Top 10 Movies 90s Kids Were FORBIDDEN To Watch

Detailing various criminal stories in L.A., Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” is the antithesis of a G rating. Upon its release, it became an overnight sensation. But, within the first minutes of the film, we get snippets of drugs and violence, immediately indicating that the viewing experience is not one meant for kids. Inspired by pulp magazines and crime novels, the movie isn’t just violent. Sexually explicit scenes and displays of brutally graphic murders—like an accidental bullet in the face—make it one that’s hard for people of all ages to digest. Needless to say, the exhibited behaviors weren’t exactly anything parents wanted their children to witness.

A fantasy martial arts action film that turned into a cult classic, “Mortal Kombat” was based on the titular video game franchise that was all the rage in the 90s. Considering the gory and violent nature of the video game kids couldn’t get enough of, it's no surprise that parents were hesitant to green light their consumption of the movie. Even if it isn't nearly as intense as the game, the film still has its fair share of content that isn’t kid-friendly. Vehement use of the word “bullshit” and a dose of physical brutality earned it a PG-13 rating. Even more kid-unfriendly is the scene where Liu Kang’s brother has his soul consumed. Pretty traumatizing if you ask us.

As the title suggests, “Showgirls” is all things dirty dancing and sexual, mixed with some explicit language and violence. At the center of the story is Nomi, a woman trying to become a “showgirl”. While shame around this line of work has diminished a lot today, parents in the 90s likely weren’t of the same mind. Plus, during Nomi’s pursuit, fighting, arrests, assault, and graphic nudity are regular occurrences. The erotic drama was the first NC-17 film to have been widely released in mainstream theaters, prompting the placement of extra staff to ensure no minors were sneaking in to view it. All of this meant that “Showgirls” was a movie 90s kids had a hard time getting their hands on.

This black comedy horror didn’t initially seem too horrific, but those who watched it can attest to its degree of scariness. At first glance, the furry “mogwai” character seems like a harmless pet gifted to a boy at Christmastime, but that couldn't be more wrong. The creature winds up spawning other havoc-wreaking monsters who are absolute terrors, despite their small stature. With a fictional and arguably satirical premise, one might advocate that this movie gets a pass. However, Spielberg did explore more adult themes with depictions of greed, gluttony, and death. No matter how cute or “not scary” the pint-size monsters were, parents understandably erred on the side of caution.

Compared to “Gremlins”, and pretty much any other scary film, “The Silence of the Lambs” is undoubtedly terrifying. The classic psychological horror we all know today was uber-popular even upon its release, making its viewing a common ask among kids of all ages. You might understand why the answer was often ‘no’. Being able to watch a young FBI trainee try to hunt down a serial killer who skins his female victims requires a strong, mature mind—and a strong stomach. There’s a whole lot to digest in the film—disturbing violence, psychological trauma, endless cannibalism, etcetera. So, if any of you 90s kids were permitted to watch this one, you’re definitely in the minority.

Bringing much-needed life back to the slasher genre, “Scream” was highly anticipated and didn’t disappoint in terms of delivering the scares. It was—and still is—an iconic flick following a group of high school students who are targeted by a masked murderer dubbed Ghostface. Discussions of assault, conspiracy theories, framing, as well as death and its impacts are all serious themes the film tackles, even if satire is an incorporated factor. Essentially, the film is a cyclical killing spree of a rampant monster stalking kids, crushing necks, slashing throats, and invoking horror in an all-too-relatable town. We don’t blame parents for banning this one.

To no one’s surprise, the “South Park” movie is just as unfiltered and unapologetic as the beloved TV series. Actually, even more so. If parents were aware of what “South Park” the show was all about, they certainly wouldn't have green-lighted the film for their kids. This is very much an animated adult comedy. The movie focuses on themes of scapegoating and censorship—concepts we probably wouldn’t have even been able to comprehend as kids anyway. But, still, the hilarity stemming from blatant satirization and parodies definitely added to its appeal. Too bad extreme profanity and dirty humor raised too many red flags.

Reviving the equally compelling and creepy found-footage format, this independent supernatural horror made for a freaky viewing experience, regardless of age. In the Black Hills of Maryland, student filmmakers investigate the local “Blair Witch” legend, which results in their disappearances. 90s kids likely tried to push the “But it's not gory!” argument in their favor, but they were really just kidding themselves. Though not gruesome like some other films of the same genre, “The Blair Witch Project” is still eerie enough to have kids sleeping with their lights on.

Riding off the success of “The Terminator”, this science-fiction action sequel had high expectations to meet and a very eager audience. As the world-famous titular character, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a favorite that all movie-goers wanted to watch. But, kids were seldom allowed, and understandably so. Thanks to recurring scenes of graphic content depicting a nuclear holocaust and war between robots and humans, the film inevitably earned an R rating in the U.S. In addition to violence, themes of family and humanity, masculinity and femininity, and American industry and individualism are explored, making the premise that much more geared toward adults.

Based on Stephen King’s titular novel, the original 1990 “It” centers around a monstrous clown
who preys on children and exploits their deepest-held fears. Since kids were the targeted victims of the predator, any children who managed to watch this one behind their parents’ backs were bound to be left traumatized… and petrified of sewers and sinks. Pennywise was so scary that he still lives on in horror film infamy, with the character being reprised in the 2017 “It”. Unless parents wanted their kids to have nightmares back in the 90s, this classic, bloody horror was an absolute no-go.