Movies are one of the best ways to get a feel of what life was like during the years they were released, and many from the 1990s sum up the aesthetics, worries, and changes seen throughout society during the decade. Much of the decade is captured in films reflecting the rise in grunge music and aesthetics, the increase in internet activity and technological advancements, and the fear and rebellious attitudes that formed as a result of the two. The latter can be seen in films likeThe MatrixandExistenz.
Otherfilmsrepresent the ’90s through their wardrobe, soundtrack selections, and encapsulation of young adult life, such as the filmsClerksandSingles. Whilemany of these films can be enjoyed today, some'90s movies don’t work with modern audiences. This is because their themes and aesthetics are dated snapshots of society at the time and don’t fully reflect life now — though the relevancy of some films continues to increase, particularly those dealing with the advancement of technology. These films provide an accurate feel of what life was like before the turn of the 21st century.
10Existenz (1999)
Identifies Worries About The Advancement Of Gaming Technology
One of thestrangest films from the ‘90sisDavid Cronenberg’sExistenz. The film had the disadvantage of being released during the same year asThe Matrix, whose influence and innovation have gained far greater attention throughout the years. Both films highlightthe ’90s worries about technology, butExistenzhas the advantage of combining such themes with horror tropes, namely body horror.
Known for his contribution to the body horror genre, Cronenberg’sExistenztells the story of a game designer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who becomes the target of assassins. To escape those who are after her, she enters her own game and the line between reality and virtuality begins to blur.
eXistenZ
Cast
eXistenZ is a 1999 science fiction thriller directed by David Cronenberg. The film follows game designer Allegra Geller, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, who is targeted by assassins during the launch of her latest virtual reality game. Jude Law co-stars as a bodyguard who helps Geller navigate a world where the lines between game and reality become increasingly blurred.
The elements of body horror come into play when it’s explained that the gaming systems are plugged directly into human bodies via a port. Such imagery has a deeper meaning which draws attention to the cynicism felt by many people during the ’90s about the control and negative influence technology would have.
9The Net (1995)
Details Early Privacy Concerns Regarding Technology
Though the critical response toThe Nethasn’t been entirely positive, the film is stilla chilling thriller with technology concerns that were extremely relevant during the ’90s. Starring Sandra Bullock,The Netfollows her character as she works to uncover the reasoning behind her recorded identity being erased after she receives a mysterious disc.
Though the action in the film is lacking, and the thrills are somewhat predictable, Bullock is still a charming lead and the film is a great time capsule for the ’90s.
Though the action in the film is lacking, and the thrills are somewhat predictable, Bullock is still a charming lead and the film is a great time capsule for the ’90s. As exciting as technological advancements were during the decade, the speed at which technology invaded personal lives caused a great amount of concern regarding privacy and control.
The Net
The Net is a thriller directed by Irwin Winkler, featuring Sandra Bullock as Angela Bennett, a computer analyst who becomes entangled in a conspiracy that erases her identity. As she battles to uncover the truth, Angela encounters unexpected allies and adversaries. The Net explores themes of privacy and digital vulnerability in the rapidly evolving world of technology.
These worries felt by society are shown inThe Netand are the crux of the film’s conflict. However,The Netstill provides a balanced look at the rise of the internet and technology, by showing its practical everyday uses that make lives easier.
8Hackers (1995)
Its Themes About Privacy Continue To Be Relevant
Hackersfocuses on the titular subculture, which rose to prominence in the ’90s. In the film, a group of high school hackers are involved in an embezzlement conspiracy in which they hope to use their skills to unveil the truth. Now deemed a cult classic,Hackers’ choppy pacing and thin plot aren’t enough to prevent audiences from having a fun time with the film.Its visuals are eye-catching and are reminiscent of the decade’s popular crime films.
Hackers
Hackers is a cult classic thriller where a group of high school students use their tech knowledge to stop an evil corporation from causing a global disaster with a computer virus. Starring Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller, Hackers was one of the earliest movies to explore the potential of modern computers in 1995.
