More than ever, the ‘90s are coming to be recognized as one of the most significant decades in American film. It was the decade for rom-coms, action, and horror. Honestly, there’s no other horror decade like the ’90s—it even has it’s own name dubbed “prestige horror.” Huge box office successes at the start of the decade—films like Cape Fear and Silence of the Lambs—legitimized the era, hereby distinguishing it from any other decade. These forces culminated in the massive success of The Sixth Sense by the decade’s end. Simultaneously, the ‘90s also brought a resurgence in Black Horror.
In her seminal text, Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films 1890’s to Present, Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman discusses the absence of Black folks from “prestige horror” of the time. So instead of catering to non-inclusive Hollywood, they began their own movies and telling their own stories. Films like Def By Temptation, Daughters of the Dust, Demon Knight, and Tales from the Hood further established the Black Horror tradition in reimagining the genre.
Even within what she refers to as “Blacks in horror films,” where Black folks are represented in otherwise white productions like Candyman, The People Under the Stairs, Blade, and Vampire in Brooklyn, the Black actors were granted significantly more substantive roles and better representations than had been offered in decades prior, hence why the ’90s is known as the best horror film decade. Alexandra West also identifies this period as the decade “horror went mainstream” in her book, The 1990’s Teen Horror Cycle: Final Girls and a New Hollywood Formula.
With the success of films like Scream and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the decade saw a steady stream of teen dream flicks like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend, The Faculty, and Idle Hands, many of which were woman-fronted (props to Hollywood to bringing in more diversity). The genre’s higher production values and broader audiences became the breeding ground for the next generation of Hollywood stars.
So not only was the ’90s a revolution of horror, but it was also one of the first times we saw diverse characters and storylines, thus providing a foundation for films like Get Out or Us. Though, as we know, there’s always room for improvement—we’re talking about you, Conjuring.
The films on this particular list don’t necessarily reflect those which generated the most money or the most critical acclaim—as films are an artistic and subjective perspective, but I consider these to be the films that most challenged the norms and tropes of the genre, and which lean into horror’s radical possibilities—and whose influence we’ll continue to see in the future. In chronological order are the 27 best horror movies of the ’90s.
Nightbreed (1990)
When I say Nightbreed was decades ahead of its time, I mean it’s an excellent example of gatekeepers having no idea what actually subversive material is when they see it. Written and directed by British horror aficionado, Clive Barker (also responsible for the short story behind Candyman), Nightbreed flopped upon its original release, notably due to the studio’s decision to market it as a slasher film when it’s nothing of the sort. Rather, the story explores the carceral nature of human existence, fundamentally subverting the narrative structure of most classical film/literature which positions the good & righteous Man/Woman against some sort of abject, monsterized Other. In Nightbreed, the monsters are the good guys—the ones with the most humanity. Featuring the best of ‘80’s camp and makeup effects, the film is a direct challenge toward the tendency to prescribe goodness to beauty, the police, and even the human.
Daughters of the Dust (1991)
When I say Nightbreed was decades ahead of its time, I mean it’s an excellent example of gatekeepers having no idea what actually subversive material is when they see it. Written and directed by British horror aficionado, Clive Barker (also responsible for the short story behind Candyman), Nightbreed flopped upon its original release, notably due to the studio’s decision to market it as a slasher film when it’s nothing of the sort. Rather, the story explores the carceral nature of human existence, fundamentally subverting the narrative structure of most classical film/literature which positions the good & righteous Man/Woman against some sort of abject, monsterized Other. In Nightbreed, the monsters are the good guys—the ones with the most humanity. Featuring the best of ‘80’s camp and makeup effects, the film is a direct challenge toward the tendency to prescribe goodness to beauty, the police, and even the human.
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Like Nightbreed, The People Under the Stairs is one of those decade-cusp films that still aesthetically feels like it belongs in the ‘80’s. Written and directed by Wes Craven, this movie is a master-class in horror-comedy camp wherein the absurdity functions as a hilarious but searing critique of racialized American class warfare and capitalism. It stars Brandon Quintin Adams as Fool, a young Black boy trying to support his mother (who is being evicted while sick with cancer) by working with family friend, LeRoy (Ving Rhames) to steal a collection of rare coins from their landlords, played by Everett McGill and Wendy Robie (aka Big Ed and Nadine, from Twin Peaks). Come for the social commentary but stay for the critique of heteronormativity’s psychosexual perversion.
