1990s · nostalgia · parent guide
15 '90s Movies Parents Should Rewatch Before Showing Their Kids
Ruth Tete ·
Many 1990s family favorites contain more intense scares, mature themes, and dated humor than you might remember, making a parent preview essential.
The 1990s produced many beloved family films, but a lot of them contain more mature content than you might recall from your own childhood. Parents should preview these movies for intense peril, complex themes like divorce and death, and humor that has not aged well. This list can help you decide which '90s classics are ready for your kids and which ones need to wait.
Each movie on our list includes a guide to what parents need to know before pressing play. Use these entries to refresh your memory on potentially scary scenes or difficult topics. This will help you prepare for conversations or choose a different movie for family night.
Choose tonight’s movie
Quick Picks
- The Muppet Christmas Carol — A gentle, heartwarming introduction to a literary classic.
- Jurassic Park — Landmark thrills and dinosaur action best for older kids.
- Mrs. Doubtfire — A heartfelt look at divorce with plenty of mature humor.
- The Sandlot — Classic summer nostalgia about friendship, baseball, and growing up.
Movie Knight guide
The Full List
No. 1
Home Sweet Home Alone
Read the family guide →
The newest trap
Home Sweet Home Alone
The 2021 movie Home Sweet Home Alone is a holiday comedy about a boy who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation. Parents should know the film relies heavily on cartoonish slapstick violence as the boy defends his house from a couple with elaborate booby traps. While meant to be funny, the constant pratfalls and minor name-calling may not be for everyone, and the family separation can be a point of anxiety. This one works best for kids 7 and up.
Families who enjoy over-the-top holiday comedies and a story about resourcefulness will find plenty to laugh about here.
No. 2
Hook
Read the family guide →
A return to Neverland
Hook
The 1991 adventure Hook imagines a grown-up Peter Pan who must return to Neverland to save his children from the villainous Captain Hook. The movie contains scenes of kidnapping and peril, as children are threatened by pirates, and some of the fantasy elements and sword fighting can feel intense. The story's central theme of a parent being too busy for his kids might also hit close to home. This imaginative adventure works best for kids ages 7 and up.
This film is a great conversation starter about the importance of balancing work with family and remembering to make time for play.
No. 3
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Read the family guide →
The gentlest pick
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol from 1992 offers a warm and musical retelling of the classic holiday story about Ebenezer Scrooge's redemption. While the film is overwhelmingly gentle and funny, parents should know the Ghost of Christmas Future can be spooky for very young viewers. The story also touches on themes of poverty and loss in a way that is accessible but still present. This Muppet classic works best for kids 6 and up.
Fans of the Muppets will love this heartfelt musical, which opens the door to discussions about generosity, kindness, and what the holiday spirit truly means.
No. 4
Mrs. Doubtfire
Read the family guide →
For older kids
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 comedy about a recently divorced father who disguises himself as a British nanny to spend time with his children. Parents should be aware that the film is centered on a painful marital separation and features intense arguments between the parents that can be upsetting. There is also a fair amount of mature humor and some mild language throughout. This heartfelt but complex story works best for kids 10 and up.
While built around deception, the film offers a chance to talk about the different shapes families can take and the lengths a parent will go to for their kids.
No. 5
Jurassic Park
Read the family guide →
Landmark '90s thrills
Jurassic Park
The 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park is a science-fiction adventure where a theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs goes terribly wrong. This is a genuinely intense and frightening film, with sustained scenes of suspense, jump scares, and life-or-death peril as characters are hunted by dinosaurs. The realistic-looking predators and constant danger make it unsuitable for younger children. This classic thriller works best for kids ages 10 and up with a parent nearby.
Viewers who can handle the suspense will be rewarded with a groundbreaking film that inspires awe and conversations about science, responsibility, and courage.
No. 6
The Sandlot
Read the family guide →
Summer nostalgia
The Sandlot
The Sandlot is a 1993 coming-of-age comedy about a group of neighborhood kids who spend their summer playing baseball and forging friendships. Parents should know that the boys engage in a lot of name-calling and insults, and one scene involves chewing tobacco and subsequent vomiting. There is also some mild peril involving a large, intimidating dog. This nostalgic trip works best for kids 7 and up.
The film is a perfect portrait of childhood friendship and summertime freedom, great for families who love baseball and stories about teamwork.
No. 7
The Lion King
Read the family guide →
A Disney classic
The Lion King
Disney's 1994 animated feature The Lion King is an epic story about a young lion cub named Simba who must reclaim his rightful place as king. Parents should remember that the film includes a very direct and tragic on-screen death of a parent, which is a pivotal and upsetting moment. The villain, Scar, is menacing, and his hyena henchmen can be quite frightening for younger viewers during intense chase scenes. This powerful story works best for kids 6 and up.
This movie provides a beautiful and moving way to introduce conversations about responsibility, loss, and finding your place in the 'circle of life'.
No. 8
Casper
Read the family guide →
Friendly ghost story
Casper
Casper, from 1995, is a live-action fantasy about a lonely young ghost who befriends a girl named Kat who moves into his haunted mansion. While Casper himself is sweet, parents should know the film deals directly with themes of death and grief, and his three ghostly uncles create a lot of spooky mayhem and slapstick peril. The tone mixes lighthearted fun with more serious emotional subjects. This ghost story works best for kids 7 and up.
Kids who enjoy a mix of spooky and sweet will like this film, which is great for talking about friendship and processing loss.
No. 9
Toy Story
Read the family guide →
A toy's life
Toy Story
The 1995 animated hit Toy Story tells the story of a cowboy doll named Woody whose position as favorite toy is threatened by a new spaceman action figure, Buzz Lightyear. The film is mostly gentle, but some scenes might be too much for the youngest viewers, particularly the sequences in the neighbor Sid's house where toys are taken apart and reassembled into creepy creations. There is also some mild bullying behavior. This adventure is fine for all ages, but the scarier parts work best for kids 4 and up.
This classic film is a celebration of friendship, teamwork, and learning to overcome jealousy, with messages that resonate with all ages.
No. 10
Apollo 13
Read the family guide →
True-story tension
Apollo 13
The 1995 drama Apollo 13 is a historical film that recounts the true story of the perilous 1970 lunar mission that went wrong. The film creates a great deal of realistic, life-or-death tension as the astronauts and ground crew work to solve one problem after another to get home safely. While inspiring, the constant peril can be very stressful, and there is some brief coarse language and social smoking. This intense drama works best for kids ages 8 and up.
This is an incredible story of ingenuity and teamwork under pressure, perfect for kids interested in space, history, and real-life heroes.
No. 11
Jumanji
The original 1995 film Jumanji is a fantasy adventure where two children discover a magical board game that unleashes jungle-based dangers into their home. Unlike the more recent comedic sequels, this movie is much darker and more frightening, with characters placed in constant, intense peril from animal stampedes, giant spiders, and a menacing hunter. The suspense is sustained and can be very scary for younger audiences. This adventure works best for kids 10 and up. For kids who can handle the scares, Jumanji is a thrilling ride that explores themes of facing your fears and the consequences of your actions.
No. 12
Matilda
Read the family guide →
A magical mind
Matilda
The 1996 fantasy-comedy Matilda is about a brilliant young girl with neglectful parents who uses her newly discovered telekinetic powers to fight back against cruel adults. While empowering, parents should know the film features significant emotional and verbal mistreatment of children by adults, including the terrifying principal, Miss Trunchbull. Her punishments are menacing and some scenes, like the 'chokey,' can be very intimidating for kids. This inspiring story works best for kids 7 and up.
This is a wonderful movie for celebrating intelligence and the power of standing up for what's right, and it can open discussions about finding your 'chosen family'.
No. 13
Space Jam
Read the family guide →
Hoops with toons
Space Jam
Space Jam is a 1996 live-action and animated comedy that sees Michael Jordan recruited by the Looney Tunes for a high-stakes basketball game against bullying aliens. The movie is full of broad, slapstick cartoon violence, and the alien 'Monstars' might be a bit intimidating for very young children. Much of the humor is also tied to pop culture from the mid-90s. This fast-paced sports comedy works best for kids 6 and up.
Fans of Looney Tunes and basketball will have a great time with this film that champions teamwork, practice, and believing in yourself.
No. 14
The Parent Trap
Read the family guide →
A classic switch
The Parent Trap
The 1961 version of The Parent Trap is a classic family comedy about identical twin sisters, separated as infants, who meet at camp and conspire to reunite their divorced parents. The entire plot is built on deception and the emotional premise of children separated from a parent, which might be a sensitive topic for some families. There is also plenty of light slapstick humor as the girls scheme against their father's new fiancée. This charming classic works best for kids 7 and up.
This film is a fun look at sibling bonds and clever problem-solving, though it requires a modern conversation about its dated take on divorce and family.
No. 15
The Truman Show
Read the family guide →
Life on camera
The Truman Show
The Truman Show is a thought-provoking 1998 film about a man who is unaware that his entire life is a 24/7 reality television show. Parents should know that the movie explores complex and potentially upsetting themes of surveillance, manipulation, and existential crisis that may go over younger kids' heads. The emotional journey of the main character as he questions his reality can be quite intense. This unique film works best for kids 10 and up.
This is an excellent movie for older kids and teens to spark conversations about media, privacy, and the courage it takes to search for truth and authenticity.
Before you press play
A note for parents
Your memory of '90s movies may be filtered through nostalgia, making them seem tamer than they actually are. Films you remember as lighthearted adventures might contain intense peril, scary villains, or mature themes like parental death and divorce that can be jarring for children. Taking a moment to rewatch these films on your own is the best way to prepare for the questions your kids might have and ensure the movie is a good fit for your family right now.
Questions parents ask
Parent FAQ
Angel Guild
Members watch more, for less
Angel Guild members stream every Angel title, vote on what gets made, and get tickets to theatrical releases.
Join the Angel Guild