Top 20 Movie Scenes That Defined The 90's

Top 20 Movie Scenes That Defined the 90s

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic movie scenes from 1990s films.

#20: “It’s Not Your Fault”“Good Will Hunting” (1998)

Matt Damon’s breakout film is full of memorable scenes, but the heart of it is his titular Will Hunting’s therapy sessions with his psychologist, Sean. In their final session, both of them bond further over their shared trauma of receiving abuse when they were younger. Sean at last helps break down Will’s many walls by repeating four simple words - “it’s not your fault.” The performances from both actors are incredible and never fail to get us nearly as teared up as Will. While therapy isn’t for everyone, we hope everyone can agree that we could all probably use a hug from Robin Williams.

#19: The Box“Se7en” (1995)

Some movies save the best for last…or maybe the worst. Detectives Somerset and Mills are directed by serial killer John Doe to the middle of nowhere outside the city, where he promises the conclusion to his killings, themed around the seven deadly sins. As Somerset investigates a mysterious box Doe had delivered, Doe taunts the irritable Mills, expressing envy for his life - including his wife. Somerset’s horror mirrors our own, as Doe reveals the box contains the head of Mills’s wife - who was pregnant. And worst of all, Mills’ wrath is so great that he can’t help killing Doe and completing all seven sins. It’s a twist so infamously fiendish, we can’t help but admire it, even if it turns our stomachs.

#18: Hanging Heist“Mission: Impossible” (1996)

The many incredible stunts of this long running action franchise got off to a bang with this iconic sequence. To uncover a mole, Ethan Hunt must steal a list of undercover agents from the heart of the CIA. He does so by hanging from a pair of wires in a room with sound and heat sensitivity. The entire scene pulses with tension, from the technician being in the room, to a sudden drop, to a final scare that has us on a “knife’s edge.” Plus, it’s so incredibly cool that the scene essentially became visual shorthand for cool heists for decades afterwards.

#17: Andy Escapes

“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)

This prison movie was underrated when it was released, but its reputation has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Its climax sees prisoner Andy Dufresne silent during morning roll call. While his friend Red fears he’s taken “the way out,” he’s wrong…sort of. Andy is gone, and the warden, Red, and the guards are astonished to see that Andy has tunneled his way out. We’re treated to a montage of Andy’s elaborate, nearly 20-year-long plan to break out of Shawshank prison, from how he disposed of the rocks, to his daring, disgusting liberation, to his plan to expose the corrupt warden once he’s out. You can’t “get busy livin’” without seeing this scene.

#16: “Friend Like Me”“Aladdin” (1992)

Disney movies were going through quite a Renaissance in the ‘90s and “Aladdin” was one of the biggest successes. And the secret ingredient to its success was Robin Williams as the Genie. His manic, pop culture referencing performance hits right out of the gate with this musical number. As the Genie describes all the ways he and his wishes can help Aladdin, Williams’ effortless charisma and innumerable impressions are matched only by the animators going equally ham with one outlandish visual after another! We “ain’t never had a friend like him,” and we ain’t never seen or heard a song this off-the-wall before!

#15: Ballroom Dance“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

Speaking of Disney animated movies, “Beauty and the Beast” was another milestone during the ‘90s Renaissance era. The centerpiece of this “tale as old as time,” is a montage of Belle and the Beast dining and dancing together, while Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Potts sings a ballad about their relationship. The romantic atmosphere and costumes are instantly iconic, while the sequence also marked one of the first times CGI was used in a theatrical animated film. The scene swept audiences off their feet back then, and continues to make us swoon today.

#14: Red Coat “Schindler’s List” (1993)

Steven Spielberg’s moving masterpiece about a German businessman who saves the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust is full of incredible scenes. But this one cuts to the heart of both the character, and everyone watching. Oskar Schindler watches helplessly as thousands of Jews are evicted from a ghetto and either transported to a concentration camp or massacred in the streets. Amid all this chaos, Schindler focuses on a girl in a red coat, wearing the lone splash of color in a black and white film, highlighting his changing attitude. The fact that this innocent child tries and ultimately fails to hide from the Nazis is absolutely gut-wrenching.

