Last Updated on 12 June 2024
The following list is the Official Definitive List of the 500 best movies made during the 1990s.
I found 38 different ranked lists online of “best” or “favorite 90s movies” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to all 38 lists that were averaged. Below is a checklist you can print to track which ones you’ve seen, followed by the ranked list with links to IMDb.
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Goodfellas (1990)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- The Matrix (1999)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- Fargo (1996)
- Fight Club (1999)
- The Lion King (1994)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Titanic (1997)
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Forrest Gump (1994)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- Unforgiven (1992)
- Hoop Dreams (1994)
- Groundhog Day (1993)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- Good Will Hunting (1997)
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- Boogie Nights (1997)
- Se7en (1995)
- The Truman Show (1998)
- Clueless (1995)
- Boyz n the Hood (1991)
- Chungking Express (1994)
- Heat (1995)
- Rushmore (1998)
- Before Sunrise (1995)
- Three Colors: Red (1994)
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
- Three Colors: Blue (1993)
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Being John Malkovich (1999)
- Trainspotting (1996)
- The Thin Red Line (1998)
- Magnolia (1999)
- Close-Up (1990)
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- The Usual Suspects (1995)
- Malcolm X (1992)
- A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Beau Travail (1999)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Princess Mononoke (1997)
- Thelma & Louise (1991)
- Pretty Woman (1990)
- Dazed and Confused (1993)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- The Iron Giant (1999)
- Home Alone (1990)
- Safe (1995)
- The Piano (1993)
- JFK (1991)
- Naked (1993)
- All About My Mother (1999)
- Scream (1996)
- Breaking the Waves (1996)
- The Player (1992)
- American Beauty (1999)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Satantango (1994)
- Aladdin (1992)
- The Fugitive (1993)
- Braveheart (1995)
- Romeo + Juliet (1996)
- Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
- Out of Sight (1998)
- Miller’s Crossing (1990)
- The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
- Sense and Sensibility (1995)
- Dead Man (1995)
- Léon: The Professional (1994)
- Crash (1996)
- Barton Fink (1991)
- Apollo 13 (1995)
- The Parent Trap (1998)
- Election (1999)
- Independence Day (1996)
- Starship Troopers (1997)
- Men in Black (1997)
- The Long Day Closes (1992)
- Paris Is Burning (1990)
- Short Cuts (1993)
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
- La Haine (1995)
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
- The Civil War (1990)
- Friday (1995)
- My Own Private Idaho (1991)
- Clerks (1994)
- Heavenly Creatures (1994)
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
- The Green Mile (1999)
- Hard Boiled (1992)
- Casino (1995)
- Khrustalyov, My Car! (1998)
- Three Colors: White (1994)
- Speed (1994)
- Crumb (1994)
- The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
- True Romance (1993)
- Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
- Ghost (1990)
- Kids (1995)
- After Life (1998)
- Ed Wood (1994)
- Underground (1995)
- You’ve Got Mail (1998)
- Point Break (1991)
- Jerry Maguire (1996)
- Matinee (1993)
- Carlito’s Way (1993)
- Irma Vep (1996)
- Taste of Cherry (1997)
- There’s Something About Mary (1998)
- The Crying Game (1992)
- La Cérémonie (1995)
- Daughters of the Dust (1991)
- Public Housing (1997)
- Wayne’s World (1992)
- To Sleep with Anger (1990)
- American History X (1998)
- Shakespeare in Love (1998)
- As Good as It Gets (1997)
- Exotica (1994)
- Metropolitan (1990)
- Secrets & Lies (1996)
- The Beautiful Troublemaker (1991)
- Sling Blade (1996)
- Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
- The River (1997)
- Rosetta (1999)
- The Remains of the Day (1993)
- The Celebration (1998)
- Quiz Show (1994)
- Office Space (1999)
- The Straight Story (1999)
- Ghost in the Shell (1995)
- Dumb and Dumber (1994)
- The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
- Little Women (1994)
- Audition (1999)
- Babe (1995)
- Perfect Blue (1997)
- One False Move (1992)
- A Few Good Men (1992)
- Lost Highway (1997)
- Mulan (1998)
- Notting Hill (1999)
- The Age of Innocence (1993)
- The Bodyguard (1992)
- My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
- Dances with Wolves (1990)
- Three Kings (1999)
- Matilda (1996)
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- The Insider (1999)
- Autumn Tale (1998)
