Top 20 Best Teen Movies of the 1990s

[@MsMojo]

What ‘90s teen movie do YOU still watch over and over again? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 20 Teen Movies That Defined Our Childhood - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4W2ln6Dapaeras

[@ThatShitGood]

Whatever it takes, with jesse pinkman yo

[@isuriadireja91]

Might as well change the title to Top 20 WHITE Teen Movies... I mean NO Oscar- nominated Boyz N the Hood..?? Seriously..??

[@DanGamingFan2406]

_Clueless is such an awesome film, thanks to Alicia Silverstone. I especially love Cher because she’s one of the few popular girl characters who is portrayed as kind and emphatic. And for a film called "Clueless", she sure has plenty of smart moments.

[@watershipup7101]

Agreed

[@kulpritt1]

I love Brittany murphy

[@melodysafo5437]

I love that movie!

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Pleasantville is really underrated and incredibly relevant today

[@trinaq]

It really is, I love how flawless the cinematography is for 1998.

[@CupcakeFairy777]

It is I love that movie 🍿

[@lynnevetter]

For real.. watched it about a year ago. Spot on. 🎉

[@impossibleego]

And it’s a little too low on this list for my likingz

[@megannwalsh]

It’s one of my favorite movies. I chose it in my high school film class as the movie I’d show to the class.

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

1996’s ‘Scream’ is still one of my 12 most favorite old school slasher movies of all time. 🙂

[@trinaq]

I loved that we received a whole slew of modern 90's teen retellings of classic literature or plays. She's All That was Pygmalion, Clueless was Emma, 10 Things was Thaming of the Shrew, O was Othello and Cruel Intentions was Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

[@trinaq]

Thanks for giving more love to Pleasantville. It's a really unique concept, and the cinematography is gorgeous, particularly the blend of technicolor when certain characters start gaining their free will, and breaking out of their TV roles.

[@K0m30ng]

Reese Witherspoon was in Pleasantville and Election, two of the best 90s teen movies that are damn relevant today and both movies were released only a year apart. She's literally a national treasure for the 90s teen movies, what an incredible icon 🙌

[@rusand23]

I think those two should’ve been in the top 10!

[@Katia38]

She is such an amazing actress....I remember The Man in the Moon...when she was so young...❤❤

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

I think Election was a bit dark to be honest

[@rolandoalvaradolanuza9505]

She was also in Cruel Intentions

[@jenniferdavis3561]

Can’t forget cruel intentions too

[@K0m30ng]

I'm a Gen Z but eventhough i wasn't born in the 90s, i'll always acknowledge that the 90s had better teen movies that most teen movies that we got right now. Election is probably my favourite of all in this list and it's crazy how relevant the movie is especially in the MeToo era right now. The 90s teen movies were way ahead of its time, sad that we don't get that much iconic teen movies like all of them in this list anymore these days 😢

[@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin]

True. The problem of your generation (I'm an older millennial) is that most of you like to be offended by everything: in books, TV shows, in old movies, and the new ones too, and you worship being a victim. You also seem to be more worried if the movie checks all politically correct diversity boxes instead of writing smth of true quality. This is why your generation doesn't produce any good comedians or comedy, or pop movies like the teen movies on this list. I don't mean to be harsh but that is just the truth. Diversity is very good but only if it's organic not forced. Unfortunately, your generation doesn't seem to understand it.

[@radiofreejoanie]

I can appreciate that sentiment and something about 1999 in particular was the zenith of the teen movie (I was 14 that year so I was at the movies a lot). To be honest, the last good teen movie in my opinion is Easy A. I hear good things about Ladybird (it's on my watch list). But I think the reason teen movies aren't as good anymore is because of the social media being a plot device. I've watch a few and there is always that identifier of "she's got this many followers" and that immediately turns me off. Teen movies of yesteryear relied on human interaction. The landline phone was as far as it went. And the internet wasn't social, just a tool for research.

[@saturnlights5239]

@@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin What's up your ass? What's up with the blame game? Before it was the boomers complaining about millennials about the same thing. Now it's the millennials complaining about what they used to do for the zoomers.

[@katieb3059]

​@@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphinit's not your opinion but of some anthropologigists and again it's used to insult people. People of all generation loves to do that to feel smart.

[@sagasvensson8920]

@@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin Wow, this was the best rundown of gen z that I have ever come across

[@kristi4113]

I loved these movies then, and still love them now. Kids these days just don’t know how amazing the 90’s were.

