The question of which decade has the best teen comedy movies is incredibly subjective. Personal answers usually boil down to which decade you happened to be a teenager in. For this writer, specifically, early 2000s teen comedies reign supreme. However, as was the case with many young kids in the ’90s, we certainly engaged in the viewing of teen comedies of that era that may have stretched beyond the maturity our parents would have liked.
The 1990s certainly had its core collection of hit teen comedies. Movies like American Pie, Clueless, Dazed and Confused, and 10 Things I Hate About You come to mind. We know the legacy these films have, and their comedic value is unmatched, which is why they will not be discussed on this list. If you are looking for a ’90s teen comedy that still offers up a laugh in the 21st century, look no further than the crop of films found below.
12 House Party (1990)
Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin make up the iconic hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play and co-star in the 1990 comedy House Party. Playing what amounts to fictionalized versions of themselves, Kid and Play find themselves smack-dab in the middle of the (house) party of the century. Not only is House Party a truly hilarious film, but it boasts one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. A soundtrack that hit number twenty on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts of Billboard magazine.
Energetic Comedy
Teen comedies are not often praised by critics in the way that House Party was upon its release. Notoriously fickle critic Robert Ebert even gave the film three out of four stars, and the acclaim of the film was decisively universal among both critics and moviegoers. Kid n’ Play, as well as Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff later in 1990, would help usher in the influx of hip-hop artists who made the successful transition from music to comedy. Stream on Starz.
11 Mermaids (1990)
Mermaids
- Release Date
- December 14, 1990
- Director
- Richard Benjamin
- Runtime
- 1hr 50min
The often overlooked family comedy Mermaids tells the story of a single mother, played by Cher, who moves to a small Massachusetts town with her daughters Charlotte and Kate, played by Winona Ryder and a young Christina Ricci. Joined by Bob Hoskins in a supporting role, Mermaids contains a deeply emotional and hilarious coming-of-age story within it and features touching dynamics between a mother and her daughters.
Young Actors Make a Splash
The comedy found throughout Mermaids is not as overtly gut-busting as some other films on this list. It lies more in the subtle dynamics between a mother and daughter, who seem at opposite ends of the spectrum of life. The film takes a subversive approach to other mother-daughter comedies we have seen in the past, pegging the mother as the over-the-top flamboyant character while seeing Ryder’s character take a more conservative approach. The combination helps to create a solid teen comedy that holds up after decades. Stream on MAX.
10 Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991)
The darkly comedic coming-of-age film, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead stars Christina Applegate as Sue Ellen, who is forced into looking after her four siblings when their original tyrannical babysitter dies in her sleep. Rather than inform her mother of the unfortunate circumstances, Sue Ellen embarks on a journey to learn just what it requires to take care of her family. The film marks one of the earliest roles for Applegate, who would go on to have an impressive career in both film and television.
Cult Comedy Classic
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead did not receive positive reviews upon its release with many critics stating that it does not hold up to other films by director Stephen Herek, namely Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. In the age of VHS, the film would find a cult following in the home video market, thanks in part to its bizarrely dark and hilarious premise. If you are looking for a solid laugh in the wish-fulfilling comedic category, you can surely find one in this grim entry. Rent on Apple TV.
9 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Long before Sarah Michelle Gellar became the slayer of her generation, it was Kristy Swanson who donned the cheer gear and wielded the wooden spike in the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by eventual series creator Joss Whedon, the film also starred Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, as well as the late Luke Perry and Paul Reubens. Swanson wasn’t the only blonde bombshell involved with the film, as it was Dolly Parton’s production company, Sandollar, that helped to make the film.
Incomplete Vision
Joss Whedon has spoken out about the direction the film took and how it diverted from his initial vision, which ultimately led to a much darker series of the same name. The film offers great performances from Swanson and Reubens and possesses a solid collection of action as well as era-defining ’90s teen comedy gold. Despite its poor reviews, the film can still be seen on television throughout the year and remains a fan favorite of less popular ’90s teen comedies. Stream on MAX.
8 Good Burger (1997)
Good Burger
- Release Date
- July 25, 1997
- Director
- Brian Robbins
- Runtime
- 103
Similar to the television-to-film transition seen by Saturday Night Live, Good Burger was essentially a big-screen adaptation from the kids’ sketch comedy series All That, which aired on Nickelodeon throughout the 1990s. Starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, the film tells the age-old tale of teenagers navigating the world of fast food work. The film was just the second film ever to be produced by Nickelodeon Movies, with the first being Harriet the Spy a year prior.
Welcome to Good Burger, Home of the Good Burger, Can I Take Your Order?
If it is over-the-top physical comedy you are looking for, you have found your perfect order in Good Burger. For a kid in the ’90s, the hijnks in the film were hilarious and, quite honestly, still hold up as a nostalgic look back from your mid-30s. The chemistry between Keenan and Kel has always been evident, and the film benefits from this. It’s not winning any Oscars, nor did it, but if you are looking to unplug for 90 minutes and laugh your hamburger buns off, Good Burger is for you. Stream on Paramount+.
7 My Date with the President’s Daughter (1998)
Made-for-TV movies often do not get the credit they deserve for the entertainment value they bring. My Date with the President’s Daughter premiered on ABC’s late-’90s revival of The Wonderful World of Disney. Starring Elisabeth Harnois and Will Friedle, the latter of Boy Meets World fame. The movie follows Friedle’s Duncan as he takes the daughter of the President of the United States on a date full of wacky hijinks and bumpy roads.
