During the ’90s thousands of movies have been released by different movie industries around the world. Some have been watched while there are others yet to be watched after all these years. Interestingly, while some have not been so great off the production table, others didn’t receive the accolades that they should have. They had some amazing storylines and lessons that you could use as well as provide some quality education. But, what made these movies not receive the strength they should have? Sadly, some faced financial problems mid-production while others didn’t have popular actors and actresses who people were going crazy over at the time. We have gone through a lot of these movies and highlighted 30 that were truly intriguing but were underrated…
The Dark Half (1993)
The Dark Half 1993
Novelist Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) wrote under an assumed name for years before he finally set his writing pseudonym, George Stark, to retirement. This came about after Beaumont was framed for committing a series of murders which he realized could not allow him to be committed to his work anymore. However, his alter-ego was out to damage his character, Thad, at all costs. But, trouble loomed ahead as the releasing studio fell into financial difficulties and marketing was poor for the film.
Why You Should Watch: By far, it is one of the better productions of Stephen King and could be the best work for George A. Romero aside from the Dead Canon.
Big Night (1996)
This movie features two Italian brothers who were having a hard time surviving from the proceeds of their restaurant known as Paradise. One brother, chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub), and his manager brother, Secundo (Stanley Tucci) had a huge night to prepare for, as one of their competitors organized with crooner Tony Prima, to visit the restaurant for a test.
Why You Should Watch: The dinner scene is everything! The movie was edited in such a way that it will give you the courage to finally prepare that lasagna you had in the freezer for so long.
Big Night 1996
Phantoms (1998)
Phantoms is a scary adaptation of the horror novel done by Dean Koontz. The story features two sisters Jenny (Joanna Going) and Lisa (Rose McGowan) who journey to Snowfield, a ski resort town in Colorado. However, upon reaching, they found out it was deserted. Their feelings of horror and strangeness were concurred by Sheriff Hammond (Ben Affleck) and Deputy Wargle (Liev Schrieber) who were also in shock as to why everyone would suddenly die in the middle of the night.
Why You Should Watch: The whole suspense of the group searching the newly abandoned houses could not get any creepier and yet all this came before the huge twist of events.
Phantoms 1998
The Day Trippers (1996)
Greg Mottola hit this one before the launch of Adventureland and Superbad. It features a look into the lives of The Malones who initially set out on a road trip. During the trip, their youngest daughter Eliza (Hope Davis), took off to New York in a bid to tackle her cheating husband, Louis (Stanley Tucci).
Why You Should Watch: This movie is worth the watch not only for the storyline but also for the fact that Liev Schreiber played the role of Eliza’s sister’s boyfriend, Carl Petrovic.
The Day Trippers 1996
Starship Troopers (1997)
In reality, Paul Verhoeven’s film Starship Troopers was not treated fairly after being placed in the hands of critics who only focused on its tone and apparent lack of irony. However, he did line the film with a lot of top acts such as Dina Meyer, Casper Van Dien, and Denise Richards in a bid to get views and reactions from fans.
Why You Should Watch: The whole idea of mecha-aliens getting shattered by tanks into tiny bits is quite fascinating.
Starship Troopers 1997
Very Bad Things (1998)
The movie entails a group of friends who decided to journey to Las Vegas for a weekend of fun – drink, women, and drugs. However, their fun was cut short when Michael (Jeremy Piven) accidentally killed a prostitute which somehow sent the men into a frantic mode. But, the violent act in the film was a turn-off for many and this saw the potential audience withdrawing.
Why You Should Watch: For those wanting to see Christian Slater at his “best craziness”, this film could be what you are looking for.
Very Bad Things 1998
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
Lenny Weinrib, a Schlubby sportswriter, was on a mission to track down the biological mother of his son, Linda Ash. However, he would later find out that she was a hooker and porn star. But, he was destined to help her change her ways just in case his son would set out to find his real mother. Interestingly enough, Ash, played by Sorvino, won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role, even though it was not enough to wow the viewers.