[@Pandasarethebestest]

I met my husband at the movie theatre after watching clueless❤ that movie holds a special place in my heart

[@nunyabidnazz2311]

🥰 So adorable!! Thanks for sharing this! In a world full of negativity, this was beautiful to read! ♥️ 🙌🏾 And y’all still going strong!! So happy for you both! 🤗 ♥️🥰

[@chasehedges6775]

90s teen movies are the best.

[@trinaq]

Agreed, on par with 80's and 00's teen movies.

[@michonnewalker4246]

Thank You so much WatchMojo for adding Jawbreaker and Cruel Intentions to the list. Both are unrated awesome movies.

[@Strongbad700]

#20: Drive Me Crazy (1999) #19: Cry-Baby (1990) #18: Pleasantville (1998) #17: Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) #16: Rushmore (1998) #15: But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) #14: Election (1999) #13: The Virgin Suicides (1999) #12: Jawbreaker (1999) #11: American Pie (1999) #10: Can't Hardly Wait (1998) #9: Scream (1996) #8: The Craft (1996) #7: She's All That (1999) #6: Romeo + Juliet (1996) #5: Dazed and Confused (1993) #4: Cruel Intentions (1999) #3: Never Been Kissed (1999) #2: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) #1: Clueless (1995)

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

‘10 Things I Hate About You’ is a pretty good teen flick in the late ‘90s. *sighs* It’s been over 15 years and we all still missed Heath Ledger…

[@jenjenroxmysox]

Over 15 years already?!?!😭

[@K0m30ng]

Damn, imagine how incredible his career would've been following The Dark Knight's success

[@jaclynsanture6643]

My word I didn't know its been 15 years, its carzy.

[@bluevol1976]

Loved all the Reese Witherspoon flicks mentioned. Also, Romeo and Juliet and Clueless is further evidence that Paul Rudd doesn’t age. Clueless is awesome, too. I miss Heath Ledger.

[@faboul467]

I love drive me crazy, so underrated . The only thing that still get me upset is the ending with their parents. Drop dead gorgeous is such a great dark comedy, ahead of its time doing pov as the film direction.

[@davidz3879]

It'd be very difficult to make a video like this for 2010s or 2020s teen films. Neither of those decades have produced 20 good teen films.

[@trinaq]

Agreed, but we still have some gems from the 2010s, namely, Perks of Being a Wallflower, Love Simon, Booksmart, The Fault in Our Stars, Ladybird or The Edge of Seventeen. Even though the 2020s have only recently started, we've managed to get some great teen flicks, such as The Half of It, Words on Bathroom Walls, The Fear Street Trilogy, or Everybody's Talking About Jamie."

[@nikkijohnson834]

I am so glad that my all time faves have the top 10 spots. I watch these movies daily. Especially Scream, The Craft , and Clueless.

[@michellerindal8836]

I watch crybaby, the craft, clueless and ten things I hate about you whenever I need something to "pick me up"

[@niloy2212]

So many classic teen movies released in 1999. Gosh!!

[@angelaholmes8888]

Romeo and juliet totally made Shakespeare cool 😎

[@talya1877]

This list totally warms my Xennial heart.

[@azymondiaskingofthedragons2897]

I was a kid in the 90s. I was watching Barney, Spider-Man, Batman, Gargoyles, Goof Troop, Pokemon, Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh. I wasn't aware of any of these until I was a teen in the 2000s

[@alanmorrissey407]

Get Real (1998) and Beautiful Thing (1996) are great teen movies, should be in this list

[@dalecooper9942]

Both are British and I don't know if they are known in the United States

[@Ori_Kohav]

Cruel Intentions is also one of the early successes of Reese Witherspoon. She really stood out there

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

2 years before she did her more iconic and notable performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

[@lynnevetter]

My list would include Buffy the movie. I worshiped that movie back in the day. 😂

[@jennnakao7528]

As if Cher would ever forgive being referred to as a “Valley Girl”

[@K0m30ng]

Election is probably the most underrated 90s teen movie. I remember hating Tracy Flick because how annoying and ruthless she is throughout the entire movie but watching it again, I feel like she was literally the victim all along and I appreciate the fact that she worked hard to achieve the goal that she wants. Reese Witherspoon gave into a career best performance and it's still my favourite Alexander Payne movie till this day. Apparently there's a sequel to this movie (because the author wrote a sequel to Election, haven't read it so no comment) with Payne and Reese returning which is awesome. I wouldn't want anyone but Payne to direct the Election sequel

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

The thing I would love to see would be two of Witherspoon’s characters Elle Woods and Tracy Flick meet each other

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

When I read the synopsis of the sequel book on Wikipedia it seemed a bit dark when it mentioned school shooting.