- Sliding Doors (1998)
- Life Is Beautiful (1997)
- Bad Lieutenant (1992)
- The English Patient (1996)
- From the East (1993)
- Waiting for Guffman (1996)
- Total Recall (1990)
- Strange Days (1995)
- Lessons of Darkness (1992)
- The Crow (1994)
- My Girl (1991)
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
- Happiness (1998)
- Husbands and Wives (1992)
- The Game (1997)
- 12 Monkeys (1995)
- In the Name of the Father (1993)
- The Virgin Suicides (1999)
- The First Wives Club (1996)
- Misery (1990)
- Central Station (1998)
- Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
- The Fifth Element (1997)
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
- Porco Rosso (1992)
- The Best Man (1999)
- The Mummy (1999)
- Through the Olive Trees (1994)
- Delicatessen (1991)
- Fireworks (1997)
- Slacker (1990)
- Only Yesterday (1991)
- Fast, Cheap, & Out of Control (1997)
- Elizabeth (1998)
- Gattaca (1997)
- Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
- Show Me Love (1998)
- Days of Being Wild (1990)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
- She’s All That (1999)
- Mother and Son (1997)
- Mr. Death (1999)
- Pride and Prejudice (1995)
- The Puppetmaster (1993)
- A Bronx Tale (1993)
- Army of Darkness (1992)
- Lone Star (1996)
- Sister Act (1992)
- Orlando (1992)
- Cold Water (1994)
- Run Lola Run (1998)
- Ratcatcher (1999)
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
- Happy Together (1997)
- American Pie (1999)
- Showgirls (1995)
- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
- Howards End (1992)
- Philadelphia (1993)
- The White Balloon (1995)
- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
- Empire Records (1995)
- Singles (1992)
- Dream of Light (1992)
- Farewell My Concubine (1993)
- Tombstone (1993)
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Hocus Pocus (1993)
- Cure (1997)
- Wild at Heart (1990)
- A Summer’s Tale (1996)
- Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
- Van Gogh (1991)
- Dead Man Walking (1995)
- A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)
- GoldenEye (1995)
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
- Portrait of a Young Girl at the End of the ’60s in Brussels (1994)
- A Moment of Innocence (1996)
- Happy Gilmore (1996)
- Galaxy Quest (1999)
- Ossos (Bones) (1997)
- Children of Heaven (1997)
- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
- When We Were Kings (1996)
- The Lovers on the Bridge (1991)
- The Rock (1996)
- The Joy Luck Club (1993)
- The Hunt for Red October (1990)
- The City of Lost Children (1995)
- Ravenous (1999)
- The Sandlot (1993)
- Eternity and a Day (1998)
- Swingers (1996)
- Big Night (1996)
- Flowers of Shanghai (1998)
- King of New York (1990)
- Life Is Sweet (1990)
- The Ice Storm (1997)
- Buffalo ’66 (1998)
- The Fisher King (1991)
- Naked Lunch (1991)
- Cruel Intentions (1999)
- Emma (1996)
- Father of the Bride (1991)
- Hyenas (1992)
- Shine (1996)
- The Watermelon Woman (1996)
- Hamlet (1996)
- Girl, Interrupted (1999)
- Mission: Impossible (1996)
- Household Saints (1993)
- The Apostle (1997)
- Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
- Basic Instinct (1992)
- The Match Factory Girl (1990)
- Fallen Angels (1995)
- Hook (1991)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- The Last Days of Disco (1998)
- Marcel Proust’s Time Regained (1999)
- Living in Oblivion (1995)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- Billy Madison (1995)
- Donnie Brasco (1997)
- Falling Down (1993)
- Meet Joe Black (1998)
- The Last Bolshevik (1993)
- The Mask (1994)
- Center Stage (1991)
- Pi (1998)
- Bottle Rocket (1996)
- Robinson in Space (1997)
- The Commitments (1991)
- Defending Your Life (1991)
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
- Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
- Muriel’s Wedding (1994)
- Space Jam (1996)
- American Movie (1999)
- Dreams (1990)
- Topsy-Turvy (1999)
- But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
- From the Earth to the Moon (1998)
- Pola X (1999)
- Twister (1996)
- Dark City (1998)
- A Simple Plan (1998)
- The Apple (1998)
- Pretty Village, Pretty Flame (1996)
- Gummo (1997)
- Scent of a Woman (1992)
- To Live (1994)
- Whisper of the Heart (1995)
- Dekalog (1990)
- Maborosi (1995)
- Man Bites Dog (1992)
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
- Cape Fear (1991)
- Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
- Face/Off (1997)
- Selena (1997)
- White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
- Night on Earth (1991)
- Ju Dou (1990)
- Trust (1990)
- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
- Menace II Society (1993)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
- The Limey (1999)
- Rudy (1993)
- Sneakers (1992)
