It really doesn't matter if you've left your teen decade behind or you are just entering this neurotic stage of living; teen movies are just as entertaining to any age group. Now, think about teen movies that came from the most nostalgic decade known as the '90s, and it becomes even better! So, whether you're looking for a trip down memory lane or hoping to relate to the struggles you're going through right now, these '90s teen movies will quench that thirst!
Now, we all think of the '90s as a decade of innocence and naivety that often translated into the movies it spawned. However, with these teen-oriented flicks, that's not necessarily the case. As you'll soon see, some of these movies, like Dazed And Confused, are everything but naive, and Rushmore is all things but cotton candy-sweet. Also, the final decade of the 20th century somehow managed to birth a whole package of various cult classic films, and the teen movie category is absolutely no exception. Just look at Clueless or Scream! Both of them have entered the pages of cinema history and will not budge in their top-most positions. And we can't say we're not satisfied with that!
So, brave the nostalgia or the pressing matters of growing up and immerse yourself into the world of the best '90s teen movies! Our picks are just a bit further down, but it is you who will decide the ultimate best by giving them your vote. Once you are done with that, share this teen movie almanac with your friends!
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#1 Clueless
1995 | 1 hour 37 minutes | Directed by Amy Heckerling
Starry Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy
There are many cases when a book-based movie turns sour, but Clueless is a stellar example of how such a movie should look and feel, I daresay. Loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma, Clueless is considered one of the greatest teen romantic comedies ever made. The film's success propelled young Alicia Silverstone's career and had us all swooning for Paul Rudd, adopting the "As if!" and wishing for the dazzling outfits from Cher's and Dionne's closets.
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48points
#3 Cry-Baby
1990 | 1 hour 25 minutes | Directed by John Waters
Starring Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane
Cry-Baby is a romantic musical comedy directed by John Waters. Yes, the same John Waters of Pink Flamingos infamy. Set in 1950s Baltimore, it follows a love story that goes like this - a bad boy with a heart of gold falls for a good girl with a bad boyfriend, which ultimately ends in a fight between good and bad. So, lots of goods and lots of bads, and a whole lot of entertaining! Cry-Baby is an ode to the teen rebellion and one that's more than swell at doing its job.
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41points
#4 Pleasantville
1998 | 2 hours 4 minutes | Directed by Gary Ross
Starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen
Pleasantville is a fantasy comedy-drama that follows two teenage siblings who find themselves trapped in a 1950s sitcom. The life of the small Midwest town they end up in seems absolutely perfect, and the people living there - impeccably happy. However, that soon turns out to be false, and the influence of the TV show starts to seep into the teenagers' real ones. Pleasantville is a lighthearted satire that knows exactly how to entertain the audience.
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38points
#5 Dazed And Confused
1993 | 1 hour 43 minutes | Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey
Dazed And Confused is yet another cult classic comedy/coming-of-age story on our list; it seems that the '90s spawned plenty of iconic movies! So, here, we get to follow the adventures of high school and junior high students on their last day of school in 1976, and, boy, do they get wild! From sketchy characters to off-the-wall happenings, Dazed And Confused will take you to the whirlwind that is teenage life. By the way, it's one of Tarantino's favorite movies, and that's a great recommendation.
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36points
#6 Election
1999 | 1 hour 43 minutes | Directed by Alexander Payne
Starring Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Election is a black comedy film based on Tom Perrota's 1998 novel of the same name. The election mentioned in the movie's name is actually an election for a high school Class President title, and there's one clear favorite - Tracy Flick. However, not everybody is happy with her, so a teacher convinces a bona fide jock to run against her. This, of course, sparks a very interesting chain of events. Election, with its combination of dark humor and intelligent writing, is one heck of a witty and entertaining movie!
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35points
#7 Scream
1996 | 1 hour 51 minutes | Directed by Wes Craven
Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette
Scream is, as you all well know, a slasher film that follows teenager Sidney as she and her friends start to get weird calls one year after Sidney's mother's death. The team soon figures out that the calls are coming from a crazed serial killer, and here's when the slashing and the gore and all the good stuff start. Scream created such a craze among the audiences that to this day, even with an adjusted dollar rate, it is still the highest-grossing slasher film ever made. And if that isn't a guarantee of a great time, we don't know what is!
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35points
#8 Mermaids
1990 | 1 hour 50 | Directed by Richard Benjamin
Starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder
Mermaids is a family comedy-drama film based on Patty Dan's 1986 novel of the same name. Set in the 1960s, it follows a crazed teenager who moves in with her wayward mother and a younger sister to a small town in Massachusetts. The teen in question rebels against her mother's debaucheries and becomes infatuated with all things Catholic, even dreaming of becoming a nun. However, in the end, the two of them learn to accept each other and even change for the better. Mermaids is a fun movie about the serious thing called growing up; also, add in the Cher factor, and it is even better.
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35points
#10 House Party
1990 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Reginald Hudlin
Starring Christopher Reid, Robin Harris, Christopher Martin
House Party is a definite cult classic comedy that follows the events that happened at… a house party. The two best friends had hoped for an all-out party, yet what they actually got was the wildest night of their lives. House Party is full of iconic slapstick comedy, witty lines, and an atmosphere that's the absolute embodiment of the '90s. And, even if you watch this movie for the first time as an adult, you'll still feel the urge to find the nearest house party and sneak into it.
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33points
#12 Rushmore
1998 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Directed by Wes Anderson
Starring Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams
Rushmore is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson before Wes Anderson the Pastels Man emerged. Of course, despite the lack of pastels, it is still a very kooky movie, following the story of a Rushmore Academy student falling for a much older teacher and befriending a middle-aged industrialist. Soon, our diligent student figures out that the teacher and his friend are having an affair, which sparks a full-out vendetta from him. Rushmore is definitely a very original take on 'teenage' movies that will amuse the heck out of you with its unconventional story and humor.
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30points
#13 Pump Up The Volume
1990 | 1 hour 42 minutes | Directed by Allan Moyle
Starring Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Anthony Lucero
Pump Up The Volume is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film that follows the story of a high school student named Mark. He runs a pirate radio station entertaining his fellow youth; however, once he starts to use the said station as a vessel for speaking his mind, a real uproar begins among his teen comrades. However fun the premise of Pump Up The Volume might sound, it did not become a box office hit. Nevertheless, the critics loved it, and so did the audiences later on! So much so, in fact, that this movie even got adapted into a musical.
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29points