[@eugear1057]

I hated that movie when I saw it! And I love Matthew Broderick and I like the movies of Reese Witherspoon. But that movie is boring and over the top. I never got the love that it got

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

@@eugear1057 same I mostly like Broderick when he did The Lion King, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Deck the Halls etc and with Witherspoon my favorite films of hers are her most iconic film Legally Blonde and also Sweet Home Alabama, Wild, Sing, Walk the Line, Water for elephants and Penelope

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

My most favorite teen movie in the ‘90s is… ‘Scream.’

[@LaurenKaminski]

It isn’t a teen movie,it stars teens,but not for teenagers!

[@davidz3879]

@@LaurenKaminski It's certainly intended be viewed by teens.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

@@LaurenKaminski But for OLDER TEENS instead. Remember, the teen characters in that movie were between 17 and 18.

[@Boobalopbop]

I think the reason so many of these great movies flopped is because (and I remember this distinctly), they were never advertised as satire. It’s as if the people that made trailers didn’t think the public would get it. So they walk in thinking it’s going to be a sweet upbeat comedy about first love and teen awkwardness and they get Jawbreaker, Cry Baby or Election and it’s like oh… That’s dark 😱. Don’t know what to do with that lol

[@amnarashid76]

Bring It On missed this list by 1 year. Other great teen movies from the 2000s include The Princess Diaries, Mean Girls, A Cinderella Story and She's The Man.

[@Jenifer_R_]

Pleasantville is one of a handful of films that I will always stop and watch if it's on TV.

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

Clueless and Never Been Kissed would have to be my favorite teen movies of the 1990s

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

I’m so glad I decided to watch Drive Me Crazy! I love that movie ❤

[@lynnevetter]

🎉

[@normanryan9145]

So nice to see The Craft on this list

[@radiofreejoanie]

Great List. House Party should get honorable mention.

[@RhaegarTargaryen1st]

"Election" is ranked way too low IMO. It's easily Top 3. Some of my favorite 90s Teen Films are: "Pump Up the Volume" "Juice" "House Party" "Boyz In The Hood" "School Ties" "Freeway" "Varsity Blues" "The Faculty"

[@dannyaraya8017]

American Pie, Can't Hardly Wait, Jawbreaker, Scream, The Craft > She's All That, Dazed & Confused, Never Been Kissed, 10 Things I Hate About You honorable mentions: Fear, SLC Punk, The Wood, The Faculty

[@theorderofthebees7308]

The movie Juice should have been included on the list - 4 teenage kids growing up in Harlem came out in the 1990s - Ernest Dickinson the director- Tupac first acting role. Watch as one friend becomes obsessed with power . Such a good movie !

[@kamsismith]

The 1990s started to have black characters as leads in teen movies since the last attempt with Cooley High in the 70s. There were movies like Boyz N Da Hood, House Party, Juice, Menace to Society, etc. They continued releasing movies with black leads in the 2000s with both dramas and comedies(which were dominant along with television similar to the 90s). Nowadays, there are black teen movies, but most of them are dramas. While those are important, it would be cool to see a comedy movie which has been few and far between.

[@GeekyBibliophile]

The 90s version of Romeo and Juliet is also **THE** most faithful adaptation of the play to date, and a lot of people feel Harold Perrineau’s take on Mercutio is the best Mercutio, like, head and shoulders above everyone else who’s played the character.

[@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin]

agree. it is also the only Baz Luhrmann movie I like. His crazy, colorful, music-video-like style just fits this iconic play and makes it even more touching, amazing, and eternal. But in my view, all the other Baz movies didn't benefit in the same way from his style, as Romeo and Juliet did. the rest are rather chaotic, without a real plot and too much style over substance movies, because of his style, which is ironic.

[@nightslayer6951]

Scream, Cruel Intentions, Jawbreakers, and American Pie are my favorites

[@TheKorderoy]

I can’t believe Get Over It is not on this list! That movie is amazing!

