13 Unapologetic '90s Comedy Films That Are Indifferent to Your Sensibilities

      These audacious ’90s comedy films are unconcerned about causing offense.

      Their sole aim is to make you laugh, regardless of the consequences. Yet, many of them also incorporate clever insights.

      Think we overlooked a fantastic ’90s comedy? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      There’s Something About Mary (1998)

      Twentieth Century Fox – Credit: 20th Century Fox

      What’s in Mary’s hair (above) might deter some viewers from enjoying this film, no matter what. The film is also filled with crude bathroom and private parts humor (especially in the unforgettable opening scene) that might be hard for sensitive viewers to handle.

      If they manage to get past that, the movie takes a bold stance by including people with disabilities in the humor—not as punchlines but as active participants in the jokes.

      Nonetheless, There’s Something About Mary, like many other Farrelly Brothers films—and ’90s movies in general—has a genuinely big heart beneath its raunchy humor.

      Friday (1995)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      The straightforward dialogue of Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) may alienate some, but Friday is undeniably funny. We enjoy the scenario in which well-meaning Craig finds himself in trouble with Big Worm (Faizon Love) by indulging in Smokey’s meager share.

      During the climactic confrontation between Craig and Deebo (Tommy Lister Jr.), Friday delivers a powerful message about gun violence and the true meaning of manhood.

      While resolving issues with dialogue is preferable, fists are often less lethal when necessary.

      Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

      New Line Cinema

      Austin Powers is packed with risky jokes—full of innuendo and overtly crude humor.

      However, the film’s self-awareness regarding its silly and ridiculous jokes makes it feel clever, allowing us to feel clever for enjoying it. It pays tribute to decades of James Bond-esque wordplay.

      Additionally, Austin’s refusal to sleep with Vanessa—“’cause you’re drunk, it’s not right”—has stood the test of time. We witnessed a crowd of millennials applaud this line in 2017. Yeah, baby!

      Kingpin (1996)

      MGM

      The second Farrelly Brothers film on our list might upset Amish viewers, if they were able to watch it.

      They’d miss out on a wealth of risqué humor, primarily from Claudia (Vanessa Angel), as well as an absolutely hilarious but filthy joke involving a bull.

      Woody Harrelson’s response to the film's best line—delivered by an Amish character, nonetheless—is perhaps his most impressive moment, showcasing a mastery of subtle performance. And you’ll never see a milk mustache the same way again.

      It’s also featured on our list of the 7 Sexiest Movies About the Amish.

      Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

      The Samuel Goldwyn Company – Credit: C/O

      Starring Rusty Cundieff, who also wrote and directed, Fear of a Black Hat is a clever satire of the ever-evolving hip-hop scene, responding to trends nearly as soon as they occur.

      The film premiered at Sundance and follows a political/gangster rap group named NWH (the H stands for hats) as they splinter into various other genres, such as desperate diss tracks and P.M. Dawnesque musings.

      The film’s affinity for hip-hop is evident—you can’t mock something so fiercely without a deep understanding of it. We truly love this film.

      Clerks (1994)

      Miramax – Credit: C/O

      As a Kevin Smith film, Clerks is naturally filled with crude humor—none more so than a scene in which Dante (Brian O’Halloran) laments his girlfriend’s sexual history (Marilyn Ghigliotti).

      At the same time, Dante’s ex, Caitlin (Lisa Spoonauer), has a horrific encounter with an elderly customer at Dante’s workplace.

      Despite the questionable moments, Clerks was added to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Made for about $27,575, this film was instrumental in catalyzing the indie film explosion of the ’90s.

      Freeway (1996)

      Republic Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Matthew Bright’s darkly comedic Freeway, featuring a young Reese Witherspoon, is one of our top picks from the 1990s due to its relentless, almost grindhouse approach to sensationalism. It mocks the tabloid culture of the ’90s while mastering it.

      In this twisted retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Witherspoon plays an illiterate runaway trying to reach her grandmother’s home after her mother is arrested for sex work. Her Big Bad Wolf is Bob (Kiefer Sutherland), a self-proclaimed good Samaritan who