Entertainment
8 Forgotten ‘90s Movies That Deserve to Be Rediscovered on Prime Video
The era of grunge, fanny packs, and boy bands, the ‘90s, has left its mark on pop and counterculture in many ways. Some of the movies that came out in the 1990s are among the most iconic, and watching them is like getting a concentrated dose of nostalgia. From Oscar-winning kids’ films to off-the-wall military-themed comedies, Prime Video has some buried treasures from this iconic decade.
Whether you want to rewatch cult classics or discover something new, these forgotten ‘90s movies will be an interesting palate cleanser for your normal viewing routine. Watching older films offers a fascinating insight into the subtle and not-so-subtle changes cinema has undergone as time has moved forward. From pacing to special effects, movies have come a long way in the past 30 years. Some of these titles have aged better than others, but they all owe a debt of gratitude to the post-Cold War decade.
1
‘Wish Upon a Star’ (1996)
Instead of a mother-daughter body swap like Freaky Friday, the TV movie Wish Upon a Star featured sibling rivalry at its core. Younger sister Hayley (Danielle Harris) feels inferior to her older sister Alexia (Katherine Heigl), who seems to have it all. When Hayley wishes on a shooting star to trade places with her sister, both Wheaton teens get the shock of their lives when her wish comes true.
Fans of teen movies, makeover movies, and “in their shoes” type tropes will get a kick out of Wish Upon a Star. It is a fun flashback to the fashion of the era, and the sisters’ journey through vengeance and annoyance toward mutual understanding is rewarding. It is also a snapshot of the different personalities that can emerge within family dynamics and how differences can be strengths, not sources of contention.
2
‘Lionheart’ (1990)
With over 80 acting credits to his name, Jean-Claude Van Damme is a legend in the martial arts movie genre. He was the preeminent star of action films in the ‘90s, and titles like Bloodsport and Kickboxer put him on the map. Shortly after the release of Bloodsport in 1988, Van Damme appeared in a similar movie called Lionheart in 1990.
While both films involved Van Damme’s character participating in fighting rings, Lionheart has a more compelling plot and character motivation. In Lionheart, Van Damme’s character, Lyon Gaultier, is driven to fight not for selfish gain or to prove anything to anyone, but for the love of his family. When Lyon’s brother is severely injured, he must provide for his brother’s wife and young daughter. Lionheart has everything Van Damme fans will enjoy, including terrific fight scenes and quippy one-liners. It also includes some more tender moments, and Van Damme gets to stretch his acting muscles in the more emotional scenes.
3
‘Under Siege’ (1992)
Under Siege is a Steven Seagal aquatic version of Die Hard. The unhinged action movie stars Seagal as the ship’s cook, Casey Ryback. When a group of terrorists takes over the battleship, Casey is the only one who can stop them. Though Seagal delivers a performance comparable to his other films, the highlight of the movie is Tommy Lee Jones as the villain William Strannix.
Jones is off-the-wall in his portrayal of Strannix, and having a movie that focused on his character would have been equally entertaining, if not more. Gary Busey also appears in the film and is committed to his role as the loathsome Commander Krill. Fans of Die Hard, Seagal, and Jones should add Under Siege to their watchlist. It is a thrilling buddy action flick that is par for the course for the ’90s.
4
‘Major Payne’ (1995)
Damon Wayans is Major Payne in this military-themed kids’ comedy that is full of quotable moments. As a Marine, Major Payne is no stranger to the tough and rigorous life of a soldier. While his enthusiasm and vigor are never questioned, his people skills are a little lacking, and they are put to the ultimate test when he is tasked with training a small group of JROTC cadets.
Wayans is well known for his comedy and unmistakable character performances, and Major Payne is one of his most noteworthy. Mixing a drill sergeant archetype with Wayans’ unique crazy-man performance makes Major Payne an unforgettable character. In one of the most famous scenes, a young cadet tells Payne that there is an imaginary man living in his closet. After the first attempt is unsuccessful at calming the young boy’s fears, Payne walks upstairs, takes out his gun, and fires five rounds into the closet. Turning to him, Payne proclaims, “If he’s still in there, he ain’t happy.” Although some aspects of Major Payne haven’t aged as well as others, it is still a fun family comedy, with Wayans doing what he does best.
