This article contains mention of sexism and homophobia.
Summary
- Cult classic films from the 1990s may not age well due to offensive depictions and outdated themes.
- It’s important to recognize flaws in iconic movies from the past, even if they were once groundbreaking.
- As art evolves, newer filmmakers learn from the successes and failures of those who came before them.
It’s expected that not every movie from decades past will age well, as the ideas surrounding what’s acceptable to say and do on film have changed a lot. There are some cult classic films from the 1990s that were hailed as great contributions to cinema at the time but should be reevaluated. More often than not, offensive depictions of people’s identities and ideologies are the red flags in these movies. As more diverse filmmakers and writers are given a voice in Hollywood, this is becoming less of an issue, but past films should still be viewed with a critical eye.
These movies and the creative teams behind them shouldn’t necessarily be forgotten or torn down, but it’s important to recognize the flaws in all pieces of media, even if they’re considered important and iconic.
Some of the most influential movie directors of the 1990s got their start with projects that have earned cult classic status but haven’t aged the best by today’s standards. These movies and the creative teams behind them shouldn’t necessarily be forgotten or torn down, but it’s important to recognize the flaws in all pieces of media, even if they’re considered important and iconic. Art and filmmaking have evolved and become more complex with each generation because new artists are informed by the successes and failures of those who came before them.
Related 10 Box Office Flops That Eventually Became Cult Classics
A movie’s financial success isn’t always an indicator of its quality, and some box office bombs have been still found passionate cult followings.
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10 Cruel Intentions (1999)
Directed by Roger Kumble
Cruel Intentions 1
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With a screenplay and direction by Roger Kumble, Cruel Intentions is a Romance and Teen Drama film that stars Selma Blair, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe. The plot revolves around a group of teens, with a man betting one of them that he can seduce a girl successfully.
Director Roger Kumble Release Date March 5, 1999 Studio(s) Sony Cast Sarah Michelle Gellar , Ryan Phillippe , Reese Witherspoon , Selma Blair , Louise Fletcher , Joshua Jackson Runtime 97 minutes
What the adaptation of the classic French novel
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
lacks in complexity and class, it makes up for in pure, unadulterated scandal.
The explosive combination of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair is the highlight of Cruel Intentions. What the adaptation of the classic French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses lacks in complexity and class, it makes up for in pure, unadulterated scandal. However, teenage sexuality and exploitation are at the forefront of Cruel Intentions, making it difficult to let loose and enjoy the horrible things the characters are doing to each other.
Additionally, the weaponization of sexuality and homophobia takes the viewer out of the experience of the movie and immediately dates the script. Gellar’s character, Kathryn, is painted as a wicked temptress and isn’t afforded the same redemption as Sebastian (Phillippe), despite them being equally at fault for the lies and betrayals they perpetuate. The original screen iteration of the book, the 1988 Dangerous Liaisons, is a bit easier to watch because of its difference in place and period.
9 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Directed by Tom Shadyac
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective pgComedyMystery Where to Watch
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Jim Carrey stars in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective as the titular character, who investigates the disappearance of the Miami Dolphins’ mascot. Courteney Cox, Sean Young, and Tone Loc star in this 1994 comedy, which cemented Carrey as a movie star alongside The Mask and Dumb and Dumber.
Director Tom Shadyac Release Date February 4, 1994 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Cast Jim Carrey , Courteney Cox , Sean Young , Tone Loc , Dan Marino , Noble Willingham Runtime 86minutes
Jim Carrey’s talents are wasted in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Though the character has some funny quirks, there’s too much wrong with the movie to watch it today without cringing. The movie is not funny enough to justify how needlessly offensive and disgusting its plotlines are. Ace Ventura uses Carrey’s signature facial expressions as the crux of every joke, making them grow stale within the first few minutes. Additionally, his character’s treatment of women and blatant homophobia makes it endlessly uncomfortable.
Ace Ventura treats the trans woman character in the film terribly and paints her as a villain, as many movies of this era tended to do. However, there’s no room for offensive and outdated portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community like this in filmmaking, and Ace Ventura has few redeeming qualities that make it worth watching despite its glaring issues. The humor isn’t sharp enough, and the stylization doesn’t fall into the realm of camp, making it useless to see the film as anything other than a misstep.
