the beginning of a new decade in cinema
often means a change in audience’s
tastes and that’s what the start of the
90s demonstrated welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 movies of
1990 for this list we’ve looked at the
lasting cult status of some of the
biggest hits of the year in question as
well as the films that were loved by
critics and audiences some hold up
nicely over time there is maybe not so
much either way
sit back and enjoy this blast from the
past
cowabunga number 10 pretty woman hey
sugar you looking for a date this
modern-day Cinderella story put Julia
Roberts on the map of romantic comedies
and cemented her smile status as one of
the best in Hollywood holy shit also
starring Richard Gere as a rich
businessman pretty woman follows Edward
Lewis as he accidentally ends up in la’s
red-light district where he asks
prostitute Vivian Ward for directions 20
I’ll show you personal even show you
what stars live well that’s all I all
had been just the loans right there’s a
spark between them and he ends up hiring
her as an escort to social events really
no it’s alright
opening night never sits on time okay
although the film was criticized for its
old-fashioned Ness and sexism it has
remained a classic Hollywood rom-com
that’s right maybe it was Robert’s smile
or maybe it was her knee-high boots who
knows but it’s still loved to this day
number nine ghost how do you believe in
ghosts even if you haven’t seen our next
entry
you know the pottery scene yes that
pottery scene starring Patrick Swayze as
the ghost of a murdered banker who comes
back to visit his morning partner
played by Demi Moore the romantic
fantasy is every bit as sensual as it is
a tearjerker I love you Molly
I’ve always loved you it also won two
Oscars one for Whoopi Goldberg’s psychic
turn in the Best Supporting Actress
category and one for Best Original
Screenplay you are in serious danger
I got Sam here with me we got to come in
and talk to you but the pottery scene is
probably what it’s most fondly
remembered for today
number eight awakenings my name is
Leonard law it has been explained to me
that I have been away for quite some
time based on a true story this drama
tells the tale of a neurologist
brilliantly played by Robin Williams who
discovers the potent effects of the drug
l-dopa will be working with this dosage
he’s aware of this and he’s prepared for
any effects but he wants the others to
be prepared as well when administered to
patients who’ve been catatonic for
decades the medication awakens them and
allows them to begin their lives anew
but of course things are not easy for
them
also starring Robert De Niro as one of
the awakened patients the film is
awe-inspiring and unsurprisingly
garnered three Academy Award nominations
what we do know is as the chemical
window closed
another awakening took place it also
highlighted Williams quality as a
serious actor a year after another
dramatic success for him as seen in Dead
Poets Society and you boys
Thank You number seven Cyrano de
Bergerac hey Marciano Serena F hula the
bedrock this French comedy is an
adaptation of a play by the same name
about the life of celebrated French poet
and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac right
Machado embarrassed by his
larger-than-life nose but pretending to
be proud of it he tries to win the heart
of Roxanne Madeleine Ababa detox I feel
lacking confidence that she will return
his sentiments he writes love letters to
Roxane through a much better looking
soldier who doesn’t have such a nice way
with words melody for Joe do meto
conversion a celebrated 800 me licinia
trio anemic oblivia cioppino voyage for
Conchita Libya you can guess what
happens next
it was nominated for five Oscars
including Best Foreign Language Film and
one for best costume design
you know her bypass a chosen number six
misery my name is Annie Wilkes the next
entry on our list is the reason why
everyone is a little bit terrified every
time they see Kathy Bates in a movie in
this psychological thriller she plays an
obsessed fan who keeps her favorite
writer played by James Caan hostage and
tortures him through various methods
when he doesn’t submit to her demands
she can’t be dead
misery Chastain cannot be dead today
misery is still considered one of the
best screen adaptations of a Stephen
King novel I’m his number one fan I’ve
got all his books every sentence he ever
put down unsurprisingly Kathy Bates won
an Oscar for her excellent albeit
terrifying performance as Annie Wilkes
well I thought I might go crazy number
