Cult classic movies from the 1990s are beloved by audiences everywhere and spark nostalgia in the viewer. Movies like Small Soldiers or Hackers are often overlooked by contemporary audiences because they’re so of their time. However, these projects have enduring themes that hold up today and would translate to contemporary remakes. While remaking a film can be difficult, all of these works have stories that are relevant in the modern era, and bringing them back to life today would be the perfect way to pay tribute to their legacies.
Many movies from the 1990s are considered masterpieces, and many of these cult classics have had a recent resurgence in popularity or interest. The style and aesthetic of the ’90s has taken hold of the 2020s, leading younger viewers to seek out these ’90s classics and discover how much fun they are. There are cult classics in every genre, from sci-fi action to teen rom-coms, providing something for all viewers to enjoy. Though most of these projects tackle the biggest cultural issues of the ’90s, many of these conversations are even more relevant today.
You are watching: 10 Cult Classic 1990s Movies That Need A Modern Remake
10
Small Soldiers (1998)
Directed by Joe Dante
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Small Soldiers
PG-13
Comedy
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Science Fiction
7/10
Release Date
July 10, 1998
Runtime
110 Minutes
Cast
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-
Kirsten Dunst
-
Gregory Smith
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Small Soldiers needs a sequel more than Toy Story, as this cult action movie boasts a universal story that audiences would fall in love with today. Starring a young Kirsten Dunst as Christy, Small Soldiers sees her and Alan (Gregory Smith) have to navigate the attacks from a group of sentient action figures who are programmed with experimental military microchips. Though the premise is a little outlandish, Small Soldiers has fun with the concept, not taking itself too seriously and playing into the hilarity of the premise.
Unafraid to get dark and explore the emerging terrors of inanimate objects gaining sentience, Small Soldiers reads as more campy than scary today.
Unafraid to get dark and explore the emerging terrors of inanimate objects gaining sentience, Small Soldiers reads as more campy than scary today. However, this is largely because of the dated visual effects, and a modern remake of Small Soldiers would solve this problem. Though action figures aren’t as popular today as they were in the 1990s, a new take on the movie’s conceit could utilize different toys and be in conversation with other films that explore the concept of the robotic playmate.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Small Soldiers (1998) |
50% |
45% |
9
Mystery Men (1999)
Directed by Kinka Usher
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Mystery Men
PG-13
superheroes
Fantasy
Action
Comedy
7/10
Release Date
August 6, 1999
Runtime
121 Minutes
Cast
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-
Ben Stiller
-
Janeane Garofalo
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Well ahead of its time in its satirization and exploration of the superhero genre, Mystery Men boasts an iconic comedic ensemble cast that would have helped the film make waves today. With Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, and William H. Macy among the principal cast, Mystery Men could’ve been made today. Mystery Men looks at the juxtaposition between superheroes and the way they’re venerated by the public. Though there are some silly gags, this doesn’t undermine the quality of Mystery Men.
Unfortunately, Mystery Men was largely overlooked at the box office, earning only $33,461,011 worldwide against a $68 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Today, the market is oversaturated with superhero movies, but this has paved the way for satirical projects that poke fun at the genre to perform well with audiences and critics. There are many contemporary comedians who could easily step into the shoes of the original actors, embodying the heart of Mystery Men.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Mystery Men (1999) |
60% |
57% |
8
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
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Death Becomes Her
PG-13
Comedy
Fantasy
Horror
10/10
Release Date
July 31, 1992
Runtime
104 Minutes
Cast
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Meryl Streep
-
Bruce Willis
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After the significant success of The Substance, it’s clear that the central messages and themes of Death Becomes Her have lost none of their potency. Though it would be impossible to replace Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, a good remake of any cult classic understands that it’s not replacing the original, just putting a fun new spin on it. The campy and grotesque visuals that Death Becomes Her was instantly praised for would be just as effective today.
