Top 10 Underrated Movies of the 1990s

These are the best movies of the ‘90s that don’t get enough respect. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 underrated movies of the 1990s.

For this list, we’re looking at movies released throughout the ‘90s that never received the praise that they deserved.

This movie, a science fiction classic as far as we’re concerned, was destined for failure from the very beginning. For the theatrical release, New Line Cinema was concerned that audiences wouldn’t understand the story of an amnesiac who is accused of murder, and therefore, asked the director to integrate voiceover narration to the beginning of the movie. And really, that explains everything. This neo-noir, despite being refreshingly original and a visual masterpiece, did not sit well with audiences, and bombed at the box office. The mysteries of “Dark City,” however, are well worth uncovering.

Another overlooked science fiction masterpiece, “Gattaca” presents a fascinating story while tackling heavy themes and raising thought-provoking questions. The film is set in a future where genetic finagling ensures a child receives the best possible traits, and the film flawlessly integrates questions of fate and the negative side effects of reproductive technologies. Perhaps it was too intelligent and forward-thinking for the masses, however, as the film only drew in roughly $12 million, but it has since gained a respective cult following.

This movie is, yep, you guessed it, another underrated science fiction tour de force. The story follows a former cop, played terrifically by Ralph Fiennes, who sells black-market videos that allow people to experience the experiences of others, and discovers a conspiracy regarding the police force. Co-written by James Cameron and directed by eventual Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow, it has all the ingredients for a fantastic movie, but never receivedthe praise it merited. The gritty and faced-paced drama took in just under $8 million on a $42 million budget, and remains largely ignored despite its excellence and the fantastic crew behind the camera.

Have you ever felt like getting out of your car and just giving up? That’s what Michael Douglas’ character does in this Joel Schumacher-directed drama, which sees him going on a rampage across LA after his family, his job and his mind. The film is not only exciting and intense, but provides astute observations on economic pressures, racism, and the class system, making it smarter than your typical action thriller. Though it was even nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or and has been referenced in numerous pieces of pop culture [The Simpsons, “Walk” – Foo Fighters], yet remains mysteriously ignored by the public.

Yet another sci-fi film, but this time with horror elements, “eXistenZ” is a little known movie by Canadian director David Cronenberg, whose 1996 film “Crash” also deserves more respect that it gets. “eXistenZ” is set in the future when video games are no longer played on consoles, but through virtual reality by inserting a cord into players’ spines. The story serves as a statement on our relationship with technology and does so in an exciting fashion. Unfortunately, it never reached an audience and has seemingly disappeared from existence. No pun intended.

A classic comedy directed by the Farrelly brothers, “Kingpin” is a largely ignored entry on their filmography despite the fact that it’s just as hilarious as any of their other movies. The story follows Roy, a skilled bowler, and Ishmael, an Amish man, who go to compete in a bowling tournament to save Ishmael’s land. The movie’s cast is fantastic, including Woody Harrelson and an always hilarious, scene-stealing Bill Murray. It also features the staple raunchy Farrelly humor that made the brothers so famous. It truly is an uproarious film that deserves far more attention.

Don’t let the goofy title fool you; the movie is not actually about a spectral pooch. Ghost Dog is a hitman for the mob who adheres to the ancient Samurai code in his proceedings, and is portrayed perfectly by Forest Whittaker in one of his most underrated roles. The movie is refreshingly unique, as it organically blends the completely differing styles of gangster and Samurai films, and it was even nominated for various prestigious accolades, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature. But we bet there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of it.

This movie is a classic noir with Nicolas Cage in the leading role – but don’t let that fool you; this was made back when he was, you know, actually good. The story follows Cage’s character, who is mistaken for the hitman that another man hired to kill his wife, and as such, unpredictable chaos ensues. Everybody involved in the movie is fantastic, but if you’ve never heard of it, we don’t blame you, as it was sent direct-to-video, even after an enthusiastic response at the Toronto Film Festival.

Everyone loves the Coen brothers. So why doesn’t everybody love this movie? The most anyone knows about it is the famous forest scene, but there’s so much more in the story of a man who plays both sides of a gangster family rivalry. It features the signature Coen intensity, and the performances are all outstanding. The movie was released before the brothers became popular, and consequently, was quickly forgotten, but that’s not to say this outing isn’t just as fantastic as their other efforts.

Before we look at our most underrated movie of the ‘90s, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Hard Eight” (1996)
- “Kalifornia” (1993)
- “Devil in a Blue Dress” (1995)
- “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
- “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996)

Easily the most underrated film of the decade, “A Simple Plan” has an A-list cast and the fantastic Sam Raimi behind the camera. The film follows Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton as brothers who discover over $4 million in cash and begin to doubt each other in their plan to keep it secret. The story plays out intensely and unpredictably, and the performances are all mesmerizing, with each character reaching their breaking point in realistic fashion. It was even nominated for two Academy Awards, but sadly, never got a fraction of the audience it should have.

Do you agree with our list? What movie from the 1990s do you consider underrated? For more informative top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.