The Most Underrated Movies of the ’90s

After Anthony is released from a mental hospital, he meets up with his friend Dignan who is determined to go on a crime spree. After getting a neighbor to join, the trio looks for Dignan’s old boss. Soon, however, they realize they may be in over their heads.

Though a simple movie, in his debut film, Wes Anderson captures the simple joys of human interaction. A crime caper infused with a West Texas sensibility, “Bottle Rocket” uses its meandering energy to propel the story into the sublime.

It’s winter in a small town, and Hank Mitchell, his innocent but simple brother, and friend go out hunting. That’s when they discover a crashed plane filled with millions of dollars. Though Hank hesitates to keep the money, the others convince him. So they hatch a plot, which blows up in their faces spectacularly.

Though “A Simple Plan” moves slowly and uses a classic caper formula, it captures something profound about human nature. It’s lean, even elegant, and illustrates how even the simplest plan can sputter out of control.

After a long-missing spacecraft suddenly reappears, a team headed by the ship’s creator goes out to see what happened. At first look, it appears abandoned. Soon, however, the team discovers something sinister in the ship.

Though it was panned upon release, over the years, audiences began to appreciate the chilling, unnerving atmosphere of “Event Horizon.” It’s camp but horrifying and uses stunning set pieces to build a bone-chilling atmosphere in space.

Nicholas Van Orton is a wealthy banker who lives a life of solitude. On his birthday, however, his brother appears to give him a special gift. Soon, the game goes from silly to frightening, causing Van Orton to spiral into paranoia as he attempts to get to the heart of the puzzle.

One of David Fincher’s first films, “The Game” heralds all the hallmarks of his directing style. It’s crisp, and meticulous, and creates a truly ambivalent atmosphere. The best part of the movie is its constant teetering between psychological horror and absurdist comedy. Even still, it will give you goosebumps in the process.

Strike is a small-time drug dealer in the employ of a bigger fish named Rodney Little. Little tasks Strike with killing a rival. After the rival turns up dead, Strike’s brother Victor takes the fall for the crime. Hot on the trail, Detective Rocco Klein suspects a cover-up by Victor for his brother.

Though “Clockers” moves with a static, almost frenetic, rhythm, it speaks to the grim nature of the drug trade before those types of movies gained popularity. It fulfills its epic vision, but in the process, shows just how sorrowful this world can be.

The Italian Mafia seeks to kill a local bookie, but nearby Irish Mob boss Leo O’Bannon refuses to allow it, mostly because he’s dating the bookie’s sister. The problem is that O’Bannon’s top shooter is also seeing the sister. This forces the shooter to switch sides in a rapidly escalating mob war.

One of the early Coen Brothers films, “Miller’s Crossing” crafts a living, breathing Depression-era mob environment. Though the plot unfolds like a maze, it’s deft, holding the audience’s attention from the first frame of the movie.

A strange, alluring movie of twin sensibilities, “Lost Highway” explores the life of a jazz musician convinced his wife is having an affair. At the same time, the film follows a mechanic drawn into a web of lies by the mistress of a gangster.

Like David Lynch’s other films, “Lost Highway” seems more like a dream than a conventional film. It’s anxious and murky, operating on an internal, hallucinatory logic that propels the film through the darkest roads of the human psyche.

When Steven hires a guy named Chip to install his cable, he rebuffs the quirky man’s attempt at friendship. He soon regrets this, however, as Chip injects himself into Steven’s life and almost ruins it in the process.

Though ostensibly a comedy, “The Cable Guy” transcends the genre, enveloping more like a psychological thriller. Spearheaded by Jim Carrey’s unnerving performance, the film teases comedy before delving into the darker parts of human connection.

After stunt man Cliff Secord finds a special jet back, he dons the apparatus and becomes the beloved Rocketeer. The problem is, however, the Nazis are also after the unique jetpack. To foil his foes, Secord must don his alter ego and save the day.

Though it bombed at the box office, there is something majestic about “The Rocketeer.” It captures the golden age of Hollywood impeccably. It’s a dynamic, endlessly entertaining movie for all ages.

Sam Deeds is the sheriff of a small Texas town called Frontera. After he finds a skull in the desert, he traces it to the murder of the town sheriff some 40 years earlier. This eventually leads him to his father. Desperate to solve the case, Deeds goes deeper, uncovering long-hidden secrets of his small town.

