Funny Movies From The 90s

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Rated R

Fight Club is a 1999 film directed by David Fincher and based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film stars Brad Pitt and Edward Norton as two anti-social men who establish an underground fight club for men looking for an outlet for their inner rage. The film follows the two men as they build a cult-like following for the fight club and their organization, Project Mayhem. As their organization grows in power, it begins to challenge the status quo of society and its rules, leading to a violent confrontation with the authorities. The film explores themes of masculinity, identity, and consumerism.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Rated PG-13

Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. Forrest Gump is a simple man with a low I.Q. but good intentions. His true love, Jenny, eludes him throughout his life. Meanwhile, he meets several people and experiences remarkable events throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including serving in the Vietnam War, playing college football and meeting the President. Through these experiences, Forrest finds himself in the middle of some of the most defining moments of the 20th century. In the end, Forrest comes to understand the importance of love and friendship in his life.

From Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley
Rated R

American Beauty is a 1999 dark comedy-drama film directed by Sam Mendes that follows the mid-life crisis of a suburban family man, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey). Unsatisfied with his job and marriage, Burnham resorts to smoking marijuana and working out obsessively while finding solace in his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari). Meanwhile, his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) is having an affair with a real estate rival and his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is being seduced by her own obsessions. As the Burnhams struggle to find a connection in their family, a mysterious man (Wes Bentley) appears, further complicating their already chaotic lives. As the story progresses, the Burnhams come to realize that beauty can be found in even the darkest moments of life.

From Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky
Rated PG

Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Ramis and Danny Rubin. In the film, Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, is a cynical television weatherman who is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. When he wakes up the next morning, he discovers he is reliving the same day over again, again and again. He initially uses this to his advantage and develops a hedonistic lifestyle, but eventually comes to terms with reality and attempts to use the time loop to his benefit, eventually trying to win the heart of his colleague, Rita. In the end, Phil finds redemption and finally breaks the cycle of living the same day over and over.

From Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi
Rated R

The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film follows Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, a laid-back middle-aged Los Angeles slacker who enjoys bowling and White Russians. After a case of mistaken identity, the Dude's loose-knit group of friends are drawn into a complex plot involving a millionaire's missing trophy wife. As the Dude finds himself increasingly entangled in the mystery, he embarks on a journey that leads him through strip clubs, seedy bars, and a trippy dream sequence. Along the way, he meets a wide range of quirky characters, including a nihilistic bowler, a disgruntled Vietnam veteran, and a mysterious millionaire. The Big Lebowski is a cult classic and an enduring example of the Coen Brothers' signature style of dark comedy.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Luis Guzmán
Rated R

Boogie Nights is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It is set in the Golden Age of Porn of the late 1970s and early 1980s in Los Angeles and tells the story of Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), a young man from a dysfunctional family who is taken in by the porn industry and rises to become a star. The film features an ensemble cast including Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heather Graham. The film follows Eddie's journey from rags to riches as he puts his acting skills to the test and stars in a series of porn films. He meets Dirk Diggler (Reynolds), a veteran in the industry who takes him under his wing and helps him become a success. The film explores the dark side of the porn industry and the toll it takes on its participants, including overdoses, AIDS, and broken relationships. It also examines the relationships between the characters, showing how they rely on each other for support. As the story progresses, the characters struggle with their emotions and the moral implications of their lifestyles. In the end, they are all left with a newfound appreciation of friendship and family.

From Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette
Rated R

Ed Wood is a biographical comedy-drama film directed by Tim Burton about the life of the eponymous low-budget filmmaker Edward D. Wood Jr. Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the film stars Johnny Depp as Wood, and it chronicles his life as an aspiring filmmaker in the 1950s and 1960s. Despite numerous obstacles, Wood's enthusiasm and optimism keep him going, and he eventually gains recognition for his unique style and cult classic films like Plan 9 from Outer Space. Along with his friend Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau, and other friends, Ed Wood is determined to make the films he loves.

From Spike Jonze, starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich
Rated R

Being John Malkovich is a 1999 comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich. The film follows a struggling puppeteer who discovers a portal that leads into the mind of acclaimed actor John Malkovich. After gaining access to this portal, the puppeteer experiences a variety of surreal events as he is able to take over Malkovich’s body for periods of 15 minutes. As the puppeteer's experiences with Malkovich become increasingly bizarre, he discovers that he is not the only one with access to the portal, thus setting in motion a series of strange and comedic events.

