12 Unapologetic '90s Comedies That Are Indifferent to Your Feelings

      These ’90s comedies don’t care if they offend you.

      Their primary goal is to make you laugh, regardless of the subject matter. However, many of them also slip in some astute observations.

      Think we overlooked a great ’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 turn some viewers off from enjoying this film. There’s also an abundance of bathroom and anatomical humor (especially in the remarkable opening scene) that sensitive viewers may find hard to tolerate.

      If they can get past that, the film boldly suggests that people with disabilities should be included in the humor — not as the target of jokes but as active participants in the comedic exchange.

      That said, There’s Something About Mary, much like many Farrelly Brothers films and ’90s comedies, has a significant heart beneath all the crude humor.

      Friday (1995)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      The straightforward banter between Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) might alienate some, but come on: Friday is hilarious. We enjoy the setup of good-natured Craig getting into trouble with Big Worm (Faizon Love) after taking the smallest share of Smokey’s stash.

      When it culminates in the confrontation between Craig and Deebo (Tommy Lister Jr.), Friday delivers an impactful message about gun violence and what it means to be a man.

      Certainly, it’s preferable to resolve conflicts through conversation. But if that’s not feasible, fists are much less deadly.

      Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

      New Line Cinema

      Austin Powers is filled with numerous risqué jokes — it’s a film teeming with innuendo and blatantly raunchy humor.

      However, because the film embraces the silliness of its jokes, it feels clever and we feel clever for laughing along. It pays tribute to decades of James Bond-style wordplay.

      Moreover, the moment when Austin declines to sleep with Vanessa — “’cause you’re drunk, it’s not right” — has aged remarkably. We witnessed this in a millennial audience in 2017 and received a round of applause for that line. Yeah baby!

      Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

      The Samuel Goldwyn Company – Credit: C/O

      Featuring Rusty Cundieff, who also wrote and directed it, Fear of a Black Hat is a keen satire on the rapidly evolving hip-hop scene that reacted to changes almost instantaneously.

      The film, which debuted at Sundance, follows a political/gangster rap group called NWH (the H stands for hats) that splinters into various other styles, including desperate diss tracks, P.M. Dawnesque philosophical musings, and C&C Music Factory-inspired dance music.

      The film's affection for hip-hop is evident—you can’t critique something this ruthlessly unless you deeply understand it. We adore this film.

      Clerks (1994)

      Miramax – Credit: C/O

      Clerks is a Kevin Smith film, so naturally, it’s filled with crude humor — none rougher than the scene where Dante (Brian O’Halloran) frets over his girlfriend’s (Marilyn Ghigliotti) sexual past.

      Meanwhile, Dante’s previous partner, Caitlin (Lisa Spoonauer), experiences a dreadful case of mistaken identity with an older customer at the store where Dante works.

      Despite its questionable moments, the Library of Congress deemed Clerks significant enough to be added to the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Made on an original budget of about $27,575, the film contributed to the indie film surge of the ’90s.

      Freeway (1996)

      Republic Pictures

      Matthew Bright's dark comedy Freeway, featuring a young Reese Witherspoon, is one of our top picks from the 1990s due to its relentless commitment to sensationalism, satirizing the tabloid culture of the era while simultaneously perfecting it.

      In this twisted reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, Witherspoon portrays an illiterate runaway attempting to reach her grandmother's house after her mother is arrested for prostitution. Her Big Bad Wolf is Bob (Kiefer Sutherland), a supposed good Samaritan who is actually a serial killer.

      One of the film’s many delights is its exceptional casting: In addition to the outstanding leads, it includes Dan Hedaya, Amanda Plummer, Brooke Shields, and Bokeem Woodbine.

      The Nutty Professor (1996)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      If you’re not a fan of what the little ones call potty talk, you may want to skip The Nutty Professor, Eddie Murphy’s modern take on the 1963 Jerry Lewis film of the same name.

      The film won Best Makeup at the