A Glean movie guide
The Definitive 90s Essentials
10 films that shaped a generation.
Revisit the decade that redefined cinema with these culturally iconic masterpieces.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Pulp Fiction
A non-linear crime masterpiece that redefined cool for a generation of moviegoers.
A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster's moll and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time.
- 02
The Shawshank Redemption
A deeply moving story of hope and friendship that remains one of cinema's most beloved dramas.
Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.
- 03
The Matrix
A revolutionary blend of high-concept philosophy and ground-breaking action that closed out the century.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
- 04
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg’s harrowing and essential portrait of humanity during the Holocaust.
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
- 05
Goodfellas
Martin Scorsese’s fast-paced, stylish look at life in the mob is the definitive crime epic of the era.
The true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid who is adopted by neighbourhood gangsters at an early age and climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under the guidance of Jimmy Conway.
- 06
The Silence of the Lambs
A chilling psychological game of cat-and-mouse that swept the major Academy Awards.
Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.
- 07
Fight Club
A visceral, thought-provoking exploration of modern identity and consumerist rebellion.
A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion.
- 08
Jurassic Park
The ultimate summer blockbuster that brought dinosaurs to life with then-unprecedented visual effects.
A wealthy entrepreneur secretly creates a theme park featuring living dinosaurs drawn from prehistoric DNA. Before opening day, he invites a team of experts and his two eager grandchildren to experience the park and help calm anxious investors. However, the park is anything but amusing as the security systems go off-line and the dinosaurs escape.
- 09
Toy Story
The film that changed animation forever, blending heart and humor with pioneering technology.
Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.
- 10
Se7en
A dark, atmospheric neo-noir that remains the gold standard for the psychological serial killer thriller.
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.