Best Movies of the 90s. Top 10

The 90s were a golden era for cinema – it was a time when many productions that are now considered iconic were created and left an indelible mark on the history of film. It was during this time that the thriller genre flourished: neo-noir, a nod to the classic film noir, as well as erotic and psychological thrillers. Filmmakers did not forget about genre cinema either, with action spectacles and horror films reflecting the anxieties of the millennium shift. The last decade of the 20th century also saw the rise of Indiewood. There was no shortage of heartfelt dramas that uplift the spirit.

We have selected the top 10 movies of the 90s. These are productions worth revisiting or watching for the first time. We guarantee that you won't regret the time spent on them.

The only cure for nostalgia is a cinematic journey back in time. So put on your flannel shirt, turn up some Nirvana, and pick a title for tonight.

Seven

Seven, David Fincher, New Line Cinema, 1995

Sartre once said that hell is other people. David Fincher seems to argue that there is no other hell than the one we create for ourselves on Earth. Seven is a clever puzzle-thriller in which, along with the detectives, we are drawn into a terrifying game orchestrated by a brilliant psychopathic murderer, who condemns the seven deadly sins of the modern world. In this way, the detective played by Brad Pitt, much like the protagonist of Dante's Divine Comedy, descends deeper and deeper into increasingly hellish circles. The genius of Fincher's film lies in the fact that although we feel disgust to the methods of the moralizing sadist, we nevertheless agree with his critical assessment of reality.

The Piano

The Piano, Jane Campion, The Australian Film Commission, 1993

Awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes, The Piano is a sophisticated and sensual portrayal of women's cinema. Jane Campion explores with remarkable sensitivity the psyche of Ada – a mute protagonist who expresses herself and her emotions through her piano playing. Deep in the heart of New Zealand's jungle, the woman finds her inner freedom, rebelling against the restrictive customs of the 19th century and allowing a lover into her intimate world of music. The Piano is a multilayered film about the search for one's own voice, gaining self-awareness and the right to self-determination. The film's refined eroticism captivates and Michael Nyman's music leaves a lasting imprint in the memory.

The Matrix

The Matrix, Lana i Lilly Wachowski, Warner Bros.,1999

What if the world you live in is actually an illusion? What if the life you know is just a dream? And what if only the chosen ones can shed the chains of ignorance? The vision of a world-as-prison presented in the Wachowski sisters' film is not entirely new, but the story of awakening, served at the turn of the millennium, shook masses of viewers, resonating with the fertile soil of fears and uncertainties of the millennium's end. The abundance and depth of philosophical and religious motifs opened the production to Christian, Buddhist, and Gnostic interpretations. It's undeniable that The Matrix is a groundbreaking work in terms of technology; the special effects were astounding, and the fight scenes are still impressive to this day. Today, the Wachowski sisters' spectacle is a true classic of science fiction and action cinema.

Heat

Heat, Michael Mann, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1995

To look an enemy in the eye – without hatred, with respect – is unthinkable for some of us, but not for the main characters of Michael Mann's Heat, portrayed by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as the detective and the villain. The film reinterprets the relationships between the criminal and the law enforcer. In the most memorable and masterful scene, the characters have a conversation in a roadside diner. Although they are on opposite sides of the law, they manage to be honest, momentarily suspend their professional roles, remove their masks, and have a genuine conversation. While Heat is an action film, the psychology of the characters is well-developed, and the subplots make the characters even more intriguing. We root equally for the "bad" guy and the "good" guy. Heat is a masterpiece of the thriller genre and further proof of the acting excellence of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Awakenings

Awakenings, Penny Marshall, Columbia Pictures, 1990

Be the one who cares, because you can change a human life – this is the message Penny Marshall conveys in her heartwarming film. And she's right. Awakenings is a story based on true events about a doctor who, using an experimental drug, restores consciousness to patients immersed in catatonia. Bureaucracy and adversity couldn't make him give up on human life. Awakenings features a perfect acting duo: the brilliant Robert De Niro and the most beloved Robin Williams. Marshall crafted a film about true friendship and genuine emotions, about the strength of the human spirit. Her work is touching, sensitizing, it makes the heart grow fonder, and brings a tear to the eye. It reminds us of what is most important, which we so easily forget.