[@musicvixen78]

I was just thinking about that movie. I love the song Kirstin Dunst sings for the play!

[@yannhollister9091]

This is 2001 not 90's

[@duffgirl216]

10 Things I Hate About You will always be a favourite for me!! ❤

[@candyb2205]

10 Things I Hate About You and Clueless had to be the top 2 😊😊

[@MrRailjunkie]

Hell yes, the two best teen movies of the nineties.

[@periklaskyriakidis6064]

Great indeed, but to me the finest of them all to me is Can't Hardly Wait. As a teenager myself, I have to say that the characters are so accurate to the real life. Everyone can see himself on this movie. Plus it has Jennifer Love Hewitt, the most perfect and beautiful woman ever ;-)

[@brandonbates9259]

@@periklaskyriakidis6064 Nobody drink the beer,the beer has gone bad lol

[@brandonbates9259]

you can literally rotate the top 2 with most of these movies ..That's how spreaded out the talent was

[@CharlyNorthrup]

Drop Dead Gorgeous deserves to be higher on this list. Criminally underrated.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Drive me crazy is so good but underrated I love it ❤

[@JJB11]

Why is House Party (1990) not on the list? Does anybody ever heard of the movie called House Party?

[@MsMockingbird06]

Yes. This list did not have much diversity.

[@Animeguy300]

Scream is the best teen horror that starts a franchise and I still enjoy the sixth movie

[@henri191]

Clueless is one of the best movies of 1990's , not just a teen movie , timeless movie

[@trinaq]

Preach, it still holds up excellently today, with Alicia Silverstone's charming performance being one of the biggest draws.

[@lalacoe8678]

Loved Save the Last Dance too :)

[@jonstreng7850]

These highlight reels are decent but the prices back then kept me from going to them. You're next category should be teen movies of the 2000's. The first two on the list should be 200 Cigarettes and Bring it On. One of my favorites is Reality Bites with Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder but I don't remember what year it came out.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Heavenly Creatures and The Faculty

[@HighHeelKnight]

19:10 = "Alicia Silverstone steals the show in this cult classic..." You can't "steal the show" when you are portraying THE LEAD CHARACTER!!!🤦‍♂🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@violetworld541]

IMO, I think this list could add 'All I Wanna Do'. The movie is so different from most teen movies these days and it has that added layer of 'girl power' in its own way.

[@mirandatyner]

You forgot Empire Records, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Varsity Blues, Now and Then, Mallrats, Welcome to the Dollhouse, The Babysitters Club

[@vintageman9353]

Jennifer Love Hewitt is so beautiful ,she still looks good in 9 11

[@tomsaaristo6294]

So happy to see Clueless at #1! Other favorites on the list are Pleasntville (is it possible to like a movie 'too much'? Amazing performances from the entire cast) and Election

[@ervicito77]

It almost feels like the year 1999 was meant to showcase the most memorable teen flicks.

[@Brook11223]

1) 10 Things I hate about you 2) She's All That 3) Pleasantville

[@josefk7437]

These movies were all great. I loved Election. That movie was hilarious. Reese Witherspoon's character was the original Paris from Gilmore Girls. These movies were all great because of how ridiculous they were.

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

I thought that movie was a bit dark and according to Reese Witherspoon before she did Legally Blonde she was at risk of being typecast after her performance Election. In an interview by the Hollywood Reporter she said “ They thought I was a shrew “

[@josefk7437]

@@theamazingandtalentedblake8296 It had a lot of dark humor. I am guessing Legally Blonde saved her from being typecast.

[@marymag999]

I didn't realize most these came out in '99 😂

[@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin]

'The Virgins Suicides' is a great movie, and still one of the best movies directed by Sophia Coppola. As for number one on your list, I don't agree. There are plenty of movies on this list that could be number one instead of Clueless. Clueless is overrated. No offense to Paul Rudd but he didn't fit the role at all, and he and Alicia had zero chemistry.

[@kerriethompson2073]

Ah all these movies are bringing me back to my teen years. I miss the 90’s!

[@Sheeklouch151]

Where are all of the black teen movies? House Party, Class Act, Juice, The Wood, etc

[@blond009]

Im so used to Emilys’ voice that it feels weird when mojo videos don’t have her voice

[@kristyathome]

Good choices, but I was hoping Empire Records would make the list. So many quotable lines!