5
‘Desert Blue’ (1998)
For anyone who spent their teenage years living in a small town, there is Desert Blue. Written and directed by Morgan J. Freeman (not the actor), it captures the essence of rural living during adolescent years. Desert Blue is a unique film described by Roger Ebert as “not a romance, a drama, or an adventure, but the evocation of a time and place.” Everything in the movie is understated and subdued; it is not meant to shock or overwhelm but to simply be, and inspire what it inspires as the viewer chooses what to take from it.
Roadside attractions, the world’s largest ice cream cone, carbonated sodas, and the FBI are all a part of what makes Desert Blue its own unique tale. Instead of typical coming-of-age films, Desert Blue is simply a snapshot of life as it is. It is a bittersweet glimpse of disappointed dreams and unwavering hope that things could get better. Desert Blue is full of now well-known stars, including Casey Affleck, Christina Ricci, and Kate Hudson. It is worth a watch and might become a new favorite.
6
‘Empire Records’ (1995)
Perhaps no movie on this list so perfectly captures the ‘90s in a bottle like Empire Records. When music was the main expression of the era, setting a movie inside a record store was ingenious. Although it wasn’t a financial success, Empire Records is beloved by fans and has grown to become a cult classic over the years.
Taking place within a single day, the movie focuses on the young employees and manager of an independent record store that faces the unfavorable reality that they might have to join a conglomerate. Full of teenage angst, drama, and eccentricities, Empire Records tackles several issues of the times, like pills, corporate sellouts, and culture clashes. The cast is a kaleidoscope of talent before they hit it big with stars like Renée Zellweger, Liv Tyler, and Brendan Sexton III. Music lovers and ‘90s fans should definitely give Empire Records a spin.
7
‘Heat’ (1995)
Although silver screen titans Al Pacino and Robert De Niro had appeared in the same movie before with The Godfather Part II in 1974, they didn’t share any scenes. That changed with 1995’s Heat. In Heat, Pacino and De Niro play two sides of the same coin. One, De Niro, a master thief named Neil McCauley, and the other, Pacino, an LAPD officer named Vincent Hanna. Both figures are excellent at what they do, and both have strong beliefs about how control should be maintained.
If the dynamic performances given by Pacino and De Niro weren’t enough to make Heat one of the best thriller movies of all time, Val Kilmer also appears in the film, and his character Chris Shiherlis adds a whole new dimension to the tension. Heat has interesting characters, intentional dialogue, and one of the greatest heist moments in film. Watching Pacino and De Niro on screen together is sublime, and now is an ideal time to check out this 1990s crime-themed classic.
8
‘Babe’ (1995)
One of the best family movies of the last 100 years, Babe is the endearing tale of a small piglet who is determined to be more than what people expect of him. When the little pig arrives at Farmer Hoggett’s (James Cromwell) farm, he is told by a malicious farm cat that his destiny is only for the dinner table. Babe (Christine Cavanaugh) decides to change his fate and learns how to herd sheep like the resident sheepdogs, Fly (Miriam Margolyes) and Rex (Hugo Weaving). Despite Rex’s vehement protests, Babe is resilient and learns how to work with the sheep in his own way, not as a sheepdog would, but using his “heart of gold.”
Babe is an exceptional film. Its fantastic blend of puppetry and restricted computer graphics still makes it enjoyable and believable to watch today. It was nominated for an outstanding seven Academy Awards and quite deservedly won for Visual Effects. All of the performances given in Babe are charming and winsome, especially the gentle, quiet, no-nonsense farmer played by Cromwell. To watch Farmer Hoggett stake his entire reputation on his belief in a little pig is touching, and it gave the world of the cinema the famous “That’ll do, pig” quote. Babe is a perfect movie for the young and the young at heart and is, without a doubt, one of the best and most worthy ‘90s movies to be rediscovered on Prime.
Babe
- Release Date
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July 18, 1995
- Runtime
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89 minutes
- Director
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Chris Noonan
- Writers
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Dick King-Smith, George Miller, Chris Noonan
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