Warning: This article discusses extreme violence.
Many still love ‘90s movies, but not every pop culture reference works with a modern audience. Some of the best movies of all time from the ‘90s are ed for their gags and nods to a pastime, but in 2024, these references make little sense.
These references are either no longer relevant or have simply been forgotten about. While movies will always try and stay up-to-date with the world, these ‘90s titles contain references that just don’t work now.
10 "Dionne And I Were Both Named After Famous Singers Of The Past, Who Now Do Infomercials."
Clueless (1995)
Two characters in the Clueless cast are named after iconic music artists - Cher and Dionne Warwick. While both of the singers are notable ‘90s names, the reference to the pair “now do[ing] infomercials” is even funnier.
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Whether it's the outdated jokes or offensive stereotypes, even the cult classics of the '90s fall victim to contemporary criticisms thrown at them.
This is a nod to Cher’s commercials for Lori Davis hair products in the 1990s, but Davis is no longer alive, so it’s unlikely that any modern audiences know who she is today.
Clueless is a 1995 comedy film that follows Cher Horowitz, a wealthy and popular high school student in Beverly Hills, who navigates adolescence while matchmaking friends and discovering her own feelings. The film offers a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma, set in a contemporary American high school.
Warwick was the face of Psychic Friends Network. The company still exists, but psychic services are no longer prominent, especially in a talk-show format.
9 "Have You Seen This Boy?"
Wayne's World (1992)
When Wayne’s World’s titular character is pulled over by the police, he is stunned to face Robert Patrick making an appearance as T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The polaroid image he shows is a great ‘90s reference, but the robotic-voiced question of “Have you seen this boy?” is even better.
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Wayne's World
- Release Date
- February 14, 1992
- Runtime
- 94 minutes
- Director
- Penelope Spheeris
Cast
Dana Carvey
WHERE TO WATCH
Penelope Spheeris takes the classic Saturday Night Live recurring sketch and expands it into its own film with Wayne's World, a comedy film that stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth. The movie follows the two music fans as they begin to climb the ladder of success by taking their public access show in their basement to a worldwide audience after "selling out," leading the two stuck in a situation where they lose creative control of their ion project - and must find a way to take it back.
While the Terminator movies are still popular today, audiences are less likely to immediately recognize Patrick's cameo. Hilariously, Wayne knows who the man is, and so he panics and screams in fear.
8 "Are You Lookin' At Me?"
Aladdin (1992)
1992’s Aladdin has plenty of brilliant pop culture references, but one that isn’t as recognizable now is the Genie recreating Robert De Niro’s iconic Taxi Driver quote. After Aladdin first meets the Genie and tries to leave, the large blue figure breaks out his best De Niro impression and asks “Are you lookin’ at me?”
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Aladdin
- Release Date
- November 25, 1992
- Runtime
- 95 Minutes
- Director
- Ron Clements, John Musker
Cast
Scott WeingerAladdin
Genie/Peddler
WHERE TO WATCH
Aladdin, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, is an animated film featuring a street urchin who discovers a magical lamp. The story follows Aladdin's adventures, including his encounters with Princess Jasmine and the villainous Jafar, who seeks to wield the lamp’s extraordinary powers to seize control.
While the Genie’s words aren’t the exact same as De Niro’s, older viewers are quick to spot the nod to Taxi Driver. The late Robin Williams’ impressions are fantastic and this moment proves his talents, although a lot of children wouldn’t understand why this is so funny.
7 "You're Not A Postal Worker, Are You?"
Jumanji (1995)
In the first of the Jumanji movies, one scene shows Van Pelt purchasing a rifle from a gun store. In one quick, yet comical, line of dialogue, the owner asks Van Pelt if he’s a “Postal worker.”
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Jumanji
- Release Date
- December 15, 1995
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
- Director
- Joe Johnston
Cast
-
Kirsten Dunst
WHERE TO WATCH
Jumanji is an action-adventure comedy film by director Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams. Two orphan siblings move into a home occupied by the former Parrish family, whose son disappeared years ago. When the two start playing a mysterious board game known as "Jumanji," they unknowingly release the missing Alan Parrish later, along with various other jungle-themed dangers that can only be stopped if they finish the game.
Nowadays, this reference would go over many peoples’ heads. However, this isn't the worst thing, as this line is a rather sour joke about "going postal," a term describing several incidents in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s where USPS workers were killed in workplace shootings.
6 "A Woman Could Cut Off Your Penis While You're Sleeping."
Fight Club (1999)
A very short reference to Lorena Bobbitt crops up in Fight Club. While sharing a drink together, Tyler reassures the narrator by telling him “it could be worse,” before reminding him of John Bobbit’s fate in 1993.
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Fight Club
- Release Date
- October 15, 1999
- Runtime
- 139 minutes
- Director
- David Fincher
WHERE TO WATCH
Fight Club, David Fincher's 1999 thriller starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter, is the cinematic adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's eponymous 1996 novel. In it, reckless soapmaker Tyler Durden helps the desolate Narrator find meaning in his monotonous life by creating an underground fight club where dejected men release their frustration in the form of fistfights.
