10 Masterpieces From the 1990s You Forgot Existed

Movies are often judged by how much money they make, and the 1990s were no different. The biggest hits of that decade included Jurassic Park, Titanic, and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Though directors like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron consistently created both critically acclaimed and popular films, many other excellent movies from the nineties have faded into obscurity.

The 1980s also brought the growing popularity of home video, which started to affect how much money films made and let more people watch movies outside of theaters. While this helped save some great films from being forgotten, most still didn’t get the attention they deserved – and that was true for movies made in Hollywood and all over the world.

The Birdcage Is a Comedy Masterpiece Before Anything Else

The Birdcage successfully combines the humor and heart of films like The Lion King, with Nathan Lane delivering a standout performance. At its core, it’s a very funny movie about family. It stood out during a time when LGBTQ+ stories weren’t often seen, by showing that everyone—regardless of their identity—is motivated by the same basic emotions. Both gay and straight parents simply want the best for their children as they approach marriage, even if they express it differently.

Mike Nichols’ 1996 film is a funny, dreamlike, and thought-provoking look at a gay couple and their families. Though it might not be as widely discussed today, the performances from Nathan Lane and Robin Williams are unforgettable and keep the story feeling relevant and heartwarming.

Despite a fast-paced and often hilarious plot filled with both heartwarming and frantic moments, The Birdcage never loses its genuine emotional core. The film blends slapstick and witty dialogue with pointed political commentary reflecting the attitudes of the 1990s, all while presenting a bold and positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ life.

Close-Up Transforms Truth and Identity Into Riveting Cinema

Abbas Kiarostami, an Iranian filmmaker, gained international acclaim for his work. His 1990 film, Close-Up, which blended documentary and fiction, demonstrated the high quality of Iranian cinema. The film tells the story of a man who impersonates a famous director, successfully fooling a family who are fans, before his deception is ultimately revealed.

In Close-Up, every role is played by the people themselves, adding a remarkable level of realism and making the film incredibly believable. It’s widely considered a masterpiece of cinema and appears on many ‘best film’ lists. Ironically, the film gained popularity outside of Iran thanks to international acclaim.

Kiarostami’s film, Close-Up, thoughtfully explores what is real and how we find meaning, and it does so by cleverly mixing different filmmaking techniques. The film suggests that movies don’t simply show us reality; they actively influence how we see ourselves and the world around us. It’s rare to find a film that so powerfully captures the human desire to understand who we are, and Close-Up does just that.

Bound Clearly Demonstrated the Wachowskis’ Emerging Talents

Before the Wachowski sisters became famous for The Matrix, they made a smaller, debut film called Bound. This crime movie, starring Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly, offered more than just a simple plot. Critics at Rotten Tomatoes noted that Bound‘s strong direction and acting were actually more engaging than its suggestive content.

While Bound shares similarities with the work of the Coen brothers, it was a truly groundbreaking film for the 1990s. It brought lesbian representation into the mainstream without relying on tired stereotypes, and it revitalized the crime genre with the Wachowskis’ masterful filmmaking techniques.

Joe Pantoliano’s performance as Caesar is intentionally unsettling, showing a character consumed by growing paranoia, and making him a memorable villain from ’90s noir films. Ultimately, the movie Bound demonstrated that independent films can be both critically acclaimed and offer nuanced representation.

Hard Boiled Became the Apex of Gun Fu Filmmaking

The martial arts boom in Hong Kong during the 1970s and 80s eventually evolved into a style called gun fu. The film Hard Boiled features Chow Yun-fat as Inspector ‘Tequila’ Yuen Ho-yan, a character similar to Dirty Harry – a cop who bends the rules to get the job done. This formula proved to be very successful for the movie.

Critics in the West highly praised Hard Boiled, recognizing Woo’s fresh take on the action genre and his groundbreaking special effects – the LA Times even declared him the best action director working today. Beyond his technical skill, the film’s emotional power was immense, often reaching a dramatic, almost operatic, scale.

That same blend of over-the-top drama and carefully choreographed violence actually defined action movies in both Hollywood and Hong Kong. The action in the film is stunning, with memorable scenes like the shootout in the teahouse and the attack on the warehouse. The final hospital scene is particularly impressive, featuring a single, continuous shot that lasts almost three minutes. The fights in Hard Boiled are more like beautifully crafted dances, making it stand out as one of the best action films of the 1990s.

Barton Fink Is the Most Unsettling Work of the Purest Art

While films like No Country for Old Men have also received widespread praise, the 1991 movie Barton Fink has largely faded from memory. The story centers on the playwright Barton Fink, played by John Turturro, and Charlie Meadows, portrayed by John Goodman, and features a surprising twist that ultimately changes very little.

Barton Fink was a critical success, winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes and awards for both its director and lead actor. Despite not performing well in theaters, the film offered a complex and insightful look into the world of creative work, proving difficult to neatly define or categorize.

