The year 1994 was crammed full of fantastic movies that have gone on to become classics of the decade. Many of them are so fresh and vital to this day that it’s astonishing these movies are actually turning 30 years old this year!
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s second directorial outing is a classic. Pulp Fiction stars such massive names as John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, Bruce Willis, and Uma Thurman. It’s an imminently quotable film with plenty of iconic scenes and gripping twists. What’s not to love?
Angels in the Outfield
Angels in the Outfield roughly remakes the 1951 movie of the same name. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Roger, prays for a stable home and wants to see the California Angels win a pennant race. He meets with the team’s manager, played by Danny Glover, and thus begins a heartwarming adventure.
Forrest Gump
Many moviegoers of the 90s fell in love with Forrest Gump’s unique take on the Boomer era. Tom Hanks’ title character sprints through cultural touchstones like the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and more besides, painting it all in a rosy light.
Interview With The Vampire
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt play Lestat and Louis, respectively, in this visually gorgeous adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire. It’s a humorless movie, violent and romantic in equal measure. The most impressive thing about this movie is that you can actually still picture Cruise and Pitt in their main roles.
Leon: The Professional
Leon: The Professional has been reevaluated in recent years as potentially problematic due to its protagonist’s questionable role alongside Natalie Portman’s character, Mathilda. However, the movie is an electric debut for Portman, who proves herself more gripping and emotionally resonant than most child actors ever manage.
The Lion King
Who doesn’t love Disney’s retelling of Hamlet using African animals? The Lion King is a classic of the Disney Renaissance, filled with fantastic songs, awesome animation, and a gripping, ageless plot. It’s hard to believe it’s already thirty years old!
Reality Bites
Reality Bites is the quintessential Gen X movie. Starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Ben Stiller, this charming movie presents a perfect encapsulation of the mid-90s counterculture energy that defined the era. And its soundtrack is an all-time classic, too!
The Santa Clause
Tim Allen’s most notable film role came in 1994 with the Christmastime favorite The Santa Clause. This fun family movie posits that, if you hurt Santa Claus, you’ll have to take over his job. Tim Allen’s character accidentally takes Santa out of commission and has to rush to fill the jolly gift giver’s shoes before Christmas Eve.
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The Shawshank Redemption
As one of the many, many Stephen King adaptations to grace the big screen, The Shawshank Redemption had a lot of expectations riding on it. It turned out to be one of the best movies ever made, thanks in no small part to the fantastic performances of actors like Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.
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Speed
The fantastic action movie Speed gave many audiences their first good look at Keanu Reeves as a proper leading man, a far cry from his goofy turn in Bill and Ted. This pulse-pounding thriller depicted a scenario so over-the-top that the viewer had no choice but to buy into its white-knuckle premise.
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