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Regarding the legitimacy of the horror film genre as high-class cinema and not just fun ways to scare people, 1991’s Since of the Lambs is the most essential horror film of all time. Before Anthony Hopkins cerebrally burrowed into our collective psyches as cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter, no horror role had won the Oscar for Best Actor since Fredric March pulled double duty as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the titular 1931 film. Even for a movie centered around a cannibal profiling another serial killer who removes the skin of the young women he kills, the horror of Silence of the Lambs resides in Lecter’s sinister smirks when finding the fun in discussing murder and the steely gaze he shoots through the screen and into your deepest nightmares. Directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Ted Tally, Silence of the Lambs is the benchmark of horror films; so terrifying, generations of frightened humans have never looked at lotion or fava beans the same since.
Candyman (1992)
While I’m critical of Candyman and consider it outside the Black Horror tradition, the film’s influence is certainly undeniable. How to imagine a Black monster when Black folks have been misrepresented in cinema as long as the medium has existed is, perhaps, the question Nia DaCosta’s highly anticipated forthcoming adaptation hopes to answer. Fingers crossed we’ll soon get to see for ourselves!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
xxThis sprawling adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola reimagines the story behind Stoker’s 19th century masterpiece. Its cinematography, costume design and use of color makes this film an extra-Gothic opulent delight.
Fire Walk with Me (1992)
Released as a prequel to its television series predecessor, Twin Peaks, Fire Walk with Me indeed walks audiences back through the last week of tragic heroine, Laura Palmer’s (Sheryl Lee) life, right up to point where the events of the show begin. An oft-lodged critique of Twin Peaks is its romanticizing of beautiful dead white girls (though this impulse is precisely what director, David Lynch aimed to satirize). Fire Walk with Me rectifies this misstep, offering Laura voice, depth, and context for the horror surrounding the circumstances of her murder.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Released as a prequel to its television series predecessor, Twin Peaks, Fire Walk with Me indeed walks audiences back through the last week of tragic heroine, Laura Palmer’s (Sheryl Lee) life, right up to point where the events of the show begin. An oft-lodged critique of Twin Peaks is its romanticizing of beautiful dead white girls (though this impulse is precisely what director, David Lynch aimed to satirize). Fire Walk with Me rectifies this misstep, offering Laura voice, depth, and context for the horror surrounding the circumstances of her murder.
Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
I went into Tammy and the T-Rex with precisely zero context and maintain the belief that this is the best strategy for peak enjoyment (its absurdity is completely irresistible). Here’s all you need to know: Denise Richards stars as the titular Tammy whose boyfriend (Paul Walker) has an unfortunate encounter with a mad scientist who implants his brain into a robotic T-Rex with T-Rex needs. Tammy’s Black (queer!) best friend, Byron (Theo Forsett) ,also steals the show ,and though it’s not necessarily great representation, it was super rare for the time to see a Black queer person- let alone one treated positively- anywhere onscreen. Also, Walker sports a crop top. Nuff said.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
Two additions were made to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise through the ‘90’s but Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is the only one that matters. Acting completely outside the franchise’s chronology, it employs the same self-referential meta-narration that would make Scream so successful. Craven, Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, as well as industry figures (like Robert Shaye, founder of New Line Cinema) all show up as themselves in this postmodern take on what it means to create, star in, and be haunted by one of the most iconic horror franchises (and villains) of all time.
Demon Knight (1995)
Two additions were made to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise through the ‘90’s but Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is the only one that matters. Acting completely outside the franchise’s chronology, it employs the same self-referential meta-narration that would make Scream so successful. Craven, Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, John Saxon, as well as industry figures (like Robert Shaye, founder of New Line Cinema) all show up as themselves in this postmodern take on what it means to create, star in, and be haunted by one of the most iconic horror franchises (and villains) of all time.
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
It’s a true cinematic achievement to strike fear in grown adults using a doll most know they break in half without trying the way Child’s Play 2 does. Voiced by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’s Brad Dourif, and acted by Ed Gale, demented doll Chucky terrorizes poor eight-year-old Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) and his foster family. Possessed by a serial killer, the toy store gift from hell has a failed attempt at transferring his soul into Andy’s body after trying to do the same years earlier in the original Child’s Play. Nothing could kill Chucky, and those ocean blue eyes forever haunt parts of my mind I care not to admit.