Comedy for the Whole Family
The film earned an almost cult-like following, as much as a made-for-TV Disney movie can, in the years following its release. Off the popularity of his role in Boy Meets World, Will Friedel entertains in his uniquely goofy way. The film offers up a comedy that the whole family can sit down and enjoy, and is a true nostalgic trip back to the late 1990s.
6 Pleasantville (1998)
Director Gary Ross can be credited with helping to write the classic Tom Hanks film, Big. His directorial debut, however, came 10 years later, when he led Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon in the teen comedy Pleasantville. The film follows two teenage siblings who find themselves trapped in a 1950s television show. As the teens begin to influence the buttoned-up town, the world of Pleasantville begins to change forever.
Back in Time
Pleasantville offers a delightful blend of satire and high-concept comedy with its presentation. It is not comedy that will beat you over the head with gut-busting laughs, but the jokes are there to be enjoyed with a side of realization for the viewer. In what may be Tobey Maguire’s best movie, this comedy in the film produces laughs because, deep down inside, the audience feels the connection to the setups. Relatable comedy can produce some of the most meaningful laughs. Rent on Apple TV.
5 Drive Me Crazy (1999)
Smack-dab in the middle of her run as everyone’s favorite teenage witch, and long before he took on the role of Vincent Chase on the hit show Entourage, Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier starred in the teen comedy Drive Me Crazy. Originally titled Next to You, the film underwent a name change thanks to a popular Britney Spears song that featured on the soundtrack. The two play a pair of best friends who pretend to couple up to get back at their exes and find the love they have for one another. Classic.
Quintessential ’90s
Drive Me Crazy is certainly not reinventing the wheel when it comes to teen comedies, and nor should it. The two leads are likeable, and writer Rob Thomas shows flashes of the brilliance he would display when creating shows like Veronica Mars and Party Down. If you are looking to give a child of today’s generation a lesson in 1990s comedies, you would show them Drive Me Crazy, as there is certainly a lot worse films you could use. Stream on MAX.
4 Superstar (1999)
Superstar
- Release Date
- October 8, 1999
- Director
- Bruce McCulloch
- Runtime
- 1hr 21min
Superstar marks a film adaptation of a classic Saturday Night Live sketch, as everyone’s favorite Catholic school girl, Mary Katherine Gallagher, hit the big screen in 1999. The story follows Mary Katherine as she prepares for a talent show at St. Monica’s Catholic school while juggling classes and a crush on fellow student Sky Corrigan, played by Will Ferrell. The film would be just the second made by what was, at the time, the newly established SNL Studios.
Mindless Fun
The film features all the classic pratfalls that SNL fans have come to expect from the characters and the prospect of 35-year-old Shannon and 32-year-old Ferrell playing high schoolers is a hilarious part of the movie in and of itself. The ‘90s SNL alum lead an over-the-top film that strikes a similar tone to other SNL Studio films like The Ladies Man and A Night at the Roxbury, all of which are perfect films to veg out to for a humorous Friday night.over. Stream on Paramount+.
3 Detroit Rock City (1999)
Four teenage boys who perform in a KISS tribute band set out to see their heroes perform live in Detroit. The coming-of-age teen comedy Detroit Rock City offers up a story we have seen before but one that stands out from other comparable films, even if it isn’t always for the best reasons. The film also features an incredible soundtrack with some of the biggest rock hits of the 1970s, KISS included, of course.
Rock ‘n Roll All Night… and Party Every Day
While Detroit Rock City is not as lauded as some of its contemporaries, namely Dazed and Confused or Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, it nevertheless stands on its own as a rocking, good, and hilarious time. It is far sillier than those other two movies, as well as lending itself to unplug and rewatch Saturday night. Rent on Apple TV.
2 Idle Hands (1999)
Idle Hands
- Release Date
- April 30, 1999
- Director
- Rodman Flender
- Runtime
- 92
There is no shortage of possession films to choose from, but few offer the weird plot and dark laughs of Idle Hands. Devon Sawa plays Anton, a teenager whose hand becomes possessed, and he proceeds to go on a killing spree. The film is not without its issues, as it features violence perpetrated against teens by teens. It suffered from poor critical reviews as well as being released just 10 days after the Columbine school shooting.
A Stellar Cast Makes All the Difference
While the subject matter was questionable upon its release, the movie is not without its good qualities. A stellar and hilarious cast featuring Seth Green, Fred Willard, Jessica Alba, and Vivica A. Fox. Its darkly comedic tone offers up laughs for anyone looking for a solid horror comedy. Rent on Apple TV.
1 Dick (1999)
Dick
- Release Date
- August 4, 1999
- Director
- Andrew Fleming
- Runtime
- 1hr 34min
Dick is an alternative history comedy featuring Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams as two teens who become pivotal figures in the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon. The film would receive fairly positive reviews from critics, lauding it for its original and zany premise.
This Film Is Not a Crook
Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Harry Shearer, and Ana Gasteyer. Now there is a murderer’s row of both acting and comedy talent all rolled into this one film. It is uniquely ’90s yet rewatchable today for a good laugh and a look into the early careers of some of today’s biggest actors. Rent on Apple TV.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