Well-known figures like Larry King and Charlie Kaufman were fans of the film Barton Fink, with Kaufman famously calling it the one movie he’d choose to have with him on a deserted island. Even almost 40 years after it came out, people are still studying and debating Barton Fink, which is a strong sign of its brilliance as a movie.

Heavenly Creatures Views the Tragedy of Crime Through Romantic Fantasy

Peter Jackson is best known for directing the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. However, he also launched the career of Kate Winslet, giving her the very first role in her filmography with Heavenly Creatures. In this stunning and moving film, Melanie Lynskey, who later became well-known, played a perfect counterpart to Winslet’s character.

This film, much like a truly great work of art, doesn’t fit neatly into one genre. It blends elements of dark comedy, psychological thriller, fantasy romance, and historical drama. Inspired by the real-life Parker-Hulme case that shocked 1950s New Zealand, the film reimagines the story as a tragic, secret love affair.

Heavenly Creatures is a surprisingly moving and disturbing film. It shows the shocking murder from the perspective of the teenage girls who committed it, portraying them as desperate to stay together no matter the consequences. Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey deliver compelling performances as characters far more complex than the sensationalized media portrayed, highlighting the overlooked reasons behind their actions. Ultimately, Peter Jackson deserved his first Oscar for this film.

Being John Malkovich Redefined the Limitations of Surrealism

When director Spike Jonze first presented his idea for Being John Malkovich, New Line Cinema rejected it, wanting instead a film called Being Tom Cruise. Although Cameron Diaz worried about being forever linked to her character, the movie’s incredible quality ultimately made the role worthwhile.

The film Being John Malkovich relies heavily on the imaginative and unusual writing style of Charlie Kaufman, who would later become known for films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the Netflix thriller I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Both Kaufman and director Spike Jonze were highly praised by film critic Roger Ebert, who described the movie as “an endlessly inventive film” and gave it four stars, impressed by how surprisingly well the bizarre story came together.

Even if you only consider how unique it was, Being John Malkovich clearly redefined independent film in America as a darkly funny and unusual movie. But it was the combination of a smart script, skillful direction, and strong acting from John Cusack, Catherine Keener, and Cameron Diaz that truly made it a clever and still-relevant commentary on society.

Unforgiven Is the Modern Western Stripped Down to Its Core

I’ve been a film fan for twenty years, and it’s amazing to see Unforgiven getting rediscovered now that Westerns are popular again. Honestly, though, I don’t get the lukewarm reaction. It’s a truly great film and deserves way more praise than it gets!

With one masterful stroke, Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven completely changed how Hollywood portrayed the Wild West. The film isn’t just a Western; it’s a powerful and unsettling look at violence itself. Despite a few moments where the story feels crowded with too many characters, it’s now considered a landmark achievement in the genre.

It would have been incredibly difficult for anyone but Clint Eastwood to create a film that both broke down the traditional western myth and offered a nuanced look at a complicated character. His past work clearly showed him how to simplify the genre to its core elements. While Unforgiven includes a final gunfight, its main focus is on challenging the romanticized ideas of honor and heroism, suggesting those concepts weren’t really present in the real Old West.

Happy Together Pays Homage to Authentic Queerness

Wong Kar-wai is celebrated worldwide for his 2001 film, In the Mood for Love, which is considered a cinematic classic. However, he was already a highly skilled filmmaker in the 1990s, as demonstrated by Happy Together. This film perfectly showcases his talent combined with the stunning cinematography of George Doyle, creating a consistently impressive visual experience.

While Wong Kar-wai didn’t label Happy Together a “gay film,” the intense love story between its two male leads deeply resonated with both audiences and critics. Many believe the film was even more emotionally honest and raw than Moonlight, offering a powerfully intimate look at love, desire, and the struggles of its characters.

Creating a truly meaningful film is challenging, but Wong took it a step further by focusing on the lives of Hong Kong immigrants struggling in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. This allowed him to explore a delicate balance within their lives. While the title Happy Together feels ironic by the end of the movie, the film’s broader messages about happiness and hope resonate more powerfully than the ultimately unsuccessful love story.

The Three Colors Trilogy Emphasizes the Cycle of the Human Condition

Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors is a film trilogy that many movie lovers may not be familiar with. The three films – Three Colors: Blue, Three Colors: White, and Three Colors: Red – came out between 1993 and 1994, and each color symbolizes a part of the French flag. Although the films don’t follow one simple storyline, they powerfully explore ideas connected to the French Revolution of the 1700s.

Considered a masterpiece of filmmaking, Three Colors explores the core ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity – the principles behind the original French Constitution of 1791. While each film works as a standalone story, the trilogy is powerfully connected through shared ideas, repeating images, and a beautifully structured narrative.

While Blue and White are compelling, Red reaches a powerful emotional peak. The film’s relationship between a model and a judge evolves into a thought-provoking exploration of empathy and fate. Three Colors: Red concludes with a stunning ending that changes how you view the entire series, creating a meaningful connection between all three films and the full range of human emotion.

2025-12-03 00:14