A Glean movie guide
Hidden Gems: Underrated 90s Romcoms
Nostalgic, witty, and worth the find.
Beyond the blockbusters, these charming 90s favorites deserve a spot on your watchlist.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Blast from the Past
A delightful fish-out-of-water story that captures 90s charm through a 50s lens.
Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webers into their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam now ventures forth into Los Angeles to obtain food and supplies for his family, and a non-mutant wife for himself.
- 02
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
A smart, modern spin on the Cyrano de Bergerac story with fantastic lead chemistry.
A successful veterinarian and radio show host with low self-esteem asks her model friend to impersonate her when a handsome man wants to see her.
- 03
Only You
Marisa Tomei shines in this beautifully shot romantic chase across the Italian countryside.
Two childhood paranormal incidents have convinced schoolteacher Faith Corvatch that her true love is a guy named 'Damon Bradley', but she has yet to meet him. Preparing to marry podiatrist Dwayne in ten days, Faith receives a phone call from Dwayne's old classmate Damon Bradley, who is on his way to Venice. She impulsively decides to fly to Italy with the hope of finally encountering the man of her dreams. Accompanying her on the trip is her sister-in-law and best friend Kate, who has just left her husband, Faith's brother Larry.
- 04
French Kiss
Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline make for a hilarious and bickering pair in this scenic travelogue.
After her fiancee admits to infidelity while on a business trip in France, a woman attempts to get her lover back and marry him by traveling to Paris despite her crippling fear of flying. On the way she unwittingly smuggles something of value that has a charming crook chasing her across France as she chases after her future husband.
- 05
Sliding Doors
Gwyneth Paltrow leads this fascinating exploration of fate and the paths not taken.
Helen, a London ad executive, is fired from her job and rushes out to catch a train, but, as she runs down, her life suddenly splits off. In one version she catches the train; in the second, she misses it. Her whole life changes in that one second, and the rest of the film depicts what happens in each scenario.
- 06
Fools Rush In
Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek bring genuine heart to this story of a surprise whirlwind romance.
After a one night stand with Alex, Isabel realizes that she is pregnant and they decide to get married. However, along with the marriage comes compromise of one's own cultural traditions.
- 07
It Could Happen to You
Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda are incredibly likable in this gentle, optimistic lottery fable.
Charlie Lang is a simple, kindhearted New York City cop. When he realizes he has no money to tip waitress Yvonne Biasi, Lang offers her half the winnings of his lottery ticket. Amazingly, the ticket happens to be a winner, in the sum of $4 million. True to his word, Lang proceeds to share the prize money with Biasi, which infuriates his greedy wife, Muriel. Not content with the arrangement, Muriel begins scheming to take all the money.
- 08
L.A. Story
A surreal and poetic comedy that finds magic in the mundane life of Los Angeles.
With the help of a talking freeway billboard, a "wacky weatherman" tries to win the heart of an English newspaper reporter, who is struggling to make sense of the strange world of early-90s Los Angeles.
- 09
Soapdish
This fast-paced ensemble comedy is a masterclass in campy, behind-the-scenes chaos.
Celeste Talbert is the star of the long-running soap opera "The Sun Also Sets." With the show's ratings down, Celeste's ruthlessly ambitious co-star, Montana Moorehead, and the show's arrogant producer, David Seton Barnes, plot to aggravate her into leaving the show by bringing back her old flame, Jeffrey Anderson, and hiring her beautiful young niece, Lori Craven.
- 10
The Wedding Banquet
A witty and heartfelt look at family expectations and cultural identity from director Ang Lee.
A Taiwanese-American man is happily settled in New York with his American boyfriend. He plans a marriage of convenience to a Chinese woman in order to keep his parents off his back and to get the woman a green card. Chaos follows when his parents arrive in New York for the wedding.
- 11
Addicted to Love
Meg Ryan and Matthew Broderick team up for a delightfully cynical and stylish revenge comedy.
Good-natured astronomer Sam is devastated when the love of his life leaves him for a suave Frenchman. He therefore does what every other normal dumpee would do — go to New York and set up home in the abandoned building opposite his ex-girlfriend's apartment, wait until she decides to leave her current lover, and then win her back.
- 12
Strictly Ballroom
Baz Luhrmann’s debut is a dazzling, colorful celebration of following your own rhythm.
Brave new steps put Scott's career in jeopardy. With a new partner and determination, can he still succeed?