9 Most Underrated Movies of the ’90s

The 1990s were perhaps the most important decade in the history of film. The transition from films driven by super-mega-star actors to properties happened slowly over the decade. CGI and special effects became a centerpiece for hits, and Quentin Tarantino was introduced to the world. This list isn’t about any of those things. This is a list of the most underrated films of the ’90s.

Judgement Night

Year Released: 1993

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%

Metacritic Score: 46

Given the cast of Judgement Night, you might think this was a huge success. The problem with that line of thinking is that this was before Cuba Gooding Jr. was asking to be shown the money in Jerry McGuire, and Emilio Estevez’s star was fading. Critics didn’t love the way the film painted the inner-city. The truth is this film is highly entertaining and has one of the best soundtracks of the decade. Director Stephen Hopkins shows a wide range of technical skills and crafts a tight, fun, wild thriller. Plus, Dennis Leary is terrific as a menacing villain hellbent on doing his “job.”

Devil in a Blue Dress

Year Released: 1995

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Metacritic Score: 78

Denzel Washington will show up a few times on this list, and that is surprising to me. He’s one of the most popular actors of all time, but some of his best work has often be pushed behind over-hyped films like Training Day. Washington portrays Easy Rawlins as a laid-off and desperate man trying to keep his home. While critics praised this film, it was a complete box office flop and failed to recoup its $27 million budget. Carl Franklin’s direction is subtle and concise. He uses the audience’s preconceived notions to cloud our expectations. The result is a beautifully crafted noir that has been forgotten.

The Frighteners

Year Released: 1996

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%

Metacritic Score: 52

Frighteners is a film that feels like a fever dream. Directed by Peter Jackson and starring Michael J Fox, this film has a bonkers premise and insane CGI. Jackson has always been at the forefront of CGI but to think this film took place in 1996 and looks as good as it does is surprising. Fox is terrific as a ghostbusting grifter, but Chi McBride and Jim Fyfe make this film stand out. They play two ghosts that help pull Fox’s grift. The comedy is just enough to make the film fun. The shifts in tone are often and at times offputting, which give the film a uniqueness.

Contact

Year Released: 1997

Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

Metacritc: 62

This choice might be a tad controversial because critics liked Contact, and it did fairly well at the box office. But what I have found is most people I talk to haven’t seen this film. There is also a large portion of people who have seen Contact and find the film pedantic. While I will concede the film is at times dense, it is unquestionably beautiful. The film is also one of the most realistic first contact movies ever made. Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey give two masterful performances. Both were born for these roles. This is by far my favorite Robert Zemeckis film, not called Back to the Future.

Suicide Kings

Year Released: 1997

Rotten Tomatoes: 34%

Metacritic: 43

The ’90s were full of Pulp Fiction rip-offs and imitations. When Suicide Kings opened, critics pigeonholed it as one of those rip-offs. I totally refute this. Suicide Kings is quick-witted and smartly written. The film feels closer to Judgement Night than it does a Quentin Tarantino film. Christopher Walken stars as a worn-out mobster who wants to leave the situation he finds himself in. The cast is full of mid-decade wannabe stars, but the cast does wonderful work. Dennis Leary is once again hilarious and menacing. The film is only 105 minutes, and it moves at a fast pace. Suicide Kings wasn’t created to win awards, but it is a fun twisty thriller.

Fallen

Year Released: 1998

Rotten Tomatoes: 40%

Metacritic: N/A

Fallen is a somewhat difficult film to peg. It’s part allegory, part detective story, and part supernatural thriller. But like many Denzel Washington films of the 90’s it is super underrated. Washington is, of course, terrific as detective Hobbs. The supporting cast is filled with a who’s who of character actors. Everyone from Donald Sutherland to John Goodman shows up on the screen. The real star of the movie, however, is the script. This film is wound tight, and the writer and director don’t show their hand. The great thing about this film being underrated is that the ending is probably still unknown to you if you haven’t seen it. The final act is a quiet gut punch. One that still resonates with me today. I’m amazed that this film didn’t receive more love. Metacritic doesn’t even have a score for it.

Can’t Hardly Wait

Year Released: 1998

Rotten Tomatoes: 40%

Metacritic: 52

Even though Can’t Hardly Wait did score at the box office, it’s often overshadowed by bigger heavyweights in the teen comedy genre. While the film is silly and sometimes digs its heels deep into teen movie tropes, it’s quirky enough to be fun. The cast is filled with 90’s teen stars and does a remarkable job of giving everyone at least a small bit of something to do. Ethan Embry as Preston Meyers and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Amanda Beckett are billed as the leads, but this much more of an ensemble cast. Seth Green’s Kenny Fisher steals the movie for me. He plays a sex-obsessed white gangster wannabe who is insecure and over the top. While it’s not the best film on this list, it’s a lot of fun and definitely a film that you should see.

Dirty Work

Year Released: 1998

Rotten Tomatoes: 17%

Metacritic: N/A

Dirty Work has the worst critical rating of any movie on this list and happens to be the funniest. Norm McDonald wasn’t a household name and still isn’t. But he is heralded as one of the best comedians of all time. His humor can be both high brow and disgusting, but what makes this film work is his insane ability to make even the most mundane things seem hilarious. Artie Lang and Chevy Chase have spoken at length about how this was filmed as an R-rated movie, but the studio meddled, and it was released with a PG-13. While I would love to see that Dirty Work, the one we got is still pretty amazing. My group of friends still quote one-liners from it to this day. Dirty Work will always be classic because its humor stands the test of time. It also has the last appearance of the beloved SNL star Chris Farley.

The Siege

Year Released: 1998

Rotten Tomatoes: 44%

Metacritic: 52

Here is another Denzel Washington film that has flown under the radar for too long. The Siege is an uncomfortable movie, to say the least. Director Edward Zwick isn’t afraid of making political statements with his movies, but the heat he received from this film was unlike anything we’ve seen since. The Siege was lambasted by everyone from the U.S military to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. The film paints a very bleak look at how far America might go to stop terrorism. The Siege was made just a few years before the 9/11 attacks and the Patriot Act, but this film’s warning was ignored. Washington is once again a master of his art. Bruce Willis, despite winning a Razzie for his performance, is also excellent. I would encourage everyone to watch this film!