80s and 2000s movies on Netflix or the best shows and movies on the platform.
Editor’s note: This article was updated February 2023 to include Life, The Nutty Professor, Air Force One, Stepmom, and Blue Streak.
Notting Hill (1999)
run time: 2 hrs 4 min | Genre: Romance | Director: Roger Michell
cast: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Richard McCabe, Rhys Ifans
Julie Roberts (Ticket to Paradise) plays a famous movie star who falls in love with an English bookstore owner (Hugh Grant) in the most romantic film of the late 90s, Notting Hill.Directed by Roger Michell from a script by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), Notting Hill succeeds almost entirely due to the charming chemistry between the film’s stars. Roberts and Grant turn Curtis’ script of immediately recognizable romance film cliches on its head and provide a layer of authenticity, allowing the movie to stand the test of time. –Yael Tygiel
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Life (1999)
run time: 1 hr 48 min | Genre: Drama Comedy | Director: Ted Demme
cast: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Obba Babatundé, Bernie Mac
Eddie Murphy (Coming 2 America) and Martin Lawrence (Bad Boys for Life) star as an odd couple sentenced to prison in lifea hilarious comedy directed by Ted Demme. life follows Ray, a quick-witted con man played by the fast-talking Murphy, and Claude (Lawrence), a banker whose reputation gets obliterated by his dealings with Ray. Through misfortune hijinks and hysterical shenanigans, life explores the comical adventure the duo discovers, supported by a delightful cast including Obba Babatundé (Dear White People), the late Bernie Mac (Ocean’s Eleven), and Anthony Anderson (Black-ish). –Yael Tygiel
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The Nutty Professor (1996)
run time: 1 hr 35 min | Genre: Comedy Romance | Director: Tom Shadyac
cast: Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Coburn, Larry Miller
Remaking Jerry Lewis‘ uproarious 1963 comedy, The Nutty Professor stars Eddie Murphy (Shrek) as the plump Professor Klump as well as the slender, smooth-talking alter ego Buddy Love. Director Tom Shadyac (Liar Liar) focuses heavily on the fat jokes and stereotypes, building comedy at the expense of his main character in order to eventually present a message of self-love and acceptance. While the premise isn’t particularly original and many jokes are outdated, The Nutty Professor continues to showcase Murphy’s incomparable comedic talent as he famously embodies multiple different roles while starring opposite Jada Pinkett Smith(Gotham), as his love interest. –Yael Tygiel
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Air Force One (1997)
run time: 1 hr 58 min | Genre: Action Thriller | Director: Wolfgang Petersen
cast: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Wendy Crewson
Air Force One is one of Harrison Ford‘s most iconic roles outside of a franchise. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen (The Never Ending Story), Air Force One is an intense thriller about the hijacking of the United States President’s plane with the Commander-in-Chief and his family aboard. Featuring an unbelievable cast of late nineties stars, Air Force One includes a brilliant performance from Gary Oldman (The Fifth Element) as a radical communist terrorist. Through suspenseful Die Hard-style action and a thorough script by Andrew W. MarloweFord, Oldman, and Glenn Close (Guardians of the Galaxy) dominate the screen. –Yael Tygiel
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Stepmom (1998)
run time: 2 hrs 5 min | Genre: Drama Romance | Director: Chris Columbus
cast: Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris, Jena Malone
stepmom stars Susan Sarandon as Jackie, a mother dying of cancer, opposite Julia Robertswho plays Isabel, the new stepmother to Jackie’s children. stepmom is a truly heartbreaking premise, with tear-jerking scenes and devastating dialogue packaged underneath an all-star cast. In addition to powerhouses Sarandon and Roberts, who sturdily ground the film, stepmom features Ed Harris (Westworld) and Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2). Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), stepmom is a bittersweet movie about family, and supporting loved ones through thick and thin. –Yael Tygiel
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Blue Streak (1999)
run time: 1 hr 33 min | Genre: Comedy Crime | Director: Les Mayfield
cast: Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson, Peter Greene, Dave Chappelle
Charmingly entertaining, Blue Streak is a fresh comedy from director Les Mayfield (Encino Man). Blue Streak stars Martin Lawrence (Mindcage) as a convicted jewel thief who, upon release from prison, returns to the scene of his crime to retrieve his earnings, only to discover that his hiding spot is now a police station. Supported by a ridiculously amusing premise, Blue Streak succeeds entirely due to Lawrence’s rambunctious comedic style, paired with the no-nonsense straight-man style of Luke Wilson (Stargirl). Together, this odd couple provides a blueprint for action comedies of the late 90s. –Yael Tygiel
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The Mask of Zorro (1998)
run time: 2 hr 16 min | Genre: Action Adventure Swashbuckler | Director: Martin Campbell
cast: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson
The Mask of Zorro is easily one of the best adventure films of the 1990s. From director Martin Campbell (he who resurrected Bond not once but twice), the film was written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossiowho would go on to script Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Antonio Banderas stars as the titular hero, at the height of his smoldering Desperadophase. He’s an actor who has always understood what’s fun about making movies, and he easily fits into the mold of the swashbuckling hero. The Mask of Zorro features amazing swordplay (done with real swords!), some incredible set pieces, smart direction, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in her breakthrough role. Anthony Hopkins delivers a typically commanding performance as the elder Zorro, although the fact that both he and the villain (Stuart Wilson) are essentially wearing brown face to play Mexican characters has not aged well. If you can overlook that, The Mask of Zorro is an incredibly fun, well-made film. — Tom Reimann
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Edge of Seventeen (1998)
run time: 1 hr 38 min | Genre: Romantic Comedy-Drama | Director: David Moreton
Cast: Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych, Stephanie McVay
One of the older films on the list, Edge of Seventeen is a 1998 film about a teenage boy named Eric Hunter, played by Chris Staffordwhose part-time job working at an amusement park in the summer of 1984 leads to self-discovery and defining his true self. While his best friend Maggie (Tina Holmes) has always been vying for his affections, Eric meets a college guy named Rod (Andersen Gabrych) who leads him to realize he’s gay. As he tries to figure out how that changes his relationships with his parents and Maggie, Eric receives a little guidance from Angie (Lea DeLaria), his boss at the amusement park who also runs a gay bar in town, which leads him down the right path. Filled with the style and music of the ’80s, Edge of Seventeen is an all-around great queer rom-com.
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