8 Dazed And Confused (1993)
Directed by Richard Linklater
Dazed and Confused RComedyDocumentaryDrama Where to Watch
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The coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused, directed by Richard Linklater, follows a group of high school students on the last day of school before summer vacation. Set in the 1970s, the film explores themes of rebellion, freedom, and nostalgia, and features an ensemble cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, and Parker Posey.
Director Richard Linklater Release Date September 24, 1993 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Cast Jason London , Wiley Wiggins , Matthew McConaughey , Rory Cochrane , Joey Lauren Adams , Milla Jovovich Runtime 102 minutes
Before Richard Linklater made history with the
Before Trilogy
and
Boyhood
, he told a more traditional high school story through
Dazed and Confused
.
Before Richard Linklater made history with the Before Trilogy and Boyhood, he told a more traditional high school story through Dazed and Confused. Though Dazed and Confused can be credited with launching the career of Matthew McConaughey and having some of the most iconic dialogue of the 1990s, there are still dated aspects of the film. Primarily the hazing and violence the older high school boys use to terrorize the younger ones. While it’s clear that this is a terrible thing, it’s also played for laughs.
Overall, the successes of Dazed and Confused outweigh the issues, as the movie is regarded as one of the best of the 1990s and one of the more accurate portrayals of high school. Few films from this era can claim they didn’t glamorize violence and make sexism seem cool. However, it’s impossible to ignore that there are practically no female characters with development or substance present in the film, which is something no movie should get away with today.
7 She’s All That (1999)
Directed by Robert Iscove
She’s All That 2
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When popular high school student Zack Siler breaks up with his girlfriend, he’s confident he can replace her with any girl in school. His best friend disagrees, leading to a bet in which Zack has six weeks to turn awkward and unpopular Laney into the school’s prom queen.
Director Robert Iscove Release Date January 29, 1999 Studio(s) MiraMax Cast Freddie Prinze Jr. , Rachel Leigh Cook , Matthew Lillard , Paul Walker , Jodi Lyn O’Keefe , Kieran Culkin , Kevin Pollak Runtime 97 minutes
Today, She’s All That is remembered as a classic, but there are harsh realities of rewatching 1990s rom-coms. It’s also known for being one of the biggest perpetrators of sexist tropes that run rampant in the genre. There is a scene in She’s All That in which Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) literally takes off her glasses and is then considered beautiful by the charming and handsome Zack (Freddy Prinze Jr.). This is the scene that sparked one thousand parodies, and rightly so, as Laney’s treatment throughout the movie is terrible.
She’s the butt of the joke to Zack and his friends until he finds himself attracted to her and suddenly realizes that she has value. Her interests and beliefs are played for laughs, and there’s little to no pushback on the concept that her makeover makes her a better and more fulfilled person, and Zack barely does anything to redeem himself in the eyes of the audience. Though it’s a harmless and fun movie, on the one hand, it teaches generations of youths all the wrong lessons about love and self-acceptance.
6 Buffalo ’66 (1998)
Directed by Vincent Gallo
Buffalo ’66 (1998) RComedyDramaRomance
Billy Brown, freshly out of prison, kidnaps a tap dancer named Layla and forces her to pose as his wife to impress his estranged parents. As they navigate a series of bizarre and touching encounters, Billy’s facade begins to crumble, leading to unexpected bonds and revelations.
Director Vincent Gallo Release Date June 26, 1998 Cast Vincent Gallo , Christina Ricci , Ben Gazzara , Mickey Rourke , Rosanna Arquette , Jan-Michael Vincent , Anjelica Huston , Kevin Pollak Runtime 110 Minutes
A young Christina Ricci stars in
Buffalo ’66
alongside Vincent Gallo, who also directed the movie and contributed to the screenplay.
A young Christina Ricci stars in Buffalo ’66 alongside Vincent Gallo, who also directed the movie and contributed to the screenplay. Though technically Buffalo ’66 is a triumph of independent filmmaking, the story should be viewed through a critical lens, considering it begins with Gallo’s character kidnapping Ricci’s character and ends with the pair of them falling in love. While Buffalo ’66 doesn’t condone this behavior and is commenting on it, there have been many instances in which the intentions of the film have been misinterpreted.
