10 Terrible ’90s Movies That Everybody Loves

The 1990s produced a lot of popular movies, especially in genres like action, horror, comedy, and thrillers. Interestingly, many of the films people loved most from that decade weren’t actually very good.

A lot of the most well-known movies from the 1990s haven’t aged very well. While a few are genuinely great and still enjoyable, many others are actually quite bad, yet people still seem to love them.

Event Horizon Is a Great Idea With a Terrible Execution

Paul W.S. Anderson’s 1997 sci-fi horror film, Event Horizon, has recently gained renewed attention from fans of the genre. While Anderson is well-known for directing the first Mortal Kombat movie and the Resident Evil series, Event Horizon isn’t considered one of his stronger works.

The film’s core concept – astronauts uncovering the dark fate of a lost crew and battling demonic forces – is fantastic. It’s a strong premise, cleverly blending science fiction with the supernatural, but unfortunately, the movie doesn’t quite live up to its potential. While a great idea can sometimes save a flawed film, that’s not what happens with Event Horizon.

Dogma Is a Mediocre Film From a Likable Filmmaker

Kevin Smith is a genuinely charming and popular filmmaker. His journey from creating his first independent film, Clerks, to achieving his dream is truly inspiring. He clearly loves and appreciates pop culture, and that enthusiasm is contagious. However, his films themselves aren’t always very good.

Many consider Dogma to be one of Kevin Smith’s most popular and well-loved films. It’s a satire that playfully mocks Christian beliefs and features a great cast and interesting idea. However, despite its popularity, the movie falls short due to characters that aren’t fully developed, a weak plot, and comedy that feels random and unfocused.

Primal Fear Is Carried By a Standout Performance

Edward Norton is one of the most captivating actors in Hollywood right now, and his role in the 1996 legal thriller Primal Fear helped launch his career. While the film itself is good, it’s Norton’s incredible performance that people still remember today. Without him, Primal Fear likely wouldn’t be as well-known.

Honestly, as much as I love a good legal thriller, this one just didn’t grab me. The story of a scandal within the Catholic Church felt pretty familiar, and didn’t really offer anything fresh. Richard Gere does a perfectly fine job, and the supporting cast is solid, but the whole thing felt a bit…stuffy. The dialogue wasn’t particularly sharp, and all the twists and turns felt predictable. It honestly feels like a movie from a different era – Primal Fear just didn’t quite land for me.

The Sandlot Struggles to Stand Apart From Contemporaries

When a movie like The Sandlot remains so popular with adults who remember watching it as kids, it naturally invites closer examination. In reality, The Sandlot is a fairly straightforward and, at times, even uneventful mainstream film.

The movie The Sandlot focuses on a group of boys connected by their love of baseball, and it clearly tries to capture the heartwarming spirit of films like Stand By Me and The Goonies. However, it falls short of achieving that same magic. While it relies heavily on nostalgia, it doesn’t offer much beyond its initial idea, and it’s arguably received more attention than other, better children’s films from the same era.

Scent of a Woman Is Hilariously Overrated

It’s surprising that Al Pacino has only won one Oscar, and for a film – 1992’s Scent of a Woman – that doesn’t quite fit with the rest of his work. While Pacino is good in the movie, his performance is very dramatic and attention-grabbing, which makes it disappointing that it’s the only time the Academy has awarded him.

I’ve noticed people still really enjoy those movies about growing up and legal issues, and I think a big part of that is the memorable characters who pop up along the way – they almost make the whole thing worthwhile. The director, Martin Brest, is a bit of a wild card, though. He’s given us some amazing films like Beverly Hills Cop, but also some real disappointments. His movie Scent of a Woman feels like it lands somewhere in between – not quite a classic, but not a total failure either.

Twister Is a Mediocre Disaster Flick

Despite having a great cast, stunning special effects, and a skilled director, the 1996 film Twister ultimately doesn’t live up to its potential. While many fondly remember the film’s technical accomplishments, the movie itself falls flat in several ways. The story has promise, but it requires viewers to accept tornadoes as almost living entities, which is a risky move that doesn’t quite pay off.

Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton do a great job with the material they have, and the entire supporting cast is fantastic. However, the movie still feels like something is missing compared to its sequel. The 2024 film Twisters surprised viewers and remains highly enjoyable for many.

The Usual Suspects Is a Lame One-Trick Pony

The movie follows a group of criminals being questioned at an L.A. police station about a recent robbery. While the actors are talented and the film has a surprising twist, these elements can’t save it from being ultimately unengaging.

Beyond its famous twist ending, director Bryan Singer’s early crime film isn’t very memorable. While it helped launch his career and led to directing the first two X-Men movies, it’s remarkable that The Usual Suspects is still considered his best work. It’s enjoyable enough on a single watch, but doesn’t hold up well to repeat viewings.

Meet Joe Black Is a Hilariously Miscalculated Remake

Martin Brest’s 1998 film, Meet Joe Black, is often considered one of the most disappointing movies of the 1990s. At nearly three hours long, it feels incredibly drawn out, filled with endless talking, uninspired romantic moments, and heavy-handed reflections on life and death.

Despite being based on a popular and long-running play, the film Meet Joe Black fails to capture the original’s appeal. While the movie boasts a strong cast and high production quality, it ultimately feels empty and lacks depth.

Independence Day Is One of the Most Overrated Blockbusters Ever Made

Roland Emmerich is best known for his 1996 film, Independence Day, which remains surprisingly popular. While it launched the careers of several actors, Independence Day is also considered a frustrating blockbuster by many modern viewers.

As a movie fan, I remember being blown away by the special effects in Independence Day when it first came out – it really felt like they were aiming for spectacle above all else. And visually, it is stunning. But honestly, that’s where my appreciation kind of stops. The actors felt underused, the story was totally predictable even then, and while it’s a fun watch, it doesn’t really hold up to repeat viewings – it just doesn’t have much depth.

Forrest Gump Is That Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype

While Tom Hanks is a truly exceptional actor and Robert Zemeckis has directed many incredibly successful films, many believe their 1994 movie, Forrest Gump, doesn’t quite live up to the hype.

The way Jenny is portrayed feels unfair and careless when compared to Forrest, and the story, which covers many years, is dull and frustrating. The film doesn’t live up to the hype and isn’t a classic.

2026-01-25 06:12