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Underrated Movies from the ’90s That are Worth Watching
It's hard to avoid the hype and excitement of new movie releases like "Oppenheimer" or "The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," but plenty of outstanding movies are released each year that fade into obscurity for one reason or another.
This doesn't mean that these movies are bad or not worth watching. Many films are just ahead of their time, or capture an element of their contemporary culture that goes unappreciated for years.
Some people consider the 90s the golden age of movies. Whether it's the economic prosperity that influenced society during the decade or the era's last examples of movies shot entirely on film, there's a unique magic to 90s movies that hasn't been replicated since. These movies seem to glow brighter and crisper than those from earlier or later decades. There is an inherent warmness that might have been lost with the advent of digital filmmaking.
There are also 90s movies that have a unique magic, yet were ignored or quickly forgotten upon their release. In this article, we will explore some of the most underrated movies of the 90s. While many of them are projects by well-known directors, others are fleeting gems of storytelling and cinema.
To identify the most underrated movies of the 90s, 24/7 Tempo consulted a variety of entertainment and film sites, including Den of Geek and MovieWeb. Next, we selected films that had the most enduring cultural impact in the following decades. Lastly, we consulted IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes for plot and critical reception details.
Here are the most underrated movies from the '90s that are worth watching:
1. Bottle Rocket (1996)
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, James Caan
Though a simple movie, in his debut film, Wes Anderson captures the 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.
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.
2. A Simple Plan (1998)
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Starring: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda
It's winter in a small town when Hank Mitchell, his naive brother, and a friend go hunting. They discover a crashed plane filled with millions of dollars. Despite Hank's initial hesitation, to keep the money, the others persuade him to keep the money. So they devise a plan, 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.
3. Event Horizon (1997)
- Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
- Starring: Laurence Fishburn, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan
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.
4. The Game (1997)
- Director: David Fincher
- Starring: Michael Douglas, Sean Penn
Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy banker living in solitude, receives a special gift from his brother on his birthday. What starts as a seemingly harmless game quickly turns terrifying, driving Van Orton into a paranoid frenzy as he tries to unravel 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.
5. Clockers (1995)
- Director: Spike Lee
- Starring: Mekhi Phifer, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro
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.
6. Miller's Crossing (1990)
- Director: Joel and Ethan Coen
- Starring: John Turturro, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden
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" vividly brings a Depression-era mob world to life. Despite its complex plot, the film holds the audience's attention from the first frame.
7. Lost Highway (1997)
- Director: David Lynch
- Starring: Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty
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.
8. The Cable Guy (1996)
- Director: Ben Stiller
- Starring: Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann
When Steven hires a guy named Chip to install his cable, he dismisses the quirky man's attempt at friendship. Soon, he regrets this decision as Chip injects himself into Steven's life, nearly ruining 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.
9. The Rocketeer (1995)
- Director: Joe Johnston
- Starring: Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton
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.
10. Lone Star (1996)
- Director: John Sayles
- Starring: Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Frances McDormand
Sam Deeds is the sheriff of Frontera, a small Texas town. When he finds a skull in the desert, it sets off an investigation into the murder of the former sheriff, which occurred decades earlier. This eventually leads Sam to his father. Determined to solve the case, he begins unraveling deep 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.
11. Dark City (1998)
- Director: Alex Proyas
- Starring: Rufus Sewell, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly
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.
"Dark City" is a stylish and unsettling film that predates the wave of reality-bending films like "The Matrix." It gives a surreal and fascinating look into who controls the fabric of reality itself.
12. The Quick and the Dead (1995)
- Director: Sam Raimi
- Starring: Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio
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.
13. Hard Eight (1996)
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow
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 prostitute, and a diverse cast of interesting characters 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.
14. Very Bad Things (1998)
- Director: Peter Berg
- Starring: Jon Favreau, Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz
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.
"Very Bad Things" was criticized for being hollow and mean-spirited, and even cruel, yet the film captures something of a nightmare that feels like it could happen to anyone. It's headache-inducing, but in a way that compels you to keep watching.
15. Red Rock West (1993)
- Director: John Dahl
- Starring: Nicolas Cage, Lara Flynn Boyle, Dennis Hopper
In a twist of fate, an ex-marine wanders into a bar where the owner mistakes him for the hitman he hired to murder his wife. Seizing the opportunity, the ex-marine plays along, accepting half of the money. However, his conscience makes him find the wife and reveal the plan. Just as he's figuring out his next move, the real hired killer shows up, complicating matters.
"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.
16. Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
- Director: Fred Schepisi
- Starring: Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellen
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.
17. Election (1999)
- Director: Alexander Payne
- Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein
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.
Even though "Election" can feel 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 keen observation and sharp humor.
18. Go (1999)
- Director: Doug Liman
- Starring: Taye Diggs, Jay Mohr, Sarah Polley
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.
19. Jackie Brown (1997)
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Pam Grier
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.
20. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
- Director: Carl Franklin
- Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Beals
Easy Rawlins, a down-on-hi-luck veteran, crosses paths with a mysterious man at a bar 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.