The 1990s was a great decade for movies. Taking a look at some of the biggest movies of the year is a list of titles that remain beloved and influential to this day. Likewise, the movies that earned the Best Picture trophies at the Oscars during that decade include some truly timeless classics.
Of course, not every Best Picture winner has stood the test of time as well as others. Some are enjoyed by the audience even now while others are forgotten or even derided. The users over at IMDb have shown which of the winners from the '90s still rank high and which have fallen out of favor.
Shakespeare In Love (1998) 7.1
Playing around with historical facts, Shakespeare in Love imagines the inspiration behind one of William Shakespeare's most famous works. Joseph Fiennes plays the famed writer who struggles with writer's block until he meets and falls in love with a young woman (Gwyneth Paltrow) leading to his creation of Romeo & Juliet.
Despite the grand style of the movie and an impressive cast that includes Ben Affleck and Colin Firth, Shakespeare in Love has since become one of the lowest-rated Best Picture winners in history.
The English Patient (1996) 7.4
Adapted from the best-selling novel, The English Patient is the epic romance story set during the end of World War II. The story follows a caring nurse looking after a badly burned patient who tells her the story of his own incredible love affair.
The movie is a sweeping story with fine performances from its cast and directed with an eye for beauty by the late Anthony Minghella. However, some have found the movie to be a bit dull despite all the acclaim.
Titanic (1997) 7.8
James Cameron is responsible for yet another epic romance story that became the biggest movie of all time for a number of years. Titanic tells the story of a wealthy yet depressed young woman (Kate Winslet) and a free-spirited young man (Leonardo DiCaprio) who fall in love aboard the doomed ship.
With the massive box office success and winning countless awards, the movie has been met with considerable backlash since its release. But there are still many who acknowledged the thrilling and entertaining scope of the movie as well as Cameron's obvious talents as a filmmaker.
Dances With Wolves (1990) 8.0
Kevin Costner is yet another actor who stepped behind the camera for the first time and delivered a stunning directorial debut. Dances with Wolves is a Civil War-set story about a Union officer assigned to a remote outpost where he forms a connection with the Native Americans of the land.
While certain aspects of the story feel very dated today, many fans still appreciate the epic feel of the movie. Costner managed to craft a compelling and unique western that holds one's attention even at its three-hour runtime.
Unforgiven (1992) 8.2
Clint Eastwood delivered another stunning Western for the 1990s that took a different look at the genre he's best known for. In Unforgiven, Eastwood plays a former gunslinger who takes one final job which makes him a target for a local sadistic sheriff.
The movie is an interesting new take on the classic Western story as it makes the idea of the good guys and the bad guys much more complex. Eastwood does his best work as a director and actor in the movie while he is backed up by stellar performances from Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman.
Braveheart (1995) 8.3
The '90s seemed to have a trend of famous actors directing Oscar-winning movies. In Braveheart, Mel Gibson stepped in front of and behind the camera to tell the story of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior who was a prominent figure in the country's rebellion against King Edward I of England.
Though the movie's historical accuracy has often been called into question, the entertainment value of the movie seemed unquestionable. The adventure epic is filled with the kind of grand feeling and intense battle sequences one might hope for from a movie like this.
American Beauty (1999) 8.3
In a very different movie from Braveheart, Sam Mendes made his stunning directorial debut with the family drama American Beauty. Kevin Spacey plays a suburban father who is going through a mid-life crisis as his wife an affair and his daughter strikes up a friendship with the unusual boy next door.
The movie connected with many viewers thanks to the great performances, the mix of comedy and tragedy, and Mendes' brilliant directing.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) 8.6
Horror movies have rarely gotten recognition from the Oscars, but it seems The Silence of the Lambs was too good to ignore. Based on the best-selling novel, it follows a young FBI agent named Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who hunts a serial killer with the help of another incarcerated killer, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins).
The movie swept all the major categories at the Oscars and has become an iconic movie in the horror genre. While the performances are obviously excellent, the direction by Jonathan Demme is the real reason the movie works so well as it maintains that tense feeling throughout.
Forrest Gump (1994) 8.8
Tom Hanks won his second Oscar in a row with his winning performances as the title character in Forrest Gump. The movie follows Forrest, a simple-minded yet kind-hearted young man who accidentally finds himself involved in some of the biggest moments in United States history.
Some have since dismissed the movie as too corny, but it's hard not to smile watching Forrest's adventures. Hanks is the real secret here as his grounded and lovable performance sells this character beyond being just a caricature to laugh at.
Schindler's List (1993) - 8.9
Steven Spielberg finally won his first Oscar for this harrowing Holocaust drama. Schindler's List tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German factory owner who uses his position to help save thousands of Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
The movie is beautifully shot in black-and-white with a haunting score from John Williams. It is not a pleasant experience to sit through but is an example of how emotionally affecting movies can be and how they can tell important stories about our world.