Who doesn’t love a good film to transport them to the past? While many movies like to rewind to centuries ago, others like to bask in the'90s. For some cinephiles, this decade doesn’t feel like history at all. And for others, it’s an era they saw in photos and from older movies. The movie industry also experienced a boom during this time, producing cult classics that remain relevant to this day. The ’90s are synonymous with colorful, baggy clothing, grunge, and music.
From the biggest boy and rock bands to soulful singers, ’90s music is distinct and catchy. Over the years, many films have come out celebrating ’90s tunes in all its glory. From musicals to romances, these films will have audiences primed to buy a boombox and start breakdancing or crowd surfing at the earliest convenience.
Check out these 11 movies about ’90s music that’ll trigger nostalgia.
11Notorious (2009)
Hip-hop left its mark on Black and American culture thanks in large part to the popularity of several artists in the ’90s. Classic films includereferences to hip-hopand current musicians are still inspired by these creatives. One of those history makers was The Notorious B.I.G. and in 2009 a film was released calledNotoriousthat documented his life before, during, and after fame. Even those familiar with his story and tragic end will find enjoyment in this film.
A Celebration of Hip-Hop
It’s not just Biggie’s career that’s depicted in Notorious, but also his relationships and rivalries with other recognizable names. Tupac Shakur, Lil' Kim, and Faith Evans to name a few. The complicated relationship he had with his label and rappers on the West Coast provides the much-needed drama of any good flick. Though some fans had issues with the casting, namely Anthony Mackie as Tupac,Notoriousis still a solid watch with tight pacing.
Stream on Hulu
10Singles (1992)
Another genre of music that grabbed the ’90s by its neck is grunge. The jeans and flannel, graphic band tees, cigarettes, and Nirvana make the perfect aesthetic for those looking to tap into this subculture.Singlestakes place in the hub of this movement: Seattle, Washington. It revolves around a group of twenty-somethings who are trying to figure out their stance on love, sex, and relationships.
Smells Like ’90s Grunge
There’s waitress Janet Livermore (played by Bridget Fonda) who is interested in a musician in a band. His name is Cliff (Matt Dillon) and he comes across like he doesn’t have a care in the world, not the best for starting a romantic relationship. The plot is quite simple, there’s no major hook besides the actors themselves who were huge draws in the ’90s. Still, if a viewer truly wants to experience the grime and glitz that was ’90s Seattle and grunge music, there’s no better option.
Rent on Apple TV
Related:20 Movies That Nailed the ’90s Grunge Aesthetic
9The Thing Called Love (1993)
Plenty of current-day A-list actors rose to fame during the ’90s. Others' careers never took off orwere cut short. Such was the cast with River Phoenix, who co-starred inThe Thing Called Lovealongside Samantha Mathis and Sandra Bullock. Miranda (Matthis) is a musician from New York who travels to Nashville where her love of country music will be better appreciated. She gets a job as a waitress where she meets locals, including two young men who vie for her heart.
Reckon It’s a Good Time
The Thing Called Lovewas Phoenix’s last film that wasn’t released posthumously. Despite the sad facts attached to the film, it’s quite a fun time, and perfect for country music lovers. Several respected country singers appear in the film, such as Deborah Allen and Trisha Yearwood. The music isn’t half bad and while it’s none of these actors' best performances, the chemistry between them saves the film.
Stream on Showtime
8Selena (1997)
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is often cited as one of the most influential Latin American artists. Her huge success coupled with the shocking news of her murder guaranteed a biopic would happen.Selenawas released in 1997 to explore her life and starred a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez in the lead role. It revolves around her entire life, from when she was growing up in the seventies to her time taking over the Tejano music scene in the ’90s.
The Rise & Fall of an Icon
This film does a fantastic job of exploring the many facets of Selena’s life and career and not just sensationalizing her death. Viewers see Selena struggle with her identity as she sings in Spanish but isn’t perfectly fluent in the language. Viewers also witness her fall in love. The movie’s soundtrack includes some of Selena’s best-known works and is sure to make people sing along.
Related:Musicians That Deserve Their Own Biopic
78 Mile (2002)
8 Mileis a drama that takes inspiration from rapper Eminem’s life. In his film debut, Eminem plays Jimmy Smith Jr., a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately, Jimmy doesn’t have a great home life. His family is poor, his mother is an alcoholic, and his mom’s boyfriend is incredibly violent. Rap is his outlet, yet the nerves he gets on stage and feeling inadequate as a white rapper in a mostly Black space casts doubts regarding his potential.
