Beauty and the Beast
This “tale as old as time” marked a new kind of heroine for Disney movies: book-loving Belle is independent, educated and not at all interested in the toxically masculine Gaston. Feminists, though, will still grapple with the storyline of her falling in love with her captor, a prince who has been turned into a monstrous Beast. Even so, the 1991 classic opens the door for conversation with kids about the messages the movie presents.
The Parent Trap
“Let’s get together” with a young and charming Lindsay Lohan as she plays twins separated at birth who meet at camp, then conspire to switch places and eventually get their parents (Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson) back together. Despite the odd premise—what kind of parents would separate twins and never tell them about each other?—the 1998 movie, co-written and directed by Nancy Meyers, is totally adorable.
Cinderella
Long before Disney’s first animated Black princess (Tiana from 2009’s The Princess and the Frog), singer/actress Brandy played the title role in the 1997 adaptation of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. With portrayals of interracial couples and a diverse cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Filipino-American actor Paolo Montalban as the prince and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, the movie remains an important counterpoint to the mostly white female characters of the princess genre.
The Iron Giant
Not to be confused with the Marvel superhero Iron Man, this 1999 film is a thoughtful and empathetic movie that gained a cult following after its box office flop. When a giant metal machine (the voice of Vin Diesel) lands in an idyllic Maine town during the Cold War, a young boy shelters him from a nefarious government agent who wants to destroy the machine out of fear the giant has been sent to destroy America.
Free Willy
Stories about friendships between kids and animals always tug at the heart, as with this 1993 whale of a tale. When a troubled boy befriends a captive orca, he helps come up with a plan to return him to the wild, and in doing so, finds his own purpose as well. For more animal-human bonding, check out 1996’s Fly Away Home with Anna Paquin, about a father and daughter who help a flock of Canada geese migrate to a bird sanctuary.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
What if the characters from Halloween took over Christmas? The 1993 Tim Burton-produced stop-motion animation musical is a little macabre—some youngsters might even find the main character of Jack Skellington way too creepy. But for Halloween-obsessed kids, the film hits just the right notes, as its continuing popularity proves. The only controversy that remains: Is it a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? You decide.
Good Burger
Based on the sketch from Nickelodeon’s series All That, this funny 1997 flick featured the young comedy duo of Kenan Thompson (now on Saturday Night Live) and Kel Mitchell as summer burger joint employees who come up with a secret sauce, expose a rival restaurant for using illegal chemicals in their meat, and end up crushing the principal’s car with a giant fake burger. It might not make a lot of sense to adults, but Gen Y kids loved it.
Jurassic Park
This movie was a groundbreaking cinematic achievement that holds up surprisingly well: Those CGI dinosaurs still look really, really real. Although the somewhat scary flick isn’t for the little ones (it does have a PG13 rating and a couple of gross instances of dinos munching on humans), this 1993 movie directed by Steven Spielberg provides a rare sense of adventure for dino-loving older kids. They’ll also relate to the film’s two kid stars (Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards), who have a memorable and terrifying encounter with velociraptors in the kitchen.
Mulan
Based on the Chinese legend, Mulan (the voice of Ming-Na Wen; the singing voice of Lea Salonga) bucks the Disney princess stereotype—in fact, she’s not a princess at all, nor does she marry a prince. Instead, Mulan is a warrior pretending to be a young man because girls aren’t allowed to fight, which should prompt a conversation with young viewers about gender roles. This 1998 animated musical version, with its comic relief in the dragon Mushu (the voice of Eddie Murphy) makes a nice companion to 2020’s live-action Mulan (rated PG13). But, there is a bit of warfare in both films for parents to be aware of.
Toy Story
The 1995 movie that launched a franchise was also the first completely computer-animated movie, and the first feature film from Pixar. But young viewers don’t care about that: They simply want fun stories, cool characters and maybe even a bit of heart, and this movie has all three. Unbeknownst to young Andy, his toys come alive when no people are around. When Andy gets a new toy, Buzz Lightyear (the voice of Tim Allen), for his birthday, his favorite toy Woody (the voice of Tom Hanks) is jealous. But they have to work together to make sure they’re not left behind when Andy and his family move.
Babe
Who can forget the closing line of this sweet animal flick? “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.” Cue tears! In this 1995 film, a pig named Babe wants to do the work of a sheepdog—but can a pig win the sheep herding competition? With realistic-looking talking farm animals, this film is always a hit with young audiences. For more talking, live-action animals, check out the pets of 1993’s Homeward Bound.
Space Jam
Cartoons aren’t all about Disney: remember the Looney Tunes characters? This imaginative 1996 movie has basketball legend Michael Jordan playing a version of himself as he assists Bugs Bunny and company in a basketball game against aliens. If this premise sounds a bit out there, it is—but surprisingly (or not surprisingly), young viewers loved it so much that a sequel will be out 25 years later. Space Jam: A New Legacy with LeBron James will premiere July 16, 2021.
Matilda
Like many Roald Dahl stories, this 1996 movie about a telekinetically gifted child (Mara Wilson) is a bit dark, kind of odd, and presents (most) grownups, including her parents and principal, as verbally abusive or neglectful. Yet somehow young viewers connected to this tale of a kid coming into her own, taking charge and standing up to adults who just don’t understand. For another Roald Dahl adaptation, check out 1996’s James and the Giant Peach.
Aladdin
While critics praised the animation, catchy tunes and Robin Williams’ hilarious turn as the Genie, the 1992 film has been mired in a “whole new world” of racism controversies since its release—and the 2019 live-action remake was sadly no different. Although many Gen Y kids remember the movie fondly, today’s parents will have to decide if Aladdin is worth revisiting the tropes of Middle Eastern people presented in the film—although perhaps it’s a good starting point for conversations on racism in popular culture. (Disney’s 1995 Pocahontas is also problematic when it comes to racism.)
Hocus Pocus
This 1993 cult-favorite still makes the rounds today every Halloween. When three kids from Salem, Massachusetts, accidentally bring the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) back to life, the witches run amok looking for children to eat to keep them young forever. What exactly is it that keeps the wacky film fresh for today’s kids? Hard to say, but it has its own brand of magic that fans will be getting more of when the bewitching trio reprises their roles for a long-hoped-for sequel on Disney+.
Dr. Dolittle
Everyone from Rex Harrison to Robert Downey, Jr. has portrayed this doctor who can talk to animals, but the most hilarious turn is no doubt Eddie Murphy’s 1998 version. After discovering as a child that he can talk to animals, John Dolittle (Murphy) decides to hide his gift. As an adult, though, he finds he can’t avoid it, and learns to accept his rare ability—and himself—for who he is. (Parents should note, though, that it’s rated PG13 for crude humor and language.)
My Girl
Child star Macaulay Culkin’s 1990 movie Home Alone is a family holiday classic, but he followed it up with a very different movie, this 1991 kiddie tearjerker. Anna Chlumsky (who went on to star on Veep) plays a young girl whose mom has died and whose dad (Dan Aykroyd) is a funeral director; Culkin is her best friend who’s deathly allergic to bee stings…so you might see where this is going. But for the maturing, thoughtful preteen, this film has relatable depth.
Hook
What would happen if Peter Pan grew up? This 1991 reimagining of the classic story follows an adult Peter (Robin Williams) as he begins to remember who he is and must make his way back to Neverland to save his children from Captain Hook. The film is one of several 1990s family films featuring Williams, which also include Jumanji and Mrs. Doubtfire.
The Lion King
The epic, sweeping saga of Simba, a young lion who must take back his royal throne from his murderous uncle, appeals to adults as well as kids. The gorgeously animated African landscape and wildlife, Shakespearean storyline and memorable songs including “The Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” make this one a can’t-miss for all ages. Then, watch the 2019 photorealistic remake.
Cool Runnings
Loosely based on a true story, this fun 1993 family-friendly flick tells the unlikely story of the 1988 Winter Olympics’ Jamaican bobsled team—an irony because there is obviously no snow or ice in Jamaica. But the inspirational, feel-good underdog tale shows that team spirit and perseverance are more important than actually winning. John Candy plays their coach in one of his last on-screen roles.
Harriet the Spy
This 1996 Nickelodeon film doesn’t shy away from the difficult parts of growing up: Dealing with mean kids at school, parents and teachers who don’t get you, and so many seemingly unfair things that happen. Preteen Harriet (Michelle Trachtenberg) is an observer, or spy, of human nature; but when her notebook, which doesn’t always paint people in the best light, is found, she gets into trouble both with the adults and classmates in her life.
Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest
Not all great animated movies are made by Disney. This 1992 fantasy about fairies trying to save their Australian rainforest from human loggers is sadly still very relevant today. In addition to the lovely visuals, kids get a lesson in the importance of ecological and environmental conservation through this sweet story.
The Mighty Ducks
Viewers young and old love underdog sports stories. In this 1992 movie, a former elite player (Emilio Estevez) coaches a misfit group of youths as community service. Can he end up turning the team around? Watch the movie (and its two sequels), then the new Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, out March 26. It also stars Estevez and will feature some of the original, now grownup cast for a special episode. For more young ragtag sports players, check out 1993’s The Sandlot.
Hercules
Lesser known than its princess-genre counterparts, this entertaining 1997 film based on the Greek/Roman myth about a part human, part god who goes from “zero to hero” is somewhat of an undiscovered gem in the Disney canon. With tunes inspired by gospel music, a unique animated style and a fast-talking villain in Hades, the movie appeals to kids who don’t normally go for the traditional fairy-tale flick.
Newsies
Extra! Extra! Christian Bale as a singing, dancing, old-timey New York City newspaper boy—what’s not to love about this 1992 movie musical? OK, it was a box-office flop and tackles some serious issues for a kids movie including child labor, worker’s rights, unions and strikes; but it also gained a Gen-Y cult following of “fansies,” and was eventually turned into a successful Broadway musical. Want more 1990s nostalgia? Take our ’90s quiz.