#13: “You Can’t Handle the Truth!”“A Few Good Men” (1992)

While this iconic line has arguably exceeded the reputation of this scene, everything around it is still spectacular. Tom Cruise’s Lieutenant Kaffee questions Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Jessep over a code red, or violent unsanctioned punishment, which led to the death of Private Santiago. The back and forth between the actors is electric and fraught with tension. Kaffee points out inconsistencies in Jessep’s testimony and demands the truth. Jessep replies that he can’t handle it, hinting that he and the military provide protection at the cost of illegal or immoral means, before finally admitting to ordering the code red and incriminating himself. It’s one of the most riveting courtroom scenes of the ‘90s, and maybe of all time.

#12: “Circle of Life”“The Lion King” (1994)

Arguably the peak of ‘90s Disney movies, “The Lion King” has many memorable moments. And while Mufasa’s death traumatized a whole new generation of kids who were too young to have seen Bambi’s mom die, we elected for a more hopeful scene. We’re treated to an incredible opening musical number over a montage of gorgeous shots of African animals gathering at Pride Rock to witness the debut of the newborn Simba. Composed by Elton John and Hans Zimmer, and powerfully sung by Carmen Twillie, “Circle of Life” “moves us all” with its soul-stirring, quintessential beauty. Now THIS is how you start a movie!

#11: “Do You Like Scary Movies?”

“Scream” (1996)

Speaking of great openings, this one begins with…well, a “scream!” Casey is settling in to watch a scary movie when she receives a phone call fromwhat seems at first to be a wrong number. However, the caller’s friendly banter quickly turns sinister, as he reveals he’s watching her. He then forces Casey to play a scary movie trivia game with her boyfriend Steve’s life on the line. After she gets a question wrong, Casey is pursued by the killer in the ghost mask, who murders her right under her parents’ noses as they arrive. The scene is not only a superbly paced, perfect distillation of horror cinema, but its meta references feel like a herald for the direction of pop culture in general in the years that followed.

#10: Water Cups

“Jurassic Park” (1993)

Special effects were redefined in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel about chaos at a dinosaur theme park. But the most thrilling moment centers around something as simple as a couple of cups of water. During a storm and power outage at the park, lawyer Donald Gennaro and his young companions, Lex and Tim Murphy, lie low in their tour vehicle. But some ripples on the surface of the water cups tell them they’re not alone. Soon, they come face-to-face with none other than a T. Rex, which still looks great even when compared to effectstoday. And how were the vibrations achieved? With guitar strings plucked inside the car beneath them. How's that for movie magic?

#9: Aftershave

“Home Alone” (1990)

The best scream of the 90s wasn’t in a horror movie, it was in a family comedy. After he’s accidentally left behind when his family flies to Paris for Christmas, young Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, relishes being the new man of the house. That includes defending it from two bumbling burglars. The moment that stands out the most though is one that doesn’t affect the plot. While washing up, Kevin slathers on a lot of aftershave, and screams loud enough to wake the neighbors. The most enduring part of this moment was completely improvised by Culkin. He was supposed to move his hands away from his face, but Culkin instead kept them on his cheeks.

#8: Dodging Bullets

“The Matrix” (1999)

The first film in this series, from sisters Lana and Lilly Wachowski, was a gamechanger for both action and science-fiction. It grossed more than $465 million worldwide and won four Academy Awards - including Best Visual Effects and Best Film Editing. The film earned them with this scene alone, which finds Keanu Reeves’ Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity on a rooftop facing down a slew of enemies. When Agent Brown returns fire, Neo desperately tries to dodge the bullets. Brown seems to be able to defeat him anyway, until Trinity delivers a truly fatal blow and classic line. It’s a moment that never stops being cool, especially not with all the sunglasses involved.