Compared to the decade’s other technological crime films,Hackersdoesn’t stand out or put a unique spin on conversations about surveillance in the evolving digital age. LikeThe Net,Hackersdraws attention to the privacy concerns that came as technology improved. Though such anxieties were introduced in the ’90s, they’ve carried into recent years, makingHackersa film audiences of any generation can relate to on some level.
7Reality Bites (1994)
Spotlights Timely Events Young Adults Grappled With In The ’90s
Under the direction of Ben Stiller, in his directorial debut,Reality Bitesisone of the best coming-of-age movies of the ’90s. Following a group of recent college graduates, led by Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke,Reality Bitespaints an honest picture of the ups and downs that come with finding purpose in one’s work and relationships.
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Ryder’s Lelaina is an aspiring documentarian who creates a film about her friends' lives, which gives audiences further insight into life for 20-something-year-olds during this time. Screenwriter Helen Childress found inspiration in her real-life friend group as she took notice ofthe effect the recession in the early ’90s had on them.
Reality Bites
Reality Bites, directed by Ben Stiller, explores the lives of four recent college graduates as they navigate the challenges of adulthood. Stars Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Janeane Garofalo portray friends struggling with employment, relationships, and personal identity in an early 1990s cultural landscape. The film captures the angst and disorientation of Generation X while providing a candid look at youth in transition.
As a result,Reality Biteshas become especially appreciated by Gen X audiences who see parts of themselves and their lived experiences in the characters within the film. However, while the experiences ofReality Bites' characters may be specific to the decade the film was released, the struggle to adapt to life after college graduation is timeless.
6Strange Days (1995)
Pulls Inspiration From Real High-Profile Incidents
ThoughStrange Daysfailed commercially and is a'90s action movie barely anyone remembers, it features some notable themes about technology and isinspired by cultural events that were especially prominent during the decade. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow,Strange Daysstars Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, and Juliette Lewis, and tells the story of Lenny Nero (Fiennes), a man who sells devices that allow people to experience the memories of others.
Strange Days
Strange Days is a science fiction film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, set in the near future of 1999. The plot revolves around ex-cop Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), who deals in illegal virtual reality recordings. As the city erupts in chaos, Nero uncovers a conspiracy linked to the recordings, involving a range of characters played by Angela Bassett and Juliette Lewis. The film explores themes of technology and socio-political unrest.
When one of these memories details a horrific murder, Nero gets involved in a conspiracy involving police corruption. The critical response toStrange Daysupon its release was mixed, with many of the negative reviews criticizing the film’s detailed depiction of violence.
Many of the film’s events are inspired by the assault of Rodney King and the Los Angeles riots that took place as a response. Such elements of the film extend its relevancy into recent years, butStrange Days' cyberpunk aesthetic and unnerving final days of 1999 are symbolic of the decade.
5Mission: Impossible (1996)
Features Gadgets And Hacking Strategies That Felt Advanced
Tom Cruise is known best for his action films, and in the mid-’90s, he led the first installment oftheMission: Impossibleseries. The action film sees Cruise’s character, an IMF agent named Ethan Hunt, framed for the murder of his mentor. To prove his innocence, Ethan teams up with a hacker and pilot, sneaking into a CIA building in order to get a confidential file. Like other ’90s films,Mission: Impossiblefeatures figures synonymous with the decade, like hackers.
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible follows Ethan Hunt, a member of an elite espionage team, who becomes the prime suspect in a failed operation. As he seeks to uncover the true mole within the CIA, Hunt must navigate a complex web of deception to clear his name.
The hacking and acts of espionage inthe film produced an aesthetic that felt futuristic and innovative during the ’90s. Though spy movies today feature much more advanced pieces of technology and hacking methods, the sleek, high-tech gadgets and floppy disks seen inMission: Impossibleunderline just how early it was in the introduction of emerging technology.
4Singles (1992)
Reflects The Rise Of Grunge In Seattle
Set within the home of grunge, Seattle, Washington,Singlesdepicts the lives of its twenty-something-year-old characters navigating love and figuring out who they want to be in life. It’s the second film directed by Cameron Crowe after 1989’sSay Anything…, and stars Bridget Fonda, Matt Dillon, and Kyra Sedgwick.
