Top 10 Movies From The ‘90s On HBO Max, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

Although HBO originally launched way back in 1972, it really didn’t rise to prominence and become a huge deal until the ’90s. That was when the idea of the Home Box Office really shined as audiences could watch their favorite blockbusters from their homes and they’d get access to incredible original programming.

A lot of those are currently available on the HBO Max streaming platform, which is still in its first year of service. It has some tremendous flicks from the ’90s available for subscribers to watch right now. They include Academy Award nominees, emotional true stories, and iconic foreign pictures.

10 Clerks (89%)

It’s kind of incredible to consider everything that Clerks managed to accomplish. This 1994 flick has become iconic, sparked the career of a quality filmmaker, and spawned an entire universe of films. Somehow, it did it all within the constraints of a minuscule $27,575 budget.

The black and white film tells a simple story following a day in the lives of two store clerks. Filled with snappy dialogue and some off the wall moments, Clerks has gone on to become the stuff of legend. The cult classic also introduced the world to memorable characters like Jay and Silent Bob.

9 Malcolm X (89%)

The story of Malcolm X is ideal to bring to the big screen. He’s about as pivotal as it gets when it comes to human rights activists. In 1992, his story was indeed made into a film and none other than the great Denzel Washington got to take on the role.

Washington scored an Oscar nomination for his work, while Spike Lee proved his worth again as a visionary director. In a fun note, Denzel’s son John David Washington appears as a school student and he’d go on to work with Spike Lee for 2018’s BlacKkKlansman.

8 12 Monkeys (89%)

Rounding out the trio of films tied with an 89% rating is 12 Monkeys due to having the most total reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Released in 1995, 12 Monkeys is a fantastic sci-fi flick that remains one of the best uses of time travel as a plot device.

Based on a 1962 short film titled La Jetée, this tells the twisty story of a convict from a time stricken by a disease who is sent back several years to try and prevent the virus from getting out. Bruce Willis played the lead but it was Brad Pitt’s supporting turn that earned an Oscar nomination.

7 Misery (90%)

It’s impressive when you really consider just how prolific Stephen King is as a writer. Among his dozens of written works, almost a countless number have been adapted for the big and small screen. From It to Castle Rock to The Dark Tower to Under the Dome, there are many well-received ones.

The adaptation to get the most acclaim is arguably 1990’s Misery. Focusing on the chilling tale of an obsessed fan who holds her favorite author captive to force him to write her a story, it was a huge success. Kathy Bates did award-winning work and King has named this among his favorite adaptations.

6 Pulp Fiction (92%)

The career of Quentin Tarantino has seen the vast majority of his films met with widespread acclaim. From his dialogue-heavy scenes to his signature flair for the dramatic and intense levels of gore, Tarantino has a style that is all to his own. Many argue that his best work ever is Pulp Fiction.

In fact, many suggest that it should’ve won Best Picture over Forrest Gump at the Oscars. Pulp Fiction centers on various crime-based tales in Los Angeles. With a cast including John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, and more, along with so many scenes that have become iconic pop culture staples, it’s no wonder this was such a hit.

5 Princess Mononoke (93%)

If you’re discussing the greatest animated films of all-time, it wouldn’t be a complete conversation without mentioning several works of Hayao Miyazaki. He both wrote and directed 1997’s Princess Mononoke, which continued his trend of delivering phenomenal fantasy adventures.

This classic centers on Ashitaka, who works with a princess trying to save the forest against a woman set out to destroy it. Along with some of the great visuals that Miyazaki films have become known for, this was also quite grand in scale. It set box office records in Japan at the time of release.

4 Sling Blade (96%)

While everyone knows about Billy Bob Thornton’s talents and career as an actor, he is also impressively versatile. Thornton is also a writer, musician, and director. He got behind the camera for Sling Blade and also penned the well-received 1996 release.

Thornton starred as Karl Childers, a man who has been in a mental hospital since he was 12 after murdering his mother and her lover. Childers was released as an adult and must acclimate to the world in a small Arkansas town. It won Thornton an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and launched his star.

3 Unforgiven (96%)

Along the same lines as Billy Bob Thornton, though in a more famous manner, Clint Eastwood is a jack of all trades. He has proven that on many occasions but his greatest achievement is probably his work in 1992’s Unforgiven, which earned him several awards.

The Western scored him the Best Director and Best Picture Academy Awards and he was nominated for Best Actor. Unforgiven has a relatively simple premise, following an old gunslinger named William Munny who takes on one final job to take out a notorious outlaw.

2 Three Colours: Blue (98%)

The top two entries are intertwined. Here, it’s Three Colours: Blue, which was the first installment in the Three Colours trilogy. The French films are all directed by the legendary Krzysztof Kieślowski and this first leg nearly has a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Released in 1993, this emotional drama centers on a woman who attempts to cut herself off and live in isolation following the death of her husband and child in a car accident. In line with the title of this entry, many of the shots and lighting involve the color blue.

1 Three Colours: Red (100%)

1994 saw the arrival of Three Colours: Red, the final entry in the trilogy. The middle flick, Three Colours: White, was also released in 1994 and holds a very strong 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this last installment was the best, clocking in with a perfect 100% rating.

Three Colours: Red puts the focus on a model who forms a bond with a judge after discovering they live in the same neighborhood. Ultimately, this was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Director for Kieślowski.

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