The ‘90swas a great decade to be a kid. You had the birth of the N64 and PlayStation, the Michael Jordan craze, Nickelodeon at its peak, andthe groundbreaking Disney Renaissance. Plus, the internet was still in its infancy, which meant significantly less screen time, and no social media.
The ’90s was also jam-packed with entertaining live-action kids films that were perfect for family movie nights. At the time, these movies dominated our childhoods and felt like must-see events. We dragged our parents to the theater to watch these movies, and then rented them over and over again from Blockbuster.
It was a time when Disney produced original live-action films that weren’t based on superheroes, or remakes of their own animated films. But since then, many of these movies have fallen off our radar. Despite their success at the time, these films don’t seem to have the enduring popularity as other ’90s classics, such asHome Alone, Hook,orThe Sandlot.Let’s jog your memory with 10 popular ’90s movies from your childhood that you probably forgot existed.
10Blank Check (1994)
What happens when you accidentally run over an 11-year-old on a bike and hand him a blank check? Why, he cashes it in for a million dollars, of course.Blank Checkexplores every kid’s fantasy, capturing the luxurious and ridiculous lifestyle that most pre-teens would love to have if they suddenly became wealthy.
Blank Checkreceived negative reviews from critics, but thanks to ’90s kids, it became a box office success. But itseems like the movie’s flaws became more apparentas its target audience aged, especially when it comes to that wildly inappropriate kiss between 11-year-old Preston (Brian Bonsall) and the adult FBI agent that serves as his romantic interest. Plus, let’s be honest: a million dollars just ain’t as cool as it used to be.
Rent Blank Check on Disney+
9Heavyweights (1995)
Heavyweightsis a family comedy about overweight kids who attend a fat camp to shed pounds and have fun. But the kids soon realize that it’s really more of a military boot camp, run by a psychotic fitness instructor.Heavyweightshas some big names attached to it.
The underrated film was written by Judd Apatow, long before he wasone of comedy’s biggest influences. It also stars Ben Stiller in two different roles. Honestly, it’s probably best thatHeavyweightsremains forgotten. Despite its inclusive message, a comedy about overweight kids attending a fat camp probably wouldn’t sit well with modern audiences.
Rent Heavyweights on Disney+
8Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)
Jungle 2 Jungleunites New York City’s self-absorbed Michael Cromwell (Tim Allen) with the son that he never knew he had, Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington), who lives in a tribe in Venezuela. The two must now reconcile their differences and build a relationship as they go from the wild jungles of Venezuela to the concrete jungle of Manhattan.
Jungle 2 Junglewas an Americanized remake of the 1994 French filmUn indien dans la ville(also known asLittle Indian, Big City).And like the French film,Jungle 2 Junglewas torn apart by critics. Not even Tim Allen — who was a huge star in the ’90s thanks toToy Story,his television sitcomHome Improvement,andThe Santa Clausfranchise — could spare this movie.
Film critic Gene Siskel calledJungle 2 Junglethe worst movie of 1997, while others criticized Disney for remaking so many films — a problem that the House of Mouse clearly still hasn’t resolved. Maybe it’s these harsh reviews that have madeJungle 2 Junglefade from our memories.
Rent Jungle 2 Jungle on Disney+
7The Big Green (1995)
The Big Greenis a sports comedy that follows a misfit group of Texas kids who find happiness and confidence when they form a soccer team with their English teacher. Together, they became the Big Green. The film features a couple of classic ’90s child stars, such as Patrick Renna fromThe Sandlotand Bug Hall fromThe Little Rascals.
The Big Greenreceived fairly positive reviews from critics, and gained traction with audiences when it was released on home video. But since the ’90s, this movie has fallen off the map, and the Hollywood careers of its child stars have fizzled out.
Rent The Big Green on Disney+
63 Ninjas (1992)
Thanks to the success ofThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,martial arts and ninjas became all the rage during the ’90s.Hollywood pumped outa number of martial arts filmsduring the decade, such asMortal Combat, Beverly Hills Ninja,and3 Ninjas.The latter follows three kids who are trained in martial arts by their skilled Japanese grandfather.
