A Glean movie guide
As If! The Ultimate 90s Teen Guide
Totally buggin' since 1990.
Relive the decade of high school cliques, grunge anthems, and iconic coming-of-age moments.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Clueless
A vibrant, fashion-forward satire of Beverly Hills life that defined the decade's lexicon and aesthetic.
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other. Emboldened by her success, she decides to give hopelessly klutzy new student Tai a makeover. When Tai becomes more popular than she is, Cher realizes that her disapproving ex-stepbrother was right about how misguided she was -- and falls for him.
- 02
10 Things I Hate About You
A sharp, feminist-leaning Shakespearean update featuring an unforgettable breakout cast and a killer soundtrack.
On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.
- 03
Dazed and Confused
A sprawling, nostalgic look at the last day of school that captures the universal feeling of teenage aimlessness.
The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football coach demands he sign a "no drugs" pledge.
- 04
Scream
A clever, self-aware slasher that revitalized horror by playing with the rules of teen cinema.
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
- 05
Empire Records
A cult classic ensemble piece celebrating alternative culture and the bond of working at an independent record store.
The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try to stop the store from being absorbed by a large chain.
- 06
Boyz n the Hood
A powerful, critically acclaimed drama exploring the challenges of growing up in South Central Los Angeles.
In the middle of the Los Angeles ghetto, drugs, robberies and shootings dominate everyday life. During these times, Furious tries to raise his son Tre to be a decent person. Tre's friends, on the other hand, have little regard for the law and drag the entire neighborhood into a street war...
- 07
The Craft
A moody, supernatural thriller that perfectly captures the 'goth' aesthetic and the sting of social isolation.
A Catholic school newcomer falls in with a clique of teen witches who wield their powers against all who dare to cross them -- be they teachers, rivals or meddlesome parents.
- 08
Cruel Intentions
A sleek and scandalous modern adaptation of a classic tale, set among Manhattan’s wealthy elite.
Slaking a thirst for dangerous games, Kathryn challenges her stepbrother, Sebastian, to deflower their headmaster's daughter before the summer ends. If he succeeds, the prize is the chance to bed Kathryn. But if he loses, Kathryn will claim his most prized possession.
- 09
Can't Hardly Wait
The definitive graduation party movie, weaving together every high school archetype into one wild night.
It's graduation day at Huntington Hills High, and you know what that means - time to party. And not just any party, either. This one will be a night to remember, as the nerds become studs, the jocks are humiliated, and freshman crushes blossom into grown-up romance.
- 10
Romeo + Juliet
A visually explosive, high-energy reimagining of Shakespeare that turned the Bard into a 90s pop icon.
In director Baz Luhrmann's contemporary take on William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, the Montagues and Capulets have moved their ongoing feud to the sweltering suburb of Verona Beach, where Romeo and Juliet fall in love and secretly wed. Though the film is visually modern, the bard's dialogue remains.
- 11
Election
A biting, hilarious satire of high school politics and the lengths people will go to for a taste of power.
Tracy Flick is running unopposed for this year’s high school student election. But Jim McAllister has a different plan. Partly to establish a more democratic election, and partly to satisfy some deep personal anger toward Tracy, Jim talks football player Paul Metzler to run for president as well.
- 12
American Pie
The raunchy, era-defining comedy that launched a new wave of teen movies focused on senior year milestones.
At a high-school party, four friends find that losing their collective virginity isn't as easy as they had thought. But they still believe that they need to do so before college. To motivate themselves, they enter a pact to all "score" by their senior prom.