#7: Truck Chase

“Terminator 2: Judgement Day” (1991)

When a sequel is described as “bigger and better,” it rarely lives up to those expectations. That’s not the case with “Terminator 2,” which set new standards for both action sequels and chase scenes. After hijacking a truck, the T-1000, played by Robert Patrick, proves just how relentless he is in his mission to dispose of young John Connor, mowing down anything and anyone he can. And when it seems like it's all over for John, Arnold Schwarzenegger's newly heroic T-800 is there to save him. The level of work put into this chase is unbelievable, utilizing practical effects to make the utterly unbelievable feel completely real, motorcycle jump and all. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

#6: The Copacabana

“Goodfellas” (1990)

How a director uses their camera can turn a good scene into an iconic one. That’s what happens in this moment from Martin Scorsese’s biopic about the rise and fall of gangster Henry Hill. To demonstrate how much power and influence Hill had, Scorsese uses a tracking shot to follow Hill and his girlfriend, Karen, into a secret entrance of the Copacabana nightclub, greeting many of his acquaintances along the way, and showing how he's reached a level of success he only previously dreamed of. By focusing so intently on Hill and his surroundings, Scorsese immerses us completely into this world without a moment of violence.

#5: A Box of Chocolates

“Forrest Gump” (1994)

We could fill a whole list with quotes from this film, about an ordinary man who has extraordinary experiences. But the one that stays with us the most is a bit of parental wisdom. When a woman sits next to him on a bench, Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, offers her a chocolate and shares his mother's saying. On the surface, it’s a small moment, but one that speaks volumes about life and its unpredictability. As the camera slowly zooms in on Forrest, we find ourselves more and more drawn to him and what he has to say. And like a box of chocolates, this film is both delightful and full of surprises.

#4: A Tasty Burger

“Pulp Fiction” (1994)

How many directors are able to make you incredibly tense and incredibly hungry at the same time? Leave it to Quentin Tarantino, who turned movie dialogue on its head in this scene. When hitmen Jules and Vincent come by an apartment for a briefcase belonging to their boss, Marsellus Wallace, they find the nervous inhabitants enjoying a meal from fictional fast-food restaurant Big Kahuna Burger. This scene is dominated by Samuel L. Jackson's Jules, who starts off seeming affable, before bursting into one of the greatest and most terrifying monologues ever.

#3: Omaha Beach

“Saving Private Ryan” (1998)

The problem with so many movie depictions of war is that they can't help but make combat look cool and exciting when the experience is anything but glamorous. In this sequence, director Steven Spielberg makes you feel like you're experiencing June 6th, 1944, otherwise known as "D-Day", yourself, with every sound and image searing into your brain. The bloody chaos of the day is shown with unflinching, heart-stopping clarity. This scene was so intense that many veterans found it unwatchable. Few films have captured the unimaginable horrors of war quite like this one.

#2: “I See Dead People”

“The Sixth Sense” (1999)

Want to get someone who hasn't seen "The Sixth Sense" to watch it? Show them this scene. When speaking to child psychologist Malcolm Crowe, Cole Sear, played by Haley Joel Osment, shares a very deep, dark secret: he sees ghosts walking among the living, unaware of their deceased status. Osment's delivery of this line completely sells Cole's combined innocence and precociousness, and Bruce Willis’ attentive focus and concern make him an ideal mentor for this frightened child. It’s not just the twist that makes “The Sixth Sense” so powerful; it’s also the care it has towards its characters.

#1: “I’m the King of the World”

“Titanic” (1997)

There are many explanations for “Titanic’s” record-shattering success, from its awesome special effects to its timeless romance element. But it’s this brief moment that stands out most of all. As passenger Jack Dawson looks out at the wonders of nature from the bow of the famous ship with his friend Fabrizio, he lets out this legendary exclamation. And like many classic movie moments, this one almost didn't make it into the film. Director James Cameron came up with it on-set, and despite star Leonardo DiCaprio's reluctance, Cameron insisted. But we sense no reluctance in DiCaprio’s delivery: only a young man relishing the absolute bliss and excitement of the present moment.

Is there a totally ‘90s movie scene we forgot? Bring things full “circle,” and share your favorites in the comments!