The 12 Most Underrated ’90s Films Worth Watching Tonight

The 12 Most Underrated ’90s Films Worth Watching Tonight

The 1990s gave us blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Titanic, but some of the decade’s best movies flew under the radar.

These hidden gems offered bold storytelling, unforgettable characters, and fresh ideas that audiences are still discovering today.

Whether you’re craving sci-fi thrills, quirky comedy, or heartfelt drama, these underrated films prove that the ’90s had way more to offer than just the hits everyone remembers.

1. Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Christian Slater delivers one of his most powerful performances as Mark Hunter, a shy high school student who becomes Hard Harry by night.

Broadcasting from his basement, he transforms into a rebellious voice for teenagers dealing with censorship, conformity, and the pressure to fit in.

The film tackles serious issues like suicide, sexuality, and freedom of speech with raw honesty.

Its punk rock energy and fearless attitude struck a chord with Generation X long before anyone knew what to call that feeling of suburban discontent.

Despite limited theatrical success, it became a cult classic on home video.

The movie’s message about finding your voice and speaking truth to authority remains surprisingly relevant decades later.

2. Darkman (1990)

Before Spider-Man made Sam Raimi a household name, he crafted this wild revenge thriller about scientist Peyton Westlake.

After criminals leave him horribly burned and presumed dead, Peyton uses experimental synthetic skin to take on different identities while hunting his attackers.

The film blends horror movie scares with superhero origin story beats and film noir darkness.

Liam Neeson brings surprising emotional depth to a character who’s literally falling apart, both physically and mentally, as he seeks justice.

Released years before comic book movies dominated Hollywood, Darkman was too weird and dark for mainstream audiences.

Today it stands as a stylish, unhinged predecessor to the superhero boom, showcasing Raimi’s signature visual flair and twisted sense of fun.

3. Barton Fink (1991)

The Coen Brothers crafted this bizarre psychological journey about a New York playwright who moves to Hollywood during World War II.

Barton expects to write meaningful pictures but instead gets trapped in a decaying hotel with severe writer’s block and increasingly strange encounters.

John Turturro plays the tortured artist with perfect neurotic energy.

His neighbor, played by John Goodman, starts friendly but becomes something far more unsettling as reality bends and the hotel transforms into a nightmarish prison.

Critics were split when it premiered at Cannes, though it won top prizes.

The film’s dense symbolism, dark comedy, and refusal to provide easy answers confused mainstream viewers but created endless discussion among film lovers who appreciated its layered mysteries.

4. L.A. Story (1991)

Steve Martin wrote and starred in this love letter to Los Angeles that’s equal parts romantic comedy and absurdist fantasy.

He plays a TV weatherman whose life gets turned upside down when he falls for a British journalist, all while receiving advice from an electronic freeway sign.

The movie gently mocks LA culture, from health food obsessions to celebrity worship, without being mean-spirited.

Its magical realism elements, like characters roller-skating through art museums, give it a dreamlike quality that sets it apart from typical rom-coms.

Box office audiences weren’t sure what to make of its quirky tone.

Those who discovered it later found a warmhearted film full of clever wordplay, visual gags, and genuine affection for a city often portrayed as shallow and fake.

5. Dark City (1998)

Imagine waking up with no memory in a city where the sun never rises and reality shifts every midnight.

That’s the nightmare John Murdoch faces in this visually stunning sci-fi mystery directed by Alex Proyas.

The Strangers, eerie pale beings with telekinetic powers, control the city and its sleeping inhabitants.

As Murdoch discovers his own abilities, he begins unraveling the terrifying truth about his world and fighting back against those who’ve stolen everyone’s memories and identities.

Released just months before The Matrix, it explored similar themes of simulated reality but got buried at the box office.

Its groundbreaking production design, philosophical questions about identity, and noir atmosphere have since earned it recognition as one of the decade’s most visionary and underappreciated science fiction films.

6. That Thing You Do! (1996)

Tom Hanks made his directorial debut with this joyful celebration of one-hit wonder bands from the 1960s.

The Wonders rise from small-town talent shows to national television thanks to their catchy title song, experiencing the thrills and pitfalls of sudden fame.

The film captures the era’s innocent excitement perfectly, from matching suits to screaming fans.

Tom Everett Scott leads the talented cast as Guy Patterson, the jazz-loving drummer whose faster tempo transforms a boring ballad into an unstoppable hit.

Critics praised its charm, but audiences didn’t rush to theaters in huge numbers.

The infectious title track, written by Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger, deserved awards attention it never received.