five
Total Recall you’re dreaming about
where’s this the next movie is proof
that not much had changed an audience’s
taste between 1985 and 1990 ie
they still wanted more Arnold movies
no shit set in 2048 Total Recall stars
our favorite action hero as a
construction worker who has unsettling
dreams about the planet Mars and a woman
who lives there following a series of
events which have both Douglas Quaid and
moviegoers questioning what’s real and
what isn’t the protagonist is forced to
go to Mars for real you paid to be a
secret agent bullshit
coincidence full of quotable one-liners
the Paul Verhoeven directed flick was
remade in 2012 but it’s the original
that remains a sci-fi classic which is
it a terrible thought what if this is a
dream well then kiss me quick before you
wake up number 4 Edward Scissorhands
what’s your name Edward by 1990 Tim
Burton had already begun establishing
himself as the master of the bizarre
preceded by Beetlejuice and Batman this
romantic fantasy is considered by many
as one of Burton’s finest
starring his muse Johnny Depp Edward
Scissorhands tells the story of the
titular young man who was created by an
old inventor whose untimely death
results in Edward never having been
given real hands I know it’s a little
early for Christmas Edward but ER
I have a present for you so instead he
has scissors this of course greatly
impedes his interactions with the
outside world the film has since become
a cult classic and remains one of the
best if not the best
Burton Depp collaboration to date no
matter what Edward will always be
special number three Dances with Wolves
our next entry is the ultimate Kevin
Costner movie the actor directed
produced and starred in the film which
is an adaptation of the Michael Blake
novel of the same name
playing first lieutenant John Dunbar who
lives in exile in a remote Civil War
outpost this life helps him befriend
wolves and Indians which makes him an
outcast in the military community
long-continued a lot of kids are not
Filipino it took Costner over five years
to complete the film but it was
definitely worth it as it won the Best
Picture Oscar and today is credited as
having brought the western genre back to
life we’ve come far you and me I will
not forget you
number two home alone shit don’t get
scared now we watch this movie every
Christmas and there is no getting sick
of it our next entry was produced by the
incomparable John Hughes and stars
Macaulay Culkin in the role of his life
yes yes yes yes when little Kevin
McCallister’s family leaves for their
Christmas vacation
Kevin is left behind and has to protect
himself and his huge house from two
dim-witted burglars played by Joe Pesci
and Daniel Stern few people may remember
this but the film was actually scored by
John Williams and received an Oscar
nomination for Best Music
but of course we’ll never forget
Culkin’s scream and his many clever
tricks home alone now remains a beloved
classic even this many Christmases after
its release before we unveil our number
one pick here are some honorable
mentions can’t tell me how you feel
Tracy then I can’t trust wait a minute
what do you want me to admit that I
think about you upon this city kill my
anus I think these guys are gonna work
me tired of you shut up
don’t ya you gotta talk of course it’s
our race number one Goodfellas as far
back as I can remember I always wanted
to be a gangster
as far back as we can remember this
movie has always been hailed as one of
the best films of all time I’m funny how
I mean funny like I’m a clown me of you
you I make you laugh
I’m here to can amuse you it is the
ultimate New York gangster story and a
defining moment in the careers of actors
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta an adaptation
of the novel wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi
the crime flicks screenplay was also
co-written by him and Martin Scorsese
how do my funny what’s up is so funny
about me tell me tell me what’s funny in
retrospect it may seem crazy that the
film lost the Best Picture Oscar to
Dances with Wolves
but regardless Goodfellas remains in the
hearts and minds of many as an
unforgettable cult classic and a crime
flick for the ages an average nobody get
to live the rest of my life like a
schnook do you agree with our list money
cannot buy the honor
have burned tonight what’s your favorite
movie from 1990 heaven for more
entertaining top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com I
just want to tell you I’m your number
one fan
that’s very sweet of you
often means a change in audience’s