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Another take on Death Becomes Her could go further in terms of gore to bring the horror and supernatural elements to the forefront. Death Becomes Her was recently translated into a stage musical, and it would be interesting to see the musical version brought to life onscreen as a twist on a remake. This was how the 2024 Mean Girls remake happened, and it could work for Death Becomes Her. The fact that women’s experiences of aging haven’t changed that much since 1992 proves how much we need Death Becomes Her.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Death Becomes Her (1992) |
58% |
62% |
7
Dark City (1998)
Directed by Alex Proyas
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Dark City
R
Mystery
Sci-Fi
9/10
Release Date
February 27, 1998
Runtime
100 minutes
Cast
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-
Rufus Sewell
John Murdoch
-
William Hurt
Inspector Frank Bumstead
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One of the best dystopian movies of the 1990s, Dark City, is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. Though Dark City thrives because of its ensemble cast, Rufus Sewell anchors the project as John Murdoch, the protagonist who serves as the audience’s stand-in inside the complex world. Full of references to classic film noir movies and surrealism, Dark City could easily be translated into a contemporary remake.
Though there are plenty of similar sci-fi films from the ’90s that have remained popular, Dark City is a more underrated addition to the genre. Thanks to its cult classic status, a remake of Dark City wouldn’t be overshadowed by the original and could be an exciting extension of the 1998 movie’s narrative. Visually, Dark City is intricate and engaging, and mimicking this style today would be even more dynamic. Additionally, the conversations about augmented reality would hit hard for modern audiences.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Dark City (1998) |
76% |
85% |
6
Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion (1997)
Directed by David Mirkin
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Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
R
Comedy
10/10
Release Date
April 25, 1997
Runtime
92 Minutes
Cast
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-
Mira Sorvino
-
Lisa Kudrow
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Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are hilarious and relatable in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, a movie that tackles just how much the hurts of high school can follow you into adulthood. However, by the end of Romy and Michele, audiences will have no trouble agreeing that true friendship is far more important than popularity. Though it’s hard to imagine a pair of actors with as much chemistry and comedic timing as Kudrow and Sorvino, a Romy and Michelle remake could help establish the next great comedic duo.
Nostalgic and unapologetically itself, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion imparts a universal message of kindness and acceptance without getting too sentimental.
Nostalgic and unapologetically itself, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion imparts a universal message of kindness and acceptance without getting too sentimental. It’s unsurprising that the project has become such a beloved cult classic in recent years, as it’s full of so much heart and joy that it’s impossible not to be swept away by the infectious spirit. A modern take on Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion would have to stay true to these elements to succeed.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) |
75% |
66% |
5
Jawbreaker (1999)
Directed by Darren Stein
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Jawbreaker
R
Comedy
Crime
Thriller
10/10
Release Date
January 30, 1999
Runtime
86 Minutes
Cast
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-
Alexandra Adi
-
Tatyana Ali
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The 1990s were an incredible decade for rom-coms and teen comedies. However, Jawbreaker wastes no time in lampooning both of these genres. A dark comedy rife with crime, backstabbing, and lipgloss, Jawbreaker makes a direct commentary on the bubblegum pink sweetness that was associated with teenage girls during this period and undermines this one-dimensional concept. The pop culture references and meta-textual themes that made Jawbreaker somewhat controversial when it first came out are nostalgic elements today.
Jawbreaker was unfairly compared to earlier dark teen comedies despite the fact that it was an original work and stood apart from its inspirations while paying tribute to them. If Jawbreaker is remade, this wouldn’t be the first time that a ’90s comedy was remade. However, Jawbreaker deserves another chance to capture the hearts of audiences everywhere. The ’90s are having a resurgence, so a lot of the style and dialog in Jawbreaker would translate to a modern remake.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Jawbreaker (1999) |
15% |
55% |
4
Office Space (1999)
Directed by Mike Judge
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Office Space
R
Comedy
8.3/10
Release Date
February 19, 1999
Runtime
89 minutes
Cast
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-
Stephen Root
-
Ron Livingston
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The corporate workplace was a major thematic throughline of movies in the 1990s, and few projects embody this as clearly as Office Space. With Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston starring as Peter and Joanna, Office Space sees Peter become disillusioned with the corporate grind of his life as he slowly disentangles himself from the dullness of his life. Though office culture is satirized and exaggerated in Office Space, many people still connect with the way the film represents it to this day.
