The nostalgia is real when it comes to the ’90s, and it’s arguably one of the best decades in television for teen shows. People were introduced to series such as the teen comedy Sister, Sister and the drama-filled Party Of Five. Viewers in the mood for some ’90s nostalgia may be curious to know which teen shows of the decade are the best of the best.
Fans have placed their votes on Ranker to see which series outranks the rest. They considered shows like the long-running The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and the short-lived yet cult classic Freaks and Geeks. Whether they were comedic or dramas these shows are fan favorites because of their nostalgia and great storytelling.
Freaks And Geeks (1999)
Stream on Hulu and Paramount+
While Freaks and Geeks came out in the late ’90s the series takes place in the ’80s. The teen comedy-drama follows two groups of high school students, the freaks and the geeks, as they face the trials and tribulations of being a teenager.
Though Freaks And Geeks is only lasted one season it has become a cult classic. What fans love about this series is that it’s a coming-of-age drama that tackles important issues such as peer pressure and familial responsibilities. However, it’s also a comedy that touches on the fun yet awkward state of being a teenager, like uncomfortable first dates and embarrassing conversations with the parents.
My So-Called Life (1994 – 1995)
Stream on Hulu
My So-Called Life follows 15-year-old Angela Chase and her group of friends in high school. The series gives a realistic portrayal of the highs and lows of being a teenager, while also being careful not to glamorize the adolescent experience.
The characters in My So-Called Life are very real, like the rebellious Rayanne or the bad boy of the group Jordan. Fans can also appreciate the journey these characters go through to find themselves as they tackle issues such as homophobia and homelessness.
Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003)
Stream on Netflix and Hulu
Dawson’s Creek takes place in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and follows Dawson who dreams of becoming a filmmaker, his friend Joey who has had a crush on him since they were kids, as well as Pacey and Jen. Throughout the seasons their lives change as they slowly transition from teenagers to young adults.
Boasting one of TV’s best opening theme songs, Dawson’s Creek is guaranteed to bring fans back down memory lane, but this is also a true teen drama series with constant love triangles between the characters. Viewers felt as if they were growing up with Dawson and the gang as they made their way from high school to college.
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990 – 2000)
Stream on Hulu and Paramount+
Beverly Hills, 90210 follows siblings Brandon and Brenda as they move from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Beverly Hills, California. They soon find out their new home is nothing like where they grew up, and are introduced to teens who live lavish styles with hefty bank accounts.
Beverly Hills,90210 is one of the best ’90s shows because it arguably paved the way for many teen shows in the ’90s and beyond. The dramatization is high but at the same time, these characters face real-life issues such as eating disorders and addiction. The characters are also one of kind like the Queen Bee Kelly Taylor or the nerd-turned jock David Silver.
That ’70s Show (1998 – 2006)
Available to buy on Amazon Prime Video
That 70’s show is a comedy that takes place from 1976 through 1979 and follows a group of friends as they live their day-to-day lives as young adolescents. The series touched on certain developments in the entertainment industry such as cable TV and the VCR and handled every storyline with a comedic twist.
That ’70s Show is a series that gravitates toward both teens and the older generation who grew up in the era. It’s a show where people can watch and have a good laugh while reminiscing about what it was actually like growing up in the ’70s. Another cool aspect of this show is that teens today can watch and see that teenagers in the ’70s weren’t so different from them besides perhaps the fashion choices.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996 – 2003)
Stream on Hulu and Paramount+
Sabrina The Teenage Witch follows Sabrina Spellman, a teenage girl who happens to be a witch. She lives with her two aunts and a talking black cat named Salem. Although she has these cool powers she keeps them a secret from her high school peers as she tries to live the lifestyle of a normal teen.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch was part of the TGIF lineup which makes this show memorable alone, but this is also a fun series that the entire family can enjoy. Each episode also has an important life lesson viewers can learn like learning that embarrassing moments come and go and not to make decisions just to please everyone else.
Saved By The Bell (1989 – 1993)
Stream on Netflix and Hulu
Saved By The Bell is a comedic take on six teens attending Bayside High. Throughout the series they deal with relationships, attending school dances, final exams, and, of course, annoying their principal Mr. Belding.
What makes this show so iconic are its characters, each person is unique in their own ways like class clown Zack Morris who sometimes goes too far with pranks, and fashionista Lisa Turtle. What also makes this series stand out is it does sometimes touch on tough issues like the much-talked-about episode titled “Jessie’s Song” where Jessie turns to caffeine pills to help her study.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003)
Stream on Amazon Prime Video and Hulu
Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a darker teen series, following Buffy Summers, a vampire slayer who defends the town of Sunnydale from forces of evil. All while doing this she must also navigate life as a teenage girl – a task that is easier said than done.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer is one of a kind series. Not only was it the first show to use Google on television but it was also one of the first supernatural teen series with a strong female lead – in fact, Buffy features many brave female characters that paved the way for those after them. Joss Whedon’s show proved so popular that there was also a spinoff, Angel, and even after the series ended Buffy’s story continued in a comic book series.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990 – 1996)
Stream on HBO Max
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air follows Will Smith, a young man from Philadelphia, whose life is turned upside down when he gets in one little fight and his mom forces him to move in with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air.
To this day viewers continue to cherish The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air for many reasons, one of those being the way it pushed boundaries by showing a wealthy upper-class black family. Fans also love the friendship between Carlton and Will as well as the lessons they learned from uncle Phil.
Boy Meets World (1993 – 2000)
Stream on Disney+
Cory Matthews is the main character in Boy Meets World. He starts as a middle schooler trying to navigate life as a pre-teen and ends up as a young man who’s ready to take on what the world has to offer him. In between, he goes on adventures with his best friend Sean and finds love with childhood friend Topanga.
All these years later, viewers still can’t get enough of the romance between Cory and Topanga because it hits home for many people. The road to their relationship was an organic journey where they started as two friends who did not see eye to eye, and eventually, their friendship turned into romance all while facing real issues that many couples go through.
