Top 15 Cult Classic Teen Movies of the 90s, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

The 90s were a golden era for teen movies, creating a bunch of films that didn't just fade away but grew into cult classics, loved more and more as the years go by; these movies have become like old friends to us, full of characters and quotes that feel familiar and comforting.

15. Never Been Kissed (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%

Josie Geller, an awkward copy editor, goes undercover as a high school student for her newspaper, leading to mishaps and misunderstandings, as she navigates adolescence for the second time, culminating in a transformative prom night revelation about love and self-acceptance.

14. The Craft (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

A newcomer at a Catholic prep high school befriends three outcasts practicing witchcraft; together, they cast spells for their personal gain, but their increasing powers lead to unintended consequences that test their bond and sanity.

13. American Pie (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%

Four high school friends make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night, a journey filled with embarrassing and revealing moments, ultimately learning about love, friendship, and the realities of sexual relationships through a series of comedic misadventures.

12. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

In this modern take on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," a new student must find a suitor for the sharp-tongued Kat Stratford before her popular sister is allowed to date, leading to a complicated romance with a bad-boy who has been paid to woo her.

11. Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

A visually modern adaptation set in a stylized version of Verona, where the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love despite their families' ancient feud, leading to tragic consequences as misunderstandings and fate conspire against them.

10. Buffalo '66 (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

Upon his release from prison, Billy Brown kidnaps a young woman to pose as his wife and meet his eccentric parents, leading to unexpected bonding, revelations of his troubled past, and a search for redemption through an awkward, yet genuine connection.

9. The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

In a quiet Michigan suburb, the five enigmatic Lisbon sisters fascinate a group of boys who obsess over their tragic suicides, piecing together the mystery from a distance, while reflecting on the sisters' oppressive household led by their strict parents.

8. Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Vivian's nomadic family struggles to maintain a facade of wealth while living on the fringes of Beverly Hills, leading her through the trials of adolescence, family dynamics, and a quest for stability amidst the chaos of her dysfunctional family.

7. Scream ( 1996)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

In the quiet town of Woodsboro, a masked killer known as Ghostface begins murdering teenagers, prompting Sidney Prescott and her friends to uncover the killer's identity, all while dealing with the town's dark past and their own connections to previous murders.

6. Clueless (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and superficial high school student from Beverly Hills, attempts to boost a new student's popularity, but her successes in matchmaking and personal transformation lead to introspection and romantic realizations in her own life.

5. Rushmore (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Max Fischer, a precocious but academically challenged student at Rushmore Academy, finds himself in a complicated love triangle with a widowed teacher and a disillusioned industrialist, leading to a series of ambitious, yet misguided, schemes to win her affection.

4. Go (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

The film intertwines three stories stemming from a drug deal gone wrong at a Los Angeles supermarket, involving a group of young people facing a series of misadventures over the course of one night, revealing their connections and the consequences of their choices.

3. Election (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Overachiever Tracy Flick is determined to become the president of Carver High's student body, but her ambitions are challenged by a popular jock and a revenge-seeking teacher, leading to a comical series of events that expose the dark side of high school politics.

2. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Middle-schooler Dawn Wiener endures the pains of adolescence as she faces relentless bullying at school and neglect at home, her awkward attempts at gaining attention and affection leading to both comedic and poignant moments of self-discovery.

1. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

On the last day of school in 1976 Texas, incoming freshmen navigate a hazing ritual by the soon-to-be seniors, leading to a night of partying, self-discovery, and the realization of the coming of age for a diverse group of teenagers.