The INSIDER Summary:
- The '90s gave us some great teen-led movies.
- Some of the best include "She's All That,""Never Been Kissed," and "Clueless."
The 1990s was a great decade to grow up in. Game consoles were getting big, some of the best music of the past 40 years was being made, and at multiplexes far and wide, cinemagoers were being treated to a raft of great teen movies covering masked killers, sex pacts, and school elections.
It was the decade that introduced the world to Reese Witherspoon, Freddie Prince Jr., Ryan Phillippe, Jason Biggs, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Alicia Silverstone to name but a few.
Building on the success of the slightly less polished teen hits of the ’80s like "Porky’s" and "Fast Times At Ridgemont High," the ’90s ushered in an era of slick, cool, teen-led movies of all shapes and sizes, and while much has changed in the time since, it still represents something of a golden era for this sub-genre of sorts.
But which of these movies sits at the top as the very best among its peers? Here are the 16 best ’90s teen movies, ranked.
16. "But I'm a Cheerleader"
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This clever, satirical tale was inspired by the real-life story of a young man sent to a “reparative therapy” camp by his parents, who feared he was gay. Director Jamie Babbit opted to switch things up for "But I’m A Cheerleader," though, with "Orange Is The New Black’s" Natasha Lyonne starring as Megan, a cheerleader who suspects she may be a lesbian, and is swiftly sent to True Directions by her narrow-minded parents to undertake a five-step program designed to convert her to heterosexuality.
It’s there that she meets and falls in love with Clea DuVall’s Graham, a fellow resident also wrestling with her sexuality. With a cast that includes Michelle Williams and none other than RuPaul, "But I’m A Cheerleader" is funny, clever, and kind of ahead of its time, with Lyonne putting in a performance that set her out as one to watch.
15. "Jawbreaker"
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Try to imagine a cross between "Mean Girls" and "Heathers" and you’re pretty close to picturing "Jawbreaker," another ’90s teen gem with a pretty stellar cast.
With a title that, according to director Darren Stein, reflected the duality of high school girls in that they were sweet but capable of breaking your jaw, the film focused on the trio of Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, and Julie Benz, three members of a high school clique who accidentally kill the prom queen during a kidnapping gone wrong.
Universally slammed by critics upon release, "Jawbreaker" is a flawed but fun picture that has improved somewhat in the years since, with McGowan excellent as the film’s emerging villain helped by a script that, while lacking logic in places, remains clever enough.
14. "Can't Hardly Wait"
This multi-character teen comedy reads like a who’s who of forgotten child stars and familiar character actors, and it’s a pretty enjoyable effort that, at one hour and 40 minutes, doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Focusing in on a graduation night party, "Can’t Hardly Wait" presents us with any number of familiar high school character types, from Peter Facinelli’s deluded jock Mike to Seth Green’s inspired wannabe rapper Kenny and their various lives and loves on this one night of the year.
Central to the many misadventures on display is Ethan Embry’s Preston, who decides to declare his undying love for high school queen Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) by sending her letter before heading off to college. Throw in the presence of former "Dick Tracy" child star Charlie Korsmo as the class nerd venturing out of his comfort zone for one night only and you have all the ingredients for ’90s teen dramedy gold.
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