Thirty years back, the world held a distinct character. In 1995, American Online made its digital debut. The trial of O.J. Simpson grabbed global attention through headlines. “Seinfeld” and “Friends” reigned supreme as the most-watched comedies on television screens.
In essence, while some aspects remain consistent over the past three decades, the film industry has indeed undergone a significant transformation. Back in 1995, there was essentially one prominent superhero franchise globally, centered around Batman with an eccentric Jim Carrey portraying the caped crusader in tight spandex. The year’s most successful films were largely original creations such as Toy Story, Apollo 13, and Seven.
These films from 1995 have endured as beloved classics that continue to captivate audiences and spark conversations. Notable examples include “GoldenEye”, “Die Hard With a Vengeance”, “Jumanji”, and “Bad Boys”. Some slowly gained status as cult favorites, such as “A Goofy Movie”, “Empire Records”, and “Hackers”. Even the flops of 1995 are still remembered fondly due to their poor performance with audiences or critics. For instance, “Waterworld” became infamous for its disappointing box office results.
1995 saw a multitude of films hitting the big screen, many of which – including several outstanding ones – have gradually slipped into relative obscurity over time. Even a well-versed cinephile may have overlooked a few gems. With this in mind, today’s list highlights 12 underrated movies from 1995 that are ripe for rediscovery. This collection spans genres such as comedies, romances, action films, horror movies, and documentaries. Some were crafted by seasoned Hollywood veterans towards the end of their careers, while others were the debut productions of filmmakers who would later rise to prominence in Tinseltown. All of these titles are now accessible for home viewing. Take a look at the list, and then enjoy them on your television or computer.
12 Forgotten 1995 Movies That Deserve to Be Rediscovered
Congo
pure cheap thrills.
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Due to its lack of success and since it was Mel Brooks’ final film (so far! We’re all hoping for Spaceballs 2, Mel!), there’s been a tendency to dismiss Dracula: Dead and Loving It as a misstep from a legendary comedy director who many believe had passed his prime. However, just because it ranks low in Brooks’ filmography doesn’t mean it’s a failure. It’s lower than The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, but that doesn’t guarantee disaster. In fact, Dracula: Dead and Loving It marks Brooks’ only collaboration with comedy legend Leslie Nielsen and includes some of his funniest comedic scenes, such as the one where Steven Weber tries to drive a stake through a sleeping vampire, only to be drenched by an over-the-top geyser of blood while Brooks’ Dr. Van Helsing encourages him from a dry and safe distance, yelling “She’s almost dead!
Frank and Ollie
The nine key figures behind the enchanting works created during Walt Disney Productions’ Golden Era are collectively referred to as “The Nine Old Men.” In the documentary, Frank and Ollie, two of them – Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston – share their personal experiences, just as you might expect from artists who have greatly influenced Disney’s unique artistic style. Rich with insightful interviews, historical clips, and stunning animated Disney shorts, Frank and Ollie is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of animation art.
Heavyweights
In stark contrast to Disney’s magical world, we have the movie “Heavyweights,” a hilarious, somewhat sarcastic comedy that revolves around the children at a weight-loss camp who retaliate against their harsh fitness instructor. This role was taken by a young Ben Stiller, who joined the project as an opportunity to work with Judd Apatow, his former producer from “The Ben Stiller Show.” In the film, Stiller delivers an outstanding performance as Tony Perkis Jr., a character that seems like a precursor to his later role as White Goodman in “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” The similarities between these two characters are so striking that it’s hard not to imagine them as the same person. In my personal interpretation, after Perkis gained confidence and sculpted his physique over the next decade, he changed his name to White Goodman (though I suspect this was fictitious) and established Globo Gym, leading to the events of “Dodgeball,” where once again, he learns the limitations of his strict fitness regime and suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of a group of lovable, athletically-challenged misfits.
Johnny Mnemonic
In the initial release of “Johnny Mnemonic,” Roger Ebert noted its combination of mindless entertainment and a certain grandeur that almost warrants forgiveness. This ‘idiotic grandeur’ is characteristic of overlooked classics. Although the movie’s portrayal of the internet in 2021 isn’t entirely accurate, it resonates surprisingly well with our contemporary world, which is marked by large, merciless corporations, mask-wearing individuals, and skeptics warning about the detrimental effects of excessive technology. Admittedly, some of the technology depicted (such as Johnny’s VR visor and licorice-like gloves) appear comical today. However, outdated, quirky “future” gadgets serve to enhance the enjoyment of ’90s cult films even more.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Currently, Sam Raimi has earned a prominent position among the esteemed filmmakers of his era in Hollywood. However, during the 1990s, many critics dismissed Raimi as lacking depth, overlooking films like his Western homage, “The Quick and the Dead.” Surprisingly, this movie might have been one of the most visually captivating Westerns since Sergio Leone’s time, and it boasted an impressive ensemble cast. This star-studded lineup included Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Pat Hingle, Keith David, Lance Henriksen, Tobin Bell, Gary Sinise, as well as Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio, both of whom were on their way to becoming major stars at the time.
