Why aren't there more '90s period films?

[Splatterpunk]

Originally Posted by AsOldAsRhyme

We might as well just break this down into categories.

One genre of film that would make sense for the 90s would be musical biopics. Yes, you have all the grunge and alternative and whatnot, but I think it’s the pop divas—Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, etc—who really defined the decade. Most of them are still very active in their careers, so there isn’t much point in creating films about them (yet).

They could go for the political dramas, but Bill Clinton’s popularity is kinda sliding amongst some liberals due to a combination of past scandal (Lewinsky) and legislation he signed (Defense of Marriage, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Crime Bill, etc). I’m not sure films about him would really go over well with audiences. Another major political subject of the 90s—Anita Hill—was already covered by HBO’s Confirmation.

Following with what I said about musical biopics and political dramas, a lot of what happened in the 90s really is too recent to make good movies. Just as another example, I think that great movies could be made about Oprah and Ellen, but there’s no need for movies about them (yet) because they’re still extremely active public figures.

Coming of age films set in the 90s have some promise, and I think we’ll see more of that as filmmakers from that generation rise in the industry. However, as some others have already said, 9/11 is really the defining cultural event for my generation, so a lot of these films will probably be set in the early 2000s instead.

I don’t think that there’s much need to set comedy films in the 90s, and we’ve already got a couple 90s superhero films in the works. I guess the 90s would be a good period to set horror films, so that screenplay writers don’t have to worry about integrating cell phones and the internet.


I actually think that instead of getting 90s period films, we’re getting (and going to continue to get) a lot of 90s nostalgia films. Rebooting popular 90s franchises like Jurassic Park, the current Disney Revival channeling the company’s 90s Renaissance (not to mention the live action remakes of the 90s classics), the Power Rangers and Pokemon films.... It’s like they decided that setting films in the 90s wouldn’t work well, so instead they’re just bringing things back from the 90s.


Also, the Harry Potter films are supposed to be set in the 90s. According to the canon calendar, Harry starts Hogwarts (book one) in September 1991 and the Battle of Hogwarts (film eight) takes place in May 1998. They... did not do a very good job making that clear. The first two movies were made like very old school period pieces that could’ve been set in the 80s or earlier, and everything after the third film’s reboot felt way too modern to be set in the 90s.

I think your bit about reviving ‘90s ephemera as opposed to creating something new that’s set in or explicitly about the ‘90s is spot on and backs one of the main points that Creepy Thin Man was making about the current state of creativity. I’m really enjoying everyone’s thoughts on this subject. Thanks again for the responses, especially the enthusiastic ones.

[Rodney-2187]

Captain Marvel is going to be set in the 90's.

[Splatterpunk]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Captain Marvel is going to be set in the 90's.

Although I think it’ll have more in common with Secret Invasion, it’d be great if it was also a meta commentary on extreme (EXTREME!) ‘90s comics haha.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Coincidentally, X-Men: Dark Phoenix will also be set in the 90s and feature the Skrulls.

[crude]

Originally Posted by esteban²

The 90s themed movies are taking baby steps now, but it is already happening for sure. In 5 to 10 years it will have taken over the 80s trend we're going through now. It's just a matter of generations turning almost 30, that's when they start to have nostalgia attacks and want to go back and revisit that decade. We've seen it over and over again. It's coming ... Although I'm an early 80s kid, I was a teenager during the 90s and can't wait to see some of that.

Im you. Still not feeling 90s nostalgia...Truth be told i missed the main 90s movies but i can tell you they are mostly obsolete. With some exceptional exceptions the best 90s movies we can be nostalgic about are mainly after 1997...

If you look closely the big change between 1990-1995 movies and 1997-1999 in terms of technology is astonishing...

Skipped 1996 because because....

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Coincidentally, X-Men: Dark Phoenix will also be set in the 90s and feature the Skrulls.

Considering all of the X-Men movies since First Class have been set in a specific decade (from the 60's to the 80's), it's not surprising.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Not to mention, the 90s were X-Men's glory days.

Xmen animated series theme - YouTube

[Splatterpunk]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Not to mention, the 90s were X-Men's glory days.

Xmen animated series theme - YouTube

It's probably another discussion, but I'd say the early '90s were the end of the X-Men's glory days. Their creative high point was definitely the '70s with Claremont and Byrne. Grant Morrison briefly made them readable again in the early '00s but that was a blip on the radar. Ed Piskor's Grand Design has me excited to read X comics for the first time in almost two decades.

