The ’90s were an amazing time for family movies. The Disney Renaissance dominated the box office and much of the animation field with hits like The Lion King, Mulan and Aladdin. At the same time, live-action releases like Home Alone, Jumanji and Space Jam changed pop culture and cultivated a distinctive tone of entertainment. These adventurous films transported families to new worlds, with many of them becoming classics that are revisited time and time again by multiple generations.
Now, 25 years into the new century, some of these films possess qualities that may have been remarkable or inventive at the time but are seen as commonplace or outdated today. Many of these films, while still admirable and enjoyable, contain jokes, special effects, plots and other choices that may not sit well with modern viewers. Even with these aging traits, many of these films have been remade and are continuously referenced in media today, showing that audiences are still clinging to ’90s nostalgia.
10 FernGully: The Last Rainforest Is Disturbing and Handles Its Plot Poorly
A G-rating for This Film Doesn't Make Any Sense
A forgotten film from the ’90s, FernGully: The Last Rainforest features some exquisitely animated sequences and boasts a committed voice cast including Robin Williams and Tim Curry. However, the film has been criticized in modern contexts as too dark for kids, as Curry’s pollution-loving monster Hexxus creates some intensely dark moments.
The film has also been criticized for its mishandling of the culture of Aboriginal Australians, who were the indigenous people of the continent. A larger criticism comes in the form of the film’s environmental message. Some point out that having the main villain be a non-human entity removes the culpability of humans who contribute to harmful practices that destroy ecosystems. While some view this as a classic from their childhood, a closer examination reveals that this film has many problems.
9 Flubber Just Isn't Impressive by Today's Standards
This Family Comedy Doesn't have the Same Whimsy it Had in the '90s
The late comedian Robin Williams dominated the ’90s. With energizing performances in Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire and Aladdin, the actor left an indelible mark on entertainment. One of his later films in the decade followed him as Professor Philip Brainard, a dedicated scientist who discovers a green, gooey, flexible substance for which the film is named. The film utilized CGI for the malleable creature, which may have been revered at the time but doesn’t make an impression today.
There’s just nothing exciting about watching a green puddle dance around, even if Robin Williams gives a decently entertaining performance. What’s even more interesting is that the film shares a name with a popular toy from the ’60s that was pulled from the market due to reports of allergy flare-ups from customers, causing rashes and other skin conditions.
8 Space Jam Is Severely Nostalgic but Has Many Elements That Don’t Hold Up
A Defining Cultural Moment That Can Be Seen as Lackluster Today
An imaginative mash-up that saw the iconic Looney Tunes characters playing basketball with NBA champion Michael Jordan, Space Jam seemed like the perfect family movie. The film does have many funny moments, and the animation blends well with live-action, but certain aspects of the film age it in ways that may not be enjoyable for current audiences.
Some fans who loved the film as kids but have given it a rewatch note that Michael Jordan’s acting is extremely dull and clashes with the Looney Tunes and other cartoon characters’ exaggerated movements. Some also feel that the effects and gags are corny and just aren’t as good as viewers remember. There is some truth to that, as the 2021 sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy, featuring LeBron James, performed poorly critically, even if, like its predecessor, it did outstandingly well financially.
7 Super Mario Bros. Is an Embarrassment to Video Games Films
This Film Just Didn’t Know What to Do With Its Source Material
The Super Mario Bros. live-action film from 1993 was critically panned even when it came out and flopped at the box office, failing to justify its $48 million budget. While some see the film as a guilty pleasure laugh-fest today, it’s still heralded as one of the worst video game film adaptations ever. The film loses the fantastical adventure displayed in the games and instead transports viewers to a futuristic metropolis populated by dinosaurs.The film’s egregiously awful effects and phony performances make it almost unwatchable, even if it’s for ironic enjoyment. Families who were hoping to take their kids to see a movie based on their favorite video game were horrifically shocked at its major departure from the colorful platform games. Today, the film is remembered as an atrocious attempt to bring the classic characters to life. Fortunately, Illumination’s animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one of the best video game adaptations to date.
6 Kazaam Has a Ridiculous Plot and Cheesy Performances
This Family Movie Doesn't Even Have That Much '90s Charm
Coming out the same year as Space Jam, it’s clear there was a push for professional basketball players to try their hand at acting, likely due to the expected box office return. Unfortunately, unlike Space Jam, Kazaam failed to bring in audiences, which was likely because its ridiculousness could be sensed just by its promotional material. Shaquille O’Neal delivers a similarly ludicrous performance, both in acting and singing, as his genie character attempts to create a music career for himself.
Like many other ’90s fantasy and sci-fi films, the effects are laughable by today’s standards, and the convoluted plot jumps from one event to the next without any question. The idea of a hip, new-age genie emerging from a boombox might sound fun on paper, but this film lacked the creativity and direction to make it something that held up against time. Although the film evokes ’90s culture, it also highlights the tropes of the time that audiences would rather forget.