Tales from the Hood (1995)
Structured as a four-part anthology film, Rusty Cundieff’s Tales from the Hood uses elements of the supernatural to explore the banal horrors of Black life in white supremacist America. Cundieff directly addresses systemic issues like police brutality and political corruption, domestic violence, and cycles of abuse, using elements of horror to shed light on the disturbing realities located in daily life (while still maintaining a darkly comedic edge). A canonical film within the Black Horror tradition.
Scream (1996)
Wes Craven’s postmodern masterpiece might be among the most influential films on this list, often credited with revitalizing the horror genre and bringing new life to the slasher. Folks continue to love this movie hard—some for its self-referential qualities and others for its subversion of tired genre tropes as Craven makes horror history in allowing his Final Girl (Sidney Prescott, as played by Neve Campbell) to have sex (with the killer, no less) and still survive to see the sunrise.
The Craft (1996)
The Craft is one of those films whose protagonist is literally the least interesting character onscreen. The most memorable performances of this film go to Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, and Neve Campbell who are all absolutely magnetic with their beautiful, messy complexity. Also, “we are the weirdos, mister”—iconic.
Leprechaun (1993)
The first time anyone saw America’s future sweetheart and hair inspiration Jennifer Aniston in a movie was when she played Tory Redding and ran away from a miniature green menace on a hunt to get back his gold coins and clean dirty shoes. The makeup department’s work to turn Return of the Jedi’s Warwick Davis into Lubdan The Leprechaun should be commended and punished for how lifelike they made this agent of chaos.
Mars Attacks! (1996)
A lifelong favorite, Mars Attacks! is somewhat genre-less as an action-horror-sci-fi-comedy satirizing American culture through the alien invasion subgenre. Directed by Tim Burton, this perpetually-devalued film features the ensemble cast of the decade, including the likes of Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny DeVito, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, and the inimitable, Pam Grier, amongst so many others. Genre camp to the max!
Scream 2 (1997)
While critics are notably tough on sequels, the fact remains that this one—released less than a year out from the original—certainly could have used some more time to simmer. Nevertheless, it still retains many of the elements which made the first film so successful. The trademark self-reflexivity around the nature of sequels lays a foundation for the franchise’s ongoing exploration of long-term trauma (also elemental in Scream 3 & 4) while further expanding the original’s critique of capitalist media in commodifying tragedy, this time implicating the audience as a whole in the very act of horror spectatorship itself.
Tremors (1990)
While critics are notably tough on sequels, the fact remains that this one—released less than a year out from the original—certainly could have used some more time to simmer. Nevertheless, it still retains many of the elements which made the first film so successful. The trademark self-reflexivity around the nature of sequels lays a foundation for the franchise’s ongoing exploration of long-term trauma (also elemental in Scream 3 & 4) while further expanding the original’s critique of capitalist media in commodifying tragedy, this time implicating the audience as a whole in the very act of horror spectatorship itself.
Ringu (1998)
I’d be remiss not to mention this terrifying classic directed by Hideo Nakata which ultimately brought J-horror and its unique aesthetics to American audiences. Known for its terrifying visuals, Ringu’s influence has been far-reaching, including an entire franchise in Japan and several American remakes. Appearing at the decade’s end, its impact is highly visible in the horror movies of the 2000s.
The Faculty (1998)
Part of the aforementioned Teen Horror Cycle, The Faculty is one of a number of ‘90’s adaptations of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Disturbing Behavior & Body Snatchers also came out around the same time) which makes perfect sense for the whole anti-authoritarian, disaffected youth vibe defining Gen X aesthetics. Written by Kevin Williamson (who also wrote Scream) and featuring an absolute all-star cast in Elijah Wood, Josh Hartnett, Clea Duvall, Usher, and Jon Stewart, this one’s not only fun to revisit, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well it stands as an adaptation.
Blade (1998)
As a lover of blaxploitation films (who is also critical of them when need be), Bladehits all the right referential notes, taking the best elements of what those films had to offer and leaving all the trash. Wesley Snipes stars as the sun-walking vampire other vampires fear- Blacula meets Shaft with some miscegenation anxiety thrown in for kicks. As Marvel’s very first box office success, it paved the way for the films dominating the current market. It was announced last year we’d be getting a reboot, making now the perfect time to dive into the original trilogy.