‘90s audiences John and Lorena Bobbitt for one of the wildest arguments of all time. Lorena notably cut her husband’s penis off and threw it from a car window, although his genitalia is now reattached to his person. While this was a massive topic of discussion in the ‘90s, younger generations have no idea what this remark means.
5 "She's Banging The Pepperidge Farm Guy."
Big Daddy (1999)
After Sonny is dumped by his girlfriend for an older man in Big Daddy, he hilariously calls Sid the “Pepperidge Farm Guy.” The Pepperidge Farm company is known for selling a variety of snacks and baked goods, but especially cookies.
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Big Daddy
- Release Date
- June 25, 1999
- Runtime
- 93 Minutes
- Director
- Dennis Dugan
WHERE TO WATCH
Big Daddy is a 1999 comedy film by director Dennis Dugan. Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) has gone the first 32 years of his life avoiding any responsibility. But when his girlfriend dumps him out of the blue and shacks up with an older man, he's confronted by the need to prove he's got a plan for life to win her back. As a strike of luck, 5-year-old Julian (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) is dropped off on his doorstep, and to impress her, he pretends to be Julian's father.
While some modern audiences may be familiar with Pepperidge Farm, they’re probably not as aware of the company as people were in the ‘90s. Pepperidge Farm’s presence has dwindled in recent decades, and its iconic commercials are no longer in circulation.
4 "RC's Trying To Say Something!"
Toy Story (1995)
After Buzz falls from the bedroom window in Toy Story, RC Car excitedly tries to share information with Rex, who announces that the toy is “Trying to say something.” This is a joke about the 1950s TV show Lassie, an intelligent Collie dog who was a part of a huge multi-media franchise.
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Toy Story is a 1995 animated feature from Pixar Animation Studios. It follows Woody, a cowboy doll, as he faces rivalry with new toy Buzz Lightyear. The film explores the dynamics between the toys as Woody and Buzz are inadvertently separated from their owner, embarking on a journey to return home.
- Writers
- John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
The children of today may have heard the name Lassie, but they probably don’t know who she is. Lassie’s famous whining could be understood by the humans around her, amazingly, and Toy Story doesn’t hesitate to make the same gag about RC, who communicates only through sounds.
3 "When? High Noon?"
Back To The Future III (1990)
There are multiple High Noon is a famous Western from the 1950s.
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Back to the Future Part III
- Release Date
- May 25, 1990
- Runtime
- 118minutes
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
WHERE TO WATCH
The final entry in Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's timeless trilogy, Back to the Future Part III wraps up Marty McFly and Doc Brown's adventures through time when Marty travels to 1885's Wild West to save his mentor, meeting Biff Tannen's ancestor "Mad Dog" and almost changing the course of history once again along the way.
- Writers
- Robert Zemeckis
The concept of fighting at “High Noon” is used all across popular culture, too. Since its release in 1952, High Noon has also been referenced in titles such as The Sopranos and Dirty Harry, all of which use the premise of a deadly fight occurring at the peak of the day.
2 "This Is My Happening And It Freaks Me Out!"
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)
When Austin and Vanessa attend the nightclub opening in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the titular character shouts over the noise "This is my happening and it freaks me out!" While there are loads of movie references in the Austin Powers franchise, this nod to the 1970 title Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a less obvious one.
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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
- Release Date
- May 2, 1997
- Runtime
- 89 Minutes
- Director
- Jay Roach
Cast
-
Elizabeth Hurley
WHERE TO WATCH
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is the first film in Mike Myers' James Bond parody series. Myers plays both Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, arch-enemies who are frozen in time and brought back in the '90s. The film was followed by two sequels in 1999 and 2002, with a fourth film stuck in development hell.
In Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell famously says this same line during a party. It’s extremely unlikely that current audiences are aware of Z-Man or Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, so it’s easy to think that Austin is making a silly remark about the bustling nightclub.
1 Harry Burns His Hand
Home Alone (1990)
Although Harry only screams when he is caught by Kevin’s trap in Home Alone, the M that is left on his palm is an outdated reference to the 1931 movie M.
Home Alone
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Home Alone
- Release Date
- November 16, 1990
- Runtime
- 103 minutes
- Director
- Chris Columbus
WHERE TO WATCH
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, an eight-year-old who is left behind in his Chicago home when his family flies to Paris for the holidays. Not only must Kevin keep himself safe while his mother flies back across the world, but he must protect his home from the Wet Bandits - serial burglars who are targeting the McAllister House. Kevin must use every trick in the book to keep the Wet Bandits from stealing Christmas before his mother returns.
- Writers
- John Hughes
Modern audiences probably aren’t familiar with this film, which follows a serial killer who marks his victims with the letter M by using chalk. While it’s a very subtle reference, it’s still a fascinating one.
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