10 Movies That Are Time Capsules From The 1990s

Movies are one of the best ways to get a feel of what life was like during the years they were released, and many from the 1990s sum up the aesthetics, worries, and changes seen throughout society during the decade. Much of the decade is captured in films reflecting the rise in grunge music and aesthetics, the increase in internet activity and technological advancements, and the fear and rebellious attitudes that formed as a result of the two. The latter can be seen in films like The Matrix and Existenz.

Other films represent the ’90s through their wardrobe, soundtrack selections, and encapsulation of young adult life, such as the films Clerks and Singles. While many of these films can be enjoyed today, some ’90s movies don’t work with modern audiences. This is because their themes and aesthetics are dated snapshots of society at the time and don’t fully reflect life now — though the relevancy of some films continues to increase, particularly those dealing with the advancement of technology. These films provide an accurate feel of what life was like before the turn of the 21st century.

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10

Existenz (1999)

Identifies Worries About The Advancement Of Gaming Technology

One of the strangest films from the ’90s is David Cronenberg’s Existenz. The film had the disadvantage of being released during the same year as The Matrix, whose influence and innovation have gained far greater attention throughout the years. Both films highlight the ’90s worries about technology, but Existenz has the advantage of combining such themes with horror tropes, namely body horror. Known for his contribution to the body horror genre, Cronenberg’s Existenz tells the story of a game designer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who becomes the target of assassins.

To escape those who are after her, she enters her own game and the line between reality and virtuality begins to blur. The elements of body horror come into play when it’s explained that the gaming systems are plugged directly into human bodies via a port. Such imagery has a deeper meaning which draws attention to the cynicism felt by many people during the ’90s about the control and negative influence technology would have.

9

The Net (1995)

Details Early Privacy Concerns Regarding Technology

Though the critical response to The Net hasn’t been entirely positive, the film is still a chilling thriller with technology concerns that were extremely relevant during the ’90s. Starring Sandra Bullock, The Net follows her character as she works to uncover the reasoning behind her recorded identity being erased after she receives a mysterious disc. Though the action in the film is lacking, and the thrills are somewhat predictable, Bullock is still a charming lead and the film is a great time capsule for the ’90s.

As exciting as technological advancements were during the decade, the speed at which technology invaded personal lives caused a great amount of concern regarding privacy and control. These worries felt by society are shown in The Net and are the crux of the film’s conflict. However, The Net still provides a balanced look at the rise of the internet and technology, by showing its practical everyday uses that make lives easier.

8

Hackers (1995)

Its Themes About Privacy Continue To Be Relevant

Hackers focuses on the titular subculture, which rose to prominence in the ’90s. In the film, a group of high school hackers are involved in an embezzlement conspiracy in which they hope to use their skills to unveil the truth. Now deemed a cult classic, Hackers‘ choppy pacing and thin plot aren’t enough to prevent audiences from having a fun time with the film. Its visuals are eye-catching and are reminiscent of the decade’s popular crime films.

Compared to the decade’s other technological crime films, Hackers doesn’t stand out or put a unique spin on conversations about surveillance in the evolving digital age. Like The Net, Hackers draws attention to the privacy concerns that came as technology improved. Though such anxieties were introduced in the ’90s, they’ve carried into recent years, making Hackers a film audiences of any generation can relate to on some level.

7

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Reality Bites (1994)

Spotlights Timely Events Young Adults Grappled With In The ’90s

Under the direction of Ben Stiller, in his directorial debut, Reality Bites is one of the best coming-of-age movies of the ’90s. Following a group of recent college graduates, led by Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke, Reality Bites paints an honest picture of the ups and downs that come with finding purpose in one’s work and relationships. Ryder’s Lelaina is an aspiring documentarian who creates a film about her friends’ lives, which gives audiences further insight into life for 20-something-year-olds during this time.

Screenwriter Helen Childress found inspiration in her real-life friend group as she took notice of the effect the recession in the early ’90s had on them. As a result, Reality Bites has become especially appreciated by Gen X audiences who see parts of themselves and their lived experiences in the characters within the film. However, while the experiences of Reality Bites‘ characters may be specific to the decade the film was released, the struggle to adapt to life after college graduation is timeless.

6

Strange Days (1995)

Pulls Inspiration From Real High-Profile Incidents

Though Strange Days failed commercially and is a ’90s action movie barely anyone remembers, it features some notable themes about technology and is inspired by cultural events that were especially prominent during the decade. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Strange Days stars Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, and Juliette Lewis, and tells the story of Lenny Nero (Fiennes), a man who sells devices that allow people to experience the memories of others. When one of these memories details a horrific murder, Nero gets involved in a conspiracy involving police corruption.