[Rodney-2187]

Originally Posted by Splatterpunk

Although I think it’ll have more in common with Secret Invasion, it’d be great if it was also a meta commentary on extreme (EXTREME!) ‘90s comics haha.

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

Coincidentally, X-Men: Dark Phoenix will also be set in the 90s and feature the Skrulls.

Guardians of the Galaxy had a modern setting but utilized a lot of 70's music. Thor: Ragnarok used Led Zeppelin's immigrant Song from the 70's, but the movie had an overall 80's vibe. Maybe Captain Marvel or Dark Phoenix can sneak in some Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or MC Hammer to give it a 90's feel.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by rodneyfaile

Guardians of the Galaxy had a modern setting but utilized a lot of 70's music. Thor: Ragnarok used Led Zeppelin's immigrant Song from the 70's, but the movie had an overall 80's vibe. Maybe Captain Marvel or Dark Phoenix can sneak in some Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or MC Hammer to give it a 90's feel.

I think it was already confirmed on Twitter that X-Men: Dark Phoenix will indeed use Nirvana into the movie. Probably for another Quicksilver scene. Also you got the Dazzlar appearing in the film as well, so her songs might sound 90-ish.

As for Captain Marvel, it will be interesting to see how the handle the 90s vibe to it.

[Splatterpunk]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

I think it was already confirmed on Twitter that X-Men: Dark Phoenix will indeed use Nirvana into the movie. Probably for another Quicksilver scene. Also you got the Dazzlar appearing in the film as well, so her songs might sound 90-ish.

As for Captain Marvel, it will be interesting to see how the handle the 90s vibe to it.

Considering Hip Hop's rise to prominence in the decade, I'd love to see it utilized. I think a Quicksilver sequence with this would be awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by Splatterpunk

Considering Hip Hop's rise to prominence in the decade, I'd love to see it utilized. I think a Quicksilver sequence with this would be awesome!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg

Or this...

Marky Mark feat The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations - YouTube

[Ernest Rister]

If you're jonesing for 90's nostalgia, you could just watch Fight Club or Reality Bites. Fight Club is to the 90's what The Graduate was to the 60's.

[Vandal Savage]

Originally Posted by CyberpunkCentral

The thing about the 90s is that it still feels modern. Playing Nirvana, Tupac, or some boy band in the background is not going to be enough to make a movie feel like it's set in the 90s.

I don't know if it's just my age, or what, but it seems like pop culture kind of stopped in the mid-90s. "Grunge" seems like the last pop cultural touchstone that had a real identity.

It's like, I can watch a movie or tv show from the 80s and accurately pinpoint the year it was made by things like the hairstyles, clothes, music, and less tangible things.

The 1970s had a distinct flavor, as did the 1980s.

But then, I can watch the first Fast and Furious movie and the latest one, and not get the impression that they are nearly two decades apart.

The only things that, to my eyes, mark the different years of the past two decades are the technology like cell phones and computers. Little Nokia phones with antennas to flip phones to smart phones; brightly colored iMacs to all-in one flat screens. The hair and clothes don't seem that different, or the differences are so subtle that I can't pick up on them.

[SarahS]

Because the 90's pretty much sucked and were boring. The music for sure was terrible. The 70's and 80's of my era were so much more interesting...and much better music for sure.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by Vandal Savage

I don't know if it's just my age, or what, but it seems like pop culture kind of stopped in the mid-90s. "Grunge" seems like the last pop cultural touchstone that had a real identity.

It's like, I can watch a movie or tv show from the 80s and accurately pinpoint the year it was made by things like the hairstyles, clothes, music, and less tangible things.

The 1970s had a distinct flavor, as did the 1980s.

But then, I can watch the first Fast and Furious movie and the latest one, and not get the impression that they are nearly two decades apart.

The only things that, to my eyes, mark the different years of the past two decades are the technology like cell phones and computers. Little Nokia phones with antennas to flip phones to smart phones; brightly colored iMacs to all-in one flat screens. The hair and clothes don't seem that different, or the differences are so subtle that I can't pick up on them.

I agree. Though I can kinda pin point music from the late 90s. Late 90s music is kinda bubblegummy, if that makes sense. But yeah, people still look the same as they did in the late 90s.

[Splatterpunk]

Relevant to the conversation, I read this a couple years ago and really enjoyed it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...aves_the_World

[CyberpunkCentral]

Is it me or do the Deadpool films have a 90's vibe to them?

[Falaskan]

The 90s isn't as unique or as different from now compared to later decades. Not as much stands out about it.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Well, you could also say that the 90s is unique in the sense that it still holds up.