13 Fantastic '90s Films That Only the Cool Kids Recall

      These incredible '90s films, which are mainly recalled by the cool kids, played a significant role in shaping that era of youthful energy and relative wealth. We watched nearly all of them in theaters. Since opinions vary, feel free to share if you think we overlooked any titles.

      Kids (1995)

      Shining Excalibur Films – Credit: C/O

      It's difficult to express just how passionate people were about Kids in 1995 due to its raw depiction of sex and drugs.

      This coming-of-age film is unique among '90s movies because it doesn't center around a high school; instead, its characters are seen traversing the streets, parks, bodegas, and homes devoid of parental supervision, engaged in unsanctioned activities.

      Directed by Larry Clark and scripted by Harmony Korine, who was only slightly older than the teenage characters, Kids launched the careers of two notable Gen X actresses, Chloe Sevigny and Rosario Dawson (above). It also features one of the most outstanding soundtracks ever, led by Folk Implosion’s “Natural One.”

      And that item Chloe Sevigny is shown using? It’s a public phone. People had to gather change to use a shared, often dirty phone. When you hear people claim everything was better in the '90s, remember this was a common means of reaching friends.

      Pump Up the Volume (1990)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      Christian Slater portrays a pre-internet edgelord who channels his teenage angst through a pirate radio station, sharing rebellious music.

      In a Phoenix suburb, he’s known as Mark during the day, a shy high school student struggling to connect with others. However, at night, he becomes Hard Harry, a Gen X shock jock expressing disdain for parental hypocrisy, often accompanied by the soothing sounds of… Leonard Cohen?

      This musical choice hints at Harry’s sensitive nature, as he’s more affected by sadness than anger. Pump Up the Volume stands out among '90s films because it became almost instantly outdated with the advent of the internet; no longer was there a need for pirate radio to voice uncensored thoughts.

      Yet, it mirrors our current lives, where we often behave differently in the real world compared to online.

      Freeway (1996)

      Republic Pictures – Credit: C/O

      If you mostly think of Reese Witherspoon as a producer and star of light-hearted rom-coms, you should check out Freeway and prepare for a stark contrast. This dark, '90s reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood is one of our favorite, relatively overlooked dark comedies, an era that perhaps excelled in this genre.

      Witherspoon plays a runaway who has little education, escaping authorities after her sex worker mother is arrested and her abusive stepfather is out of the picture. When she accepts a ride on her way to her grandmother’s house, she finds herself in an even more dire situation, targeted by the Big Bad Wolf, portrayed by a candid Kiefer Sutherland.

      The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Den Hedaya, Amanda Plummer, Brooke Shields, Bokeem Woodbine, and Brittany Murphy.

      It was produced by Oliver Stone, because naturally, it would be.

      Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)

      Sony Pictures Releasing – Credit: C/O

      Is Can’t Hardly Wait a movie for Gen X or millennials? Featuring rising stars of Gen X such as Ethan Embry, Lauren Ambrose, Seth Green, Melissa Joan Hart, and Jennifer Love Hewitt (above), who anchors the film, it certainly straddles both generations.

      The soundtrack embodies Gen X, named after a Replacements song and showcasing memorable spots from Run-DMC and Guns N Roses, while the characters exist on the fuzzy line separating two generations at a time of relative carefree living for suburban teens. Unbeknownst to them, they are on the cusp of entering a more daunting decade and world.

      It’s one of the most entertaining '90s films, drawing inspiration from ’80s teen movies. Yet, it provides a thought-provoking look at the years marked by a lack of responsibility and the problems encountered as they step into adulthood.

      Its creators, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, also crafted a brilliant Gen X satire included in our list of Smart Movies Disguised as Dumb Movies.

      Dazed and Confused (1993)

      Gramercy Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Another question arises: Is Dazed and Confused a Baby Boomer movie or a Gen X movie? It features many Gen X actors, including Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey, but is set on the last day of school in 1976, which could be considered Baby Boomer territory.

      Richard Linklater, who wrote and directed the film, drew inspiration from his own youth in Texas. As a 1960 baby and a Gen X figure since his 1990 film Slacker defined