Rage
90’s action enthusiasts hold in high regard the productions of low-budget independent studio PM Entertainment, known for churning out numerous adrenaline-pumping thrillers throughout the decade. In the 1995 film “Rage”, kickboxer Gary Daniels takes on the role of a school teacher transformed into a super soldier. While the plot may be secondary, the action is nothing short of spectacular and surpasses expectations for a direct-to-video movie of this era. So buckle up, because you’re in for an exhilarating ride and you might just lose track of time as you explore other films on PM Entertainment’s Wikipedia page.
Sabrina
In 2023, Harrison Ford himself acknowledged that the remake of Billy Wilder’s Sabrina from 1995, directed by Sydney Pollack, was the most difficult film he’d ever made due to not feeling comfortable in the role. However, my wife holds a different opinion; she adores this version of Sabrina. In it, Ford portrays the responsible brother of a wealthy family, who fears his business deal could be jeopardized if his playboy brother (Greg Kinnear) pursues Sabrina (Julia Ormond). To protect his interests, he attempts to drive a wedge between the two, only to find himself falling for Sabrina as well. My wife prefers the original Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn, but she’s always been drawn to the stunning cinematography and the chemistry between Ormond and a subdued Ford.
We possess this movie on various video formats and have watched it repeatedly. If someone were to ask her about an underrated film from 1995 worth revisiting, she would undoubtedly suggest this one (and argue that it’s not underrated because she still remembers it fondly). She has seen it countless times.
Species
In a nutshell, the movie “Species” is like a blend of “Alien” and “Baby Face,” offering an outrageous mix of sci-fi thrill and erotic elements. The story revolves around a seductive alien (Natasha Henstridge), created in a lab using extraterrestrial DNA, who escapes to ensnare men, reproduce hybrid offspring, and ultimately conquer Earth. With its grotesque creature designs by H.R. Giger and a strong focus on gore and nudity, “Species” may not be etched in our cultural memory banks, but trust me, those teenage boys who watched it in 1995 can still recall the experience vividly.
Strange Days (1995)
Currently, Kathryn Bigelow is highly respected as one of our top contemporary directors, with films like “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty” solidifying her reputation. However, her early career was not without its share of mediocre to unfavorable criticisms. Following the success of her first significant hit in 1991 (“Point Break”), she released one of her biggest critical and commercial disappointments: The 1995 sci-fi thriller “Strange Days”, starring Ralph Fiennes as a dealer of virtual reality memories who finds himself at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy.
Although the technology depicted in the film is now outdated (the VR device relies on MiniDiscs, a technology that had largely disappeared by the time the movie was released), its predictions about deepfakes proved to be remarkably accurate, and Bigelow’s direction remains as gritty and impactful as it is visually stunning.
Stuart Saves His Family
In simpler terms, Harold Ramis’ movie after “Groundhog Day” was the less successful and low-grossing film titled “Stuart Saves His Family,” starring Al Franken as Stuart Smalley, a character originally from Saturday Night Live. This film has Stuart trying to connect with his troubled family, including an alcoholic father and brother. Unlike most SNL movies that are fluffy and superficial, this one is surprisingly deep, tackling serious themes like addiction and trauma within the context of light comedy. It’s a peculiar blend, reflecting a limitation in Hollywood where studios only produce raw, intense dramas if they have ties to popular franchises like SNL, but the conventions of these movies – being 90-minute comedies filled with jokes and big set pieces – make them unsuitable for exploring complex issues such as cycles of abuse in dysfunctional families.
Sudden Death
In the ’90s, there were numerous movies that imitated “Die Hard.” It’s common to dismiss such films as unoriginal when they blatantly copy another movie. However, sometimes these films are so skillfully made that they surpass their copied roots. This is exactly what happened with “Sudden Death,” a film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, where he tries to portray John McClane in a “Die Hard” clone set at an NHL playoff game. Despite its obvious silliness, it has impressive action sequences and the title itself, “Sudden Death,” is used when a hockey match goes into sudden death, while also being used in dialogue as everyone attending might suffer a ‘sudden death.’ This unique twist earns my approval.
