12 Bold '90s Comedy Films That Are Unconcerned About Offending Anyone

      These ’90s comedies aren't concerned about causing offense.

      Their main goal is to make you laugh, regardless of the topic. Yet, many of them also incorporate clever commentary.

      Do you think we overlooked a classic ’90s comedy? Share your thoughts in the comments.

      There’s Something About Mary (1998)

      Twentieth Century Fox – Credit: 20th Century Fox

      What’s found in Mary’s hair (as shown above) might deter some viewers from enjoying this film. It also features a lot of bathroom humor and jokes about private parts, especially in the memorable opening scene, which may be too much for those easily offended.

      If they manage to get past that, the movie boldly includes people with disabilities in the humor — as active participants rather than the target of jokes.

      Despite this, There’s Something About Mary, like many Farrelly Brothers films—and ’90s cinema in general—has a large heart beneath its crude humor.

      Friday (1995)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      The straightforward dialogue from Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) may put some off, but let’s face it: Friday is hilarious. We enjoy the premise of well-meaning Craig being drawn into trouble with Big Worm (Faizon Love) over a minuscule portion of Smokey’s stash.

      When the film culminates in the confrontation between Craig and Deebo (Tommy Lister Jr.), it delivers a compelling message about gun violence and the true meaning of growing up.

      Of course, resolving conflict verbally is preferable. But if that fails, physical confrontations are less likely to be deadly.

      Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

      New Line Cinema

      Austin Powers is filled with numerous risqué jokes as it revels in innuendo and outrageous humor.

      However, the film is aware of the absurdity of its own jokes, giving it an intelligent edge and making us feel clever while laughing. It pays tribute to years of James Bond-style humor.

      Additionally, the moment when Austin declines to sleep with Vanessa — “’cause you’re drunk, it’s not right” — has aged remarkably well. We once watched it with a crowd of millennials in 2017, and the line received applause. Yeah baby!

      Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

      The Samuel Goldwyn Company – Credit: C/O

      Featuring Rusty Cundieff, who also wrote and directed, Fear of a Black Hat is a biting satire of rapidly changing hip-hop trends that responds to them almost as they occur.

      The film, which debuted at Sundance, follows a political/gangster rap group named NWH (the H is for hats) as it branches out into different genres, including desperate diss tracks, P.M. Dawn-esque philosophical musings, and C&C Music Factory-style dance music.

      The film's passion for hip-hop is evident—you can’t satirize something so sharply without a deep understanding of it. We adore this movie.

      Clerks (1994)

      Miramax – Credit: C/O

      Clerks is a Kevin Smith film, so it naturally contains plenty of raunchy jokes—none more so than a scene where Dante (Brian O’Halloran) expresses his dismay over his girlfriend’s (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sexual past.

      Meanwhile, Dante’s ex, Caitlin (Lisa Spoonauer), finds herself in a horrendous case of mistaken identity with an elderly customer at Dante’s workplace.

      Despite the questionable content, Clerks was added to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” qualities. Made on an initial budget of around $27,575, the film played a pivotal role in the rise of indie films in the '90s.

      Freeway (1996)

      Republic Pictures

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

      In this twisted retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Witherspoon portrays an illiterate runaway determined to reach her grandmother’s house after her mother is arrested for sex work. Her Big Bad Wolf is Bob (Kiefer Sutherland), who appears to be a helpful stranger but is actually a serial killer.

      One of the joys of the film is its remarkable casting: Along with the stellar leads, it features Dan Hedaya, Amanda Plummer, Brooke Shields, and Bokeem Woodbine, among others.

      The Nutty Professor (1996)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      If crass humor isn't your thing, you probably won't enjoy The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy's remake of the clean 1963 Jerry Lewis film of the same name.

      The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup at