Are you ever looking for a way to relax, and all you want to do is cozy up in a blanket, get some snacks, and watch some cheesy rom-coms full of nostalgia? Or are you looking for just the right movie to watch with your friends around Valentine’s Day? These 80’s and 90’s films are my top favorites.
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
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One of my favorite movies from the 90’s is this gem starring Julia Stiles and the late Heath Ledger. It also features a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt! If you live in the Seattle area, this one is cool because it takes place in Seattle, and the actual filming location for the school was at a high school in Tacoma. There’s even a scene that takes place at Gas Works Park! The general gist of the movie is that a couple of sisters are stuck following their dad’s rule that the younger sister, Bianca, can’t date until the older sister, Kat does. This is particularly frustrating for Bianca because Kat is tough and has no interest in dating. The plot is also a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out what happens next!
Currently available on Disney Plus.
- Clueless (1995)
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This is a movie I can easily watch many times without getting sick of it! It’s one of my all-time favorites to chill to. Starring Alicia Silverstone as Cher and Stacey Dash as Dionne, they marked some truly iconic fashion. I also can’t talk about this movie without mentioning the actors Paul Rudd and the late Brittany Murphy. They really bring this film up a notch! A quick summary: Cher is a rich, popular, high school girl who thinks the newcomer named Tai is in need of some major upkeep. She decides to do a makeover on her, and when Tai starts to become more popular than her and begins to change her behavior, Cher has to reconsider what she’s done.
Available for free on Pluto TV.
- The Princess Bride (1987)
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Not only is this movie filled with romance, but it also has an abundance of comedy! This is a story of a young man named Westley (Cary Elwes) and a woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright) who fall in love and are tragically separated when she’s told that he passed away. In his absence, Buttercup becomes engaged to a prince, but she still longs for Westley. She then gets kidnapped and someone unexpected comes to save her. Then they have to fight off evil in the kingdom for the sake of love. This movie sounds super cheesy, but it’s also hilarious which makes up for it.
Currently available on Hulu.
- She’s All That (1999)
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I’ve watched this movie a few times and really enjoyed the 90’s-ness of it all, despite how cliché it is. It begins with a girl named Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) who is an artist and an outcast. The most popular guy in school, Zach (Freddie Prinze Jr.) gets broken up with by his popular girlfriend and shortly after, his friends make a bet with him to see if he can get Laney to be the next prom queen, despite how “dorky” she is. His initial attempts to get close to her don’t succeed, but eventually they catch feelings. The truth eventually comes out during prom and you’ll have to watch to find out what happens!
Available to rent on Amazon Prime video or YouTube.
- Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)
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This one is about a nerdy guy named Ronald (played by Patrick Dempsey) in high school who really just wants to be cool and popular. He sees his opportunity when a popular girl, Cindy (Amanda Peterson), is in a dire situation at the mall. She borrowed her mom’s expensive outfit, ruined it, and is now trying to buy a new one to swap it out. But the problem is she doesn’t have enough money for the replacement! Ronald offers to give his $1,000 to her if she promises to pretend that they’re a couple at school. She agrees, and as he becomes more involved in the popular crowd, he starts to let it get to his head. Do Cindy and Ronald actually start to like each other? Find out when you watch!
Currently available on HBO Max.
- The Craft (1996)
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I watched The Craft for the first time last week and it was pretty wild! It’s about a group of three high school girls who are outcasts and the rumor around school is that they’re witches. Turns out, they are, and they’re looking for a fourth one to complete their circle. The new girl in school happens to display signs of witchcraft, so ultimately, they band together. Each girl has her own insecurity or desire that they want to fix with a spell, but when they get what they want, things get out of hand. Just a heads up, there’s a pretty gross scene with tons of bugs and snakes, so viewer discretion is advised!
Currently available on Amazon Prime.
- Heathers (1988)
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Content warning involving suicide and homicide. This 1988 film is a shocking one, so be prepared. It involves a lot of drama! The most popular group of girls in high school are cruel, and they call themselves the Heathers. Veronica (Winona Ryder), who’s one of them, is sick of it. So, Veronica and her boyfriend J.D. (Christian Slater) decide to do something about it. It goes horribly wrong when they accidentally poison one of the girls. Instead of owning up to what they did, they stage it as a suicide. Eventually, Veronica finds out a horrifying secret about her boyfriend and tries to stop him. Watch to find out the twisted ending!
Available for free on Pluto TV.
- Girl, Interrupted (1999)
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This one isn’t a rom-com, but I thought I’d throw it in here because it’s such a good movie! Another content warning: suicide and mental health. This 1999 film stars Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie and the late Brittany Murphy. It is based on a true story about Susanna Kaysen’s battle with mental health issues. Her behavior grows concerning to her parents, so she’s sent to a mental hospital for girls. There, she meets other girls, one of them being Lisa who is known for being dangerous and toxic. Susanna and Lisa begin to form a connection, and the girls find themselves in tragic situations when things go wrong. If this kind of content is triggering for you, I would not recommend it. Otherwise, it’s a really good, deep and emotional watch.
Available on Amazon Prime Video with Starz subscription, or for rent.
All of these might sound pretty similar especially because almost all of them take place in high school, but each one has its own unique charm. The 90’s (and late 80’s) styles are also just so fun to appreciate and admire.
Along with some relatively dated movies comes some dated ideas. There are definitely some views that I now realize didn’t age well such as tones of misogyny, unhealthy behavior, inaccurate representation, etc. But if you’re able to acknowledge those things when you spot them, these movies can still be enjoyable! And if they’re not really your thing, they might at least be amusing or entertaining to hate-watch!