It’s a feel-good movie that gets better with every viewing, celebrating creativity and friendship without cynicism.

7. Gattaca (1997)

In a future where genetic engineering determines your destiny, Vincent Freeman refuses to accept his fate as an “in-valid.”

Born naturally in a world that values designer DNA, he assumes another man’s identity to achieve his dream of space travel.

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman star in this thoughtful drama that questions whether our genes define who we are.

The sleek, retro-futuristic production design creates a world that feels both advanced and coldly sterile, where discrimination happens at the molecular level.

Despite critical praise, it flopped theatrically and found its audience later on home video.

The film’s themes about genetic discrimination, determination versus destiny, and human potential have only grown more relevant as real genetic technology advances, making it essential viewing for sci-fi fans.

8. Jackie Brown (1997)

Quentin Tarantino slowed down after Pulp Fiction’s manic energy to craft this mature crime story based on an Elmore Leonard novel.

Pam Grier plays Jackie, a flight attendant smuggling money who gets caught between federal agents and dangerous criminals.

Rather than relying on flashy violence, Tarantino focuses on character development and slow-burning tension.

Robert Forster earned an Oscar nomination as the bail bondsman who falls for Jackie, and their relationship provides the film’s emotional heart amid the criminal scheming.

Coming after Pulp Fiction’s massive success, some fans expected more of the same hyperactive style.

Instead, Tarantino delivered something subtler and more soulful, with a killer soundtrack mixing ’70s soul and funk.

Time has been kind to this underrated gem that showcases his growth as a filmmaker.

9. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Forest Whitaker plays a hitman who lives by the ancient samurai code in modern-day New Jersey.

Ghost Dog communicates only through carrier pigeons with his employer, studies warrior philosophy, and operates with honor in a dishonorable world of mob violence.

Director Jim Jarmusch creates something completely original by mixing samurai traditions, hip-hop culture, and crime movie elements.

The RZA’s atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the film’s cool, contemplative vibe as Ghost Dog moves through the city like a modern ronin.

Its unusual tone and deliberate pacing didn’t attract mainstream crowds.

However, those who connected with its philosophical musings about loyalty, purpose, and living by a code found something special.

The film builds a devoted cult following among viewers seeking something different from typical action movies.

10. Go (1999)

What starts as a simple drug deal on Christmas Eve spirals into three interconnected stories told from different perspectives.

Supermarket clerks, soap opera actors, and Vegas-bound friends all collide in this fast-paced comedy that captures late-’90s youth culture perfectly.

Doug Liman directs with kinetic energy, rewinding and replaying events to show how one chaotic night looks completely different depending on who’s experiencing it.

The sharp, witty dialogue and surprising plot twists keep you guessing until the very end.

Released the same year as bigger hits, it got lost in the shuffle despite strong reviews.

The talented young cast, including Sarah Polley and Timothy Olyphant, delivers memorable performances in a film that feels like Pulp Fiction meets Swingers.

It remains a hidden treasure for fans of smart, stylish crime comedies.

11. The Straight Story (1999)

David Lynch, famous for bizarre nightmares like Blue Velvet, surprised everyone with this gentle true story.

Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old man with failing health, drives his riding lawnmower 240 miles across Iowa and Wisconsin to reconcile with his dying brother.

Richard Farnsworth delivers a beautiful performance as Alvin, meeting various people along his slow journey who each teach him something or learn from his wisdom.

The Iowa and Wisconsin landscapes become characters themselves, shot with painterly beauty by cinematographer Freddie Francis.

Disney released it with minimal promotion, and audiences expecting typical Lynch weirdness stayed away.

Those who gave it a chance discovered his most emotionally direct film, a meditation on aging, family, and the value of determination.

It’s Lynch’s secret masterpiece, proving he could touch hearts as effectively as disturb minds.

12. Pleasantville (1998)

Two modern siblings get zapped into a black-and-white 1950s sitcom where everything is squeaky clean and perfectly pleasant.

As they introduce new ideas to the repressed town, color literally begins spreading through Pleasantville, changing both the world and its inhabitants forever.

Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon star as the fish-out-of-water teens who accidentally revolutionize this artificial paradise.

The visual effects blending black-and-white with bursts of color create stunning imagery that serves the story’s themes about change, freedom, and authenticity.

Critics appreciated its social commentary about conformity and censorship, but it never found the wide audience it deserved.

The film works as both entertainment and thoughtful allegory, questioning whether safe predictability beats messy reality.

Its message about embracing complexity over simplicity remains powerful and beautifully told.