12 '90s movies on Netflix to remind you of pre-smartphone life
12 '90s movies on Netflix to remind you of pre-smartphone life
Jordan Hoffman, Kevin JacobsenWed, May 20, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC
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'Matilda'; 'My Girl'; 'The Fifth Element'
Credit: Everett (2); Columbia Pictures
If you're old enough, you probably hold treasured memories of going to the movies in the 1990s. You could call 777-FILM from your cinder block-sized mobile phone and purchase tickets in advance, allowing you and your friends more time to hang back, down a few Fruitopias, fail at nailing the riff from “Come As You Are,” and play Mortal Kombat IIon a Sega Genesis. If you’re nodding your head “yes, yes,” there’s a good chance you should be scheduling that first colonoscopy.
Anyhow, the '90s were a wild time for culture, with both music labels and movie studios vampirically recognizing that “authenticity” was a commodity, allowing for a very brief indie boom that launched a great many awesome people into lasting careers. (It also made for a slew of “whatever happened to that guy who did that one cool thing in 1993?” names.)
Some of this still resonates on Netflix, the most mainstream streaming platform, which is how movies like Robert Rodriguez's Desperadoand Gus Van Sant's To Die For are now classic enough to have a perch there.
Below, Entertainment Weekly rounds up the best ’90s movies on Netflix right now for you to rewatch — or finally catch up on.
01 of 12
Desperado (1995)
Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas in 'Desperado'
Credit: Columbia Pictures/Getty
Robert Rodriguez followed up his kinetic debut feature, El Mariachi (1993), with this bigger-budget sequel, centering on El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) as he goes on a quest for revenge.
Wielding his signature guitar case full of guns, the loner happens upon feisty bookstore owner Carolina (Salma Hayek), with whom he falls in love, and they team up to take down the local drug lord who slayed his former lover. Crackling with high energy, striking visuals, and scorching-hot chemistry between its leads, Desperado is neo-Western excellence. —Kevin Jacobsen
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Joaquim de Almeida, Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin, and Danny Trejo
02 of 12
The Fifth Element (1997)
Milla Jovovich and Bruce Willis in 'The Fifth Element'
Credit: Columbia Pictures
Watching (or rewatching) this gonzo sci-fi epic might have you wondering, “Whatever happened to fun?”
French director Luc Besson provides visual flair for days in his vision of the 23rd century, where the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. Special forces officer–turned–cab driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) finds himself thrust into an intergalactic conflict when a mysterious humanoid woman (Milla Jovovich) collides with his car and he helps her escape police capture.
A colorful departure from the grimy, cyberpunk dystopias we tend to get from futuristic movies, The Fifth Element is a vividly realized delight. —K.J.
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker, Ian Holm
03 of 12
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Mary Stuart Masterson, Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, and Mary-Louise Parker for 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
Credit: Universal/Getty
This folksy, warm-hearted dramedy deftly balances Southern Gothic tropes with inspiring themes of sisterhood and resilience.
Kathy Bates plays Evelyn, a dissatisfied housewife who develops a powerful connection with an elderly nursing home resident, Ninny (Jessica Tandy), and her colorful memories of life in the small town of Whistle Stop. As Evelyn learns of Ninny’s sister-in-law’s (Mary Stuart Masterson) unbreakable bond with a woman named Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), she is inspired to stand up for herself in her relationship with her husband.
It’s a charming tale of the bond between women across generations, tackling heavy topics with a lighthearted yet meaningful touch. —K.J.
Director: Jon Avnet
Cast: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, Cicely Tyson
04 of 12
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993)
'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa'
Credit: Netflix
One of the most successful Bollywood films of its time, this romantic drama/comedy/musical stars the legendary Shah Rukh Khan in one of his foundational roles. He plays Sunil, a young musician who is unlucky in love. His attempts to get the object of his desire (Suchitra Krishnamoorthi) to break up with her boyfriend (Deepak Tijori) backfire in his face, resulting in him trying to get them back together again.
Much of the film was shot in Goa, which emerged in the 1990s as a major destination for young people thanks to its music scene. —Jordan Hoffman
Director: Kundan Shah
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepak Tijori, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
05 of 12
Matilda (1996)
Mara Wilson in 'Matilda'
Credit: Sony Pictures
Kids who grew up in the '90s will always have a soft spot for this vivid adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel of the same name.
Precocious 6-year-old Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) is a bookworm who witnesses — and soon experiences — abuse from her dictatorial elementary school principal, Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). Thankfully, Matilda is blessed with telekinetic abilities, which she uses to help her fellow students and get back at Trunchbull. —K.J.
Director: Danny DeVito
Cast: Mara Wilson, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Paul Reubens
06 of 12
The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
Barbra Streisand in 'The Mirror Has Two Faces'
Credit: TriStar/courtesy Everett
Barbra Streisand’s third directorial feature is a good old-fashioned romantic dramedy, the likes of which we rarely get anymore from the major Hollywood studios.