The 20 Worst Movies of the Last 20 Years (2005-2024)
20. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
15 years following the initial “Street Fighter” film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, there was essentially a reboot of the movie. Contrary to its title suggesting legendary figures and intense street fighting, it lacks both significantly. However, it does offer Chris Klein delivering one of the worst performances ever recorded as Charlie Nash. His portrayal is nothing like the “Street Fighter” character bearing the same name, as he struts, poses, and growls for the camera instead. It’s an extraordinary spectacle to witness.
19. The Happytime Murders (2018)
Brian Henson’s bawdy puppet comedy, “The Happytime Murders,” is filled with explicit humor intended for adults with immature sensibilities. The creators primarily focused on the idea that it would be amusing to see adult-oriented comedy involving puppets and numerous sex jokes. Consequently, the film offers little else in terms of depth or complexity. If you ever find yourself in a trivia contest and the question is “In which movie did Melissa McCarthy bite a puppet on the penis?” or “Which movie features Joel McHale gazing at a puppet’s vagina in a parody of the ‘Basic Instinct’ scene?”, the answer would be “The Happytime Murders” for both. The only individual who manages to maintain her dignity throughout this is Maya Rudolph. She delivers a rice pilaf joke with such panache that she deserves heroic recognition. Rice pilaf! That woman is a marvel!
18. The Book of Henry (2017)
In a different phrasing:
Colin Trevorrow’s follow-up to “Jurassic World” was the puzzling flop, “The Book of Henry”. This unique film blends elements of magical realism with disturbing themes of child abuse. It can be interpreted as a modern retelling of the life of Christ, where a powerful figure sacrifices himself so that his troubled mother can commit murder and take care of her mistreated stepdaughter. Additionally, it carries a cautionary tale about the perils of apathy, using a deceased child prodigy who teaches his mother assassination skills from beyond the grave as a metaphor. The movie treats this absurd scenario with complete sincerity. (Just to clarify, these are all actual events that unfold in “The Book of Henry”, I promise.)
17. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
In “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, Warner Bros. portrayed itself as a heartless conglomerate of intellectual properties manipulated by an antagonistic algorithm – quite a remarkable instance of self-deprecation in cinema. The overall movie was weak and unfunny, making the original “Space Jam” appear as captivating as “2001: A Space Odyssey”. While LeBron James isn’t a poor actor by any means, his performance doesn’t outshine Michael Jordan’s from the original film. However, almost everything else about “A New Legacy” was disappointing, ranging from its storyline to its character portrayals. For instance, Bugs Bunny, who used to be witty and charming, was transformed into a whiny and gloomy character in this movie. My suggestion: Instead of watching “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, consider revisiting some classic “Looney Tunes Cartoons” on Max. Even a random short from the collection offers more humor than this two-hour feature, and the animation quality is superior as well.
16. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
Sharon Stone’s knack for turning even mundane lines into something sensual borders on the extraordinary. However, despite her exceptional skills, the movie “Basic Instinct 2” is a flop from start to finish. Stone (or rather, she overplays) constantly outshines David Morrissey’s character, who fails to convincingly portray an equal counterpart. It’s unclear why she finds him appealing, unless she perceives him as an easy mark and chooses to exploit him for amusement, much like a praying mantis might a weak prey.
In the film, Stone’s character Catherine appears to be enjoying her role as a predator, but Morrissey’s psychiatrist is so feeble that there’s little excitement in her tormenting him because there’s no suspense about the outcome. It’s like watching the 1992 Dream Team dominate a team of amateur players from the local rec center. Catherine is supposed to be addicted to risk, but she takes none when facing this underdog.
15. Dirty Grandpa (2016)
The film “Dirty Grandpa” adopts a similar comedic approach as “The Happytime Murders”, which relies on the unexpected juxtaposition of purity and impurity for humor. If hearing Robert De Niro utter crude terms like “smegma” brings a smile to your face, then you’re likely to enjoy “Dirty Grandpa”. However, if not, you might find it disappointing. To be fair, the title certainly fits the content of the movie.
14. Marmaduke (2022)
13. Madame Web (2024)
As a Marvel enthusiast, I found myself reminiscing about the early days of Marvel movies while watching Madame Web. It seemed as though Dakota Johnson, our titular character, was playing a role that appeared slightly uncomfortable with its comic book roots – although, technically, she’s not called “Madame Web” in the movie. Instead, she portrays Cassie Webb, and it feels odd because no one in the film refers to her by the name from the title.
With only a fleeting exception, she doesn’t don a superhero costume either. The overall vibe was a sense of awkwardness, which, considering the situation, wasn’t entirely unexpected.
