The past year has seen the release of The Matrix: Resurrections and Jurassic World: Dominion, giving new installments to two iconic franchises that began in the ’90s. That decade actually proved to be one of the most important in the history of cinema thanks to some legendary releases.
These included Academy Award winners, films that went on to become cult classics, ones that revolutionized special effects, and so much more. The movie-loving users on Letterboxd have shared their views on thousands of films and a handful of special ones have gone down as the website’s most popular from the ’90s.
Jurassic Park (1993)
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It may not be the absolute most popular ’90s movie on Letterboxd but Jurassic Park is possibly the most profitable from the decade. Along with grossing $1 billion over time, the film has spawned several sequels that have also gone on to surpass that hard-to-reach mark.
The story about scientifically engineered dinosaurs from a theme park breaking free is captivating enough, it’s the special effects that make this so popular. The effects were groundbreaking for the time and hold up to the point where they look better than most modern films, making the movie endlessly rewatchable. It also holds an impressive 4.11 rating.
Goodfellas (1990)
Stream On HBO Max
It would be weird to look at the most popular films of any of the past six decades and not see something made by Martin Scorsese. He is often at his best when making a gangster film and most audience members still consider Goodfellas (rated 4.43) to be his greatest work.
That’s high praise and it’s fully warranted thanks to the combination of great writing, tremendous performances, and Scorsese’s signature style. The Best Picture nominee tells the story of the rise and fall of Henry Hill, who was a key associate of the mob.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
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1994 is one of the greatest years for cinema. Several of the most popular ’90s films on Letterboxd are from that year and that’s not even including the likes of Leon: The Professional and The Lion King. Despite such a loaded year, The Shawshank Redemption is the highest rated of them all on the site at 4.48.
Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King classic tells the story of a banker unjustly sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The high drama from his time locked up is gripping and even though it didn’t win an Oscar, it was nominated for seven.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Stream On Showtime
Sticking with 1994, Forrest Gump is one of those movies that everyone seems to know even if they have never actually seen it. Tom Hanks’s portrayal of the titular character is the stuff of legend and is in the running for his best performance ever.
Forrest Gump was the critical darling of its time, capturing six Academy Awards, including a hotly contested win for Best Picture. There are a handful of things that haven’t aged too well with the film, yet it still boasts a strong 4.13 rating among Letterboxd users.
Se7en (1995)
Stream On Peacock
David Fincher’s incredible filmography spans several decades and the guy just keeps putting out movies that are well-received to this day. While his best work will always be debated, there’s no doubt that Se7en is near the top of the conversation.
The mystery film puts together two of the most acclaimed actors in history, Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, as two detectives investigate a killer whose crimes are based on the seven deadly sins. With a 4.28 rating, it holds up on multiple viewings, which isn’t always the case with the genre.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
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History was made when The Silence of the Lambs dominated at the Academy Awards. It became the third movie in history, and the only horror film, to win the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The movie follows an FBI trainee who enlists the help of an imprisoned cannibal to track down a serial killer. Though sequels got mixed reviews, the Hannibal TV series received high praise. The Silence of the Lambs’ 4.31 rating is among the highest of the decade.
The Matrix (1999)
Stream On HBO Max
What was said about Jurassic Park in terms of being a groundbreaking movie can be applied to The Matrix as well. The movie set a new high bar for CGI effects and features memorable sequences including the infamous bullet time scene.
Though some non-fans could write off The Matrix as being more about the visuals than anything else, the average 4.16 rating is proof that there’s a lot more to this film than meets the eye. It spawned several sequels, though none have lived up to the original according to critics and fans.
The Truman Show (1998)
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Jim Carrey was one of the top actors of the ’90s. 1994 saw him star in three of the most iconic comedies ever in Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective but he opted to try his hand at more serious roles after.
Carrey truly broke out on that front with The Truman Show, where he plays a man whose life is a reality TV show that everyone but him is aware of. The film delivers acts as social commentary and satirizes many of its elements, doing so with success to the tune of a 4.18 average rating.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
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As noted, the Best Picture win by Forrest Gump is still debated to this day and the film most people point to as the one that should’ve won is Pulp Fiction. Quentin Tarantino’s movie helped make non-linear storytelling into something mainstream projects attempted.
Judging by the 4.30 average rating, Letterboxd users may agree that Pulp Fiction should’ve won Best Picture ahead of Forrest Gump. Regardless of where you stand, the many storylines and quotable characters have moviegoers coming back for more.
Fight Club (1999)
Stream On Prime Video & Hulu
Only one director appears more than once among the 10 most popular movies of the ’90s and one of those films tops them all. That filmmaker is David Fincher, who is the mind behind Fight Club, a cult classic of the highest order.
Fight Club was met with poor reviews upon its release, yet has become beloved over the years to the point where it has a 4.29 rating on Letterboxd. It’s impressive to consider the turnaround of this film to go from disliked to almost universally loved.