Streisand and Jeff Bridges play professors who each struggle in the love department. The pair connect under unusual circumstances, agreeing to a purely platonic relationship, though they eventually start to let their guards down and develop a real passion for each other. Streisand doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel here, crafting a sweet, performance-driven film that provides a showcase for its two leads as well as an Oscar-nominated turn from Old Hollywood titan Lauren Bacall as Streisand’s overbearing mother. —K.J.
Director: Barbra Streisand
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Cast: Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges, Lauren Bacall, George Segal, Pierce Brosnan
07 of 12
My Girl (1991)
Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky in 'My Girl'
Credit: Columbia Pictures
Coming-of-age films have the power to seep into your subconscious, especially those you watch at a young age. My Girl is one such film that has stayed with viewers for generations, following a plucky 11-year-old named Vada (Anna Chlumsky), whose father’s funeral parlor business has partially led to a paralyzing fear of death.
She soon befriends an allergy-prone boy named Thomas (Macaulay Culkin), who allows her a safe space to open up about her fears. Their connection is performed with honesty and sweetness by both young performers. —K.J.
Director: Howard Zieff
Cast: Anna Chlumsky, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis
08 of 12
Pretty Woman (1990)
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman'
Credit: Everett Collection
This grown-up Cinderella story made Julia Roberts a megastar, defining her career as the romantic comedy queen of the ‘90s.
Roberts stars as Vivian Ward, a plucky escort hired by corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) to accompany him to various events over the course of a week. Edward’s cold, businesslike energy and Vivian’s street-smart vivaciousness make them an odd couple at first, but the sparks begin to fly over time.
Roberts’ undeniable charm helps to elevate the film, with snappy line readings (“Big mistake. Big. Huge!”) and an endearing presence that earned her both a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. —K.J.
Director: Garry Marshall
Cast: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Jason Alexander, Hector Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy, Laura San Giacomo
09 of 12
Schindler’s List (1993)
Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley in 'Schindler's List'
Credit: Universal/courtesy Everett Collection
Steven Spielberg has directed numerous films we regard as cinematic classics today, though few hit quite as hard as this harrowing epic.
Telling the story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), the German man who ended up saving the lives of more than 1,000 Jews in the Holocaust, the drama skillfully demonstrates the human capacity for hope amid dire circumstances. With haunting imagery (particularly that girl in the red coat) and stirring performances, this is an essential watch for understanding one of the most unspeakable events in world history. —K.J.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Embeth Davidtz, Caroline Goodall
10 of 12
Starship Troopers (1997)
Patrick Muldoon, Casper Van Dien, and Denise Richards in 'Starship Troopers'
Credit: Columbia Tristar
Paul Verhoeven's gnarly futuristic action-drama wasn't widely appreciated upon release, as critics and audiences didn't quite grasp the director's intentions.
Set in the 23rd century, the film centers on a militaristic government that rules over Earth and wages war against giant, advanced arachnids. Casper Van Dien plays Johnny Rico, a teenage star athlete who idealistically joins up with the military to protect his planet, unaware that the culture in which he grew up is rooted in fascism.
Operating as a satire of authoritarian patriotism, the film was mistaken in 1997 as just another junky gung-ho action flick, but time has been kind to Verhoeven's vision. –K.J.
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Michael Ironside, Patrick Muldoon, Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey
11 of 12
To Die For (1995)
Nicole Kidman and Matt Dillon in 'To Die For'
Credit: Everett Collection
“You're not anybody in America unless you're on TV,” proclaims ambitious weather reporter Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman) in this wickedly sharp satire.
Suzanne’s pathological thirst for fame feels prescient more than 30 years later, in a world where social media and smartphones can make anyone a star. Gus Van Sant’s well-observed black comedy showcases how an earnest desire for fame can curdle into infamy when Suzanne is accused of murdering her husband.
The fun of To Die For is how Kidman’s thoroughly committed performance seduces the audience regardless of any moral bankruptcy; in fact, Suzanne’s unscrupulous drive is exactly what makes her so compelling. —K.J.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, Illeana Douglas, Dan Hedaya
12 of 12
Wild Things (1998)
Neve Campbell and Denise Richards in 'Wild Things'
Credit: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett
This cheerfully sleazy crime thriller featured some risqué moments between Neve Campbell and Denise Richards that likely wouldn’t be a big deal today, but were quite the eye-opener back then.
Matt Dillon plays a high school teacher falsely accused of sexual assault, part of an elaborate extortion scheme. Bill Murray costars as Dillon’s discount lawyer in a pivotal role for his comeback from a string of disposable dumb comedies that weren’t taking full advantage of his abilities. The B picture ended up being a box office hit that critics recognized was a lot sharper than it needed to be. —J.H.
Director: John McNaughton
Cast: Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell, Bill Murray
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