The movie was absurd, peculiar, and at times hard to follow – it made The Amazing Spider-Man look like Spider-Man 2. But imagine watching it with Kevin Feige? Now that would be an entertaining spectacle!
12. Meet the Spartans (2008)
Over the past 20 years, one of the saddest developments in cinema has been the surge of spoof films, largely triggered by the massive financial success of the Scary Movie series. Many of these supposed comedies were either written or directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who are alums of the Scary Movie franchise. Their notion of humor primarily involved replicating scenes from popular movies, especially 300 in the case of Meet the Spartans, although the film also contained irrelevant jokes from Shrek, Spider-Man 3, and Happy Feet, with lookalikes and people getting hit in the groin. If these movies were ever funny (and they weren’t), most of the humor was so specific to the late 2000s, targeting tabloid fodder like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, that today they appear as dated as an ancient Greek artifact. I cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is for you never to encounter Meet the Spartans.
11. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
In essence, the peculiar title encapsulates its content quite well. Is this a film about the X-Men, a Wolverine saga, or an origin tale? Why not combine them all? If director Gavin Hood had narrowed his focus to one aspect, he might have produced a decent movie. However, the film was destined for disappointment from its inception as a mishmash of multiple X-Men and Wolverine narratives. Lines like “We didn’t sign up for this,” spoken by Hugh Jackman’s Logan, and “You look like a man fixing to do a bad thing,” uttered by Liev Schreiber’s Victor, in the movie X-Men Origins, not only advance the plot but also serve as ironic commentaries on the film’s flaws. Other such lines include “We’ve done enough!” and my personal favorite, “Wake me when it’s over.
10. Daddy Day Camp (2007)
It appears that none of the original cast members from “Daddy Day Care” were interested in returning for this off-kilter follow-up. Instead, Cuba Gooding Jr., Paul Rae, Josh McLerran, and Tamala Jones stepped into the roles previously held by Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, and Regina King respectively. Even director Steve Carr was absent.
Originally, the first movie centered around Murphy and Garlin learning to manage a day care center. In this sequel, they switch gears to overseeing a camp, which given their now polished childcare abilities, should have been a breeze. However, as it’s a sequel, everything goes awry once more, just like the movie itself.
9. Elektra (2005)
The years leading up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe were a dismal phase for Marvel enthusiasts, marked by studios overreaching after the initial successes of the X-Men and Spider-Man series. These productions, lacking the attention and quality control of their predecessors, became a string of Marvel adaptations.
One of the most notorious failures from this era was Elektra, with Jennifer Garner reprising her role as an assassin from Daredevil. This character, who meticulously cleans her floorboards to erase any trace of her DNA, is paradoxically careless in her job, socializing with neighbors during assignments and failing to recognize that they were her actual targets.
Being resurrected after dying in Daredevil gave Elektra the power to foresee the future and rewind time when needed, effectively making her an immortal deity. So, naturally, she spends her divine existence running around stabbing ninjas. If you had the ability to traverse time, wouldn’t you do the same?
8. Norbit (2007)
As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’ve always been captivated by Eddie Murphy’s knack for portraying multiple characters within a single film, using intricate prosthetic makeup. Despite the less than favorable critiques from critics, the 2007 production titled “Norbit” managed to gross an astounding $160 million worldwide against its $60 million budget.
However, that doesn’t make it a good movie. In this instance, Murphy’s talent for metamorphosis (backed by Rick Baker’s consistently impressive makeup effects) is utilized in the telling of an aggravating story about a meek man who marries a domineering woman, both roles played by Murphy himself. His portrayal of the vindictive, violent Rasputia is technically commendable – yet it’s a harsh caricature of a shrew, filled with countless jokes revolving around her weight. To make matters worse, Murphy also plays Mr. Wong, a gruff Chinese man who runs an orphanage and speaks in a thick stereotypical accent. The whole film is just disheartening.
7. The Emoji Movie (2017)
One could imagine a thought-provoking film about smartphone culture and emojis, but such a script would need much sharper wit and biting commentary than what was present in the movie “The Emoji Movie”. Beyond its faintly optimistic message advocating acceptance of differences, this production is exactly what one might expect from the studio of a tech company whose success is largely based on selling millions of smartphones each year: An almost hidden advertisement that implies owning a cellphone will make you more popular and attractive to others. Ugh.
A good movie about smartphone culture and emojis could exist, but it would require more clever humor and sharp critique than “The Emoji Movie”. Beyond the positive message, this film seems like an advertisement for a tech company that makes smartphones, suggesting they will make you popular. Yuck.
