Who doesn't love a good film to transport them to the past? While many movies like to rewind to centuries ago, others like to bask in the '90s. For some cinephiles, this decade doesn't feel like history at all. And for others, it's an era they saw in photos and from older movies. The movie industry also experienced a boom during this time, producing cult classics that remain relevant to this day. The '90s are synonymous with colorful, baggy clothing, grunge, and music.
From the biggest boy and rock bands to soulful singers, '90s music is distinct and catchy. Over the years, many films have come out celebrating '90s tunes in all its glory. From musicals to romances, these films will have audiences primed to buy a boombox and start breakdancing or crowd surfing at the earliest convenience.
Check out these 11 movies about '90s music that'll trigger nostalgia.
11 Notorious (2009)
Hip-hop left its mark on Black and American culture thanks in large part to the popularity of several artists in the '90s. Classic films include references to hip-hop and current musicians are still inspired by these creatives. One of those history makers was The Notorious B.I.G. and in 2009 a film was released called Notorious that documented his life before, during, and after fame. Even those familiar with his story and tragic end will find enjoyment in this film.
A Celebration of Hip-Hop
It's not just Biggie's career that's depicted in Notorious, but also his relationships and rivalries with other recognizable names. Tupac Shakur, Lil' Kim, and Faith Evans to name a few. The complicated relationship he had with his label and rappers on the West Coast provides the much-needed drama of any good flick. Though some fans had issues with the casting, namely Anthony Mackie as Tupac, Notorious is still a solid watch with tight pacing.
Stream on Hulu
10 Singles (1992)
Singles
- Release Date
- September 18, 1992
Another genre of music that grabbed the '90s by its neck is grunge. The jeans and flannel, graphic band tees, cigarettes, and Nirvana make the perfect aesthetic for those looking to tap into this subculture. Singles takes place in the hub of this movement: Seattle, Washington. It revolves around a group of twenty-somethings who are trying to figure out their stance on love, sex, and relationships.
Smells Like '90s Grunge
There's waitress Janet Livermore (played by Bridget Fonda) who is interested in a musician in a band. His name is Cliff (Matt Dillon) and he comes across like he doesn't have a care in the world, not the best for starting a romantic relationship. The plot is quite simple, there's no major hook besides the actors themselves who were huge draws in the '90s. Still, if a viewer truly wants to experience the grime and glitz that was '90s Seattle and grunge music, there's no better option.
Rent on Apple TV
9 The Thing Called Love (1993)
Plenty of current-day A-list actors rose to fame during the '90s. Others' careers never took off or were cut short. Such was the cast with River Phoenix, who co-starred in The Thing Called Love alongside Samantha Mathis and Sandra Bullock. Miranda (Matthis) is a musician from New York who travels to Nashville where her love of country music will be better appreciated. She gets a job as a waitress where she meets locals, including two young men who vie for her heart.
Reckon It's a Good Time
The Thing Called Love was Phoenix's last film that wasn't released posthumously. Despite the sad facts attached to the film, it's quite a fun time, and perfect for country music lovers. Several respected country singers appear in the film, such as Deborah Allen and Trisha Yearwood. The music isn't half bad and while it's none of these actors' best performances, the chemistry between them saves the film.
Stream on Showtime
8 Selena (1997)
Selena
- Release Date
- March 21, 1997
- Director
- Gregory Nava
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is often cited as one of the most influential Latin American artists. Her huge success coupled with the shocking news of her murder guaranteed a biopic would happen. Selena was released in 1997 to explore her life and starred a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez in the lead role. It revolves around her entire life, from when she was growing up in the seventies to her time taking over the Tejano music scene in the '90s.
The Rise & Fall of an Icon
This film does a fantastic job of exploring the many facets of Selena's life and career and not just sensationalizing her death. Viewers see Selena struggle with her identity as she sings in Spanish but isn't perfectly fluent in the language. Viewers also witness her fall in love. The movie's soundtrack includes some of Selena's best-known works and is sure to make people sing along.
7 8 Mile (2002)
8 Mile
- Release Date
- November 8, 2002
8 Mile is a drama that takes inspiration from rapper Eminem's life. In his film debut, Eminem plays Jimmy Smith Jr., a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately, Jimmy doesn't have a great home life. His family is poor, his mother is an alcoholic, and his mom's boyfriend is incredibly violent. Rap is his outlet, yet the nerves he gets on stage and feeling inadequate as a white rapper in a mostly Black space casts doubts regarding his potential.
A Shifting Musical Landscape
Most of Eminem's greatest hits were released in the early 2000s, but 8 Mile highlights the grind he had to go through before then. Starting in the mid-'90s, this film brings out classic characteristics of '90s hip-hop, while also showcasing the shift that was beginning to happen during the latter days of the decade. As with much of Eminem's music itself, the movie is filled with angst, drama, and a bit of humor. Super fans of this movie can anticipate a TV series in the near future.
6 Straight Outta Compton (2015)
It'd be a travesty to discuss '90s hip-hop and not touch on group N.W.A. It consisted of members like Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and more. The group pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in their music, and they caught a lot of flack for it.
Straight Outta Compton covers much of their history, starting in the mid-80s when crime and violence plagued their neighborhoods. Eventually, their music finds a large audience. But with conflict coming from inside and outside the group, it's a question of how long it'll last.
Why It's Great
Once the movie ventures into the '90s a lot has changed with N.W.A. Certain members left, tensions between the members escalate, and political events influence their music. All of these factors together drop viewers right into the '90s. The film was a massive success, making over $200 million on a relatively small budget. And with Ice Cube's actual son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., playing his father in the film, it adds a layer of authenticity.
5 Empire Records (1995)
Empire Records is a coming-of-age film about a group of teens in the '90s who work at a record store. It takes place over twenty-four hours as they try to prevent the store from being sold. Lucas is one of the workers who is closing the shop for the day when he learns of plans to turn Empire Records into part of a chain music store.
The store remaining independent is of utmost importance to him, so he takes the cash from that day and heads to the casinos with a well-intentioned but poorly thought-out plan.
A Cool Coming-of-Age
Lucas is joined by his co-workers to help save the store. Films that follow a bunch of different personalities thrown together by circumstance are always a treat to watch. The love for music threaded throughout is another plus.
Empire Records' soundtrack featured a mix of indie talent and more well-known acts. Several of the cast members were even involved in giving the film its unique sound. Both viewers who are musicians themselves or who have a deep appreciation for the art will love this blast from the past.
Stream on Paramount+
4 CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story (2013)
'90s boy bands get a lot of attention, but CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story shines a light on one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. TLC consists of three members: T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli. Luck and timing brought the ladies together, but it was clearly meant to be.
Soon, they become known for their timeless hits like No Scrubs, Waterfalls, and Unpretty. Yet behind the scenes, the women are dealing with a lot, from exploitation at the hands of their team and family and relationship issues.
Vibrant & Heartbreaking
In recent years, biopics have become all the rage and not all of them are created equally. From actors being severely miscast, to not respecting the artist if they passed on, it's always a gamble how it'll hold up. CrazySexyCool surprised many viewers with its solid cast and writing. It helped that the real T-Box and Chilli served as executive producers. From the bright, oversized clothing to the lingo, this film is a '90s time capsule.
Stream on BET+
3 Wayne’s World (1992)
Wayne's World is a silly, lighthearted that promises viewers a good time. Saturday Night Live was huge in the '90s and remains popular today. This film expands on the titular sketch from the improv show. Wayne and Garth love rock and heavy metal music, so much so that they host a show about it from a basement. It's about as impressive as it sounds. But they're determined to get more eyes on their program, especially after a bigshot producer officers to buy the rights to the show.
They're Kooky and Creepy, But Fun
Mike Myers who later became well-known for roles in Austin Powers and as the voice of Shrek debuted in Wayne's World. Neither Wayne nor Garth are stars nor musically inclined, but their love for music runs deep. The movie offers up banger after banger, with songs by Queen, Black Sabbath, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and more found during its runtime. Not only will this make viewers nostalgic for '90s music, but for what many consider to be the golden days of SNL.
2 Music of the Heart (1999)
If filmmaker Wes Craven's name gets tossed around in discussion, his horror movies are typically the ones attached to him. In a departure from the norm, in 1999, the Nightmare on ElmStreet directed Music of the Heart starring Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, and Gloria Estefan. Starting in the '80s, we meet Roberta Guaspari (Streep), a violinist from New York. She is recently divorced and trying to figure out the right career path to care for her children.
A Mellower Take on '90s Music
The story and main characters are based on real-life events and people. Roberta changed music education in New York public schools, especially in Harlem, and was a talented violinist. The film shows the evolution of the program and her fight to instill the value of the arts well into the '90s. If viewers want to experience another side of '90s tunes that don't involve individuals reaching for fame, head-banging rock, or high-energy rap, this underrated movie could be a great option.
Rent on Apple TV
1 Spice World (1997)
Spice World
- Release Date
- December 18, 1997
- Director
- Bob Spiers
- Cast
- Melanie Brown , Emma Bunton , Melanie Chisholm , Geri Halliwell , Victoria Beckham , Kevin Allen
The British Invasion in music can't be discussed without shouting out the Spice Girls. In 1997, capitalizing on their historic success, they ventured into film. Playing themselves, the movie is a bit all over the place in terms of plot. The group is touring, preparing for a concert, meeting fans, dealing with their friend's imminent birth, fending off a stalker paparazzi/private detective, and escaping aliens. That doesn't include all the crazy mishaps featured in the movie.
Spicing Up Our Lives
No one claims Spice World to be a piece of heart. The acting isn't great and as referenced, the storyline said it'd be there, but wasn't. Yet that's also what gives Spice World its charm. The ladies perform several of their songs and a special cover of a Glitter song. The Spice Girls were inescapable during the '90s and 2000s, and whether a viewer was a casual fan or hardcore stan, it'd prove difficult not to sing along during this romp.
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