Cape Fear (1990)
As a lover of blaxploitation films (who is also critical of them when need be), Bladehits all the right referential notes, taking the best elements of what those films had to offer and leaving all the trash. Wesley Snipes stars as the sun-walking vampire other vampires fear- Blacula meets Shaft with some miscegenation anxiety thrown in for kicks. As Marvel’s very first box office success, it paved the way for the films dominating the current market. It was announced last year we’d be getting a reboot, making now the perfect time to dive into the original trilogy.
Beloved (1998)
Based on Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Thandie Newton, Beloved fails somewhat as an adaptation but nevertheless stands as a horror movie & story. As is the case with all of the Black women’s horror, the film features a ghost who, though malevolent, is not necessarily what is to be feared in the story’s treatment. More terrifying than the prospect of the supernatural is the actual history: the conditions of life under enslavement and the high cost of freedom. The time is ripe for someone to try their hand at another adaptation.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Deep Blue Sea is easily the most original creature feature of the decade (apart from Tammy and the T-Rex, of course). The sharks aren’t just big and fast—they’re scientifically engineered to be super fucking smart. Fusing the Frankenstein narrative with a solid shark attack and underwater disaster elements makes this film enormously entertaining and genuinely anxiety-inducing.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The sleeper hit of the decade, The Blair Witch Project is among the most profitable films ever created, having single-handedly revived the found footage subgenre, which would go on to be a mainstay of 2000’s horror with films like Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity, and V/H/S. The significance of this revival is magnified when you consider the subgenre’s history as a tool of colonial racism with films like 1930’s Ingagi. Blair Witch found new use for the “mockumentary” method, which didn’t rely on turning Black and Native folks into savage cannibals and for that, I’ll personally be forever grateful.
Misery (1990)
Misery is one of the more successful Stephen King adaptations other than The Shining. And how could it not? James Caan and Kathy Bates give stellar performances as a captive writer and his obsessed fan, respectively. It’s the only one of King’s adaptations to receive an Oscar; Kathy Bates won for Best Actress. It falls closer to the thriller category, the sense of unease you’ll get watching makes Misery a horror film in our book.
Interview with a Vampire (1994)
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt star in this film based on the gothic horror novel of the same name by acclaimed writer Anne Rice. The film follows two vampires, Louis and Lestat, as they survive over centuries. In the present day, Louis is interviewed by an eager journalist, recounting his life. Although the film isn’t outright scary like some of the other flicks on this list, it’s part of the often misunderstood genre of gothic horror–often dealing with a battle between monstrosity and humanity and with an overall sense of doom and gloom.
The Frighteners (1996)
Michael J. Fox stars in this Peter Jackson directed comedy horror film. An architect who practices necromancy scams people by sending ghosts to haunt them, then “exorcises” the ghosts for money. When a mass murderer’s spirit returns from the dead however, the man goes to investigate and finds himself in a world of trouble. The Frighteners wasn’t a major box office success, but did manage to become a cult classic over time.
Arachnophobia (1990)
This horror-comedy explores a common fear–the debilitating fear of spiders. A small California town becomes overrun with a dangerous spider species. The film stars Jeff Daniels and John Goodman as two men determined to rid the town of their unwanted guests. The film is longtime Stephen Spielberg collaborator Frank Marshall’s directorial debut. He’s better known for his producer credits, working on the Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne franchises.
Audition (1999)
No horror list is complete without at least one Japanese horror entry. Audition comes from the same production company who gave us Ring (which inspired its equally popular American remake). Audition follows a young widower who stages a fake audition to meet a potential romantic partner. The woman he falls for, however, has a dark past that threatens their relationship.
Wishmaster (1997)
Executive produced by Wes Craven (the only one of the Wishmaster films to have his name attached), Wishmaster is about an appraiser who must stop a djinn from releasing his kind onto the world. And all it takes is for someone to ask for three wishes. Horror mainstay Robert Englund (who plays Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) also makes an appearance.
Mimic (1997)
Based on a Donald A. Wolheim short story of the same name, Mimic follows an entomologist who discovers a terrifying strain of cockroaches who’ve developed the ability to mimic their human prey. Guillermo Del Toro directs this film, which digs into any city dweller’s worst fears over the bugs and creatures which live in the depths of any metropolis.