6. Artemis Fowl (2020)
When the Covid-19 pandemic started around 65 years ago (a typo in the original text), Disney decided to postpone all its 2020 blockbuster movies, except for “Artemis Fowl”, which they released on Disney+ instead. Looking back, this might have been a warning sign. This film adaptation of the popular young adult book series condenses approximately ten novels’ worth of content into just 90 minutes, resulting in a confusing and almost unbearable viewing experience. If you can follow how Josh Gad’s character transitioned from breaking into Artemis Fowl’s house to joining forces with him to stop another character without any dialogue between them, you are more intelligent than I. It takes a unique kind of bad streaming movie to make you feel like you’ve been cheated even when you haven’t paid anything extra, but “Artemis Fowl” managed it.
5. Son of the Mask (2005)
In my opinion, there’s hardly any sequel sadder than a Jim Carrey film that doesn’t feature Jim Carrey himself. The charm of the original “Mask” came from the magical mask that allowed Carrey to express his raw emotions and incredible talent for impressions and voices. In “Son of the Mask,” Jamie Kennedy’s character barely dons the mask (his dog wears it more often, which seems odd), and when he does, he’s as rigid as a board – ironic since his character is a struggling cartoonist to mimic Carrey’s portrayal of The Mask. It almost sounds like they swapped in another actor’s voice to make him sound like the original character.
The second act (yes, I’m serious) revolves around Kennedy’s dog being envious of the new baby and intentionally wearing the mask to harm him. A plot about a jealous dog? Believe it or not, that’s where things go! Fortunately, the baby is safe; he was born with mask powers. Let me assure you: Nothing in your life will prepare you for the sight of this grotesque CGI baby urinating and vomiting on Jamie Kennedy. This film should have been discarded like the mask at the end of “The Mask.
4. Alone in the Dark (2005)
Uwe Boll gained notoriety as one of the decade’s most criticized directors, producing a series of film adaptations from video games using a German tax loophole that ensured financial success. Picture the characters from Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” as gamers, and you begin to understand his approach.
In one of Boll’s numerous controversial films from the 2000s, Tara Reid portrays a talented archaeologist alongside Christian Slater, who plays a detective investigating supernatural events. However, I can’t reveal much more because the movie is truly incomprehensible, even including its lengthy and disjointed opening title sequence that lasts nearly 90 seconds. This introductory text surpasses the confounding nature of “Alone in the Dark,” which was already ranked as the worst video game movie ever made, so it speaks volumes about this film’s baffling complexity. (Note: “Alone in the Dark” held the bottom spot on our list of every video game movie ever created.)
3. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
This low-budget horror film, loosely inspired by the well-known A.A. Milne book that has recently entered the public domain, serves neither effectively as a slasher film nor as a critique of children’s literature. Interestingly, it only manages to be relevant in an ironic manner, serving almost as a strong argument against the idea of a public domain. (If copyright protection keeps trash like this from being produced and exposed to the general public … perhaps it’s not all bad?) In essence, “Blood and Honey” is an unbearable heap of nonsense.
2. Dolittle (2020)
In the style of Tim Burton’s Batman, where a back-street doctor inadvertently transforms Jack Napier into the Joker after a botched facial repair, Dolittle resembles a film adaptation of that chaos – an unappealing, disjointed mess that seems to have been pieced together from scraps and re-shoots of what was originally a completely different project. Originally intended as a more serious production, it evolved into a cinematic Frankenstein’s monster filled with bathroom humor, such as jokes about poop, farts, and itchy butts. The addition of talking animals, subpar CGI, and an over-the-top performance by Robert Downey Jr., who outshines Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow in terms of extroversion, only adds to the confusion.
1. Disaster Movie (2008)
As a film enthusiast, let me express that “Disaster Movie” is a misnomer. The so-called “disaster” films, as portrayed by writers/directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, consist of an eclectic mix including “10,000 B.C.”, “Hancock”, “Jumper”, “Enchanted”, “Alvin and the Chipmunks”, “Beowulf”, and “The Love Guru”. In my opinion, this cinematic endeavor barely qualifies as a movie, given its flimsy structure and lack of depth. The storyline, if one can call it that, is threadbare at best, held together by a succession of poorly executed celebrity impressions, necessitating characters to identify them outright.
To put it plainly, this film is one of the most disheartening examples I’ve encountered of what passes for cinema these days. By the time a man was squaring off against a subpar Kung Fu Panda costume doppelganger, I had transitioned from irritation to genuine empathy – for those who were involved in its creation, but more so for anyone foolish enough to pay for a ticket.
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2025-06-20 22:29