tastes and that’s what the start of the
90s demonstrated welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 movies of
1990 for this list we’ve looked at the
lasting cult status of some of the
biggest hits of the year in question as
well as the films that were loved by
critics and audiences some hold up
nicely over time there is maybe not so
much either way
sit back and enjoy this blast from the
past
cowabunga number 10 pretty woman hey
sugar you looking for a date this
modern-day Cinderella story put Julia
Roberts on the map of romantic comedies
and cemented her smile status as one of
the best in Hollywood holy shit also
starring Richard Gere as a rich
businessman pretty woman follows Edward
Lewis as he accidentally ends up in la’s
red-light district where he asks
prostitute Vivian Ward for directions 20
I’ll show you personal even show you
what stars live well that’s all I all
had been just the loans right there’s a
spark between them and he ends up hiring
her as an escort to social events really
no it’s alright
opening night never sits on time okay
although the film was criticized for its
old-fashioned Ness and sexism it has
remained a classic Hollywood rom-com
that’s right maybe it was Robert’s smile
or maybe it was her knee-high boots who
knows but it’s still loved to this day
number nine ghost how do you believe in
ghosts even if you haven’t seen our next
entry
you know the pottery scene yes that
pottery scene starring Patrick Swayze as
the ghost of a murdered banker who comes
back to visit his morning partner
played by Demi Moore the romantic
fantasy is every bit as sensual as it is
a tearjerker I love you Molly
I’ve always loved you it also won two
Oscars one for Whoopi Goldberg’s psychic
turn in the Best Supporting Actress
category and one for Best Original
Screenplay you are in serious danger
I got Sam here with me we got to come in
and talk to you but the pottery scene is
probably what it’s most fondly
remembered for today
number eight awakenings my name is
Leonard law it has been explained to me
that I have been away for quite some
time based on a true story this drama
tells the tale of a neurologist
brilliantly played by Robin Williams who
discovers the potent effects of the drug
l-dopa will be working with this dosage
he’s aware of this and he’s prepared for
any effects but he wants the others to
be prepared as well when administered to
patients who’ve been catatonic for
decades the medication awakens them and
allows them to begin their lives anew
but of course things are not easy for
them
also starring Robert De Niro as one of
the awakened patients the film is
awe-inspiring and unsurprisingly
garnered three Academy Award nominations
what we do know is as the chemical
window closed
another awakening took place it also
highlighted Williams quality as a
serious actor a year after another
dramatic success for him as seen in Dead
Poets Society and you boys
Thank You number seven Cyrano de
Bergerac hey Marciano Serena F hula the
bedrock this French comedy is an
adaptation of a play by the same name
about the life of celebrated French poet
and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac right
Machado embarrassed by his
larger-than-life nose but pretending to
be proud of it he tries to win the heart
of Roxanne Madeleine Ababa detox I feel
lacking confidence that she will return
his sentiments he writes love letters to
Roxane through a much better looking
soldier who doesn’t have such a nice way
with words melody for Joe do meto
conversion a celebrated 800 me licinia
trio anemic oblivia cioppino voyage for
Conchita Libya you can guess what
happens next
it was nominated for five Oscars
including Best Foreign Language Film and
one for best costume design
you know her bypass a chosen number six
misery my name is Annie Wilkes the next
entry on our list is the reason why
everyone is a little bit terrified every
time they see Kathy Bates in a movie in
this psychological thriller she plays an
obsessed fan who keeps her favorite
writer played by James Caan hostage and
tortures him through various methods
when he doesn’t submit to her demands
she can’t be dead
misery Chastain cannot be dead today
misery is still considered one of the
best screen adaptations of a Stephen
King novel I’m his number one fan I’ve
got all his books every sentence he ever
put down unsurprisingly Kathy Bates won
an Oscar for her excellent albeit
terrifying performance as Annie Wilkes
well I thought I might go crazy number
five
Total Recall you’re dreaming about
where’s this the next movie is proof