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
- A Little Princess (1995)
- In the Line of Fire (1993)
- House of Cards (1990)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)
- Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
- Awakenings (1990)
- Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993)
- An Angel at My Table (1990)
- While You Were Sleeping (1995)
- The Boondock Saints (1999)
- Natural Born Killers (1994)
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
- A League of Their Own (1992)
- My Cousin Vinny (1992)
- Europa Europa (1990)
- Armageddon (1998)
- Dead Alive (1992)
- Sonatine (1993)
- Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
- Cinderella (1997)
- A Perfect World (1993)
- What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
- The Wind Will Carry Us (1999)
- Fresh (1994)
- Belfast, Maine (1999)
- Raining Stones (1993)
- US Go Home (1994)
- The Godfather Part III (1990)
- Burnt By the Sun (1994)
- Back to the Future Part III (1990)
- Funny Games (1997)
- Bad Boys (1995)
- Reversal of Fortune (1990)
- Once Were Warriors (1994)
- The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
- The Postman (1994)
- True Lies (1994)
- Bound (1996)
- Dogma (1999)
- Primal Fear (1996)
- Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991)
- Supercop (1992)
- The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
- Bitter Moon (1992)
- Dracula (1992)
- Rounders (1998)
- The Boys (1998)
- Dave (1993)
- That Thing You Do! (1996)
- The Wedding Singer (1998)
- Juice (1992)
- Taiga (1992)
- Mermaids (1990)
- The Flintstones (1994)
- Baraka (1992)
- Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
- Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
- Histoire(s) du cinéma (1989-1999)
- The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)
- Bulworth (1998)
- Con Air (1997)
- Wonderland (1999)
- My Sex Life… or How I Got Into an Argument (1996)
- No, or the Vainglory of Command (1990)
- Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
- Green Snake (1993)
- Palms (1994)
- Poison (1991)
- Runaway Bride (1999)
- Set It Off (1996)
- Time Indefinite (1993)
- And Life Goes On (1992)
- Open Your Eyes (1997)
- A Goofy Movie (1995)
- The Legend of 1900 (1998)
- Passport to Paris (1999)
- The Color of Paradise (1999)
- Big Daddy (1999)
- Cyclo (1995)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
- Vive L’Amour (1994)
- 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- Goodbye South, Goodbye (1996)
- Kathapurushan (1996)
- Kicking and Screaming (1995)
- Indecent Proposal (1993)
- The Madness of King George (1994)
- White Hunter Black Heart (1990)
- The Addams Family (1991)
- Humanity (1999)
- Bound by Honor (1993)
- Now and Then (1995)
- Jumanji (1995)
- Jungle Fever (1991)
- Cronos (1992)
- Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
- Waiting to Exhale (1995)
- Walking and Talking (1996)
- Reality Bites (1994)
- Before the Rain (1994)
- Nobody’s Fool (1994)
- King of the Hill (1993)
- Eve’s Bayou (1997)
- Tren de sombras (1997)
- Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
- The Witches (1990)
- Deep Cover (1992)
- The Promise (1996)
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
- Silvia Prieto (1999)
- Casper (1995)
- Careful (1992)
- eXistenZ (1999)
- Romance (1999)
- Traps (Pasti, pasti, pasticky) (1998)
- Conspirators of Pleasure (1996)
- Earth (1998)
- Ladybird Ladybird (1994)
- October Sky (1999)
- The Small Town (1997)
- The Battle Over Citizen Kane (1996)
- Nil By Mouth (1997)
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
- Last Night (1998)
- The Suspended Step of the Stork (1991)
- Abraham’s Valley (1993)
- 12 Angry Men (1997)
- Calendar (1993)
- Die Hard 2 (1990)
- Rebels of the Neon God (1992)
- And the Band Played On (1993)
- Bye Bye Africa (1999)
- Divorce Iranian Style (1998)
- Nouvelle Vague (1990)
- Velvet Goldmine (1998)
- Waking Ned Devine (1998)
- Brother (1997)
- 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance (1994)
- I Can No Longer Hear the Guitar (1991)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1997)
- The Addiction (1995)
- New Jack City (1991)
- Under the Skin (1997)
- Leolo (1992)
- Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
- Drifting Clouds (1996)
- Demolition Man (1993)
- The Girl on the Bridge (1999)
- Compensation (1999)
- Side/Walk/Shuttle (1992)
- The Power of Kangwon Province (1998)
- London (1994)
- Until the End of the World (1991)
- Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
- The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
- House Party (1990)
- Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
- Ringu (1998)
- Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
- The Cure (1995)