The critical response to Strange Days upon its release was mixed, with many of the negative reviews criticizing the film’s detailed depiction of violence. Many of the film’s events are inspired by the assault of Rodney King and the Los Angeles riots that took place as a response. Such elements of the film extend its relevancy into recent years, but Strange Days‘ cyberpunk aesthetic and unnerving final days of 1999 are symbolic of the decade.

5

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Features Gadgets And Hacking Strategies That Felt Advanced

Tom Cruise is known best for his action films, and in the mid-’90s, he led the first installment of the Mission: Impossible series. The action film sees Cruise’s character, an IMF agent named Ethan Hunt, framed for the murder of his mentor. To prove his innocence, Ethan teams up with a hacker and pilot, sneaking into a CIA building in order to get a confidential file. Like other ’90s films, Mission: Impossible features figures synonymous with the decade, like hackers.

The hacking and acts of espionage in the film produced an aesthetic that felt futuristic and innovative during the ’90s. Though spy movies today feature much more advanced pieces of technology and hacking methods, the sleek, high-tech gadgets and floppy disks seen in Mission: Impossible underline just how early it was in the introduction of emerging technology.

4

Singles (1992)

Reflects The Rise Of Grunge In Seattle

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Set within the home of grunge, Seattle, Washington, Singles depicts the lives of its twenty-something-year-old characters navigating love and figuring out who they want to be in life. It’s the second film directed by Cameron Crowe after 1989’s Say Anything…, and stars Bridget Fonda, Matt Dillon, and Kyra Sedgwick. Singles‘ protagonists don’t appear to be stock characters, as there is a clear understanding of life during the ’90s as it pertains to work and aspirations that go beyond the corporate lifestyle.

The questions asked by the film’s young adults are extremely relatable to audiences, especially those who were the same age as these characters in the early ’90s. In addition to capturing young adult struggles in the ’90s, Singles also provides a fairly accurate snapshot of Seattle at the time, with its wardrobe selections and emphasis on grunge culture. Singles‘ encapsulation of the grunge scene is tied together with the film’s soundtrack and cameos from influential music acts like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.

3

You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Depicts The Early Days Of Online Dating

Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail is widely considered Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s best movie together. The film follows the romantic online connection that forms between them as they’re unaware they are business rivals. Ryan’s Kathleen owns an independent bookstore that’s threatened by the business brought in by the chain of bookstores run by the family of Hanks’ Joe. You’ve Got Mail‘s most obvious representation of the ’90s is its emphasis on chatroom romances.

Though online dating is still relevant today, the kind seen in You’ve Got Mail was relatively new and exciting for those looking for love in the ’90s. Additionally, the ’90s introduced a new wave of corporate disillusionment and criticisms regarding corporations. Such ideas are present throughout You’ve Got Mail, where its main conflict sees a large chain run out the small business owned by Ryan’s character.

2

Clerks (1994)

Captures The Mundane Life Of Retail Employees

The premise of Kevin Smith’s directorial debut Clerks is simple, as audiences follow a day in the life of convenience store employee Dante Hicks (Brian O’Halloran) and his friend Randal (Jeff Anderson). On paper, the monotony of their average workday doesn’t seem to inspire a cult classic comedy film Clerks would eventually become. However, Smith’s clever, dialogue-heavy film is full of laughs and relatable characters that make it easy for audiences to become invested in.

Often viewed as a quintessential slice-of-life movie from the ’90s, the success of Clerks resulted in sequel films and the creation of a fictional universe of films known as View Askewniverse. Though the humorous experiences and relationships seen in Clerks can be found in any decade, the small-town feel, pop culture references, and clothing worn by the film’s main characters are all indicative of the year it was made.

1

The Matrix (1999)

Details The Growing Anxiety Surrounding Technology

From themes of rebellion and technology to the wardrobe and soundtrack selections for the film, much of The Matrix is representative of the ’90s. Released at the end of the decade, The Matrix introduced an improved set of special effects that set it apart from other ’90s sci-fi movies. On top of that, the film’s storytelling and action sequences make it not only one of the best films of the decade overall, but one that perfectly captures life at that time as well.

Keanu Reeves, who was an especially prominent actor of the decade, leads the film as Neo. He is a hacker who discovers life as he knows it is a simulation created by machines. Upon making this discovery, Neo sets out to rebel against the machines. Fears surrounding technological possibilities and advancements only seem to grow as the years go by, but they were extremely prevalent during the ’90s, with The Matrix capturing the feelings much of society was grappling with at the time.

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Category: Entertainment