that not much had changed an audience’s
taste between 1985 and 1990 ie
they still wanted more Arnold movies
no shit set in 2048 Total Recall stars
our favorite action hero as a
construction worker who has unsettling
dreams about the planet Mars and a woman
who lives there following a series of
events which have both Douglas Quaid and
moviegoers questioning what’s real and
what isn’t the protagonist is forced to
go to Mars for real you paid to be a
secret agent bullshit
coincidence full of quotable one-liners
the Paul Verhoeven directed flick was
remade in 2012 but it’s the original
that remains a sci-fi classic which is
it a terrible thought what if this is a
dream well then kiss me quick before you
wake up number 4 Edward Scissorhands
what’s your name Edward by 1990 Tim
Burton had already begun establishing
himself as the master of the bizarre
preceded by Beetlejuice and Batman this
romantic fantasy is considered by many
as one of Burton’s finest
starring his muse Johnny Depp Edward
Scissorhands tells the story of the
titular young man who was created by an
old inventor whose untimely death
results in Edward never having been
given real hands I know it’s a little
early for Christmas Edward but ER
I have a present for you so instead he
has scissors this of course greatly
impedes his interactions with the
outside world the film has since become
a cult classic and remains one of the
best if not the best
Burton Depp collaboration to date no
matter what Edward will always be
special number three Dances with Wolves
our next entry is the ultimate Kevin
Costner movie the actor directed
produced and starred in the film which
is an adaptation of the Michael Blake
novel of the same name
playing first lieutenant John Dunbar who
lives in exile in a remote Civil War
outpost this life helps him befriend
wolves and Indians which makes him an
outcast in the military community
long-continued a lot of kids are not
Filipino it took Costner over five years
to complete the film but it was
definitely worth it as it won the Best
Picture Oscar and today is credited as
having brought the western genre back to
life we’ve come far you and me I will
not forget you
number two home alone shit don’t get
scared now we watch this movie every
Christmas and there is no getting sick
of it our next entry was produced by the
incomparable John Hughes and stars
Macaulay Culkin in the role of his life
yes yes yes yes when little Kevin
McCallister’s family leaves for their
Christmas vacation
Kevin is left behind and has to protect
himself and his huge house from two
dim-witted burglars played by Joe Pesci
and Daniel Stern few people may remember
this but the film was actually scored by
John Williams and received an Oscar
nomination for Best Music
but of course we’ll never forget
Culkin’s scream and his many clever
tricks home alone now remains a beloved
classic even this many Christmases after
its release before we unveil our number
one pick here are some honorable
mentions can’t tell me how you feel
Tracy then I can’t trust wait a minute
what do you want me to admit that I
think about you upon this city kill my
anus I think these guys are gonna work
me tired of you shut up
don’t ya you gotta talk of course it’s
our race number one Goodfellas as far
back as I can remember I always wanted
to be a gangster
as far back as we can remember this
movie has always been hailed as one of
the best films of all time I’m funny how
I mean funny like I’m a clown me of you
you I make you laugh
I’m here to can amuse you it is the
ultimate New York gangster story and a
defining moment in the careers of actors
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta an adaptation
of the novel wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi
the crime flicks screenplay was also
co-written by him and Martin Scorsese
how do my funny what’s up is so funny
about me tell me tell me what’s funny in
retrospect it may seem crazy that the
film lost the Best Picture Oscar to
Dances with Wolves
but regardless Goodfellas remains in the
hearts and minds of many as an
unforgettable cult classic and a crime
flick for the ages an average nobody get
to live the rest of my life like a
schnook do you agree with our list money
cannot buy the honor
have burned tonight what’s your favorite
movie from 1990 heaven for more
entertaining top 10s published every day
be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com I
just want to tell you I’m your number
one fan
that’s very sweet of you
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