With countless streaming services available and more on the rise, movie fans have been able to re-discover long-forgotten films from their past. From obscure tales filled with magic and adventure to retellings of familiar favorites, the people of Reddit have shared movies that seem to have gotten lost over time.
Whether the film was overlooked due to poor marketing or overshadowed by production powerhouses, there are movie viewers who happen to come across them and be touched by the message the story was trying to convey. The discussion on the platform sparked nostalgia for many, overjoyed that someone else has seen and appreciated the same films from their childhood.
Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead (1991)
Stream On Max Go
Sue Ellen Crandle gets a reality check when she's forced to find a job to take care of her four siblings after the babysitter bites the dust while their mom is on vacation. Christina Applegate plays a memorable role as Sue Ellen in the coming-of-age black comedy Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead as she navigates the corporate fashion world and deceives everyone around her.
Reddit user gloomwood mentioned the film as their childhood favorite, and it's easy to see why as Sue Ellen's siblings get to live a fantasy and do whatever they want with no supervision for the entire summer. With cute moments reminiscent of a rom-com, Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead should be on everyone's nostalgic watchlist.
Drop Dead Fred (1991)
Rent On Apple TV
Elizabeth finds refuge and the power to stand up for herself when she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend in Drop Dead Fred. Fred's appearance turns her already tumultuous life upside down as he creates chaos in everything around her and it makes for big laughs throughout the film.
Redditor BigCheifGrubz was one of the many who commented Drop Dead Fred was a movie that no one around them remembered, however, it's known to have a cult following from fans. The underrated dark comedy has a story of self-actualization and a deeper meaning than what is seen on the surface.
The Princess And The Goblin (1991)
Not Currently Available To Stream
This fairytale-esque movie follows Princess Irene and a miner's son named Curdie's fight to save the kingdom from evil goblins who are determined to reclaim their place as rulers after being shunned underground centuries earlier. With the help of a magical thread from Irene's Great-Great-Grandmother and Curdie's knowledge of the power of song, the two escape capture from Prince Froglip (voiced by Rik Mayall) in time to warn everyone of the imminent danger.
User OhMyjeni stirred up deep memories for others with their comment about The Princess And The Goblin stating, "I would watch this with my brother on VHS all the time because we only had like six movies on VHS, and he swears he doesn't remember it but he remembers all the other movies we watched." The Welsh-American fantasy film was overlooked largely in part to the release of Disney's The Lion King premiering the same year in the US in 1994.
Happily Ever After (1990)
Not Currently Available To Stream
Redditor fancy_plants mentioned Happily Ever After as a movie they remembered watching growing up saying, "it was like a sequel to Snow White or something." The film is a continuation of Disney's Snow White created by Filmation that includes a contemporary twist of leaving the rescuing to the women.
After Snow White escapes from Queen Grimhilde's brother Lord Maliss into the woods she encounters the seven dwarves' female cousins who help her take on the impending doom brought to the kingdom. With a familiar story teamed with magical powers and many fun personalities, this fairytale is sure to leave a lasting impression on those who watch it.
A Troll In Central Park (1994)
Rent On Vudu
Stanley is a troll who is able to grow beautiful gardens with just a touch of his thumb which alienates him from The Kingdom of Trolls. He's banished by Queen Gnorga to Central Park in New York City where he crosses paths with young Rosie who befriends him after becoming mesmerized by his magical abilities.
The animated movie A Troll In Central Park is adorable but was met with poor reviews from critics, claiming the film had a limited audience due to the juvenile subject matter. Reddit user Mattekat commented that they watched the film when they were young and said, "whenever I mention the movie to a friend no one has any clue what I'm talking about."
Ferngully (1992)
Rent On Apple TV
It's hard to believe the comment from Admin_Untold saying "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. I've mentioned it to my friends and they didn't know what I was talking about." The animated movie features voice acting from Robin Williams as Batty as well as Tim Curry who voices the villainous Hexxus and follows the story of the damage done to the rain forest by humans.
Chrysta meets a real-life human named Zak who is shown the beauty of the forest he's had a role in destroying and they form a friendship when they join together to save Chrysta's home. Ferngully is a movie filled with magic and catchy music that aids in giving an important message about pollution and preservation.
Once Upon A Forest (1993)
Rent On Vudu
The environmentalist subject matter makes Once Upon A Forest a film ahead of its time as it shows the impact humans have on endangering the wildlife of the forest. Four young animals called "furlings" find their home destroyed by poisonous gas from an overturned tanker truck and when one of them falls ill the others set off on a journey to find a cure.
Reddit user thelizzerator stated, "the scene with the gas leak scarred me for life" about the film and those on the platform agreed that the movie was more intense than other animated works. Despite the fear-induced scene, Once Upon A Forest is a powerful story that shouldn't be overlooked.
Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland (1989)
Stream On Amazon Prime
Based on a comic strip created by Winsor McCay in 1905, Little Nemo follows a young boy whose dreams blend with reality as he's called upon by King Morpheus to journey to Slumberland. He adventures to Slumberland with his pet squirrel Icarus and finds wonderment that turns to horror when he opens the door to Nightmare Land.
The fantasy film was a joint production of Japanese and American animators and the result provides beautiful animation resembling some of the best anime movies from Studio Ghibli such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Golden-Stag mentioned Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland and the comment garnered a lot of attention from viewers who were relieved they didn't just imagine the film.
Small Soldiers (1998)
Stream On Paramount+
User No-Salamander-2001 brought many people on the platform back to their childhood with their comment "Small Soldiers, anyone?" Unlike Toy Story, Small Soldiers features action figures that were enabled to talk by a toy company experimenting with military technology.
The toys go rogue as the Commandos and the Gorgonites start thinking for themselves and engage in real combat, endangering fifteen-year-old Alan Abernathy and his crush Christy Fimple (played by Kirsten Dunst). With a star-studded cast and a unique twist of an age-old tale of toys coming to life, Small Soldiers is one of the '90s most forgotten gems.
Napoleon (1995)
Stream On Tubi
A Redditor reminisced about their favorite childhood movie saying, "Napoleon! Not the dude. It’s about a puppy who wants to be a “wild dog” and gets stuck in a basket with balloons and flies to an island with a really mean cat." Based in Australia, Muffin (who prefers being called Napoleon) has the misadventure of a lifetime as he follows the howling of wild dogs, determined to become part of their pack.
With the help of his new best friend Birdo, Napoleon learns the ropes of what it takes to survive the unfamiliar territory. Featuring a variety of hilarious animals and many musical numbers: Napoleon is a heartwarming animal movie the whole family will enjoy.