The Best '90s Movies to Watch When You Need a Good Laugh or Cry

The world is currently living in a constant state of nostalgia — from our fashion choices (hello, skirts over jeans) to our favorite on-again couple from the early aughts: Bennifer. As a society, we cannot seem to stop living in the past.

Perhaps it's because we're reminiscing about easier times — sans COVID-19 and anti-vaxxers, widespread wildfires, mass flooding, the list could go on. But whatever the reason is, we could all use a little escapism.

So, we've rounded up the best eight '90s movies that put us in our feels every single time. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and swoon to the best of the '90s.

Clueless

A true classic with phenomenal fashion (that's also very "in" right now), makeovers, a budding romance, and a young Paul Rudd ('nough said). Quintessential popular girl Cher (Alicia Silverstone) starts to question her ways when she starts to fall for her ex-stepbrother Josh (Rudd). As if!

Pretty Woman

When über-successful businessman Edward (Richard Gere) hires escort Vivian (Julia Roberts) to keep him company one weekend, the two start actually start to catch the feels. Given their very different lifestyles, the new couple run into some difficulty when trying to mesh their worlds.

Romeo + Juliet

Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes star in this modern twist on the Shakespeare classic. The star-crossed lovers meet at Juliet's family party and quickly fall in love, despite the fact that their families are rival gangs.

Titanic

Near, far, wherever you are, this one is a must-see. The romance starring a young Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is simultaneously dreamy and gut-wrenching. Throw it on when you need to feel like you're king (or queen) of the world or if you just need a good cry.

Forrest Gump

Tom Hanks stars as Forrest Gump in the six-time Oscar-winning film that is both heart-warming and tear-jerking. An exceptional runner, Forrest explores different avenues from playing football to serving in Vietnam. But the one thing that matters most to him is his childhood love, Jenny.

10 Things I Hate About You

Kat (Julia Stiles) isn't a big dater, but per their household rules, her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) must wait to date until Kat has a boyfriend. Enter the oh-so-charming Patrick (Heath Ledger), whom Bianca tries to set up with Kat. And you guessed it — feelings start to be had.

The Parent Trap

Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan) are twins separated at birth, living on opposite sides of the world, one with each parent. When the two girls meet for the the first time at camp, they divulge a plan to secretly swap places to spend time with the other parent and, perhaps, reunite the family.

Never Been Kissed

Young journalist Josie (Drew Barrymore) receives an assignment to go undercover as a high school student in the name of research for a project. Things start to derail when she falls for the English teacher, Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan).