Fans of the ‘90s might be calling Amazon Prime Video one of the best streaming platforms to subscribe to when they see how many great ‘90s movies are available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription. Take a look at the best movies on Amazon Prime from that acclaimed cinematic era and see for yourself.
Harriet The Spy (1996)
Director: Alex Proyas
Starring: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connolly
What it’s about: An amnesiac wakes up in a bleak metropolis where he must fight to clear his name in a murder charge.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Fans of movies like The Matrix will surely love Dark City, which actually predates the hit blockbuster and is more acclaimed by some for its unique sci-fi noir style.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
Director: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger
What it’s about: Rival detectives join forces when they uncover a case of corruption in their police department in 1950s California.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: One of the best, old-fashioned film noir movies of the ‘90s is L.A. Confidential, which earned Basinger an Oscar, as well as Hanson and co-writer Brian Helgeland for their adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel.
Heat (1995)
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
What it’s about: The LAPD’s hunt for an elusive gang of bank robbers heats up when they stumble upon important evidence.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Considered one of the best heist movies of all time is the gorgeously shot and thoroughly riveting Heat, which has a sequel in the works.
With Honors (1994)
Director: Alek Keshishian
Starring: Joe Pesci, Brendan Fraser, Moira Kelly
What it’s about: After his thesis falls into the hands of a homeless man, a Harvard senior must follow his orders before he can have it back.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Despite its dated plot, With Honors is a fun college movie with themes and messages that remain timeless.
Unforgiven (1992)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman
What it’s about: Desperate for money to save his farm, a widowed father begrudgingly returns to his deadly ways to collect a reward for killing a man who abused a sex worker.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: The Best Picture Oscar went to one of the best Western movies of the ‘90s (let alone all time), Unforgiven, which is a powerful drama about consequences getting in the way of redemption.
Empire Records (1995)
Director: Allan Moyle
Starring: Liv Tyler, Anthony LaPaglia, Renée Zellweger
What it’s about: The story follows a day in the lives of a group of music store employees.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: An all-star cast of up-and-comers (also including Debi Mazar, Robin Tunney, and Ethan Embry) make Empire Records one of the breeziest comedies of the decade.
Pusher (1996)
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Kim Bodnia, Mads Mikkelsen
What it’s about: After a bust leaves him empty-handed, a low-level drug dealer must contend with ruthless employers.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Considered one of the best Mads Mikkelsen movies (even though he has a much bigger role in the sequel), Pusher is an alarming depiction of Denmark’s criminal underworld.
Scent Of A Woman (1992)
Director: Martin Brest
Starring: Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell
What it’s about: A cash-strapped preparatory school student agrees to be an assistant to a non-seeing, cantankerous, retired Army colonel.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Al Pacino won his first and only Oscar for his lively performance in the inspiring drama, Scent of a Woman.
Nightbreed (1990)
Director: Clive Barker
Starring: Craig Sheffer, David Cronenberg
What it’s about: A young man suffering from horrifying nightmares is invited to become a part of a group of mutants in a hidden fantasy land.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Based on Clive Barker’s novel Cabal, the creepy cult classic Nightbreed is not just one of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime but also one of the most unique as it features some creatures who are actually friendly despite their ominous appearance.
Copycat (1995)
Director: Jon Amiel
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney
What it’s about: A reclusive criminal psychologist helps two San Francisco detectives find a killer imitating some of the most notorious crimes in history.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Despite being a purely fictional story, the gripping Copycat is a must-see for fans of true crime.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Director: James Foley
Starring: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris
What it’s about: A group of real estate salesmen battle for their jobs after a corporate motivational trainer threatens to keep only the top two employees by the end of the week.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Based on writer David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross is a razor-sharp, hard-hitting inside look at the world of sales.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Director: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgård, Ben Affleck
What it’s about: A young, intelligent custodian from Boston is forced into receiving therapy by an MIT professor who hopes to see him unlock the full potential of his gifts.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck also earned Oscars for writing Good Will Hunting – an inspiring drama about recognizing your self-worth and navigating your direction in life.
Fear Of A Black Hat (1993)
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Starring: Rusty Cundieff, Larry B. Scott
What it’s about: The rise and fall of an absent-minded, troublesome rap group called NWH.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: The mockumentary-style satire, Fear of a Black Hat, is one of the funniest music movies of its time.
Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Director: Billy Kroyer
Starring: Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Robin Williams
What it’s about: A young logger becomes a defender of the woodland area he was hired to destroy when he is introduced to the small, magical world hidden inside of it.
Why it is one of the best ‘90s movies on Amazon Prime: Inside the funny, animated fantasy film, Ferngully: The Last Rainforest, is an inspiring commentary on deforestation.
Now are you primed for the ultimate ‘90s movie marathon. All it took was an Amazon Prime video subscription. Enjoy!
