What movies best sum up the 90's?

So if you had to list ten movies that sum up the feel/vibe of the 90’s, what would they be? If a future historian is studying the 90’s and wants to really get a feel for the era, what should she/he watch?

I have some ideas of my own, but I’ll hold on to them for now to see what other Dopers come up with.

Thoughts?

The only one that leaps to my mind at the moment is Reality Bites. It doesn’t really sum up the entire decade, but at least it provides an insight into the whole “Generation X” mindset. One line in particular, I think, embodies the Gen X attitude and how it came about: “Mr. Brady died of AIDS.” I didn’t really like the film that much, but that one line has stayed with me.

The one that first springs to mind is Pulp Fiction.

Three Kings.

I may have misread the OP. Pulp fiction doesn’t really have a 90s feel to it, though I think it was a big chunk of the 90s.

Slacker, however, does fit the OP.

I would have said ‘Pulp Fiction’, but it has more of a '50s or '70s feel to it.

How about Trainspotting?

OK, I’ll go ahead and drop in a couple that came to mind for me:

Singles and Office Space.

Oh yeah, and I think Pulp Fiction sort of qualifies. It features some 90’s fashions, and the 90’s “hip” drug, heroin, and it was certainly highly influential on the filmmaking style of the 90’s.

The 60’s-70’s soundtrack throws a monkeywrench into things, though.

My first thought upon reading the OP was Slacker, which Legomancer beat me to. Without being all self-conciously grungey, it does a pretty good job conveying early 90’s attitudes.

I also agree with Office Space, and maybe Singles.

I am loathe to menition this one, but maybe–just maybe–I’d consider putting You’ve Got Mail on the list around #49 or so, just because it combines two major themes that emerged in the 90’s: the Corporate Evil Megastore defeats Mom and Pop, and that whole e-mail fad.

I’d go with either Singles/Reality Bites and Office Space.

My first thought upon reading the OP was Slacker, which Legomancer beat me to. Without being all self-conciously grungey, it does a pretty good job conveying early 90’s attitudes.

I also agree with Office Space, and maybe Singles.

I loathe to menition this one, but maybe–just maybe–I’d consider putting You’ve Got Mail on the list around #49 or so, just because it combines two major themes that emerged in the 90’s: the Corporate Evil Megastore defeats Mom and Pop, and that whole e-mail fad.

I would have to go with Clerks and/or MallRats

As much as I love Office Space, I just have to go with the early Kevin Smith movies.

Nice call with Office Space. I think Clueless covers '90s teens, with a little Empire Records and Can’t Hardly Wait thrown in (no, I don’t think theat last one was particularly good, but that scene with the two potheads describing the guy- "“So he’s sorta tall, with hair, and wears t-shirts sometimes” was classic).

I would agree with Can’t Hardly Wait. (It also nicely lampoons the 90’s white suburban fascination with hip-hop culture.)

Here’s an odd one to add to the list: So I married an Axe Murderer, which I throw out there mainly because it features several coffee house scenes.

se7en, the dark urban decay and self doubt of the mid point of the decade. The great opening montage with the great sound track denoting the Alternative scene as it was before it was replced by boybands and prefabricated singers.

Sleepless in Seattle you’ve got mail

Interesting that romantic comedies keep popping up. I guess that genre is more attuned to popular style than some others.

Say, how about Boyz N Tha Hood? (After all, the 90’s weren’t just about angst-ridden grungers.)

Also, aside from Trainspotting (a good choice), what sums up the 90’s across the pond? Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, perhaps? (Was that a 90’s release?)

And how about High Fidelity?

spoke-, yes it was. How about Four Weddings and a Funeral? (bit timeless for me)

I think Nightmare before Christmas captures something very 90s. Not sure how – maybe it’s because of Goth pseudoinnocence in that movie.

Blair Witch Project changed a genre, whether you love it or hate it.

Daniel

I can’t watch 5 minutes of The Crow without being punched in the face with 1994.