Save perhaps for the 1960s, there may not be a better decade to study with regard to world cinema. The films on this list span several regions, from France and China to Brazil and Mexico. And their respective directors may not all appear familiar off the bat, but you’ll undoubtedly recognize a name or two along the way.
There are a few seminal titles from Studio Ghibli on this list, along with several other features by some of the greatest filmmakers to ever live: Wong Kar-wai and Claire Denis, for example. All that said, these are the twenty best foreign films of the 1990s, ranked.
21Four Days in September (1997)
A Brazilian production filmed in Portuguese, the project at hand is most aptly categorized as a thriller. And at the 70th Academy Awards ceremony,Four Days in September(1997) picked up a nomination for Best International Feature Film. Thanks to its brilliant direction from Bruno Barreto, that honor was well-earned even if he came up short in the end.
Critics were divided in their responses, but fans of the thriller genre will likely find themselves entertained with certain qualities of filmmaking herein. Its plot follows the American Ambassador to Brazil as he’s kidnapped in 1969, and is well worth your time if it piques your interest. In the end,Four Days in Septemberlands at the start of the list.
20Whisper of the Heart
Expect severalStudio Ghibli filmsto appear on the list. Except here, famous Japanese filmmaker Hayo Miyazaki only penned the script. He didn’t take them helm as director like usual. Instead, that role went to Yoshifumi Kondō, who filled the shoes remarkably well as he directed this story about a young, budding writer who tracks down the boy that’s been checking out the same books as her at their local public library.
Whisper of the Heart(1995) marked the only feature directorial stint of Kondō’s career, as he passed away just three years after its release. He had a bright future with Studio Ghibli, too. The famous animation studio loved his work on this project so much, they hoped he’d succeed the likes of Hayo Miyazaki as their primary filmmaker. But in the end,Whisper of the Heartis more than enough, landing near the start of the list.
19Cronos (1993)
Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro in his feature filmmaking debut,Cronos(1993) is a horror stint with Spanish-language dialogue. It follows an antique dealer who stumbles upon the titular scarab that, once he puts it on, grants him eternal life along with a lust for blood. Meanwhile, a dying old man sends his nephew (played by del Toro’smost famous collaboratorRon Perlman) to retrieve the scarab at all costs.
And the aforementioned antique dealer named Jesus is quite reluctant to give up his newfound source of youth, providing the film with its primary source of conflict that for the most part impressed critics upon release.Cronosdoesn’t hold the name value of most other del Toro horror stints, but it’s a solid project from start to finish that nonetheless deserves this spot on the list.
18Insomnia (1997)
Directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg from a script he co-wrote with Nikolaj Frobenius, this Norwegian thriller follows a detective in the Arctic Circle who accidentally shoots his partner while investigating a murder. And althoughInsomnia(1997) may not be quite as recognizable as some other films on the list, you might know the American remake of the same namefrom Christopher Nolan.
Both entries were critically acclaimed, and there’s a solid argument that the original — starring Stellan Skarsgård to an impressive degree as the aforementioned detective — stands out as the higher quality project. It lands here at number eighteen in the end.
Related:Stellan Skarsgard’s Best Performances, Ranked
17Porco Rosso (1992)
WhileWhisper of the Heartfrom earlier in the list was written by Hayo Miyazaki from Studio Ghibli, this entry marks the first of the list that was actually under his direction. And while this isn’t exactly among the more popular of his filmography,Porco Rosso(1992) nonetheless holds tremendous name value for a specific corner of film fans.
It follows a bounty hunter who chases “air pirates” amid the Adriatic Sea. And as a former fighter ace for Italy during World War I, its lore remains just as deep as any Miyazaki film. Fans ofhis critically acclaimed careerknow thatPorco Rossois essential viewing for nineties foreign films.
Related:Best Animated Movies From the ’90s, Ranked
16The City of Lost Children (1995)
With a tangible style from the start of its wacky plot,The City of Lost Children(1995) stands out as one of the more unique films on the entire list. Written and directed by both Jean-Pierre Jeaunet and Marc Caro, the plot ofThe City of Lost Childrenfollows Krank, a decrepit man who has lost his ability to dream. And in an attempt to combat the grim reaper, he must steal the dreams of children. Thus, his gang of cloned goons kidnap a boy named Denree, whose father then joins forces with a friend to get his son back.
Again, it’s an absurd premise. But it was executed flawlessly — a take that most fans and critics agreed with upon release, with the general idea ofThe City of Lost Childreneven inspiringa video gameof the same name from a couple of years down the line. You may not recognize this title, but it’s without a doubt worth a watch.
15Children of Heaven (1997)
Written and directed by Majid Majid, this Iranian film chronicles a brother and a sister as they go on dramatic escapades upon losing a pair of shoes. It’s a simple premise that plays out perfectly from start to finish thanks to the technique and skill of its cast and crew. It’s honest in its approach, never pulling any punches in its emotional resonance, and critics were more than pleased with its quality upon release.
What’s more is thatChildren of Heaven(1997) made $1.6 million at the worldwide box office off a $180,000 budget, and it was even nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards. And while it came up short toLife is Beautiful(1997) by Roberto Benigni, the project at hand perhaps aged better as a whole. In the end,Children of Heavenlands at number fifteen on the list.
14Man Bites Dog (1991)
Written and directed by Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, and Benoît Poelvoorde, this Belgian piece is best classified as a mockumentary, though it features facets of other genres like crime and thriller. Its plot follows a filmmaking crew creating a fly-on-the-wall documentaryabout a serial killer, following him around and delving into the depths of his psyche.
Its thought-out frames are perfectly punctuated by jump cuts, a tactic of film editing typically utilized to convey a leap forward in continuity, however brief it may be. And they’re used around every corner of the brilliant plot ofMan Bites Dog(1991), with several noteworthy elements of other crafts like cinematography worth writing home about to an endless degree. But ultimately, the quality ofMan Bites Dogis best showcased with this fourteenth spot on the list.
13Ghost in the Shell (1995)
AlthoughGhost in the Shell(1995) by Mamoru Oshii — from a script by Kazunori Itō — is among the only animated feature films on the list, it’s also one of the more popular titles as a whole. It’s not made by Studio Ghibli, but the long line of sequels, spinoffs, remakes, and various forms of other media result in a legacy that warrants a spot on this list alone, not to mention its overall quality.
This is among the more beautiful animated outings you’re ever likely to witness, especially at the time of release. Those visuals were a result of combining traditional cel animation with CGI. And although the brilliant final product came up short in theaters upon release, it’s sincebeen deemed a cult classicthat is bound to resonate with viewers of various predilections.
12Underground (1995)
Landing here at number twelve isUnderground(1995), directed by Emir Kusturica from a script he co-wrote with Dušan Kovačević. This project was among the finer films of its year — let alone of the decade — regardless of region or director.
Classified as a war drama, it features German-language dialogue on top of its native Serbian as it tells the tale of two black marketers in Belgrade as they sell weapons to the Communist resistance. And if you need any assurance of its quality, just know that, despite not aging quite as well overall,Undergroundwon the Palme d’Orat the 1995 Cannes Film Festival over the top pick of this list. Pretty impressive honors.