A Shifting Musical Landscape
Most of Eminem’s greatest hits were released in the early 2000s, but 8 Mile highlights the grind he had to go through before then. Starting in the mid-’90s, this film brings out classic characteristics of ’90s hip-hop, while also showcasing the shift that was beginning to happen during the latter days of the decade. As with much of Eminem’s music itself, the movie is filled with angst, drama, and a bit of humor. Super fans of this movie cananticipate a TV seriesin the near future.
6Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Straight Outta Compton
It’d be a travesty to discuss ’90s hip-hop and not touch on group N.W.A. It consisted of members like Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and more. The group pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in their music, and they caught a lot of flack for it.
Straight Outta Comptoncovers much of their history, starting in the mid-80s when crime and violence plagued their neighborhoods. Eventually, their music finds a large audience. But with conflict coming from inside and outside the group, it’s a question of how long it’ll last.
Why It’s Great
Once the movie ventures into the ’90s a lot has changed with N.W.A. Certain members left, tensions between the members escalate, and political events influence their music. All of these factors together drop viewers right into the ’90s. The film was a massive success, making over $200 million on a relatively small budget. And with Ice Cube’s actual son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., playing his father in the film, it adds a layer of authenticity.
Related:Why Straight Outta Compton Is One of the Best Music Biopics Ever Made
5Empire Records (1995)
Empire Recordsis a coming-of-age film about a group of teens in the ’90s who work at a record store. It takes place over twenty-four hours as they try to prevent the store from being sold. Lucas is one of the workers who is closing the shop for the day when he learns of plans to turn Empire Records into part of a chain music store.
The store remaining independent is of utmost importance to him, so he takes the cash from that day and heads to the casinos with a well-intentioned but poorly thought-out plan.
A Cool Coming-of-Age
Lucas is joined by his co-workers to help save the store. Films that follow a bunch of different personalities thrown together by circumstance are always a treat to watch. The love for music threaded throughout is another plus.
Empire Records' soundtrack featured a mix of indie talent and more well-known acts. Several of the cast members were even involved in giving the film its unique sound. Both viewers who are musicians themselves or who have a deep appreciation for the art will love this blast from the past.
Stream on Paramount+
4CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story (2013)
’90s boy bands get a lot of attention, butCrazySexyCool: The TLC Storyshines a light on one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. TLC consists of three members: T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli. Luck and timing brought the ladies together, but it was clearly meant to be.
Soon, they become known for their timeless hits likeNo Scrubs, Waterfalls,andUnpretty. Yet behind the scenes, the women are dealing with a lot, from exploitation at the hands of their team and family and relationship issues.
Vibrant & Heartbreaking
In recent years, biopics have become all the rage and not all of them are created equally. From actors being severely miscast, to not respecting the artist if they passed on, it’s always a gamble how it’ll hold up.CrazySexyCoolsurprised many viewers with its solid cast and writing. It helped that the real T-Box and Chilli served as executive producers. From the bright, oversized clothing to the lingo, this film is a ’90s time capsule.
Stream on BET+
Related:Best Keke Palmer Movies, Ranked
3Wayne’s World (1992)
Wayne’s World
Wayne’s Worldis a silly, lighthearted that promises viewers a good time.Saturday Night Livewas huge in the ’90s and remains popular today. This film expands on the titular sketch from the improv show. Wayne and Garth love rock and heavy metal music, so much so that they host a show about it from a basement. It’s about as impressive as it sounds. But they’re determined to get more eyes on their program, especially after a bigshot producer officers to buy the rights to the show.
They’re Kooky and Creepy, But Fun
Mike Myers who later became well-known for roles in Austin Powers and as the voice of Shrek debuted inWayne’s World. Neither Wayne nor Garth are stars nor musically inclined, but their love for music runs deep. The movie offers up banger after banger, with songs by Queen, Black Sabbath, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and more found during its runtime. Not only will this make viewers nostalgic for ’90s music, but for what many consider to be the golden days ofSNL.
2Music of the Heart (1999)
If filmmaker Wes Craven’s name gets tossed around in discussion,his horror moviesare typically the ones attached to him. In a departure from the norm, in 1999, theNightmare on ElmStreetdirectedMusic of the Heartstarring Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, and Gloria Estefan. Starting in the ’80s, we meet Roberta Guaspari (Streep), a violinist from New York. She is recently divorced and trying to figure out the right career path to care for her children.
A Mellower Take on ’90s Music
The story and main characters are based on real-life events and people. Roberta changed music education in New York public schools, especially in Harlem, and was a talented violinist. The film shows the evolution of the program and her fight to instill the value of the arts well into the ’90s. If viewers want to experience another side of ’90s tunes that don’t involve individuals reaching for fame, head-banging rock, or high-energy rap, this underrated movie could be a great option.
