Top 10 Romantic '90s Movies You Forgot About

Well, this one’s a blast from the past, and not just in name. Not only have many forgotten about this “atomic” romantic comedy, but the film’s stars, Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone, were big 90s names who are no longer topping the marquees. In 1999, though, Fraser was walking out of the fallout shelter and into Silverstone’s heart. A few months later he would be chasing Mummies in one of the blockbuster hits of the summer. And of course, Alicia had already rocked the 90s as Cher in “Clueless.” She also added Batgirl to her resume before ending the decade in “Blast From The Past.”

“City of Angels” had big name stars Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan and was a solid financial hit, grossing almost $200 million on a $55 million budget. Yet this romantic fantasy is easily one of the most forgotten of the decade. Cage plays an angel who falls in love with a mortal woman and gives up his immortality to be with her. Talk about romantic, right?! While the movie might not have stuck in many minds, the soundtrack is a different story. The album topped the charts in 1998 and featured two of the year’s biggest hits, “Uninvited” by Alanis Morisette and, most famously, “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

There have been so many Shakespeare adaptations over the years that you could be forgiven for forgetting some. Alas, you should definitely make time to rediscover this fun and whimsical take on the Bard’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The film’s impressive cast features Rupert Everett, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Stanley Tucci as the mischief-making fairies. Meanwhile, half the lover’s quartet is played by a pre-Batman Christian Bale and Calista Flockhart right at the height of her “Ally McBeal” fame. And of course there was Kevin Kline’s excellent performance as the ass-inine Nick Bottom. The film didn’t make much of an impact at the box office, but it did receive generally positive reviews and is a worthy addition to the Shakespearean film oeuvre.

If we had told you there was an Al Pacino/Michelle Pfeiffer movie on this list, raise your hand if you would have said, “Hold on, ‘Scarface’ isn’t a romance film.” Which is why we’re talking about the wonderful, oft-forgotten romantic comedy “Frankie and Johnny” instead. The film stars Pacino as Johnny, an ex-con who gets a job at a cafe with Frankie, an emotionally-scarred waitress, played by Pfeiffer. It’s true, these two actors don’t spring immediately to mind when you think of rom-coms. However, their talents combined with the skills of “Pretty Woman” director Garry Marshall make “Frankie and Johnny” a must see if you missed it the first time around.

Darius is a poet who falls for Nina, a beautiful and talented photographer. There is an obvious attraction between them, but there are other factors that make things between them a little complicated. Love isn’t always clean and easy, in fact it rarely is. “Love Jones” was a modern romance film that attempted to portray African Americans in an intelligent and insightful light and hit the mark. Although it was a major box-office disappointment, the film does have a strong cult following as is evidenced by its 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Dedee is 16 and pregnant when she runs away from home. Short on options, she moves in with her half brother in suburban Indiana. While there she seduces his boyfriend, Matt and tells him he is the father of her child. Sounds like the start of any great romantic comedy doesn’t it? As you may have gathered, the film is a little darker and more biting then your typical rom-com. If the 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes is anything to go by, though, that’s what makes it so good. Christina Ricci’s performance as Dedee also received strong reviews, and she even picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her work.

It’s a classic tale, quite literally. In this modern reimagining of Cyrano de Bergerac, Abby likes Brian but she’s self-conscious about her looks. True to the source material, she gets a beautiful face, provided by Uma Thurman’s Noelle, to stand in for her when Brian comes around. Both comedy and romance naturally ensue. This movie was Janeane Garofalo’s first real star turn since breaking out in the Generation X classic, “Reality Bites.” “The Truth About Cats & Dogs” is one of those rom-coms that fell through the cracks for a lot of people, but it’s also one rom-com fans everywhere should definitely check out.

For a truly All-American love story, take a look at this movie about a widower President running for re-election, and the beautiful environmental lobbyist who captures his heart. One might not generally think about the political world as home to great romantic stories, but in the hands of director Rob Reiner it works. That said, just as much credit should go to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who would go on to create another great piece of presidential theatre four years later with “The West Wing.” Michael Douglas and Annette Bening were both nominated for Golden Globes for their performances and The American Film Institute slotted the film in at number 75 on its list of America's Greatest Love Stories.

In this 1991 fantasy rom-com, writer, director and star Albert Brooks plays a man who dies in a car accident. Sounds like enough to cramp anyone’s day, but then he is put on trial in the afterlife to determine whether or not he will be reincarnated back on earth. During this process he falls in love with the recently deceased Julia, played by Meryl Streep. However, not only is this film forgotten now, it seems like audiences at the time didn’t even take notice. Despite Streep’s star power, the film barely topped $16 million at the box office. It boasts a 97% from Rotten Tomatoes, though, the highest score of any movie on this list. Maybe it’s worth resurrecting for another look.

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

“The Mirror Has Two Faces” (1996)
Barbra Streisand Directed and Starred, Along With Jeff Bridges, in This 1996 Romantic Comedy

“So I Married An Axe Murderer” (1993)
Four Years Before He Got “Groovy, Baby,” Mike Myers Was Afraid He Made Some Personal Mistakes

“Sliding Doors” (1998)
Who Knew Missing Your Train Could Change Your Life?

“Chasing Amy” (1997)
What Happens When You’re a Man in Love With a Lesbian and Your Best Friend Is Jealous?

“Addicted to Love” (1997)
Meg Ryan & Matthew Broderick Join Forces to Try & Break Up Their Exes Who Are Now Dating

Set in the competitive world of Ballroom dancing, this romantic comedy is, to quote Rotten Tomatoes, “As emotionally rich as it is eye-catching.” Director Baz Luhrmann’s “Red Curtain Trilogy” might be better known for “Romeo + Juliet,” or “Moulin Rouge!” However, the first film in the series, the criminally underrated “Strictly Ballroom,” is more than worthy company. It tells the story of champion dancer Scott who is in need of a new partner. When he teams up with the outwardly unassuming Fran, sparks start to fly both on and off the floor as they bring each other to new heights. Here’s hoping that putting it at number one on the list will help more and more people remember this Aussie rom-com gem from the 90s.