Top 10 Most Underrated '90s Teen Movies

“Never Been Kissed” feels forgotten these days, despite its big-name cast. The movie not only stars Drew Barrymore as Josie Geller, but also boasts the involvement of David Arquette, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, and James Franco. Drew plays a copy editor for the Chicago Sun Times who returns to high school for an assignment. Only, she wasn’t very popular the first time around, and going back proves to be just as difficult. The plot is an intriguing “what if” scenario that most of us have probably played out in our heads once or twice, and Drew Barrymore is as excellent as ever in the role as the endearingly geeky Josie. It’s cute and funny, and really, what more can you ask for?

“Newsies” has, thankfully, been rescued from obscurity. When it was first released in 1992, it received poor reviews and failed at the box office, making just $2.8 million, which seemingly destined it to be forgotten. Luckily, it has undergone a bit of a critical re-evaluation in the 21st century. It also received a second chance at relevancy when it was adapted for Broadway in 2012, and the production would go on to be nominated for eight Tony awards. While the movie doesn’t quite reach the heights of its stage adaptation, “Newsies” is still a kinetic musical with great production values, some catchy tunes, and a wonderful lead performance from none other than Christian Bale.

“Drop Dead Gorgeous” is certainly a different and unconventional kind of teen movie, and as such, it has never received much recognition, despite its relatively high profile cast. The movie is shot in a mockumentary format similar to “The Office,” and it follows the contestants of a small-town beauty pageant who begin dying in mysterious ways. The black comedy stars actresses like Kirsten Dunst, Brittany Murphy, Allison Janney, and Amy Adams - each of whom turn in respectable and hilarious performances. The unique story and filmmaking style help distinguish it from the plethora of teen flicks that were released in the ‘90s, as does its distinctively dark subject matter. It’s probably unlike any other teen movie you’ve ever seen.

If you prefer something a little more realistic, then “Slums of Beverly Hills” may just be it. This is a touching and hilarious story about a teenage girl struggling with her lower-class nomadic family, which continues to move apartments every couple of months. It sounds depressing, and it certainly can be, but it’s mostly a hilarious and accurate portrayal of teenage life in a lower-income family, led by an absolutely brilliant, and criminally underrated, Natasha Lyonne. Her relatives are also well-cast, especially Marisa Tomei as her cousin and Alan Arkin as her father. Couple the deadpan and poignant acting with the gloriously recreated 1970s, and you have yourself an underappreciated teen classic.

“The Faculty” is a glorious throwback to old school horror, mixed in with some signature teen movie drama. It tells the story of a group of students, played by the likes of Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett, who begin to suspect that their teachers are being manipulated by aliens. “The Faculty” was directed by Robert Rodriguez, and like Rodriguez’s “Grindhouse,” it serves as an inspired shoutout to older genre movies, owing much to the likes of “The Thing,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” and “The Stepford Wives.” In addition to those is a little dose of John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club” as writer Aliya Whiteley mentions, and what end up with is probably the wackiest and most outlandish teen movie you will ever see.

“Welcome to the Dollhouse” sounds like a movie you’ve seen a thousand times before. An unattractive outcast has trouble coping with her classmates and suburban family, and just generally struggles with integration and her conflicting emotions. Heck, that sounds almost like “Slums of Beverly Hills!” But it’s the way the story is told that makes “Welcome to the Dollhouse” such a memorable motion picture. The filmmaking and acting capture teenage angst in a brutal and unflinching manner, creating one of the most realistic and cringe-inducing teen flicks of the ‘90s and beyond. The black comedy is also helped tremendously by Heather Matarazzo, who portrays Dawn Wiener with pathos, humor, and humanity. She’s an absolute revelation.

“Pleasantville” is an ingenious movie. It stars Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon as two modern-day siblings who find themselves transported into the world of a ‘50s sitcom. While there, the film brilliantly juxtaposes the faux sanitization and perfection of the decade with the harsh realities of the time. It’s about how we tend to look back on the past with admiration rather than with legitimate reflection, and how painful it can be to change our traditions. The movie is also shot in stylized black and white while mixing in hints of color, which is necessary for both the story and the symbolism. It’s one of those rare teen-centric movies that can be studied, respected, and acknowledged for being a genuinely great piece of cinema.

“Empire Records” is like “Clerks” meets “The Breakfast Club,” and yes, it is every bit as good as that sounds. It follows one day in the life of the employees of Empire Records, a music store on the brink of being purchased by a major corporation. Throughout the day, the employees get to know each other better, make connections, fall in love, etc. You know the story. It’s a great comedy-drama about growing up, complete with a killer soundtrack that includes The Cranberries and Gin Blossoms, while the film itself features AC/DC and Dire Straits. Much of its then-unknown cast also went on to bigger and better things, especially Liv Tyler and Renée Zellweger. If you like teen movies mixed with amazing music, you need to check out “Empire Records.”

“Cry-Baby” is certainly an…acquired taste, but those adventurous enough to give it a shot will be handsomely rewarded. The story is reminiscent “Grease,” as it takes place in the ‘50s and follows a rebel, played by Johnny Depp,who falls in love with an innocent good girl. It also has shades of “Romeo & Juliet,” as the two subcultures are enemies, and the central relationship inevitably causes upheaval and drama within the town. It’s a wonderful ode to the “rebel genre” that dominated the 1950s, and it’s filled with intentional camp and ridiculous situations; it is a John Waters film, after all. And while its zany style may be divisive, it is also incredibly daring and entirely unique.





Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.



“SubUrbia” (1996)





“Idle Hands” (1999)





“Angus” (1995)





“Kids” (1995)





“Heavenly Creatures” (1994)

Don’t let the scathing reviews fool you – “Jawbreaker” is well worth watching. At the time, it was compared negatively to “Heathers,” as the two follow similar storylines and share a pitch black sense of humor. But despite its initial failure, “Jawbreaker” has become a cult classic. Rose McGowan’s performance as Courtney Shayne is deliriously fierce and memorable, the film’s costumes are iconic (and have received praise from Vogue), and it has found a devout following within the LGBT community. In fact, actress Rebecca Gayheart and director Darren Stein did a Q&A at RuPaul’s DragCon, where the movie was screened for attendees. It has also been credited by various outlets for inspiring “Mean Girls,” and really, there is no better commendation than that.