While some movies swiftly leave our memories, others become cult classics. These iconic films stand the test of time, no matter how long ago they were released.
This is true for several movies that were released in 1994. At this point in film history, Tom Hanks, Holly Hunter, and Julia Roberts were a few big names leading the silver screen. Additionally, made-for-TV movies were becoming popular, giving audiences a chance to see films without having to go to the theater.
Still, the film and theater industry saw huge earnings. The top 10 films of the year brought in over $1.6 billion according to Box Office Mojo. This was a new record and spurred filmmakers on to find new creative ways to draw audiences in. Many of the movies from this time frame have also been labeled “cult classics,” with a strong and supportive audience.
From Jim Carrey’s roles in “Dumb and Dumber” and “The Mask,” to “Forrest Gump,” the second-highest-grossing film of the year, our list covers comedies, dramas, and even animated movies. A few of these films also gave us some of the most unforgettable lines from ’90s movies.
To create this list of 30-year-old movies, 24/7 Tempo sourced information from IMDb, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and MovieWeb. Here are 17 iconic movies turning 30 this year.
“Dumb and Dumber”
- Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrell
Released in December of 1994, “Dumb and Dumber” covers the comedic adventure of two friends who travel across the country to Aspen in an effort to return a lost briefcase to a woman. The film features Jim Carrey in what would be his third movie release of the year, Jeff Daniels, and Lauren Holly. The film earned Carrey an MTV Award for Best Comedic Performance. IMDb reports that the film also brought in a whopping $247 million worldwide.
“Forrest Gump”
- Directed by: Rober Zemeckis
Winning 6 Oscars in 1995, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks, was the iconic adventure of Forrest Gump. This film retells the life story of a man as he grew up during the 60s and 70s. While Gump (played by Hanks) isn’t the smartest man, he follows his heart and miraculously makes history. The film may have only brought in about $24 million during opening weekend, but it’s since gone on to be a cult classic.
“The Lion King”
- Directed by: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
An animated film and the top-grossing movie of the year, “The Lion King” is a classic Disney movie that every ’90s child remembers. The film starred the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Additionally, it’s gone on to earn nearly a billion dollars worldwide, and it’s been turned into a Broadway musical. An updated live-action version of the film was released by Disney in 2019 as well.
“The Shawshank Redemption”
- Directed by: Frank Darabont
Starring Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding, “The Shawshank Redemption” is centrally focused on the story of two inmates who form an unlikely friendship. While the movie is not based on a true story, it is loosely based on Stephen King’s novel, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.” The film also earned an impressive 7 Oscar nominations the following year, though it failed to bring home a win.
“True Lies”
- Directed by: James Cameron
Before James Cameron went on to make “Titanic” later in the ’90s, he directed this film about a secret agent who has to focus on saving his marriage while saving the world. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. While it didn’t win many awards, it still went on to gross nearly $379 million worldwide.
“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”
- Directed by: Tom Shadyac
In Jim Carrey’s first comedy of 1994, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” went on to receive relatively small earnings in its opening weekend. However, the film became the first of a franchise, with “Ace Venture: When Nature Calls” released the following year. These films have gone on to become cult classics with quotes many kids and teens from the ’90s still remember.
“Speed”
- Directed by: Jan de Bont
Starring Keanu Reeves as Officer Jack Tavern, “Speed” was one of the biggest thrillers of the mid-90s. The film also stars Sandra Bullock in what many consider to be her breakout role. Additionally, the film inspired a sequel in 1997 entitled “Speed 2: Cruise Control.” Worldwide gross earnings for the movie total more than $350 million as well.
“Pulp Fiction”
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Voted by Time Magazine as one of the all-time 100 best films ever made, “Pulp Fiction” has become a global phenomenon. The film features a long list of A-list actors including John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis. It’s also gone on to gross nearly $214 million worldwide.
“Four Weddings and a Funeral”
- Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” follows a bachelor whose chance meet-ups with the same woman cause him to second-guess what he thinks about love. As a British romantic comedy, the movie had a relatively small opening weekend in the United States and Canada, but it grossed nearly $246 million worldwide.
“Clerks”
- Directed by: Kevin Smith
Written, directed, and produced by Kevin Smith at the beginning of his career, “Clerks” follows a convenience store and movie rental employee through a day in their lives. The film stars Brian O’Halloran as Dante and Jeff Anderson as Randal. While it experienced low earnings during opening weekend, it’s gone on to gross more than $3.5 million worldwide. It also inspired a franchise as Smith went on to make Clerks II and Clerks III.
“The Client”
- Directed by: Joel Schumacher
“The Client” is a suspense thriller that follows a young boy who must hire his own lawyer to protect himself against the District Attorney. Starring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, the film brought in modest earnings during opening weekend. It was also the breakout film for then-10-year-old Brad Renfro.
“The Mask”
- Directed by: Chuck Russell
Released in between “Ace Ventura” and “Dumb and Dumber,” “The Mask” would go on to be Jim Carrey’s highest-grossing movie of 1994. In the film, Carrey (portraying Stanley Ipkiss) starred opposite Cameron Diaz (who played Tina Carlyle). As Ipkiss discovers a secret and mysterious mask, it changes his character. The film has grossed more than $351 million worldwide.
“The Crow”
- Alex Proyas
A dark thriller, “The Crow” follows the main character, Eric Draven (portrayed by Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee), as he fights to right the wrongdoing of his and his fiancé Shelly’s (portrayed by Sofia Shinas) brutal murder. The film also inspired a remake which will premiere in August of 2024.
“Legends of the Fall”
- Directed by: Edward Zwick
Starring A-list actors Sir Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, and Julia Ormond, “Legends of the Fall” follows one family’s journey through time as land owners in Montana. The film went on to win an Oscar in 1995 for Best Cinematography and has grossed over $160 million worldwide.
“The Little Rascals”
- Directed by: Penelope Spheeris
As the lead character Alfalfa (played by Bug Hall) attempts to win over his crush, Darla (played by Brittany Ashton Holmes), his friends try to disrupt his efforts in “The Little Rascals.” Though the movie was met with mixed reviews, many children who grew up in the ’90s remember this film from their childhood.
“Ed Wood”
- Directed by: Tim Burton
Based on the life story of Hollywood film director Edward D. Wood, Jr., “Ed Wood” is a biography and comedy-drama. Wood was known for his production of low-budget horror films in the 1950s. His character is portrayed in the bio-pic by Johnny Depp while the character of Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau, earned Landau an Oscar for
“Léon: The Professional”
- Directed by: Luc Besson
Listed on IMDb as a “Top-Rated Movie,” “Léon: The Professional” stars Jean Reno as Leon and Natalie Portman as Mathilda. The two characters form a bond after Mathilda’s family is murdered and Leon takes her in. They must work together to take down a crooked DEA officer, played by Gary Oldman. The film is now considered a cult classic and Portman’s breakout role. For further reading, check out our list of movies that are turning 50 this year.