Ultimate Late 90s Movies List: 20 Films Everyone Should Watch at Least Once

The turn of the millennium proved to be another golden age of cinema, and many of the movies produced in the late 1990s have become true classics and garnered massive fan communities that are still going strong. We've decided to compile a list of 20 films from the 90s that are worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.

Here they are, ranked by their IMDb score.

20. A Night at the Roxbury (1999, rated 6.2)

If the 90s Eurodance is your thing, you'll definitely enjoy this comedy movie, which is worth seeing at least for the famous head-bobbing scene to Haddaway's 'What Is Love.'

19. The Faculty (1999, rated 6.6)

A quintessentially 1990s supernatural movie, The Faculty strikes the perfect balance between high school drama and John Carpenter-style body horror.

18. Armageddon (1998, rated 6.7)

Many disaster movies came out in the late 90s, and Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis, was the most epic and dramatic of all — despite its rather shallow plot.

17. Cruel Intentions (1999, rated 6.8)

Though many critics panned Cruel Intentions, it was the first teen drama for its generation, featuring controversial, mysterious, and flawed characters.

16. The Frighteners (1996, rated 7.1)

Peter Jackson's supernatural comedy horror became the Beetlejuice of the 1990s, following a man who can talk to ghosts and uses his ability to make money performing exorcisms.

15. Seven Years in Tibet (1997, rated 7.1)

The biographical war drama about the friendship between an Austrian climber and the young Dalai Lama is an incredibly touching story, which will never lose its relevance for viewers.

14. Notting Hill (1999, rated 7.2)

Any list of the best 1990s movies wouldn't be complete without at least one rom-com, and this film starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts is the most prominent example.

13. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, rated 7.3)

Impeccable acting by John Cusack and Minnie Driver, the intriguing script about a hit man coming to his high school reunion, and the abundance of punk and ska music — these are just a few reasons why Grosse Pointe Blank has become a cult classic.

12. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999, rated 7.3)

This teen rom-com is well-known and still delights fans with its fun characters and touching story. 10 Things I Hate About You was also a breakthrough for Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

11. Girl, Interrupted (1999, rated 7.3)

Starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie, Girl, Interrupted was one of the first movies to openly address the issues of gaslighting, gender identity, mental health, and representation of women in the media.

10. Buffalo '66 (1998, rated 7.4)

Aside from the dynamic between Vincent Gallo and Christina Ricci's characters, which is unhealthy but makes you sympathize with them throughout the movie, Buffalo '66 is also praised for beautiful visuals and unique aesthetics.

9. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, rated 7.5)

Hunter Thompson's Raoul Duke wouldn't be quoted so often if it wasn't for Johnny Depp's portrayal of the character in the 1998 adaptation.

8. Run Lola Run (1998, rated 7.7)

Tom Tykwer's famous experimental film follows Lola, a young woman who tries to get out of a huge debt in 20 minutes to save her boyfriend — and fails, time after time.

7. The Boondock Saints (1999, rated 7.7)

Some viewers argue that The Boondock Saints is overly pretentious, and while that is partly true, the movie is still clever and entertaining.

6. Being John Malkovich (1999, rated 7.7)

Without a doubt, this surreal comedy is still one of the funniest and most original stories in the history of cinema.

5. Fargo (1996, rated 8.1)

The 90s and the Coen brothers are almost synonymous, right? Fargo established important crime drama tropes and also set the ethical bar — any self-serving action will lead to rough consequences.

4. The Sixth Sense (1999, rated 8.2)

Thanks to its perfect suspense and shocking plot twist, The Sixth Sense became one of the most era-defining psychological thrillers of the 1990s.

3. The Truman Show (1998, rated 8.2)

Following Jim Carrey's incredibly warm and likable character, The Truman Show serves as a fascinating 1990s reimagining of Plato's Cave.

2. American Beauty (1999, rated 8.3)

One of the best philosophical films of the turn of the century, American Beauty raised many important questions about materialism and the patriarchal perspective.

1. The Green Mile (1999, rated 8.6)

No other movie can compare to The Green Mile, as this drama exploring the essence of racism in America leaves no viewer indifferent. However, you might not want to see this powerful story more than once.