12 Unapologetic '90s Comedies That Are Unconcerned with Offending You

      These '90s comedies are unconcerned about offending anyone.

      Their main goal is to make you laugh, no matter the consequences. However, many of them also incorporate clever insights.

      Think we overlooked a fantastic '90s comedy film? 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 (above) might deter some viewers from enjoying this film. Additionally, there is an abundance of bathroom humor and jokes about private parts (especially in the impressive opening scene) that those who are sensitive may struggle to handle.

      If they manage to get past that, the film takes a bold stance that individuals with disabilities can be part of the jokes too — not as the punchline, but as participants in the humor.

      That being said, There’s Something About Mary, like many Farrelly Brothers films — and '90s comedies — possesses a big heart beneath all the crude humor.

      **Friday (1995)**

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      The blunt dialogue of Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) might alienate some audiences, but Friday is undeniably funny. We appreciate the premise of the good-natured Craig getting entangled in trouble with Big Worm (Faizon Love) over a minuscule portion of Smokey’s stash.

      When it leads to the significant confrontation between Craig and Deebo (Tommy Lister Jr.), Friday delivers a powerful message about gun violence and the true meaning of manhood.

      Certainly, resolving issues with conversation is preferable. But when that isn’t viable, using fists is much less lethal.

      **Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)**

      New Line Cinema

      Austin Powers is packed with numerous questionable jokes — it's filled with innuendos and outright crude humor.

      Yet, since the film acknowledges its silly and vulgar nature, it retains a clever essence, and we feel intelligent for enjoying it. It pays homage to decades of James Bond-style wordplay.

      Moreover, the scene where Austin declines to sleep with Vanessa — "’cause you’re drunk, it’s not right” — has aged remarkably well. We once witnessed it with a millennial audience 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 witty commentary on the rapidly changing hip-hop trends that responded to them almost in real time.

      The film, which debuted at Sundance, follows a political/gangster rap group called NWH (the H is for hats) that branches into various genres, including frantic diss tracks, P.M. Dawn-like reflections, and C&C Music Factory-style dance tracks.

      The film’s appreciation for hip-hop is clear — you can't satirize something so ruthlessly without a deep understanding of it. We adore this film.

      **Clerks (1994)**

      Miramax – Credit: C/O

      Clerks is a Kevin Smith film, and naturally, it’s filled with crude humor — none more so than a scene where Dante (Brian O’Halloran) bemoans his girlfriend's (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sexual history.

      Meanwhile, Dante’s ex, Caitlin (Lisa Spoonauer) encounters a horrific case of mistaken identity with an elderly customer at the store where Dante works.

      Despite the controversial moments, the Library of Congress chose to add Clerks to the United States National Film Registry for its "cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance." Made on a budget of roughly $27,575, the film played a pivotal role in sparking the indie film wave of the '90s.

      **Freeway (1996)**

      Republic Pictures

      Matthew Bright's darkly comedic Freeway, featuring a young Reese Witherspoon, is one of our cherished films from the '90s due to its relentless, almost grindhouse approach to sensationalism. It cleverly mocks the tabloid culture of the '90s while perfecting it.

      In this twisted modern take on Little Red Riding Hood, Witherspoon portrays an illiterate runaway trying to reach her grandmother’s house after her mother is taken into custody for sex work. Her Big Bad Wolf is Bob (Kiefer Sutherland), who appears to be a good Samaritan but is truly a serial killer.

      One of the film's many delights is its exceptional casting: alongside the superb leads, it includes Dan Hedaya, Amanda Plummer, Brooke Shields, and Bokeem Woodbine, among others.

      **The Nutty Professor (1996)**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      If you're not a fan of what children call potty humor, you may not enjoy The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy’s remake of the 1963