From Kevin Smith, starring Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonauer
Rated R

Clerks is a 1994 American black-and-white comedy film written, directed, and co-produced by Kevin Smith. Starring Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances. The film's dialogue was mostly improvised. The story follows Dante Hicks (O'Halloran), a 22-year-old convenience store clerk, who is not particularly motivated to work. He is on his day off and is scheduled to work at the store he normally works at, but his boss has called in sick. Dante's day is spent in the store, discussing topics such as movies, relationships, and sexual encounters with his best friend Randal Graves (Anderson). Throughout the day, they encounter various eccentric customers, including an anti-abortion protester, Jay and Silent Bob, a pair of drug dealers, and a womanizer. The film is set in a New Jersey town and tackles issues of morality, religion, and relationships. It is widely celebrated for its depiction of everyday life and its honest dialogue. The film was met with critical acclaim, earning the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

From Trey Parker, starring Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes
Rated R

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 adult animated musical comedy film based on the popular Comedy Central animated television series South Park. The film follows the four main characters of the series, Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick, as they attempt to stop a war between Canada and the United States after the boys are caught sneaking into an R-rated Canadian movie featuring a Canadian comic duo called Terrance and Phillip. Along the way, the boys are joined by their friends Chef, Jesus, and the Goth Kids. With the help of Satan and Saddam Hussein, the boys must stop the war and save the world.

From James L. Brooks, starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Rated PG-13

"As Good as It Gets" is an Oscar-winning romantic comedy-drama directed by James L. Brooks. The film stars Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall, a misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive novelist living in New York City. After a fateful encounter with a gay artist (Greg Kinnear) and his waitress friend (Helen Hunt), Melvin's life is changed. With the help of his therapist (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Melvin gradually begins to open up to the people around him and even allows himself to fall in love. As his relationships with the people around him improve, so does his writing. By the end of the film, Melvin is a changed man; he has learned how to appreciate life and the people around him.

From Mike Judge, starring Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu
Rated R

Office Space is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. The film follows a group of disgruntled office workers in a cubicle-filled suburban office park who go to extreme lengths to get even with their boss. The main characters, Peter, Samir, Joanna and Michael - played by Ron Livingston, Ajay Naidu, Jennifer Aniston and David Herman respectively - are white-collar employees at Initech Corporation, a software company in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. Through a series of unfortunate events, the foursome hatch a plan to plant a virus into the company's computer system and embezzle funds from the company's account. As the plan unfolds, the foursome travel down a hilarious path of revenge, comically pushing their luck and outsmarting their superiors in the process. Along the way they must also confront their own feelings of dissatisfaction with their day-to-day lives, and eventually make a decision to break away from their mundane jobs. Office Space is a funny, satirical take on the trials and tribulations of life in a corporate office environment, and has become a cult classic.

From Richard Linklater, starring Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane
Rated R

"Dazed and Confused" is a coming-of-age comedy-drama set in 1976 in a small Texas town. It follows the lives of a group of teenagers as they navigate the challenges and joys of the last day of school. The characters, who come from different social circles, attempt to make their way through the day, while dealing with the pressures of growing up. As the film progresses, they explore their newfound freedoms and the consequences that come with them. The film makes use of various clichés, such as the wild party scene, but ultimately offers an honest and humorous look at teenage life. It was directed by Richard Linklater and stars a cast of up-and-coming talent, including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, and Parker Posey.

From Tom DiCillo, starring Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, Danielle von Zerneck
Rated R

Living in Oblivion is a 1995 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom DiCillo and starring Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, and Danielle von Zerneck. The film follows the struggles of a low-budget independent film director, Nick Reve (Buscemi), as he attempts to shoot a dream sequence for his film within one night. The film is an exploration of the independent filmmaking process, and the struggles encountered along the way. Throughout the night, Nick has to deal with numerous issues such as crew drama, technical difficulties, financial problems, and an actress (von Zerneck) who is having a nervous breakdown. The film ultimately shows the struggles and dedication of independent filmmakers to make a film in spite of numerous obstacles.

From Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich
Rated R

From Milos Forman, starring Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Gerry Becker, Greyson Erik Pendry
Rated R

From Christopher Guest, starring Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey
Rated R

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton
Rated R

From Kevin Smith, starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee, Scott Mosier
Rated R

From Doug Liman, starring Vince Vaughn, Heather Graham, Jon Favreau, Ron Livingston
Rated R

From Doug Liman, starring Sarah Polley, Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf, Taye Diggs
Rated R

From Jim Mallon, starring Trace Beaulieu, Michael J. Nelson, Jim Mallon, Kevin Murphy
Rated PG-13

From Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, Wim Snape
Rated R

From Peter Segal, starring Chris Farley, David Spade, Brian Dennehy, Bo Derek
Rated PG-13

From Chris Columbus, starring Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein
Rated PG-13