Ready to relive the ’90s? Dive into these iconic teen movies that defined a generation.
Drew Barrymore in ‘Scream’ | Paramount Plus
Ah, the ’90s, a time when flannel shirts were the peak of fashion and pagers were our smartphones. It was a decade that brought us a number of the most memorable teen movies ever made. So, lace up your Doc Martens and journey back to the neon-soaked, slap-bracelet-wearing, dial-up-internet days of the Nineties with twelve teen movies that defined a generation.
‘House Party’ (1990) | Max
High schooler Kid (Christopher Reid) desires to go to his friend Play’s (Christopher Martin) house party, but his strict dad isn’t having it. As he tries to outsmart his Pops (Robin Harris) and get to the party, Kid finally ends up having an epic night stuffed with music and mayhem.
House Party epitomized the colourful hip-hop culture of the early ’90s. The film’s soundtrack is a who’s who of early ’90s hip-hop and R&B, and includes tracks like “To da Break of Dawn” by LL Cool J and Marley Mar and “Fun House” by Kid ‘n Play.
The film perfectly mirrored the spirit of youth insurrection that was just beginning to brew. And remember those scenes with the pagers and large phones? They gave us a glimpse of a world on the point of a digital revolution.
‘Clueless’ (1995) | Paramount+
Dive into the glamorous world of Beverly Hills with high schooler Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), her fashion-forward friends, and her former stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd). This modern tackle Jane Austen’s Emma explores Cher’s matchmaking endeavors and private growth.
Clueless was a mirrored image of ’90s materialism. Cher’s journey from a self-absorbed teen to someone who genuinely cared about others resonated with the era’s growing emphasis on authenticity.
Cher’s high-tech closet gave us a sneak peek into the long run, while her fashionable outfits became ’90s style benchmarks. Her iconic yellow plaid outfit remains to be celebrated and worn as a Halloween costume. And her phrases like “As if!” and “Whatever!” became a part of the ’90s lexicon.
‘Scream’ (1996) | Paramount+
Wes Craven’s meta-horror masterpiece introduces us to the town of Woodsboro, where a masked killer terrorizes a bunch of teens, including Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).
Scream was a cultural phenomenon that etched itself into the ’90s. It was self-aware — like a horror movie inside a horror movie — and it was high concept in its deconstruction of genre tropes. Sidney Prescott was greater than a scream queen; she symbolized the ’90s spirit of empowered women.
‘The Craft’ (1996) | Hulu
Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to a recent school and befriends a bunch of outcast girls who practice witchcraft. As they harness their supernatural powers, their newfound abilities include unexpected consequences.
The Craft emphasized themes of female empowerment and the importance of strong, supportive friendships. It was a mirrored image of the era’s growing emphasis on women’s rights and camaraderie. The film’s success could have contributed to the rise in supernatural teen dramas, laying the groundwork for shows like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1997) | Hulu
In the coastal town of Southport, 4 friends — Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe), Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) — find their lives ceaselessly altered when a tragic accident shatters their carefree summer night.
I Know What You Did Last Summer embodied the last decade’s appetite for teen thrillers and contributed to a wave of comparable movies, including Urban Legend and Final Destination. The film not directly touched on themes of secrecy and exposure, reflecting our growing concerns in regards to the digital age, where privacy was becoming a precious commodity. It also brought together ’90s power couple Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.
‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ (1998) | Max
After dumping his long-term girlfriend, Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt), popular jock, Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli) throws a raging pre-graduation house party. Preston Meyers (Ethan Embry), a love-struck outcast, seizes the chance to finally confess his feelings to Amanda. Meanwhile, the party unfolds as various characters, including Denise Fleming (Lauren Ambrose) and Kenny Fisher (Seth Green), navigate their very own romantic and private dramas throughout the night.
Can’t Hardly Wait perfectly captured the ’90s fascination with epic teen parties, with a soundtrack including tracks from Blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and Smash Mouth. The movie’s depiction of a chat room romance served as a nod to the growing influence of the web on our social lives.
‘She’s All That’ (1999) | Showtime
High school heartthrob Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) accepts a bet to rework the artsy and not-so-popular Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) into the prom queen. As Laney undergoes a makeover, unexpected feelings and real connections develop.
She’s All That dove into the themes of transformation and authenticity, mirroring the era’s quest for private growth and real connections. Some of the film’s iconic moments, like Freddie Prinze Jr.’s hacky sack performance, were quintessential ’90s popular culture experiences.
’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999) | Disney+
This modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew follows the headstrong Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) and her sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) as they butt heads on the thought of highschool romance. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) tests Kat’s disdain for conformity when he charms her enough to get her to attend senior prom.
10 Things I Hate About You embodied ’90s teen insurrection and individualism. It celebrated grunge style and popular ’90s music, including tracks like Letters to Cleo’s “Cruel to Be Kind” and Save Ferris’ “I Know.” Kat Stratford’s unapologetic attitude was inspiring and influential. And Heath Ledger’s magnetic performance as Patrick Verona solidified his status as a Hollywood heartthrob.
‘Varsity Blues’ (1999) | Prime Video
In the small town of West Canaan, Texas, football is all the pieces. Star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) faces tremendous pressure from the community and his coach, while backup QB Jon Moxon (James Van Der Beek) questions the town’s obsession with the game.
Varsity Blues tapped into the ’90s obsession with sports and showcased the pressures highschool athletes faced, exploring themes of coming of age and self-discovery.
‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999) | Prime Video
In the seductive world of Manhattan’s elite, step-siblings Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) engage in a twisted game of sexual conquests and manipulation. Their intricate web of deceit takes an unexpected turn when a virtuous girl, Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) arrives to challenge their cynical views on love.
Cruel Intentions helped the genre evolve by proving that teen romance stories may very well be complex and dark, laying the groundwork for shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. The movie was a mirrored image of our era’s fascination with complex relationships and moral dilemmas. It delved into themes of power and manipulation, mirroring our growing cynicism. It was a defining film that combined a decadent lifestyle with moral introspection, truly capturing the essence of the late ’90s. And with hits like “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve and “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim, the soundtrack serves an ideal dose of ’90s nostalgia.
‘Drive Me Crazy’ (1999) | Prime Video
When their respective romantic plans disintegrate, neighbors and former childhood friends Nicole Maris (Melissa Joan Hart) and Chase Hammond (Adrian Grenier) determine to pretend so far. But what starts as a charade soon results in real emotions.
Drive Me Crazy is about against the backdrop of Y2K, a time when the world was bracing for potential chaos as the brand new millennium approached. It captured the anticipation and excitement all of us felt in 1999. And it also showcased the growing influence of the web on relationships, with the characters engaging in online chat room romance, subtly mirroring the era’s budding digital age.
‘American Pie’ (1999) | Prime Video
Four highschool friends make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night. This raunchy yet heartwarming comedy explores their comical mishaps and the bonds of friendship during this pivotal moment of their lives.
American Pie brought a recent level of raunchy humor to the teenager comedy genre. It was unapologetically daring, pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable on the massive screen on the time.
The film’s iconic moments, comparable to the infamous pie scene, have turn into emblematic of ’90s comedy. American Pie symbolized the era’s willingness to embrace a recent level of irreverence and authenticity in storytelling. It also set the stage for a wave of raunchy comedies within the 2000s, including the American Pie sequels and flicks like Superbad and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
