Decades later, “90s kids” movies have stuck in the cultural consciousness and are regularly revisited. This longevity is due in part to the nostalgia-centric viewing habits of today’s adult audiences. However, this long-term success also speaks to the films’ content and structure. The 1990s brought audiences of all ages touching and well-crafted movies, both animated and live-action.
Jumanji (1995)
Jumanji toes the line between family comedy and heart-pounding thriller. Kids’ movies of the 1990s are not afraid to explore dark subject matter, and Jumanji is no exception.
The movie weaves a twisted fairy tale that follows a survival horror formula. Based on the 1981 book, Jumanji depicts an enchanted board game that envelops unsuspecting players in a dangerous jungle world. This jungle comes to life both in the story and on the screen through dazzling set design and practical effects. The tense plot is lightened by the film’s star, Robin Williams, who cultivates a calming and jovial air.
A 1995 Variety review suggested that Jumanji lacks the mass appeal needed for longevity. However, time has disproven this assertion. The franchise was successfully rebooted in 2017 with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Muppet Treasure Island sits among the best Muppet movies of the 1990s. This is the second Muppet movie directed by Jim Henson’s son. Brian Henson first directed The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), in which the Muppets populate the pages of the classic Charles Dickens tale.
Muppet Treasure Island follows a similar formula, plunging the Muppets into the world of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island. The G-rated film is suitable for young kids, but the slapstick parody stylings entertain audiences of all ages.
Per Muppet movie tradition, a human actor performs against the Muppet cast. Muppet Treasure Island features a captivating performance from Tim Curry as the swashbuckling villain, Long John Silver. The movie is somewhat underrated but well-liked by its cult following, with an 80% critics rating and 77% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Stunning visuals and a breathtaking score elevate this biblical retelling to an animated Epic. The Prince of Egypt chronicles the story of Moses and his brother Rameses.
The DreamWorks movie is an artistic collaboration among Hollywood greats. The cast is populated by prolific actors, including Ralph Fiennes and Helen Mirren. Though not officially attached to the project, Steven Spielberg influenced the film’s structure. Stephen Schwartz and Hans Zimmer composed the score, winning best original song at the 1999 Academy Awards for “When You Believe.”
Boasting a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Prince of Egypt is a childhood staple in both religious and secular communities. The movie is considered one of the most well-crafted animated films of all time.
Cool Runnings (1993)
Cool Runnings is a retelling of the first Jamaican bobsleigh team to enter the Winter Olympics. However, the 1988 Olympic team has clarified that the Disney film has little in common with the true events.
When taken as fiction, Cool Runnings is a feel-good movie with a compelling message of sportsmanship and identity. The movie balances heart with comedy and features a classic John Candy performance. Cool Runnings maintains a cult following today, and has retained a place in pop culture, even being referenced in the 2018 series Derry Girls, with James stating in Derry Girls season 3, episode 7: “They haven’t seen Cool Runnings, Michelle. I don’t trust these people.”
In the years since its release, Cool Runnings has faced criticism for perpetuating caricatures of Jamaican people and culture. The characters’ over-the-top accents have come under fire and were a point of contention behind the scenes.
The Sandlot (1993)
The Sandlot is a coming-of-age comedy about found family and brotherhood. The Sandlot‘s story centers around an isolated pre-teen, who finds community when he is invited to join a neighborhood baseball game.
Steeped in nostalgia, The Sandlot exists in an undefined space of remembered youth. In this way, it is the Stand By Me of the ‘90s. While the movie did not initially knock it out of the park at the box office, it found an audience at home.
In an interview with the LA Times, Director David Mickey Evans explains that the film was released to video during the heart of the VHS-Blockbuster era. It captured additional fans following its release on cable, DVD, and then streaming. The movie possesses a knack for charming viewers and has an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Parent Trap (1998)
1998’s The Parent Trap is among the rare class of remakes considered better than the original. The Parent Trap, first released in 1961, follows identical twins who swap places to reunite their separated parents.
Looking back, the parents’ decision to simply each take one twin seems odd at best. Still, the story that follows is an entertaining blend of rom-com and coming-of-age. In the 1998 remake, a young Lindsay Lohan plays both twins. Lohan is still asked about the film today, a well-loved nostalgia watch for ‘90s kids.
In 2024, Lohan delighted fans by recreating the iconic Oreos and peanut butter scene on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Home Alone (1990)
Over 35 years after its release, Home Alone has cemented itself as a timeless Christmas classic. The movie has made a significant cultural impression and is the second-highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time (Via Forbes).
Directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes, Home Alone follows eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) as he is mistakenly left behind on Christmas Eve and must defend his home from burglars.
The film explores themes of family and forgiveness, while entertaining audiences with the slapstick comedy stylings of Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci. Known for the gangster crime film, Goodfellas, it is fun to see Pesci indulge in the silliness of a Christmas romp. Home Alone also features a characteristically stellar performance by the late, great Catherine O’Hara.
Toy Story (1995)
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Toy Story indelibly changed the nature of animation as the first fully computer-animated feature film. The Disney-Pixar release received a Special Achievement Award at the 1996 Oscars for pioneering the 3D animated film that is now a standard.
Toy Story’s technological novelty drew initial audiences, and the evergreen story of friendship and childhood secured lasting viewership. The film follows a cowboy doll and a spaceman action figure—at odds for the attention of their owner—as they begrudgingly unite to find their way home after getting lost.
The early CGI may appear dated to modern viewers, but the story remains relevant. Toy Story boasts a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the franchise has been revisited with sequels throughout the decades since the original film’s release.
The Lion King (1994)
One of the most iconic movies of all time, The Lion King inspired a generation of storytellers. The award-winning Lion King musical opened on Broadway just three years after the movie was released. The timeless tale is also regularly revisited, most recently in the 2019 live-action film adaptation.
The Lion King imagines William Shakespeare’s Hamlet within a pride of lions and is considered among the best Hamlet retellings. It was the highest-grossing movie of 1994, surpassing Oscar’s Best Picture winner, Forrest Gump (via Box Office Mojo).
The Lion King still received Oscar recognition, particularly for its score by Hans Zimmer. The animated feature received three of the five nominations for Best Original Score at the 1995 Academy Awards. Ultimately, “The Love Tonight,” by Elton John and Tim Rice secured the accolade.