Lone Star faded relatively quickly after its release, which is a shame, as the film captures something special about the human condition. More literary than cinematic, the movie evokes a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that envelops a small frontier town and all its skeletons in the closet.

John Murdoch awakens in a strange hotel only to find he is wanted for a brutal murder. With no memory of the event, Murdoch must unravel the story. This leads him into a strange, phantasmagoric underworld of beings who control the entire city.

Stylish, unsettling, and dynamic, “Dark City” preceded all the nature of reality films that would come in the following years like “The Matrix.” Nevertheless, it’s a surreal, fascinating look into who controls the puppet strings of the world.

Ellen is a female gunslinger looking for the man who killed her father. She enters a small western town run by the sadistic mayor. Soon, she enters a competition with fellow miscreants, seeking exact retribution on her father’s killer.

Compared to the plethora of other Wild West films, “The Quick and the Dead” relies on humor to sell its story. Though it sometimes falls flat, overall, the film is a witty yet explosive retelling of classic Spaghetti Western motifs.

Taking place in a shadowy casino, Hard Eight is a character study of the local denizens. There’s a young gambler mentored by a nameless older man, as well as a hooker, and a gaggle of interesting personalities befriended by this strange man.

Though it was the now-legendary Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film, “Hard Eight” does not seem like a freshman attempt. It’s lean, and existential, providing incredible performances by its group of actors.

A group of guys heads to Vegas to celebrate a bachelor party. When one of them accidentally kills a stripper, however, the party goes off the rails. Soon, the killer kills even more people, in an attempt to cover up his original crime.

Though many critics panned “Very Bad Things” for being hollow and mean-spirited, if not cruel, the movie captures something of a nightmare that could happen to anyone. It’s headache-inducing, but in a way that compels you to keep watching.

When an ex-marine stumbles into a bar, the owner mistakes him for the man he hired to kill his wife. The ex-marine goes along with the story and takes half of the money, before finding the wife and filling her in on the plot. As he levies his options, the real hired killer shows up looking for his target.

“Red Rock West” is one of those 90’s gems that quickly disappeared from the public memory. It’s a shame too, as it has everything that makes a great thriller. It’s taut, well-paced, and wraps up its classic story in an impeccably entertaining way.

While wealthy art dealers host a dinner party, a blood-soaked man shows up on their doorstep claiming to be a friend of their children. Though he charms his way in before being kicked out, his enigmatic presence becomes increasingly hard to shake.

Though “Six Degrees of Separation” functions like a stage play, it makes for one very absorbing movie. Puzzling and thought-provoking, the film emits an undeniable intrigue that makes for one unnerving and satisfying watch.

At a small high school, a feud erupts between a well-liked teacher and a successful, but duplicitous student. When the student decides to run for class president, the teacher convinces another kid to run against her.

Though on its surface “Election” feels like a simple film, don’t let its lean trappings fool you. It captures something about the nature of humanity. Using an unpretentious setting and dynamic, the movie delights with social savagery and acerbic wit.

A grocery store clerk makes extra money by selling drugs from his work cash register. When an actor couple comes in looking to score, they are surprised to find a girl covering his shift. Little does she know, however, that the couple is secretly working for the police.

The beauty of “Go” is how it uses very disparate elements to create a cohesive whole. It’s frenetic, and overly self-conscious, yet uses this to compose an endlessly entertaining, exciting, and witty film. It’s a high watermark of that unique 90’s energy.

Flight Attendant Jackie Brown gets busted trafficking drugs in from Mexico. While her boss attempts to ensure her complicity, Brown decides to double-cross him instead. This leads her into the hands of a bounty hunter who helps her pull off the plot.

Though it’s one of the less-known Quentin Tarantino movies, “Jackie Brown” remains a formidable look into his world. It’s subtle, spare, and almost lackadaisical. Yet, with repeated viewings, “Jackie Brown” becomes a fascinating character study of trust, betrayal, and loyalty.

Easy Rawlins is an out-of-work veteran, looking to make some money. When he stumbles into a bar, he meets a mysterious man who hires him to find a missing white woman. Desperate for cash, Rawlins takes the job, but soon finds himself completely in over his head.

“Devil in a Blue Dress” takes its 40’s atmosphere and brings the period to life. It’s full of sly, smart details, and crafts a wonderful mystery. Hard-boiled and blue, the film compels the audience forward while exploring profound meditations on race and ambition.