It’s not just the film itself that stirs up controversy so much as the offscreen dynamic. In the years since its release, Ricci has described the environment on set with Gallo as a difficult one, especially considering the actress was only 17 when the film was shot (via Huff Post). To this day, Gallo is a controversial figure, and his behavior on set has been under intense scrutiny, with Buffalo ’66 being no exception. Additionally, Layla’s (Ricci) lack of agency throughout the narrative can be upsetting to viewers.
5 Reality Bites (1994)
Directed by Ben Stiller
Reality Bites PG-13ComedyDramaRomance Where to Watch
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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.
Director Ben Stiller Release Date February 18, 1994 Cast Winona Ryder , Ethan Hawke , Janeane Garofalo , Steve Zahn , Ben Stiller , Swoosie Kurtz Runtime 99 minutes
It’s hard to imagine a more quintessential 1990s cast than that of Reality Bites. Featuring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Ben Stiller in an ill-fated love triangle, it’s difficult to feel sympathy for the disaffected youths seen onscreen in Reality Bites. The film is a precursor to the mumblecore genre and presents a slice-of-life narrative about a group of lost twenty-somethings in Texas. Stiller proved to be a solid director in his feature debut but has found greater success in his other work.
Though Reality Bites might speak to young people feeling lost and uncertain during the changing times of their generation, the film is directly connected to Gen X, making it less poignant today. Additionally, the romance between Lelaina (Ryder) and Troy (Hawke) is grating at best and one-dimensional at worst, making it impossible to relate to these two characters who can’t get out of their own way. Though there’s nothing inherently wrong with Reality Bites, its chief annoyance for audiences might be the self-indulgence the characters and filmmaking exude.
4 Chasing Amy (1997)
Directed by Kevin Smith
Chasing Amy RComedyDramaRomance
Chasing Amy is a romantic comedy-drama film by writer-director Kevin Smith. Following the viewpoint of comic artist Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck), the movie focuses on his hopeless romantic attachment to a fellow comic artist who happens to be a lesbian – and his best friend’s attempts at voicing his disapproval. The film explores the complex layers of love and what forms it takes.
Director Kevin Smith Release Date April 4, 1997 Studio(s) View Askew Productions , Too Askew Productions, Inc. Cast Ben Affleck , Joey Lauren Adams , Jason Lee , Dwight Ewell , Jason Mewes Runtime 93 Minutes
Though the movie presents itself as a satire, it fails to capture any semblance of respect towards its female characters.
Arguably, Ben Affleck’s worst movie, Chasing Amy, perpetuates some of the most insidious homophobic ideologies of the 1990s. He stars as Holden, a man who falls in love with Alyssa, played by Joey Lauren Adams, but soon discovers that she’s a lesbian and not interested in him. However, Chasing Amy hinges on the outdated idea that a straight man can win over a lesbian woman, using it as the central conflict of its rom-com formula. Though the story attempts to use the situation as an opportunity for humor, it doesn’t provide enough nuance.
Instead of taking a nuanced look at how sexuality is fluid and might change over time or that biphobia often prevents people from fully exploring their identities, Chasing Amy simply pokes fun at the entire LGBTQ+ community. The entire story is predicated on the fact that Holden has something special about him that changes Amy’s mind, but this is hard to believe, considering how terribly he behaves throughout the film. Though the movie presents itself as a satire, it fails to capture any semblance of respect towards its female characters.
3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Directed by Steve Barron
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) PGActionAdventure
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) follows four mutant turtles trained in ninjitsu who emerge from the sewers to fight crime in New York City. The film features Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael as they battle the nefarious Shredder and his Foot Clan. Judith Hoag stars as reporter April O’Neil, and Elias Koteas appears as vigilante Casey Jones. This adaptation brought the beloved comic book and cartoon series to live-action cinema.
