Movies to Find Your 90s Aesthetic
I’m not joking when I say I’m obsessed with the 1990s.
I know nostalgia makes people blind, especially for a decade I wasn’t even alive to experience, but as my media interests started to develop outside of what Disney and Nickelodeon had to offer as a middle schooler, my tastes for basically anything I can consume—music, movies, fashion, even celebrity gossip—largely came from this decade.
I don’t know what caused it. Maybe it was wearing my mom’s old argyle sweaters with her deep red Lancome lipstick, or the first time I heard Eddie Vedder’s voice. Regardless, while I’ve expanded my interests and enjoyed the media of other decades, including this current one, there’s just something about this angsty, jaded, but also strangely endearing time that draws me in. So, its influence on me has remained present.
Many films made during this period are both timeless yet also perfectly snapshot the attitudes and general look of the ‘90s. If you’re like me and grasp at any visual from this decade, here are a few films that will help you find some ‘90s inspiration.
Clerks
— “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”
Vulgar and hilarious, this Kevin Smith debut follows two men; Dante, who works at a dreaded convenience store, and best friend Randal, who works at the rental video store next to him. Together, they complain about their jobs, debate Star Wars, and encounter peculiar customers. In the meantime, Dante tries to leave his current girlfriend Veronica in hopes of rekindling his relationship with his high school ex, Caitlin. Flannel, alt-rock songs, and Jay and Silent Job ensue.
Singles
— “I just happened to be nowhere near your neighborhood.”
If grunge was condensed into one movie, it would be Singles. Directed by Cameron Crowe, this rom-com takes place in Seattle at the height of the grunge music scene. Bands like Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam feature in the film, with some band members even taking on acting roles. In the backdrop of a quintessential ‘90s soundtrack, the protagonists in the film seek, fail, and also succeed at finding love.
La Haine
— “So far, so good… but it’s not about how you fall. It’s about how you land.”
This iconic 1995 French film, directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, is raw and nail-biting. The film takes place over a day in the life of three teens from the economically-depressed banlieues of Paris: Vinz, Hubert, and Saïd. They wander aimlessly through their neighborhood, without much purpose. After another teen, Abdel, is brutalized by police, Vinz becomes fed-up and wishes to exact revenge on police. It’s timeless for all the unfortunate reasons, as its themes of systemic racism, poverty, and police brutality still haunt us today.
Reality Bites
— “Honey, all you have to be by the time you're 23 is yourself.”
Reality Bites follows a group of newly graduated adults as they try to forge their careers, relationships, and identities. Directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars in it, the film shows the universal stresses of transitioning to adulthood, while portraying some of the challenges of the time, such as the AIDS crisis. It’s in touch with the classic Gen-X ironic humor and even stars the unofficial ‘90s queen, Winona Ryder.
Fallen Angels
— “We rub shoulders with many people every day. Some may become close friends, or confidants. That’s why I’m always optimistic. Sometimes it hurts. Not to worry, I try to stay happy.”
Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express tends to be one of the first movies that comes to people’s mind when they think of ‘90s films, but I do personally have a slight preference for Fallen Angels. Fallen Angels is darker, in a literal and figurative sense. One plotline revolves around a hit-man and the woman who sends him the details; she falls in love with him despite rarely interacting with him. The second story centers on He Zhiwu, a mute man who steals people’s businesses at night and falls in love with a woman heartbroken from a previous relationship. Riddled with neon lights and uncomfortable close-ups, it is beautiful in its gloom.