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10 Underrated ’90s Movies That Deserve a Rewatch (or First Watch)
We all have that one ’90s movie we swear no one talks about enough; the one we rented on VHS over and over until the tape wore thin. But beyond the big blockbusters and Oscar darlings, the ’90s were stacked with hidden gems that either flew under the radar or got overshadowed by flashier titles. These aren’t your “Titanics” or “Jurassic Parks” — these are the movies that quietly crushed it and still hold up decades later.
If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, here are 10 underrated ’90s movies that deserve way more love than they got.
1. Shallow Grave (1994)
Before “Trainspotting,” director Danny Boyle gave us this pitch-black thriller about three roommates who stumble into a moral nightmare after discovering their new flatmate dead… with a suitcase full of cash. It’s sharp, stylish, and morally messy in all the best ways. A brilliant early turn from Ewan McGregor, too.
2. The Quick and the Dead (1995)
A western with Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and a baby-faced Leonardo DiCaprio? Yes, please. Sam Raimi’s over-the-top, comic-book-style direction was ahead of its time. Critics didn’t get it then… but now? It’s a dusty showdown with cult classic energy.
3. Zero Effect (1998)
Think: Sherlock Holmes meets quirky indie comedy. Bill Pullman is a painfully awkward but brilliant detective, with Ben Stiller as his exhausted sidekick. It’s clever, weird, and full of heart — and somehow still flew under the radar.
4. A Simple Plan (1998)
Three guys find a crashed plane full of money in the snow; and everything unravels from there. Directed by Sam Raimi (again!) and featuring a shockingly good performance from Billy Bob Thornton, this one’s a slow burn that hits hard.
5. The Iron Giant (1999)
Yes, it’s animated. No, it’s not just for kids. Brad Bird’s beautifully drawn anti-war parable got buried at release but has since earned cult status. It’s heartfelt without being sappy, and the emotional gut-punch still lands. And Vin Diesel voicing Iron Giant is brilliant!
6. The Last Seduction (1994)
Linda Fiorentino absolutely owns the screen as a femme fatale in this neo-noir thriller. It’s smart, sexy, and way more twisted than anything you’d expect from a ’90s cable mainstay.
7. Fresh (1994)
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, this coming-of-age crime drama tells the story of a chess-playing kid trying to escape the drug trade. Quiet and powerful, it’s often overlooked but deserves to be mentioned alongside heavier hitters like “Boyz n the Hood.”
8. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
John Cusack plays a hitman who goes to his high school reunion. That’s it. That’s the pitch. And it works. It’s a dark comedy with sharp writing, a killer soundtrack, and Minnie Driver at her absolute coolest.
9. Billy Madison (1995)
It got roasted by critics at the time, but this absurd Adam Sandler comedy is a cult favorite for a reason. It’s quotable, ridiculous, and secretly kind of sweet. If you didn’t grow up shouting “O’Doyle rules!”; it’s time.
10. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Geena Davis as a suburban mom-turned-badass assassin. Samuel L. Jackson (again!) as her fast-talking PI sidekick. This action flick is all kinds of fun, but somehow bombed at the box office. Now it plays like a prototype for “Atomic Blonde” or “John Wick,” but with more charm.
Whether you missed these the first time around or just need a reason to revisit them, they’re all proof that the ’90s left a lot of cinematic magic in the margins. So next movie night? Skip the obvious choice. Pick one of these instead.