Director Steve Barron Release Date March 30, 1990 Studio(s) Golden Harvest Entertainment Company , Limelight Productions , 888 Productions Cast Brian Tochi , Josh Pais , Corey Feldman , Robbie Rist , Kevin Clash , David McCharen , Michael McConnohie , James Saito , judith hoag , Elias Koteas Runtime 93 Minutes
Visually, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can’t compete with any of the live-action movies of today, as the turtle suits have aged from slightly uncanny to downright unsettling. It’s clear today that the ’90s movie trilogy of the beloved comics was a misstep in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. While it’s interesting to see how the studio imagines the turtles might look in the real world, the story is better suited to an animated format for a screen adaptation.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles doesn’t even boast the iconically unexpected cameo from Vanilla Ice that the sequel includes. It’s somewhat astounding that the film was as big a hit at the box office as it turned out to be, which led to the two sequels that followed. There was nothing particularly interesting or original about this iteration of the characters, and the movie lacked the stylized and campy sensibilities of other live-action comic book films like Tim Burton’s Batman.
2 Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)
Directed by Mel Brooks
Robin Hood: Men in Tights PG-13ComedyAdventureMusical
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a comedic reimagining of the classic Robin Hood legend, directed by Mel Brooks. Cary Elwes stars as Robin Hood, leading a group of merry men in a fight against the tyrannical Prince John and the Sheriff of Rottingham. This parody film combines humor and satire, featuring memorable performances and musical numbers that poke fun at the genre and various pop culture elements.
Director Mel Brooks Release Date July 28, 1993 Cast Cary Elwes , Richard Lewis , Roger Rees , Amy Yasbeck , Mark Blankfield , Dave Chappelle , Isaac Hayes , Megan Cavanagh Runtime 104 Minutes
The best parts of
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
are the performances from the stellar cast of comedians that Brooks assembled.
Though some of Mel Brooks’ funniest movie scenes take place in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, it’s not his strongest film and hasn’t aged well in some aspects of its humor. It’s expected that comedy movies from decades past will have dated elements as expectations and standards have changed, but the movie would have been considered blatantly sexist even then. Additionally, outside the social issues in the film, it’s just not on the same level as the classics from the director, gets off to a slow start, and relies on trope-based jokes to engage the audience.
The best parts of Robin Hood: Men in Tights are the performances from the stellar cast of comedians that Brooks assembled. There are some inspired comedic moments, but the movie unfolds predictably and doesn’t tread new ground on the traditional Robin Hood narrative. Additionally, the jokes feel tired and almost like shadows of the originality that Brooks demonstrated earlier in his career. Robin Hood: Men in Tights caters to the lowest common denominator in trying to get laughs out of its audience.
Related 15 Best Cult Classics That Perfectly Capture The 1990s
These cult classic movies are the perfect visual representation of the 1990s, each one offering a unique and influential perspective of the era.
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1 Last Action Hero (1993)
Directed by John McTiernan
Last Action Hero PG-13AdventureActionComedy Where to Watch
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Last Action Hero follows young Danny Madigan, who magically enters the world of his favorite action film through a special ticket. Inside the movie, he teams up with action hero Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to battle cinematic villains. Directed by John McTiernan, the film blends reality and fiction, offering a whimsical take on action film tropes.
Director John McTiernan Release Date June 18, 1993 Cast Arnold Schwarzenegger , F. Murray Abraham , Art Carney , Charles Dance , Frank McRae , Tom Noonan , Robert Prosky , Anthony Quinn Runtime 130 Minutes
Last Action Hero came out after the action movie boom of the 1980s that thrust Arnold Schwarzenegger to fame and created the buff and bulging action hero archetype. The movie attempted to interrogate the formula of these movies and poke fun at them through a satirical lens. However, for a variety of reasons, it bombed at the box office and only achieved cult classic status thanks to its availability on the internet many years later. It’s one of Schwarzenegger’s most poorly received movies to date.
Though Last Action Hero was far from a smash hit when it was released, some have found that the movie was much more clever than most critics and audiences gave it credit for. In the years since its premiere, Last Action Hero has ebbed and flowed in popularity, as it didn’t deserve the vitriol it got in the ’90s, but still has plenty of issues. The biggest problem with Last Action Hero is that it’s unfocused and poorly structured, making the story hard to follow and leading the viewer to miss the vital comedic beats that redeem it.