If the end of semester and all those pesky assessments are getting you down, why not take a (temporary) reprieve back to the 90’s? Thirty years ago, movies were often questionable and rarely politically correct, but they were comforting and shamelessly funny. So, forget about deadlines and word counts for one night, and take a pick from Glass’ top 90’s classics to distract you from the dumpster fire that is your academic career.
10. Scooby Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
What’s more rewatchable than your most beloved childhood cartoons? The gang investigate the small town of Oakhaven, where they encounter witches and ghosts (unsurprisingly), but also an elaborate plot to increase the town’s tourism and an enormous turkey. Plus, the Hex Girls. Need I say more?
9. Girl, Interrupted (1999)
This movie toes the line between ‘comforting’ and ‘confronting’, as it tells the story of Susanna (Winona Ryder), who is taken to a mental institution after a suicide attempt. There she meets an interesting group of young women who are struggling through life as much as she is, played by a stellar cast, including Angelina Jolie, Brittany Murphy and Clea DuVall. The movie is based on the memoir of Susanna Kaysen and her experiences with psychiatric care in the 1960’s.
8. Election (1999)
Reece Witherspoon plays overly ambitious high school student, Tracy Flick, who has slightly unethical methods of getting what she wants. In her quest to snag the role of School President, a popular high school studies teacher (Matthew Broderick) steps in to boycott the student election by backing a rival candidate and tampering with the ballot count.
7. Death Becomes Her (1992)
In this movie, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are frenemies who will go to any lengths to be the more youthful and beautiful of the two. Hijinks ensue, and after taking a potion for eternal youth from a mysterious socialite, the two women struggle to keep their bodies from falling apart and slowly decomposing, as they fight for the same man’s affections (and his plastic surgery skills).
6. Empire Records (1995)
This movie has been setting unrealistic standards for working in a record store for almost thirty years. Nevertheless, it still makes for a great rewatch, with teenagers making stupid decisions, committing crimes, and having destructive tantrums. Fake funerals and far-fetched financial solutions aside, what Empire Records lacks in plausibility, it makes up for in feel-good friendships, nostalgia, and an appreciation for music.
5. Never Been Kissed (1999)
If you want to watch Drew Barrymore try to pass herself off as a sixteen year old high school student so she can write an article about the lives of teenagers for the newspaper she works for (what?), and ultimately strike up a romance with a school teacher, who is under the impression that she is a minor, then this is the movie for you! Take a shot every time a predatory crime is committed for extra fun.
4. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
Kirstin Dunst plays the lead in this mockumentary about a small town beauty pageant that turns deadly in the girls’ desperate attempts to win. Ridiculous “accidents” can’t stop occurring, which results in the deaths of multiple contestants. While only 98 minutes long, this “moderately offensive” and “Razzie-worthy” movie will change your life.
3. Mermaids (1990)
Icon and superstar, Cher, plays single mother, Rachel, who is once again solving her relationship problems by carting her two daughters, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci), across the country, their 18th move in 15 years. This is the heartfelt and funny story of how Charlotte convinces her mother to stay in one place for once, by lusting over her neighbour and almost killing her sister.
2. But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)
For a movie that predominately takes place at a conversion therapy camp co-run by Ru Paul playing a very straight but very repressed camp counsellor, But I’m A Cheerleader is surprisingly camp, light-hearted, and cheerful. Natasha Lyonne plays a confused young woman exploring her sexuality with fellow camper, Graham, played by Clea Duvall.
1. Romeo + Juliet (1996)
There is no movie that I have watched more than this Baz Luhrmann masterpiece. Who would have thought that adding guns, Hawaiian shirts and an aquarium to a timeless tragedy would be such an amazing combination. You already know the ending, but you might not know about the massive drunken costume party where Mercutio performs in drag.
If you’re more of a TV show person, or you’ve already binged all of our recommendations and are looking for another reason to procrastinate, check out this episode of Just To Be Clear!
