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'Ghost' (1990) -

Who can ever forget that pottery scene? This romantic thriller, starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, centers around the spirit of a man who sets out to save his living girlfriend.

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'Schindler's List' (1993) -

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this cinematic masterpiece is based on the true story of industrialist Oskar Schindler, who saved more than 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factories during World War II.

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'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993) -

A romantic classic, 'Sleepless in Seattle' was the first pairing of '90s rom-com legends Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. It covers loss, love, and fate.

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'Elizabeth' (1998) -

A Hollywood royal today, Cate Blanchett stars as the one and only Queen Elizabeth I in an amazing performance. The film follows her ascension to the throne.

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'Forrest Gump' (1995) -

Life is truly like a box of chocolates, with cinematic classics like 'Forrest Gump.' Audiences gets to follow the life of the titular character as he runs across the country, meets Richard Nixon, serves in Vietnam, and teaches Elvis Presley to dance.

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'Thelma & Louise' (1991) -

Nothing gets as thrilling as seeing two best friends on the run. The bond between Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon is pure perfection. And let's not forget: it stars a young Brad Pitt!

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'Men in Black' (1997) -

Imagine the FBI in a world of aliens? That's what 'Men in Black' gave us, with Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as two agents who supervise extraterrestrial lifeforms on Earth.

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'Pretty Woman' (1990) -

The movie that made Julia Roberts a star centers around a Hollywood prostitute who gets hired for the weekend as an escort by a wealthy businessman, played by Richard Gere.

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'The Big Lebowski' (1998) -

This classic black comedy by the Coen brothers had a huge impact when it came out in 1998. The plot may seem crazy, but basically it's about a slacker who gets mixed up in a case of mistaken identity with a rich guy and his young bride. And then he has to go to war with some nihilists alongside his bowling buddies!

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'The Bodyguard' (1992) -

The iconic Whitney Houston made her debut in this romantic thriller alongside Kevin Costner. She played a famous pop singer who hires a former Secret Service agent to be her bodyguard. And let's not forget the amazing soundtrack!

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'Never Been Kissed' (1999) -

In this rom-com, Drew Barrymore stars as a reporter going undercover in a local high school to try and redeem a terrible experience she had the first time around.

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'Edward Scissorhands' (1990) -

A Tim Burton classic, this quirky film stars Johnny Depp as a humanoid who has scissor-blades instead of hands. The young man is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter, played by Winona Ryder.

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'The Sixth Sense' (1999) -

A film by M. Night Shyamalan, this psychological thriller stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient, played by Haley Joel Osment, can talk to the dead.

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'Romeo + Juliet' (1996) -

This take on Shakespeare's classic is a modern masterpiece. Starring Claire Danes and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, this version has a few twists you didn't see coming.

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'The Truman Show' (1998) -

In this comedy-drama, Jim Carrey plays Truman Burbank, a man who grew up living an ordinary life that, unknown to him, takes place on a large set populated by actors for a television show about him.

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'Boyz n the Hood' (1991) -

John Singleton's debut film about three men growing up in the Crenshaw ghetto of Los Angeles didn't only bring an unseen reality to the big screen, it also featured the breakout performances of Ice Cube alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morris Chestnut.

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'Boogie Nights' (1997) -

Set in 1970s and '80s San Fernando Valley, 'Boogie Nights' focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher, played by Mark Wahlberg, who becomes a popular a**** film actor.

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'Four Weddings and a Funeral' (1994) -

Starring the unbelievably charming Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell, this classic rom-com tells the story of a man who realizes he might have found his soulmate after running into each other at five different social events.

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'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion' (1997) -

In this wacky and heartfelt movie, Romy and Michele try not to get bullied at their high school reunion by pretending they invented Post-Its. Truly iconic!

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'The Parent Trap' (1998) -

Identical twins Annie and Hallie, both played by Lindsay Lohan, never knew the other existed until they crossed paths at summer camp. Hijinks ensue, of course!

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'Jerry Maguire' (1996) -

Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger showed us the money in this classic from director Cameron Crowe.

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'Sister Act' (1992) -

With the charismatic Whoopi Goldberg, gorgeous songs, and hilarious nuns, this film is just iconic. Goldberg plays a lounge singer who is put into witness protection in a run-down San Francisco convent, and transforms their choir into an absolute powerhouse.

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'Goodfellas' (1990) -

There's nothing like a good mob movie, and 'Goodfellas' doesn't disappoint. A Martin Scorsese classic, it follows the rise and fall of a mobster in New York in the '60s and '70s.

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'Home Alone' (1990) -

A holiday classic to this day, 'Home Alone' was the highest-grossing live action comedy film in the US of all time from its release in 1990 until 2011. Then 'The Hangover Part II' (2011) overtook it.

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'Poetic Justice' (1993) -

This romantic drama stars Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, with an appearance by Maya Angelou. The film tells the story of Justice, who writes and recites her own poems (actually written by Maya Angelou) throughout the film. The poems are her method of coping with the sudden murder of her boyfriend.

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'Good Will Hunting' (1998) -

Written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the film follows a young janitor, who is an unrecognized genius, as part of a deferred prosecution agreement after assaulting a police officer. He becomes the patient of a therapist and studies advanced mathematics with a renowned professor.

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'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) -

Starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, this film will make you feel the creeps with this imprisoned psychiatrist, cannibal, and serial killer.

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'Hook' (1991) -

In this film, the unforgettable Robin Williams stars as a grown-up Peter Pan, who has forgotten his role as the leader of the Lost Boys in Never Never Land. But when his kids get kidnapped by Captain Hook, he has to sprinkle on some fairy dust to rescue them.

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'Pulp Fiction' (1994) -

Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis, this black comedy set in a world of crime and violence cemented Quentin Tarantino's popularity.

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'Fargo' (1996) -

A film by the Coen brothers, 'Fargo' tells the story of a husband who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife so he can receive the large ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. 

Sources: (Marie Claire) (Parade)

See also: Must-watch cult films that shaped cinema

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