Related:10 Martial Arts Comedy Films Worth Checking Out
3 Ninjaswas a huge box office success. In fact, it turned out to be 1992’s most profitable film, thanks to its minimal budget. The movie’s success even developed a franchise that includes three sequels. Yet despite its popularity, how often do you hear someone mention or reminisce about the3 Ninjasfranchise — or even know that itisa franchise?
Rent 3 Ninjas on Prime Video
5First Kid (1996)
First Kidhas a unique premise: Secret Service Agent Sam Simms (Sinbad) is assigned to protect the American President’s rebellious son Luke (Brock Pierce). Although the two fail to connect at first, they gradually develop a friendship, as Simms helps Luke navigate being a kid in such a high-pressure position.
This filmalso marks the final on-screen appearance of Sonny Bono, who plays himself as a US Congressman in a cameo. Don’t worry,unlike the non-existent 1990s Sinbad movieShazaamwhich many Millennials claim to have seen,thisSinbad movie really did happen — you just completely forgot about it.
Rent First Kid on Disney+
4Dunston Checks In (1996)
Set in a swanky, five-star hotel,Dunston Checks Incaptures the budding friendship between Kyle (Eric Lloyd fromThe Santa Clausfranchise) and Dunston, an orangutan who also serves as a misunderstood jewelry thief — because, why not?
Despite its ridiculous story,Dunston Checks Inattracted some big names, such as Jason Alexander and Faye Dunaway. But in this case, star power couldn’t fill theater seats. The film was bashed by critics and bombed at the box office, though it did find success in home video sales.
After all, what kid wouldn’t enjoy a movie about a boy and his monkey friend? Despite every ’90s kid renting and buying this movie from Blockbuster,Dunston Checks Injust didn’t have the “it” factor to make it an enduring classic.
Rent Dunston Checks In on Prime Video
3Baby’s Day Out (1994)
Baby’s Day Outis basicallyHome Aloneif Kevin McCallister was an infant instead of a child. Bennington Austin Cotwell IV is the son of a wealthy family, who’s kidnapped by three idiotic criminals. But this baby turns out to be more than the crooks bargained for, as they chase him across Chicago and into harmful situations.
But unlikeHome Alone,Baby’s Day Outwas negatively received by critics, and was also a box office bomb. It did see some success on home video though, and has since become a cult classic. But most ’90s kids have outgrown and forgotten about poor, little Bennington Austin Cotwell IV.
Rent Baby’s Day Out on Disney+
2A Little Princess (1995)
A Little Princessfollows an imaginative young girl named Sara (Liesel Matthews), who’s sent to a boarding school in New York City when her father is called to servein World War I. When he’s presumed dead, she loses everything except for her kind heart and wild imagination.
Related:15 Disney Animated Movies Barely Anyone Remembers
No, Sara is not really a princess. But as her father tells us, “all girls are princesses” no matter where they come from.A Little Princessunderperformed at the box office. Although it’s classified as a family movie, ’90s parents were likely turned off by the film’s World War I setting and heavy drama.
Critics, however, loved it.A Little Princesswon several accolades at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, and was even nominated for a couple of Oscars. Unlike some movies on this list,A Little Princessis a beautiful, well-crafted story that deserves more attention.
Rent A Little Princess on Prime Video
1The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
InThe Indian in the Cupboard,nine-year-oldOmri (Hal Scardino) receives a magical cupboard that transforms his toy figurines, namely the Native American Little Bear (Litefoot), into miniature humans, bringing them to life. Based on the book of the same name, it was directed by Frank Oz, the voice of Jedi Master Yoda.
The film’s serious and mature tone was mostly panned by critics. Roger Ebert himself called the movie a far cry from the similarly fantasticalE.T.,and believed that children would find the story too depressing. And maybe he was right, becauseThe Indian in the Cupboardwas a box office disappointment, and has since fallen by the wayside in the memories of ’90s kids.
Rent The Indian in the Cupboard on Prime Video
For more ’90s nostalgia hits, check out this video on the most memorable ’90s catchphrases:
