The Top 10 Funniest 90's Movies
#10 -
Home Alone (1990)
Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” If you’re a fan of slapstick comedy, look no further than this holiday classic. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and the incomparable Catherine O’Hara, this 90’s classic will definitely put a smile on your face. A viewing of this film is a staple at our home every holiday season. Fun fact: Thanks to musical genius John Williams, Home Alone was nominated for two Oscars.
Photo © 20th Century Fox
#9 -
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
“What would Brian Boitano do if he was here right now?” South Park dominated in the late 90s on TV, so much so that they brought their unique brand of humor to the silver screen in 1999. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone didn’t disappoint their audience, delivering a hilariously meta storyline. Fun fact: Much like #10 on our list, this film was also nominated for an Oscar thanks to its music. Nominated for Best Original Song for “Blame Canada,” Parker and Stone enlisted comedy legend Robin Williams to perform the song at the Oscars. Look it up on Youtube for a chance to see the comedy master deliver an amazing performance.
Photo © Paramount Pictures/Comedy Central
#8 - Kingpin (1996)
“We don’t have a cow. We have a bull.” If I discover that someone hasn’t seen Kingpin, I make it a point to watch it with them asap. Starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and the one and only Bill Murray, this film is about a down on his luck professional bowler who trains an unlikely protege to take down his bitter rival. Harrelson is absolutely hilarious and Murray’s character, Ernie McCracken, is one of his funniest roles. Fun fact: according to his agent, Chris Farley was originally offered the role of Ishmael (Quaid’s part), but had to pass due to his commitment to the film Black Sheep.
Photo © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
#7 -
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
“We men. Manly men! We’re men in tights.” Directed by famed comedy director Mel Brooks, this hilarious take on everyone’s favorite heroic outlaw will have you in tears from laughing. You’ll recognize many famous faces, from Dick Van Patten and Dom DeLuise to Tracey Ullman and Richard Lewis. The film is led by Cary Elwes, star of The Princess Bride, and even features David Chappelle in one of his earliest roles. As children in the 90s, we watched this classic over and over again. Fun Fact: Former wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan was offered the role of Little John in the film, but passed on the part to star in the feature film Mr. Nanny.
Photo © 20th Century Fox
#6 - Happy Gilmore (1996)
“That’s your home! Are you too good for your home?” Perhaps the movie I watched the most times in the 90s is the Adam Sandler classic, Happy Gilmore. Sandler was in his prime in that decade. He rose to stardom during his 5 years on Saturday Night Live, leading to him starring in films like Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, and The Waterboy. All of those films are very funny, but we had to choose Happy Gilmore to represent him on this list as it still makes us laugh some 20 years later. Fun fact: to promote the movie, Adam Sandler appeared on an episode of The Price is Right. The audience was shown a clip of the infamous scene featuring him and The Price is Right host Bob Barker and Sandler performed comedy bits throughout the showcase showdown.
Photo © Universal Pictures
#5 -
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
“Alrighty then!” Jim Carrey was a comedy force in the 90s, starring in films like The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and the Cable Guy, but the film that always made me laugh the hardest was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The plot alone is hilarious, and Carrey shines as the zany detective. Opposite of Carrey is a young Courteney Cox, whose breakout role of Monica Geller on Friends would debut around nine months after the release of Ace Ventura. Fun fact: before the producers discovered Carrey on In Living Color and subsequently casted him as Ace, they offered the part to bankable comedy actor Rick Moranis. Moranis is great, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Ace Ventura other than Carrey.
Photo © Warner Bros.
#4 - Clerks (1994)
“I’m not even supposed to be here today!” For years my older brother told me that I needed to watch Clerks, but I refused to for a long time because the film was in black and white. It seemed so boring to me. But, after finally watching it one night, I regretted how long it had taken me to give it a chance. Director Kevin Smith’s first film launched him to Hollywood stardom, giving him the opportunity to make many more films that are all somewhat related, known as the View Askewniverse. Each of Smith’s first five films are hilarious, but we had to give the nod to the one that started it all. Fun fact: Smith financed the film himself, borrowing money and selling his collectables. The estimated $27,000 budget is extremely low in comparison to most feature films.
Photo © Miramax Films
#3 - Groundhog Day (1993)
“Ned, I would love to stay here and talk with you...but I’m not going to.” Making his second appearance on our list is Groundhog Day star Bill Murray. Murray shines as he toes the line of comedy and drama in this masterpiece. This comedy is so great it makes us want to watch it again and again and again. Fun Fact: Director Harold Ramis considered many actors for lead, including Tom Hanks and Steve Martin, but he ultimately selected Murray because the others seemed “too nice.”
Photo © Columbia Pictures
#2 -
Office Space (1999)
“Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler.” Ranking number two on our list is Mike Judge’s cult classic, Office Space. This film was released right before the end of the decade, just sneaking in to make it on this 90’s list. The film stars include: Ron Livingston, Gary Cole, and Jennifer Aniston. While not a box office hit, the film found success later, on home video, and repeated airings on Comedy Central. For younger people who haven’t seen the film, you may recognize many memes that the movie spawned based on its one-liners and funny bits. Fun fact: the famous printer scene was inspired by the director’s experience writing the screenplay for his film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.
Photo © 20th Century Fox
#1 - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
“Allow myself to introduce...myself.” Mike Myers absolutely reigned supreme in the nineties. His time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live led to his opportunity to star in Wayne’s World, So I Married an Axe Murderer, and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. We easily could have put Wayne’s World on this list, but we felt Myers was really at his peak while performing as both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil. Be sure to spot a young Will Ferrell in one of his earliest roles! Fun fact: the famous dual roles of Myers as Powers and Dr. Evil was not the original plan. Myers wanted Jim Carrey to play the evil doctor but Carrey’s commitment to the film Liar Liar prevented that from becoming a reality.
Photo © New Line Cinema
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