This weekend will find Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader and Andy Samberg flashing back to 1993 in "The To Do List." Naturally, we've decided to do the same. Because the Internet remains perennially hungry for '90s nostalgia and because there's no better way to recall the time period than through its movies, here's a look at the decade's quintessential depictions in film.
STYLE
"Clueless" (1995)
AS IF Cher and Dionne's plaid wouldn't make this list.
"Clerks" (1994)
The ultimate slackers are also the ultimate representations of 20-something grunge.
"Pretty Woman" (1990)
Throughout her evolution from hooker to upper-crust girlfriend, Julia Roberts' Vivian Ward defines early-'90s fashion of all calibers.
"Before Sunrise" (1995)
Julie Delpy's floor-length dress and Ethan Hawke's leather jacket could almost hold up today, but it's the dilapidated T-shirts worn underneath that make them so utterly '90s.
"Wayne's World" (1992)
It doesn't take a "Bohemian Rhapsody" rock-out to detect these guys' fitting fashion sense, but it certainly helps.
"Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)
Just look at these women. Meg Ryan, wherever did you go?
MUSIC
"Empire Records" (1995)
This cult classic is all about capturing the decade's music-crazed culture from the vantage point of those who know best: record-store employees.
"House Party" (1990)
Don't we all dream of being part of a dance-off like this one?
"Singles" (1992)
The genesis of the Seattle grunge movement is punctuated by a soundtrack that includes Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and The Smashing Pumpkins.
WHAT THE PARTIES WERE LIKE
"Can't Hardly Wait" (1998)
The end-all of party movies. Plus, everything about Jennifer Love Hewitt is total '90s, really.
WHAT THE POLITICAL MOOD WAS LIKE
"Wag the Dog" (1997)
By some unlikely stroke of foresight, this political sex-scandal flick hit theaters before the whole world knew who Monica Lewinsky was.
"Air Force One" (1997)
Because sometimes people get mad at the president.
"Election" (1999)
Don't act surprised to see this one here.
BEST CULTURAL DEPICTIONS
"Boyz N The Hood" (1991)
"Rick, it’s the '90s. Can’t afford to be afraid of our own people anymore, man." And so goes "Boyz N The Hood" and South Central L.A.
"Philadelphia" (1993)
This hard-truth depiction of a lawyer living with AIDS is best served as a portrait of how far we've come on social issues in this country.
"Thelma & Louise" (1991)
As "Boyz N The Hood" did for black depictions in film and "Philadelphia" for gay depictions, "Thelma & Louise" captured the essence of being a woman 10 years before the new millenium. As seen here, it also provided us with an early iteration of the selfie.
LIFE ON THE EDGE
"Fight Club" (1999)
1999 felt like a seminal year for movies -- "The Matrix," "Being John Malkovich," "The Sixth Sense" -- and "Fight Club" became one of its most controversial, most memorable and most shirtless hits.
"Pulp Fiction" (1994)
This is undoubtedly one of the best movies of the decade. And that is English, motherf----r. Do you speak it?
"Go" (1999)
There were drugs in the '90s. Just watch "Go."
"American History X" (1998)
The underworlds of neo-Naziism and white supremacy are told with a visceral edge in this dynamic film.
"Boys Don't Cry" (1999)
This harrowing true account was one of the first and most traumatic depictions many moviegoers saw of the struggles faced by someone who's transgender.
BLOCKBUSTERS (Because a decade is only as emblematic as its biggest movies)
"Jurassic Park" (1993)
The move that brought our daydreams to the big screen.
"Forrest Gump" (1994)
No matter where you stand on the "Forrest Gump"-"Pulp Fiction" Best Picture debate, Tom Hanks' indelible title character remains one of the decade's most quotable and lovable.
"Independence Day" (1996)
Without "Independence Day," we may not have had "Deep Impact," "Armageddon," "The Perfect Storm," "The Day After Tomorrow" or "Poseidon." So why do we like this movie again?
"Men in Black" (1997)
They won't let you remember, so we'll just forget those two post-'90s sequel exist.
"Titanic" (1997)
Well, duh.
"The Matrix" (1999)
Bullet time, y'all!
Before You Go