Truman Show

Truman Show, Peter Weir, Paramount Pictures, 1998

Peter Weir almost a year ahead of the creators of The Matrix introduced the Gnostic motif of the world as an illusion, the world as a prison, into cinema. In the Australian director's production, the reality of the characters is nothing more than a reality show, in which people are merely puppets in the hands of a nefarious demiurge-director. Today, in the era of TikTok and Instagram, when we are inundated with artificiality in social media and the world of appearances is celebrated, while truth and quality are scarce commodities, The Truman Show seems more relevant than ever. In his philosophical and symbolic film, Weir encourages us to tirelessly strive to be a true-man, a real person, and to seek the truth – even if it is more challenging than uncritically accepting the mush that the mainstream feeds us.

The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan, Hollywood Pictures, 1999

There are many theories about what happens to the human soul after death. In his most famous film, M. Night Shyamalan draws on the motif known in Indian religions of the deceased who cannot leave Earth and move on to another world – their spirits wander because they have left important, unresolved matters. Based on this idea, a production was created that became one of the biggest horror successes of the 90s. The Sixth Sense, however, is not a typical horror movie nor a typical ghost story. The director plays with the conventions of horror cinema, skillfully building mystery leading to a surprising revelation. The film is also interesting due to the relationship between the young boy, Cole, and the child psychologist played by Bruce Willis.

Basic Instinct

Basic Instinct, Paul Verhoeven, Carolco Pictures, 1992

„I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill him the way I described in my book” – says Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct, a writer accused of murdering a rock star. Or perhaps quite the opposite – that cunning? This question forms the canvas for the impeccably tailored screenplay of Paul Verhoeven's film. Basic Instinct is a quintessential example of an erotic thriller – a subgenre that flourished in the early '90s. Sharon Stone seduces as the devilishly attractive femme fatale with a sensual voice – not just in the famous police interrogation scene. A sexually liberated woman, who men simultaneously fear and desire, is captivating. The atmosphere of mystery draws in from the first scenes, and the ice pick remains one of the most famous film crime tools.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, James Cameron, Carolco Pictures,1991

It's rare for a sequel to surpass the original production, but that's exactly the case with James Cameron's film. The story of the Terminator, a machine created for killing, in the second part becomes a tale of redemption. Terminator 2: Judgment Day can be viewed as a testament to its times – the cinema of the end of the century is, after all, cinema about the apocalypse, a reflection of the fear of the end of the world, artificial intelligence, and the rebellion of machines. The set design and special effects, pioneering on the day of its release, today give the viewing a fascinating retro character. Thus, a production that was created over three decades ago still provides great entertainment and strong emotions today, and leaves you satisfied with time well spent after watching it. Terminator 2 consistently captivates, and Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to astonish with the talent required to play a machine.

Unforgiven

Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood, Warner Bros., 1992

In times when the western genre was not particularly popular, Clint Eastwood decided to make a film in the genre closest to his heart and dedicate it to his masters: Sergio Leone and Don Siegel. Unforgiven is the story of the former gunslinger William Munny. The man decides to earn money but also to deliver justice by dealing with cowboys who disfigured a prostitute. The work, which utilizes the conventions of the classic western while introducing elements unusual for the genre, addresses the themes of evil, cruelty, punishment, and reparation. In the world of Unforgiven, however, no one is unequivocally good or unequivocally bad – not even the character played by Clint Eastwood. The American director's anti-western won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

Pamela Jakiel

Pamela Jakiel

Finished film studies, graduate of the Faculty Individual Studies in the Humanities at the Jagiellonian University. Her master's thesis was about new spirituality in contemporary cinema. The editor of the Filmomaniak service since April 2023, supports the lead editor and the boss of all newspeople. She used to write for naEkranie. If she's not watching The Ninth Gate for the hundredth time, then she's reading books by Therese Bohman and Donna Tartt for the first time. She prefers gnosis over dread, dramas over horrors, Jung over Freud. She looks for symbolist paintings in museums. Runs long distances, and does even the longer ones on a gravel. Loves dachshunds.