The questions asked by the film’s young adults are extremely relatable to audiences, especially those who were the same age as these characters in the early ’90s.
Singles' protagonists don’t appear to be stock characters, as there is a clear understanding of life during the ’90s as it pertains to work and aspirations that go beyond the corporate lifestyle.The questions asked by the film’s young adults are extremely relatable to audiences, especially those who were the same age as these characters in the early ’90s.
Singles
Singles, released in 1992, follows a group of young adults navigating life and relationships in early-’90s Seattle. Living in the same apartment complex, these twenty-somethings face the complexities of love and adulthood amidst the backdrop of the city’s burgeoning music scene.
In addition to capturingyoung adult struggles in the ’90s,Singlesalso provides a fairly accurate snapshot of Seattle at the time, with its wardrobe selections and emphasis on grunge culture.Singles' encapsulation of the grunge scene is tied together with the film’s soundtrack and cameos from influential music acts like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.
3You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Depicts The Early Days Of Online Dating
Nora Ephron’sYou’ve Got Mailis widely consideredTom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s best movie together. The film follows the romantic online connection that forms between them as they’re unaware they are business rivals. Ryan’s Kathleen owns an independent bookstore that’s threatened by the business brought in by the chain of bookstores run by the family of Hanks' Joe.You’ve Got Mail’s most obvious representation of the ’90s is its emphasis on chatroom romances.
You’ve Got Mail
Directed by Nora Ephron, You’ve Got Mail follows Joe and Kathleen, two strangers who meet in an AOL chatroom and begin a relationship over email, unaware that they are actually a lot more connected to one another than they think. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan star as Joe and Kathleen, with a further cast that includes Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton, Dave Chappelle, and Greg Kinnear.
Though online dating is still relevant today, the kind seen inYou’ve Got Mailwas relatively new and exciting for those looking for love in the ’90s. Additionally, the ’90s introduced a new wave of corporate disillusionment and criticisms regarding corporations. Such ideas are present throughoutYou’ve Got Mail, where its main conflict sees a large chain run out the small business owned by Ryan’s character.
2Clerks (1994)
Captures The Mundane Life Of Retail Employees
The premise of Kevin Smith’s directorial debutClerksis simple, as audiences follow a day in the life of convenience store employee Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) and his friend Randal (Jeff Anderson). On paper, the monotony of their average workday doesn’t seem to inspire a cult classic comedy filmClerkswould eventually become. However,Smith’s clever, dialogue-heavy film is full of laughs and relatable charactersthat make it easy for audiences to become invested in.
Clerks
Clerks follows Dante and Randal, two clerks working at adjoining convenience and video stores. The film explores their mundane yet eventful day-to-day life as they engage with customers, play rooftop hockey, and navigate personal relationships, characterized by sharp wit and casual banter.
Often viewed as a quintessentialslice-of-life movie from the ’90s, the success ofClerksresulted in sequel films and the creation of a fictional universe of films known as View Askewniverse. Though the humorous experiences and relationships seen inClerkscan be found in any decade,the small-town feel, pop culture references, and clothing worn by the film’s main charactersare all indicative of the year it was made.
1The Matrix (1999)
Details The Growing Anxiety Surrounding Technology
From themes of rebellion and technology to the wardrobe and soundtrack selections for the film, much ofThe Matrixis representative of the ’90s. Released at the end of the decade,The Matrixintroduced an improved set ofspecial effectsthat set it apart fromother ’90s sci-fi movies.
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On top of that, the film’s storytelling and action sequences make it not only one of the best films of the decade overall, but one thatperfectly captures life at that timeas well. Keanu Reeves, who was an especially prominent actor of the decade, leads the film as Neo. He is a hacker who discovers life as he knows it is a simulation created by machines.
The Matrix
The Matrix, released in 1999, is set in the 22nd century and follows a computer hacker, Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves. He joins a group of underground insurgents led by Morpheus to combat the domineering computers that control the earth, in a battle that blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
Upon making this discovery, Neo sets out to rebel against the machines. Fears surrounding technological possibilities and advancements only seem to grow as the years go by, but they were extremely prevalent during the ’90s, withThe Matrixcapturing the feelings much of society was grappling with at the time.
