15 Best Movies of the 90s You Can Watch for Free on YouTube in April 2024
The 1990s was a great decade for movies, not only in terms of quality, but also in terms of sheer variety.
And now you can watch these 15 classics for free on YouTube. Action, comedy, thriller, animation, there really is something for everyone of all ages.
Here is the list of the top 15, sorted by Rotten Tomatoes' score on their famous Tomatometer. Note that certified fresh scores are considered higher than non-certified due to the strict criteria imposed by the Rotten Tomatoes site.
- Face/Off (Action) – 93% (certified fresh)
- Tremors (Horror/Comedy) – 88% (certified fresh)
- Heat (Crime/Drama) – 83% (certified fresh)
- A River Runs Through It (Drama) – 80% (certified fresh)
- The Firm (Drama/Mystery/Thriller) – 76% (certified fresh)
- Forrest Gump (Comedy/Drama) – 76% (certified fresh)
- Braveheart (History/Drama) – 76% (certified fresh)
- Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (Adventure/Action) – 80%
- Point Break (Action/Mystery/Thriller) – 69%
- Ferngully… The Last Rainforest (Kids&Family/Fantasy) – 67%
- Mission: Impossible ( Action/Adventure) – 66%
- A Civil Action (Drama) – 64%
- The Two Jakes (Mystery/Thriller) – 63%
- Tremors II: Aftershocks (Horror) – 60%
- Death Becomes Her (Comedy/Fantasy) – 55%
Our Top 3 Picks
We didn't want to send you down the path of watching 15 movies without giving you some direction. Here are our top 3 picks from the list above.
Face/Off (1997)
Director: John Woo
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage
Plot: FBI agent Sean Archer has devoted himself to his job and his mission to catch criminal Castor Troy ever since Troy killed his son. His neglected wife and daughter see some light when he finally apprehends his target. But that turns out to be just the beginning of a new nightmare. When Archer assumes Troy's identity to foil a deadly plot, Troy takes over Archer's life and promptly kills everyone who knew about the controversial experiment.
Why it's worth watching: If Nicolas Cage vs. John Travolta is not enough to convince you, then take our word for it. This is one of the absolute best action movies not only of the 1990s, but of all time. Stellar performances all around, brilliant effects, gritty shoot-outs, but without losing the human touch of those so deeply affected by the actions of the main characters.
_32446.webp)
Heat (1995)
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro
Plot: Neil McCauley works as a professional thief in LA with his well-trained gang. When a robbery does not go according to plan and leads to the murder of three guards, the LAPD takes a special interest in the case. Especially Lieutenant Vincent Hanna and his team. As the two men try to stay one step ahead of each other, plot twists abound, leading up to a final and unforgettable confrontation.
Why it's worth watching: This is gritty noir crime at its finest. Slow burn, stunning acting from some of the finest stars ever to grace the screen. The action is well done and not overly flashy, keeping the focus on the brilliant story.
_32446.webp)
Braveheart (1995)
Director: Mel Gibson
Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau
Plot: The story of the Scottish folk hero, William Wallace, who gave the invading English one hell of a hard time in the 13th century. Violent, brutal and holding nothing back to remind us how vicious the past was when it came to warfare, this movie shows Wallace growing up and defiantly leading his fellow Scots against the invading English army. It is a quest that ultimately costs him his life, but ensures his status as a legendary figure.
Why it's worth watching: Historical epic action movies don't get much more exciting than this one. Sure, it is not entirely historically accurate, but the spirit of William Wallace is perfectly captured. The sets, costumes and Gibson's Scottish accent were even praised by the late Scottish actor Sean Connery as impressive. And that's not to mention the hilarious scene where the Scots lift their kilts and show the English their backsides in an act of fearless defiance.