[@Sarahca323]

Never been kissed! 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

[@BlenderStudy]

Thank you for the update, MsMojo..!! "Election" (1999) was an awesome movie to watch.

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

I heard that she was at risk of being type cast because of her performance and according to an interview by the Hollywood reporter she said “ They thought I was a shrew “

[@kimble90126]

Scream 1996 is my favourite horror movie of all time

[@hstewar]

I was in my early 20’s when they shot 10 Things I Hate About You in practically my backyard. It’s always fun to watch that movie because I knew so many of the background characters.

[@fournierman]

I have seen and/or own every movie on this list.

[@Margann1987]

Why does this channel give no love to "Strike!" ? That movie is amazing.

[@apeeples22]

Omg I loved jawbreaker and Can’t Hardly Wait I probably shouldn’t have been watching them back then I was 9 😂😂

[@evamelendez5738]

I remember watching the trailer for clueless in theaters and being lifted out of my grunge phase

[@kerrinbrittain4393]

I still watch many of these from my teen days now & I just turned 45 a few days ago. A few of my favs not on the list though are Dick, Hackers, The Faculty & Girl.

[@mazokuchan]

I thought Can't Hardly Wait would be higher in this list so as the list was getting closer to the top, I thought it wouldn't make it ^^;

[@tylermarks7463]

Romeo and juliet definitely made every guy think the whole movie was going to be like the first 5 minutes!

[@PhoenixVanD1982]

I loved, "Can't Hardly Wait!" 😅

[@chinnyb4942]

Dazed and confused!

[@jrebecca0195]

I attempted to watch But I'm A Cheerleader sometime last year for the first time, but I turned it off after a half hour. I thought it was terrible!

[@heriocilllusion3295]

Dazed and Confused is one of my favorite Movies and I recently saw Election during the summer the last few minutes at least and I lover it!Ten Things I hate about you is another one I love!there really were great teen movies back then

[@EmmaAreli]

Election really got me ay 😂 I didn't know how to feel about it after I saw it lol

[@megannwalsh]

Drop Dead Gorgeous is so inappropriate at times but it is so damn funny. Kirsten Dunst is fantastic. I also love her in Dick with Michelle Williams and in Strike (All I Wanna Do). She’s been my favorite actress since I was 9 or so.

[@kierahenley2335]

I loved Pleasantville, Election, Clueless, Never Been Kissed, 10 things I hate about you, She's all that, the craft

[@theamazingandtalentedblake8296]

My personal favorites are Clueless and Never Been Kissed

[@alex971conty7]

Cruel intention and 10 things I hate aboute you are masterpieces I can't get enough those two!

[@rociocartes]

Great list!!! Scream and Jawbreaker are my go-to’s. Jawbreaker is a cult classic & was under appreciated at the time, much like Jennifer’s Body. Other films from the 90’s that I love which aren’t mentioned are the Hairy Bird (aka Strike!), Encinoman, Son-In-Law and Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.

[@brandonbates9259]

Can we date or get married?? I love every last one of those movies

[@Daichi82]

Pleasantville is such an underrated movie.

[@alecljames]

i was HOPING "drive me crazy" would be on this list. even if it was in 20th place, i'm glad it made the list. it's maybe not the most original, but it was so much fun, even if i do get reo speedwagon stuck in my head every time.

[@MRAJAX11]

Scary but scream is definitely a teen movie

[@emilydiveley9661]

Scream is one of my favorites and that movie is the best movie

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

So many great movies here but the best will always be Dazed and Confused 😊 honorable mention: THE CRAFT!!

[@middylou]

God 99 was an amazing year

[@101shadeira]

These are mostly all my favorite movies

[@nodnarbleahcim5097]

You left out Varsity Blues??!!! HOW DARE YOU.

[@angelaholmes8888]

10 things I hate about you is my favorite teen film from the 90,s 🙂

[@ladyvader139]

House Party should be on this list.

[@Isaidwhatisaid8701]

I used to go to blockbuster and grab these and binge watch with my sis.

[@Victthequick]

im sorry cant hardly wait over american pie

[@nunyabidnazz2311]

Denise Fleming is a tampon 🤣🤣😂 Can’t hardly wait is one of my all time favorites!

[@Ori_Kohav]

idk about you, but in the first American Pie, I found Oz and Heather much more interesting than Jim and Michelle