The characters’ desire to express individuality and not be controlled by their bosses is the catalyst for the story’s tension and the characters’ development.
As time has progressed, Office Space has only gained recognition for taking on the implications of corporate life and, therefore, capitalism. The characters’ desire to express individuality and not be controlled by their bosses is the catalyst for the story’s tension and the characters’ development. Bringing Office Space back to the forefront of the cultural conversation would likely result in a narrative that tackles both the isolation and convenience of remote work, as well as the way corporate expectations manifest now.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Office Space (1999) |
81% |
93% |
3
Showgirls (1995)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
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Showgirls
NC-17
Drama
8.3/10
Release Date
September 22, 1995
Runtime
131 Minutes
Cast
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-
Elizabeth Berkley
-
Kyle MacLachlan
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Infamously controversial and explicit, Showgirls is a movie that’s sparked conversation since it was first released in 1995. At the time, Showgirls was considered “trashy” and wasn’t taken seriously by audiences or critics. While there are undoubtedly issues with Showgirls, especially its violent turn in the final act, its subject matter is less taboo today, and there’s clearly an interest in the topic. The Last Showgirl, a recent addition to the canon, proves that there’s a place for a Showgirls remake.
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Making a new iteration of Showgirls today would be a kind of redemption for the project, showing audiences that there are many aspects of the original that are worth expanding upon. The way Showgirls is enamored with the color and life of Las Vegas demonstrates the movie’s insight into a unique aspect of American culture. Taking the things that make Showgirls great and crafting a remake that’s more socially relevant and takes itself seriously would be iconic.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Showgirls (1995) |
23% |
38% |
2
Hackers (1995)
Directed by Iain Softley
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Hackers
PG-13
Action
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Thriller
8/10
Release Date
September 14, 1995
Runtime
107minutes
Cast
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-
Jonny Lee Miller
-
Angelina Jolie
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A young Angelina Jolie stars in Hackers, a mid-’90s crime drama that explores the exciting new world of hacking, which was on everyone’s minds in the 1990s. Johnny Lee Miller co-stars with Jolie as Dade, a talented young hacker who gets embroiled in a life of crime when he corrupts a file in the wrong system. Though Hackers might seem dated by today’s standards, it was at the cutting edge of this new skill that was used both as a tool for crime and a way for a community to express themselves.
Though many action and espionage movies touch upon the subject, few modern films have focused solely on hacking, using it as a secondary plot line instead.
When Hackers was first released, the cyber age was just beginning, and people didn’t yet know the importance that these computer abilities would have. However, things have changed a lot since then, and any remake of Hackers would have the unique opportunity to see how underground hacking has evolved. Though many action and espionage movies touch upon the subject, few modern films have focused solely on hacking, using it as a secondary plot line instead.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Hackers (1995) |
33% |
68% |
1
Virtuosity (1995)
Directed by Brett Leonard
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Virtuosity
R
Action
Crime
Science Fiction
Thriller
Release Date
August 4, 1995
Runtime
106 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Denzel Washington
Parker Barnes
-
Russell Crowe
Sid 6.7
-
Kelly Lynch
Madison Carter
-
Alanna Ubach
Ella
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Denzel Washington is an underrated action hero, and Virtuosity is one of the movies that proves this. Russell Crowe stars alongside him in this sci-fi thriller that sees Washington’s character, a former police officer, go head-to-head with the sadistic artificial intelligence that Crowe embodies. It’s an intense and interrogative film, and considering the contemporary conversation around AI, all the more relevant today. Virtuosity would shine today, especially considering how recent VFX technology would make the virtual aspects more intricate.
As time has progressed, Virtuosity has proven to be ahead of its time in conversations surrounding emerging technologies, which was a prominent topic in the 1990s. It makes sense to remake Virtuosity because it’s a relatively unknown addition to both Washington and Crowe’s careers, but their participation would immediately spark interest in the project. There are many great contemporary actors who could star in the film, with Washington and Crowe appearing to appeal to our nostalgia.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Virtuosity (1995) |
31% |
32% |
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