5 The Sandlot has Several Questionable Scenes Involving Consent and Sexism
These Scenes Would Not Be Included if It Were Made Today
The Sandlot is a defining film of the ’90s. Its energetic ensemble cast, thoughtful cinematography and unforgettable humor make for some iconic quotable moments that capture the excitement and anxiety of growing up. Despite taking place 30 years before the film’s release, it remains widely relatable and serves as the quintessential ’90s summer coming-of-age movie; however, it still presents many problematic aspects.
The main issue comes in a memorable but problematic scene where Michael “Squints” Palledorous pretends to be unconscious so that the beautiful lifeguard, Wendy, will have to give him CPR. At first, he has everyone fooled, but then he smiles at his friends, and when Wendy goes to breathe into his mouth again, he holds her head against his before she’s able to wriggle free. This contributes to the «boys will be boys» mentality that the film perpetuates, which is also signaled by the «throw like a girl» line that just feels extremely cringeworthy today.
4 Aladdin Had a Line Cut From a Song Because It Was Too Problematic
A Disney Classic, But Some Parts Haven't Aged Well
The fourth film of the Disney Renaissance, Aladdin, is one of the most beloved films by the studio today. Its electric performances and unique characters make the film a dazzling experience for kids and adults. This film also introduced Jasmine as the first Disney Princess of color and Disney’s first story to take place in the Middle East. The film still incorporates negative racial depictions of Arab people.
Jasmine and Aladdin, being the main protagonists, are notably drawn with more attractive features. Other characters in the kingdom of Agrabah, however, are drawn with unattractive features that rely on Arab stereotypes, making Disney Classic severely problematic. The most glaring issue came in the film’s opening song «Arabian Nights,» where the line «Where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face» was sung. The line was replaced, but harmful depictions persist in the film.
3 Mrs. Doubtfire Is a Lot Bleaker When Contextualizing the Actual Plot
The Film Provides a Limited Perspective on Gender Roles
While many view Mrs. Doubtfire as a family comedy, there’s very little that’s family-friendly about it. Much of the humor is geared more towards adults, and the actual weight of the plot is quite mature, especially for younger audiences. Robin Williams plays a rambunctious voice actor who, after his wife divorces him, is prevented from seeing his children every day. In an attempt to be in their lives more, he disguises himself as an elderly British nanny.
The film sees Williams’ character, Daniel, learn how to be a more responsible parent, even when many wacky hijinks ensue. It has been accused of being transphobic, but most of the issues stem from Daniel’s better adapting to the role of a parent when he’s assuming the identity of a woman, reinforcing that women are natural caretakers and should be burdened with the duties of parenthood. The film is also deeply saddening as audiences watch a man have his life stripped away from him as he resorts to extreme measures to get it back.
2 Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace Introduced a Hateable Character and Clunky CGI
Though It Technically Starts the Series, This Is Definitely One of the Weaker Star Wars Films
After the first three Star Wars films (technically the third, fourth and fifth chronologically) became a huge success in the ’70s and ’80s, the origins of the Skywalker saga were bound to emerge. Finally, in 1999, audiences were treated to Anakin’s story with the long-awaited Episode I. Although the film performed spectacularly at the box office, it received mixed critical reviews and, of course, is infamously known for introducing the universally disliked Jar Jar Binks into the Star Wars universe.
Jar Jar isn’t the film’s only pressing flaw. The film’s CGI just doesn’t hold up in comparison to the practical effects and costumes from the previous films. While the film still contains many impressive action sequences and sets the stage for Anakin’s journey, it can be jarring for fans to see how George Lucas’s expansive world has been interpreted in CGI. Fortunately, the visual effects would improve as the series progressed, but The Phantom Menace is still remembered as a film that failed to reach its full potential.
1 Pocahontas Catastrophically Differs From Its Brutally Violent Source Material
A Live-Action Disney Remake That Will Likely Never Happen
As the first and only Disney Princess who takes direct inspiration from a historical figure, Pocahontas herself is an admirable character. Her strength, resilience and connection to nature make her extraordinarily compelling to watch. Unfortunately, her characterization and the music are really the only redeeming attributes of this problematic Disney Princess movie. There are many conflicting narratives around the true story of Pocahontas and John Smith’s rescue from execution, but it is documented that Pocahontas and John Smith developed a relationship, though not a romantic one.
Pocahontas was likely around 11 or 12 years old while John Smith was around 27, making Disney’s choice to age Pocahontas up and be romantically involved with Smith extremely concerning. The film also features intense racial stereotypes and hateful language that do illustrate the colonists’ evil, but it doesn’t go far enough in condemning their abhorrent actions by instead choosing to center on a love story that didn’t even happen.
