The 1990s marks one of the most eclectic and experimental decades in the history of mainstream cinema. Several genres underwent dynamic changes, blockbuster cinema soared to new heights, and one of the most significant pictures in the history of animated film was released to rousing reception. Of course, in addition to all these landmark achievements, from technical innovation to storytelling dare, the 90s also saw the release of some of the greatest and most revered movies of all time as well.
Dissecting the decade with a retrospective lens to pinpoint its most important films is no easy feat, with such classics asGoodfellasand even genre re-defining triumphs likeUnforgivennot making the cut. What does remain, however, isan assembly of some of the most influential movies of all time, with these 10 releases forever changing the cinematic landscape with their pioneering brilliance and their immense social impact.
10’Saving Private Ryan' (1998)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Unsurprisingly, several of the most significant releases of the 1990s were pictures directed bySteven Spielberg, withSaving Private Ryana particularly important film as one of the greatest war movies ever made. Imbued with a tremendous and, at times, terrifying sense of spectacle, it follows the efforts of a squad of American soldiers tasked with journeying across war-torn Europe to locate Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) so he can be returned home to his family.
The opening sequence alone, which famouslydetails the D-Day invasion of Normandywith excruciating detail and intensity, is amongthe most visceral and immersive depictions of the brutality of war cinema has ever seen. With its several outstanding combat sequences, its rich and resonant characters, and its thematic intrigue,Saving Private Ryanis regarded by many to be the greatest movie of the 90s, while it also spearheaded a renewed interest in considered and provocative war cinema that has carried on throughout the 21st century thus far.
Saving Private Ryan
9’Scream' (1996)
Directed by Wes Craven
From the onset of the 1980s, horror cinema had been dominated by the visceral violence and frightful shocks of slasher cinema. While such franchises asFriday the 13thandA Nightmare on Elm Streetensured the subgenre thrived for many years, the slasher formula had begun to grow tiresome by the early-to-mid 90s. Created by horror maestroWes Craven, 1996’sScreamproved to be the resurgent, reflective, fun-filled phenom the genre—and its fans—needed so drastically.
A brilliant mixture ofastute thrills, observational social commentary, and introspective meta-comedy engaging with the tropes and pitfalls of the genreitself,Screamdelivered a delightful dose of fun-loving horror that rejuvenated the genre after a steep decline through the early part of the decade. In addition to being one of the most iconic titles of 1990s cinema,Screamhas also endured as one of the greatest slasher films ever made, one that has influenced many horror movies in the years since its release,including the Oscar-winning smash hitGet Out.
8’Ringu' (1998)
Directed by Hideo Nakata
Horror pivoting more towards meta-comedy was a defining move for the genre in the 1990s, but so too was the rampant rise in popularity of international horror movies,namely the ones originating from Japan. There is no film that embodies the decade’s emergence of foreign horror quite likeRingu. The supernatural scary movie follows a reporter in a desperate race against time as she investigates the origin behind a cursed videotape that kills people seven days after they watch it.
While its incorporation of contemporary technology may age it somewhat for modern viewers,Ringu’s enduring influence on horror can’t be overstated. Not only did it spearhead a new wave of popularity in Japanese horror, but it also resulted in 2002’s American remakeThe Ring,which, in turn, inspired many other American spins on trending “J-horror” titles.Such ongoing popularity ushered in a new dawn of horror interests, thus makingRingunot only a film of great importance in the 90s, but one of the most influential pictures in the context of 21st century horror as well.
7’The Shawshank Redemption' (1994)
Directed by Frank Darabont
One of the most divine stories ever put to screen,The Shawshank Redemptionhasovercome its abysmal box office performanceto be one of the most revered and beloved films of the 1990s, if not of all time. Based on theStephen Kingshort story, it follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a successful banker sentenced to prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. While serving time in Shawshank State Prison, Dufresne develops a steadfast friendship with fellow inmate “Red” (Morgan Freeman) and uses his favor with the corrupt warden to his advantage.
A monumental success through video rentals,The Shawshank Redemptionhasbecome enshrined as one of the most moving and profoundly human dramascinema has ever seen. Its widespread adoration is perhaps best exemplified by its standing onIMDb’s top 250 movies list, on which it ranks #1, but its cultural impact and longstanding relevance in pop-culture are just as telling of its brilliance.
The Shawshank Redemption
6’Titanic' (1997)
Directed by James Cameron
There was no film released in the 1990s that was as big asJames Cameron’s disaster epic and historical romance blockbuster,Titanic. Set aboard the titular ship, it follows the relationship that blooms between Rose (Kate Winslet), a 17-year-old socialite from a wealthy family engaged to an older industry millionaire, and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), a poor artist who endears himself to Rose with his boyish charms. When the Titanic strikes an iceberg, the young couple find their lives in danger as the passengers and crew scramble to get off the sinking ship.
While the film has been no stranger to mockery and criticisms retrospectively,Titanic’s success and pop-culture impactcannot be denied. Not only did it go on to win 11 Academy Awards from 14 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, but it also struck such a chord with contemporary audiences thatit became the highest-grossing film to that point in history with a box office intake of$2.2 billion. Such unrivaled success makesTitanic, by default, one of the most significant and important releases of the 1990s.
5’Schindler’s List' (1993)
Some films find longstanding importance for their technological advancements, their impact on genres or storytelling techniques, or even for breaking records at the box office and at awards ceremonies. Then there are films that are so immensely powerful that their importance can only be measured by the impact they have on society. A harrowing tale of the Holocaust from Steven Spielberg,Schindler’s Listis one of those films.
Itfocuses onOskar Schindler(Liam Neeson), a Nazi party member and successful industrialist who uses his factories as a means to recruit Jewish prisoners into his workforce so they may be spared from death in the concentration camps.With its brutal depictions of the horrendous atrocities committed by the Nazis,Schindler’s Listis a challenging viewing experience, but an essential one. The fact that Spielberg is also able to imbue such a confronting picture with aspects of his trademark warmth and humanism only further strengthens the film, which is regarded by many to be among the greatest and most important movies ever made.
Schindler’s List
4’Pulp Fiction' (1994)
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Many of the defining hits of the 1990s have endured because of the ways in which they changed the industry. In this regard, there is perhaps no film that has not only impacted by re-inventing the allure of independent cinema quite like the stylish crime classicPulp Fiction. WhileQuentin Tarantinogarnered audience interest with his debut in 1992’sReservoir Dogs, it was his follow-up film that truly ignited a movement of young filmmakers eager to capitalize on his stylistic strengths.
Fromthe writer-director’s memorably slick dialogueto his intense narrative beats, and even to his use of black comedy and ultra-violence,Pulp Fictionis one of the most imposing pictures in the history of indie cinema. Itdefines the fervor and vibrant grit of many low-budget classics of the decadeand is widely regarded as being one of the greatest movies of all time.
Pulp Fiction
3’Toy Story' (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter
Unbelievably, 2025 will mark 30 years sinceToy Storywas released in theaters. Across that time, the animated adventure classic has remained a cherished triumph of family cinema, with its story of Woody’s (Tom Hanks) feud withAndy’s new toy Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen)an enduring masterpiece of childlike wonder, imaginative brilliance, comedy charm, and deftly balanced storytelling.
Toy Storyis also regarded as one of the most significant releases in the history of animated film because of what it began, with it beingthe first feature film produced by Pixar and, perhaps even more importantly, the first film to be entirely computer animated. The innovation influenced not only film-making, but other industries as well, with graphics chipmakers, video game developers, and robotics researchers interested in the technology behind the film’s animation. In 2005,Toy Storywas selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress for its cultural significance.
2’The Matrix' (1999)
Directed by Lily & Lana Wachowski
Standing akin with such classics as2001: A Space OdysseyandBlade Runneras one of the greatest science-fiction movies ever made,The Matrixis arguably the quintessential film of the 1990s with its intense, genre-driven aesthetic and its mind-boggling story. It famously focuses onNeo (Keanu Reeves), a computer programmerwho learns the world is merely a simulation and is thrust into the struggle against the mechanical force using it to enslave humanity.
In addition to its reality-warping narrative thriving as one of the most astonishing stories ever put to screen,The Matrixalso remains a landmark triumph of special effects innovation. Armed with the creative brilliance of the Wachowskis,it featured such revolutionary tricks as the bullet time technique to usher in a new era of advanced film FX. It also contributed many phrases to the current lexicon (such as “take the red pill”) to remain entrenched as one of the biggest pop-culture phenomena of the 90s.
The Matrix
1’Jurassic Park' (1993)
There may be movies that better define the aesthetic of 90s cinema and even some that more accurately represent audience interests of the decade, but there is no film as pivotal asJurassic Parkin the context of implementingtechnological advancements that changed the future of film-making. The Steven Spielberg classic is a highlight of fantasy cinema, following a small group of guests to a dinosaur theme park where fossilized DNA has been used to bring dinosaurs back to life.
The movie excels as an exciting adventure as the dinosaurs break out of their enclosures and the guests are thrust into a fight for survival, butJurassic Parkwill forever be best remembered for the realization of the dinosaurs.Such visual grandeur had seldom graced the screen before, with Spielberg’s tact and precision enabling the presentation of the dinosaurs to be one of the most awe-inspiring moments in cinematic history. The masterful realization of such visual craft inspired many blockbusters that followed, includingThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy.
Jurassic Park
NEXT:The 10 Greatest Movies of the 1990s, Ranked
