The 1990s was an innovative and influential decade in Hollywood, with some of the cinema’s most celebratedfantasiesgracing the big screen. From wicked witches to talking insects, magical peaches to fierce warrior princesses, the film industry was serving up countless movie hits that transported audiences to wondrous places and told spellbinding stories that engrossed eager moviegoers.
While big fantasy flicks likeAladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story,andJumanjitook the world by storm and featurebeloved ‘90s movie characters, there are many less-appreciated pictures of the enchanting genre that are often overlooked retrospectively. Let’s dive into some of the most underrated (but brilliant) fantasy movies of the ‘90s.
9The Indian in the Cupboard
Adapted from the Lynne Reid Banks children’s book of the same name, 1995’sThe Indian in the Cupboardfollows nine-year-old Omri (Hal Scardino) as he receives a magical cupboard for his birthday that brings to life any toy he places within it, leading him to befriend a Native American figurine known as Little Bear (Litefoot).
Many ’90s kids are sure to remember the unappreciated gem, wishing they too could experience the wonder of the enchanting object and hangout with the fierce warrior. Though the fantasy failed to make a splash at the box office, it was a success with both critics and moviegoers, earning an A- CinemaScore by audiences while going on to become a cherished book-to-big screen adaptation.
8Dragonheart
Featuring a stellar cast led by Dennis Quaid, Sean Connery, and Jason Issacs, the 1996 fantasy adventureDragonhearttells the thrilling tale of a powerful but disenchanted English knight who develops an unlikely alliance with the last remaining dragon as they set out to put an end to a ruthless tyrant’s reign.
The demise of the merciless Einon could mean the endfor the dragonDraco, as his fate and survival is directly linked to the king’s.Dragonheartwas the first movie to use the cutting-edge ILM’s Caricature software, which was created in order to match-up Connery’s voice performance with Draco’s animation; it also marked the first time arealistic CG dragonwas brought to life on screen.
7Death Becomes Her
Robert Zemeckis directedthe sensational 1992 black comedy fantasyDeath Becomes Her, centering on longtime frenemies Madeline (Meryl Streep) and Helen (Goldie Hawn) as they duke it out over their feelings for their mutual romantic suitor (Bruce Willis). To keep the hapless man, the image-driven ladies take a magical potion to keep them young and desirable but are shocked by the unfortunate side effects.
The cheeky satire was both a critical and commercial hit, raking in nearly $150 million and earning praise for its groundbreaking CGI (it went on to win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects), memorable performances and sharp-witted humor. Since its release,Death Becomes Herhas attracted a passionate cult following, particularly in the LGBTQ community.
6Pleasantville
Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire star as two teenage siblings who discover a way to escape into the world of black-and-white television in the 1998 fantasy dramedyPleasantville, chronicling the pair as they become stuck in a 1950s sitcom and must figure out a way to acclimate to their new, picture-perfect reality while searching for a way to escape.
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When discussing the overall message of the picture,director Gary Ross expressed, “This movie is about the fact that personal repression gives rise to larger political oppression… That when we’re afraid of certain things in ourselves or we’re afraid of change, we project those fears on to other things, and a lot of very ugly social situations can develop.“Pleasantvillegarnered numerous accolades including multiple Golden Globe and Oscar nods, winning two Saturn and Satellite Awards.
5The Witches
Based on Roald Dahl’s spellbinding children’s novel of the same name, the 1990 dark fantasy comedy horrorThe Witchestouts a tour de force performance by Anjelica Huston, with the brilliant actress portraying the nefarious The Grand High Witch as she sets out to rid the world of children by turning them all into mice through the help of a powerful potion.
Kids across the world were left terrified when the mighty witch shed her beautiful human disguise to reveal her true haggard and ghastly form, with a bald head, beak-like nose and decrepit skin and claws; the process took six hours to apply and six hours to remove for Huston. Lauded by critics though a modest box office success,the exceptional witch moviehas amassed a cult following over the years and remains an underrated ’90s staple
4James and the Giant Peach
Arguably one of Disney’s most forgotten ’90s gems, the 1996 musical fantasyJames and the Giant Peachis a wondrous stop-motion film that follows the titular orphan boy as he is forced to live with his wicked aunts but finds unexpected solitude when he befriends kind-hearted talking insects living in a massive magical peach. James embarks on an exciting quest to New York City to visit the Empire State Building in honor of his beloved, late parents.
The whimsical picture helped bring this otherRoald Dahl classic to lifeand earned rave reviews, withThe New York Timesdeclaring it “a technological marvel, arch and innovative with a daringly offbeat visual conception” as well as “a strenuously artful film with a macabre edge.”
3FernGully: The Last Rainforest
With an exceptional voice cast led by Robin Williams, Tim Curry, and Samantha Mathis, the visually-stunning 1992 animated fantasy musicalFernGully: The Last Rainforesttaught children about the devastating effects of deforestation and its environmental impacts, doing so through an enchanting tale of fairies who inhabit and attempt to protect an Australian rainforest from the threat of loggers.
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The thought-provoking filmmarked Williams' first animation role (he would also memorably appear as the Genie later that year inAladdin), dazzling audiences with his lively portrayal of the manic forest bat Batty Koda. Many fans believe that James Cameron’sAvatarplagiarized the themeand key elements ofFernGully: The Last Rainforestfor his blockbuster, but arguments have since been made for both sides.
2A Bug’s Life
The criminally underrated 1998 animated fantasy hitA Bug’s Lifedazzled moviegoers with its stunning design and innovative graphics, focusing on outsider ant Flik as he assembles a motley crew of circus insects to help fight back against the tyrannical grasshoppers and their oppressive leader Hopper threatening his community. With a diverse and distinct cast including Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the star-studded comedy was famous for its public feud with DreamWorks, as they were developing and releasing their own insect-based animated movie,Antz.
A Bug’s Lifeultimately came out on top, as it raked in over $360 million (compared toAntz’s $171 million) and became a massive hit for Pixar. Despite this fact, since its theatrical release the fantasy has become forgotten by audiences which some reviewers attribute to Pixar’s sophomore slump after the massive success ofToy Storyin 1995.
1Princess Mononoke
From the spectacular mind of Hayao Miyazaki andthe celebrated Studio Ghiblicomes the 1997 Japanese historical fantasyPrincess Mononoke, a captivating animated picture that centers on the last Emishi prince Ashitaka as he finds himself in the middle of a dangerous power struggle between the forest gods and the humans threatening their precious lands. Ashitaka joins forces with the passionate young woman Princess Mononoke in an effort to prevent the impending battle, but struggles with where his true loyalty lies.
Princess Mononokeis a breathtaking cinematic triumph with a poignant message, offering insightful commentary on a wide array of heavy topics like the environment, sexuality, conformity and development vs. preservation; it was a massive blockbuster hit in Japan and became the country’s highest grossing release of the year. Though sometimes overlooked in comparison to other Studio Ghibli masterpieces such asSpirited AwayandMy Neighbor Totoro,Princess Mononokehelpedincrease the animation studio’s reachand popularity across the world.