Why You Should Watch: The fact that Mira Sorvino uttered Woody Allen’s smutty dialogue
Mighty Aphrodite 1995
Cop Land (1997)
Some of the finest acts in Hollywood came together for this New York City-based police corruption project. The film started with a situation of mistaken weaponry where Lt. Donlan’s (Harvey Keitel) nephew (Michael Rapaport) had to be sent into hiding due to a murder. This, in turn, took a play-out into the police community.
Why You Should Watch: This amazing project by James Mangold was a major hit as it had some of the best actors of the nineties. You are gonna be amazed.
Cop Land 1997
Rounders (1998)
This film by John Dahl was not given the shower it was looking for and it was quickly shoved down right after its release. That’s sad as this has the potential to hit the movie scene with a bang. It is a less flashy film than 21 or Runner Runner as Dahl kept on the down-low in terms of its complete action. Matt Damon as a law student was a nice gift given from the film.
Why You Should Watch: Matt Damon was a nice addition playing as Mike McDermott but it was Edward Norton that was a good go.
Rounders 1998
Albino Alligator (1997)
Are you the kind that loves a movie that is shot in one location with peak drama a must? Then there is no way you should be missing out on this film as Albino Alligator has all that and more. It features three crooks who happen to seek refuge in a bar one night and had the guts to take some hostages to keep themselves safe. Well, they were having their conversations and wherever there’s talking, something will happen.
Why You Should Watch: The intriguing directorial debut of Kevin Spacey.
Albino Alligator 1997
Beautiful Girls (1996)
The story entails the journey of Willie Conway (Timothy Hutton) who decides to return home to Knights Bridge where a high school reunion was in progress. The trip saw him catching up with old friends who were pondering about love, getting old and their life in general.
Why You Should Watch: You will love the cast who has captured the whole essence of what the late twenties has to offer. But to add to the amazing project, 13-year-old Natalie Portman is a great feature you would love as well.
Beautiful Girls 1996
EdTV (1999)
A lot of us have come to know Matthew McConaughey as a strong and popular actor who has copped loads of awards. However, before his run with the big boys, he worked on a comedy project from Ron Howard. This sees the life of Ed (McConaughey), a store clerk, having his life televised to the entire public. Sure enough, he grabbed onto the fame and made use of it.
Why You Should Watch: It gave the perfect prediction of what current reality TV is all about plus McConaughey’s reputation was brought to the light.
Edtv 1999
Copycat (1995)
The movie features a serial killer who is on a mission to copy some of the most heinous crimes committed by serial killers throughout history and bring them to life. He is now on a drive to get serial killer psychologist, Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver).
But the famed psychologist is now being sought after by police officers Monahan (Holly Hunter) and Goetz (Dermot Mulroney) to get some of her expert wisdom on how to tackle the current situation. However, she is in an agoraphobic stage after an attack on her life by killer Daryll Lee Cullum (Harry Connick, Jr.).
Why You Should Watch: The whole scenario of excitement and terror will have you on edge to know what will happen next.
Copycat 1995
Blood And Wine (1996)
This is a Floridian noir tale that saw directors Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson being reunited to showcase their performance once again. Alex Gates (Nicholson) is a wine dealer who does his sneaky robbery deals with Victor (Michael Caine). However, it didn’t turn out as he had hoped as his current relationship with his wife and stepson made things complicated.
Why You Should Watch: This movie is worth the watch as it shows the amazing skills of Nicholson and Caine and how experienced they are in the industry.
Blood And Wine 1996
The Funeral (1996)
This film by Abel Ferrara is about a funeral for one of the Tempio brothers with a flashback of the life and acts of the notorious brood and their criminal moves.
Why You Should Watch: This cinematic era had a clutter of mobster flicks and The Funeral came with loads of unique tricks to help it stand out from the rest. Unlike many gangsters, Johnny’s personal beliefs were different and this came as a betrayal to that community. Furthermore, the ending was a bang and you can also see the work of art by watching for yourself.
The Funeral 1996
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Geena Davis played the role of a suburban school teacher as she found her true identity eight years after she was affected by amnesia. Interestingly, she is a trained CIA assassin that managed to team up with Mitch Hennessy (Samuel L. Jackson), a smart-mouth private investigator. She later took to the road in a bid to unravel the mystery of her double life.
Why You Should Watch: Shane Black did a great job with this film as he curated the script to be fast-paced and simply amazing. Furthermore, it was written by one of the industry’s best screenwriters.
The Long Kiss Goodnight 1996
The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
This film features Douglas Hall (Craig Bierko) who finds himself on the wrong side of the law as he is caught up in the murder of Hannon Fuller, a VR system’s billionaire designer. He got help from Fuller’s daughter to enter into a simulation, a similar story to 1937 Los Angeles, where he searched for clues left by his deceased mentor. It came out roughly a month after The Matrix was released and as such, got a hit due to its similar setup. A similar setting was a little too hectic for viewers who gave a better rating to the Wachowski release.
Why You Should Watch: Some intriguing twists will have you captivated once you start to watch.
The Thirteenth Floor 1999
Pump Up The Volume (1990)
Christian Slater was a star in this film as he played the role of Mark Hunter, a teenage loner who would generally pass out life-changing truths to his fellow schoolmates. He did this under the guise of local radio legend, Hard Harry.
Why You Should Watch: This movie showcased Slater in his prime and the ultimate lessons dished out by Hard Harry if given today would be placed under some heavy covering based on their values. This was truly a golden project that hit the scene.
Pump Up The Volume 1990
Fearless (1993)
Jeff Bridges was once again set in his possibly second strongest performance after he played in The Big Lebowski. Being a crash survivor, he used the opportunity to work on his spiritual journey to full recovery.
Why You Should Watch: Sadly, it didn’t get the attention it needed as it showcased during the time cinema was rolling a “terrible” plane crash sequence so many viewers believed it was just another type of video with the same content. However, it is completely different with a deeper meaning and lesson to impart.
Fearless 1993
Go (1999)
Doug Liman has had his fair share in the movie industry as before he became the man that gave a lead push to Matt Damon, he directed this funny, puzzling, and interesting film. It was written by John August and featured three supermarket clerks who decided to go wild for a night that was filled with some hard drug-fuelled consequences.
Why You Should Watch: There were a lot of “hip” movies being released in the nineties that had a lot of story behind their creation but this film had so much to say with lots of fun added to it.
Go 1999
Rush (1991)
This film had a lot of bleakness and flick to it but it just didn’t get the audience reach the directors were hoping for. The film featured a “worst-case-scenario” setting where two undercover narcotics cops Raynor (Jason Patric) and Cates (Jennifer Jason Leigh) got to showcase what they were made of.
Why You Should Watch: If you have been watching films featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh, you would see how talented she is. Well, this film gave her the strength she needed to enter the industry by storm even though she was an underrated actress.
Rush 1991
Smoke (1995)
This film was a production made from the works of New York novelist, Paul Auster, where the cast was featured in a Brooklyn tobacco store. Here they took on the challenges of life and discussed the travails of what happened daily in their lives.
Why You Should Watch: The story provides you with a setting almost as though it is a New York hidden gem. You will not regret watching this film as it provides an essence of real-life, especially from the perspective given by the store owner, Auggie, played by Harvey Keitel.
Smoke 1995
Red Rock West (1993)
John Dahl had this set in Arizona and had some of the best cast to include Dennis Hopper, Nicolas Cage, Lara Flynn Boyle, and JT Walsh. It was pretty much one of the twistiest and most-intriguing films at the time. It received a great reception at the Toronto International Film Festival, yet Columbia Tri-Star decided to release it on home video. This caused it to lose out on a lot of targeted views.
Why You Should Watch: It has a story for everyone to understand whether you are a femme fatale or a conman. Its backdrop of journeying from the city streets to the dusty plains of Arizona – is a major hit for the film.
Red Rock West 1993
EXistenZ (1999)
This 90s body horror film was made by David Cronenberg and featured the likes of Jennifer Jason Leigh, who played the role of Allegra Geller, a games designer. It involved the process of inserting bio-mechanical leads into users’ bio-ports to create a virtual-reality gaming experience. However, for some reason, pro-reality folks weren’t on to it so much. Like The Thirteenth Floor, this film was released a month after The Matrix which helped to push it aside.
Why You Should Watch: It had a lot of potentials where technology and more is concerned and it was more than intriguing. Take, for instance, Jude Law’s bone gun – a real stunner!
EXistenZ 1999
Alien 3 (1992)
The third release of the Alien franchise didn’t do as well as it should have as it went through a lengthy pre-production period. Being an alone woman in prison colony Fury 161, not only did she have to face a hungry xenomorph, but she also had to deal with misogynistic inmates. David Fincher was hit with a struggle from the get-go and this situation labeled this release as the worst Alien release yet.
Why You Should Watch: You will want to experience the mythology of the xenomorph’s expansion. You will love the idea behind the film amidst what happened in the early stage.
Alien 3 1992
Dark City (1998)
This film was set in a distant dystopia as he featured Rufus Sewell, who played the role of John Murdoch. He somehow woke up in a room with a corpse and had no idea as to how he got there. Possibly it had something to do with those strange pale, Fedora-wearing chaps who only surface at nights. Director Alex Proyas did a great job with magically creating a world featuring darkness interwoven into a creepy horror setting. The poster art gave a lot away for the movie but it is a unique creation.
Why You Should Watch: This film could pass off for a great twist of The Matrix as it is a bit dirtier and grittier.
Dark City 1998
Swimming With Sharks (1994)
This could pass for a hard-hitting film as it tells the story of Buddy Ackerman, played by Kevin Spacey, a ruthless movie executive, and the bumbling Guy (Frank Whaley), his assistant. The movie had some great moments and scenes but for many, it seems a little too much on the “hit and miss” aspect. But, the work the team put in was really good.
Why You Should Watch: Do you know Lester Burnham? Well, Kevin Spacey did a great job by putting on a “bitter version” of Burnham – sounds intriguing, right? He might seem heartless but his truths are what you need to incline to.
Swimming With Sharks 1994
Jackie Brown (1997)
Pam Grier’s career was re-ignited with this Quentin Tarantino’s Elmore Leonard crime adaptation film. Grier played the role of moonlighting air stewardess, Jackie Brown. It had some major highlights such as the moment Jackie is caught by the FBI trying to smuggle cash for a “wannabe” bad guy, Ordell Robey, played by Samuel L. Jackson. This film seems like a follow-up to the 1994 film, Pulp Fiction, which would have already had Brown’s work set for her. Many people believed it was a little too drawn out, especially at the end.
Why You Should Watch: As the movie goes on and pulls closer to the end, you will see a better side to Grier’s performance – just amazing and close to perfection!
Jackie Brown 1997
Things To Do In Denver When You Are Dead (1995)
With the release of Pulp Fiction, it seemed the nineties had a thing for quirky crime productions. However, this film did its bit to step away from that genre and with a power-pack cast, Scott Rosenberg’s film was set for something major. It had a dark yet fun side to it and Christopher Walken did his fair share to help boost the film as well.
Why You Should Watch: Andy Garcia did a lot for this film as many people find him fascinating and he always does a good job on-screen as well.
Things To Do In Denver When Youre Dead 1995
Miller’s Crossing (1990)
The Coen Brothers’ film details Tom Reagan, a mob enforcer, being entangled in politics that involves two rival gangs – during the prohibition era. The movie seems to have a lot of gunfights and double-crossings going on – with lots of whiskeys involved. Sadly, it didn’t get the reach the team was looking for and so it failed at the box office to the likes of Goodfellas and The Godfather Part III.
Why You Should Watch: Tom Reagan, Gabriel Byrne’s drunken antihero did a great job with his delivery and it could pass him off as one of the best action heroes of the decade.
Millers Crossing 1990