The 1990s were a prosperous decade for movies, with blockbusters, award-winning motion pictures, and cult classics all being released. One main reason these movies have been successful and beloved for many years is the incorporated talent on display. The 1990s allowed several young stars to get their chance in the spotlight and fellow acting veterans to continue proving they had the capability of leading a film.
However, once this nostalgic decade concluded, some of these big-name stars appeared in fewer movies. This resulted in a point where they decided to take a break from the Hollywood scene and focus on other priorities. Whether it is a case of wanting to move away from the abundant fame or a career-killing project, these movie actors, from Joe Pesci to Macaulay Culkin, never achieved the same success they did in the 1990s.
10 Edward Furlong Was The Definitive John Connor
- Most popular ’90s movie: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Terminator franchise consists of memorable characters like the villainous-turned-heroic T-800 and the famous action heroine Sarah Connor. Another crucial part of the franchise is John Connor, Sarah’s son. He first became prominent in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and was portrayed by Edward Furlong. The actor received the role of a lifetime, playing a young boy who would become a resistance leader in the future.
Furlong won the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance for his portrayal of John Connor. While other actors have played the grown-up version of John Connor throughout the franchise, Furlong’s innocent portrayal always remains the most memorable. In addition, Furlong’s other big ’90s project was the intense drama American History X, where he starred alongside Edward Norton. However, substance abuse problems caused Furlong’s career to take a downward turn, and it cost him from reprising John Connor in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Besides a brief appearance in 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, Furlong has stayed out of the spotlight.
9 Mara Wilson Was a Successful Child Star
- Most popular ’90s movie: Matilda
There have been several child actors who had careers that peaked in the 1990s, yet they later left the film industry to focus on their personal lives. One example that fits this description is Mara Wilson. Her breakout role came in 1993 with Mrs. Doubtfire, one of the most loved movies starring the late Robin Williams. Wilson played Natalie Hillard, one of the children of protagonist Daniel Hillard. One year later, Wilson starred in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street.
Then, in 1996, Wilson would receive her most defining film role as Matilda Wormwood in Matilda, a film adaptation of a Roald Dahl book. Her performance as a little girl discovering she has telekinetic abilities and using them to outwit a nefarious school headmistress won the hearts of audiences.Matilda has since become an iconic entry among other ’90s family films. Although she appeared in a few hit family movies, Wilson’s enjoyment of acting decreased following her successful run in the 1990s. Now, as an adult, she has left the acting world behind to focus more on writing.
8 Rick Moranis Left The Film Industry to Care For His Family
- Most popular ’90s movie: The Flintstones
Rick Moranis quickly established himself as a hilarious comedy actor in the 1980s with hits like Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Spaceballs, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Going into the 1990s, Moranis continued bringing comedic fun to audiences. He reprised the role of scientist and father Wayne Szalinski in Honey, I Blew Up The Kid and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. He collaborated with Steve Martin in My Blue Heaven and starred alongside Ed O’Neill in the sports family film Little Giants.
His most noteworthy project from the decade was the live-action film adaptation of The Flintstones, where he played Barney Rubble. While the movie wasn’t a critical darling, everyone agreed that Moranis made for a perfect cast as Barney alongside John Goodman as Fred Flintstone. After the ’90s, Moranis had to retire from acting because his wife passed away. Therefore, he shifted his responsibilities to taking care of his children. Although he did some occasional voice work, like in Disney’s Brother Bear, Moranis has been more dedicated to his personal life in recent years.
7 Geena Davis Was in Several Acclaimed Hits
- Most popular ’90s movie: Thelma & Louise
The name Geena Davis was a big deal in the 1990s, as she appeared in a good number of popular movies. Davis had already garnered roles in ’80s movies like Tootsie, The Fly, and Beetlejuice. In the following decade, Davis continued being a big-name star. She played the titular Thelma in Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise and shared amazing chemistry with Susan Sarandon, who played Louise.
Davis also had an outstanding part in A League of Their Own, a comedy-drama about an all-female baseball league formed during World War II. However, after the pirate adventure film Cutthroat Island became a box office bomb, Davis’ career hit a roadblock. Nevertheless, she persisted through the rest of the decade with the spy thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight and the family film Stuart Little. Afterward, Davis was getting offered fewer roles, citing that Hollywood had an ageism problem. Nowadays, Davis is more focused on activism and discussing gender in the media. She has returned to acting a few times, such as the TV reboot of The Exorcist and the 2024 thriller Blink Twice.
6 Wesley Snipes Brought Blade to Life
- Most popular ’90s movie: Blade
Before immortalizing himself as the vampire superhero Blade, Wesley Snipes was in several acclaimed dramas and action movies. He collaborated with director Spike Lee in films like Mo’ Better Blues and Jungle Fever. He also commanded the screen as a gangster in the crime drama New Jack City. Snipe’s career then peaked with the release of White Men Can’t Jump, a comedy-drama about basketball hustlers starring him, Woody Harrelson, and Rosie Perez.
In terms of action, Snipes played the charismatic villain Simon Phoenix in the sci-fi action cult classic Demolition Man and an escaped convict in U.S. Marshals, the forgotten sequel to The Fugitive. Snipes’ career went upward again when he portrayed the titular Marvel hero in Blade, a stepping stone for modern superhero movies. Snipes’ suave and magnetic performance won over comic book fans.Blade spawned a trilogy that is still adored by fans today. However, Snipes had to leave Hollywood after getting sent to prison for tax evasion. After his sentence, Snipes initially struggled to get back into acting. Yet, small supporting performances in Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America show he’s still got the charm. Furthermore, his recently unexpected cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine further proves why he will forever be known for Blade.
- Most popular ’90s movie: You’ve Got Mail
If there was one actress in the 1990s that dominated the romantic comedy subgenre, it was Meg Ryan. Before this decade, she was best known for her supporting work in Top Gun and the iconic rom-com When Harry Met Sally…, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Once the 1990s rolled around, she quickly established herself as a capable leading lady, particularly in rom-coms with frequent co-star Tom Hanks.
Ryan and Hanks collaborated on multiple projects in the ’90s, making them a notorious acting duo of that era. The two played love interests in Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail. Rom-coms weren’t the only thing that kept Ryan busy. She also did voice acting in the underrated animated film Anastasia as the titular heroine and starred alongside Val Kilmer in the Jim Morrison biopic The Doors. Additional dramas include Courage Under Fire and City of Angels. Despite earning tons of fame, Ryan took a significant break from acting after her impressive streak in the 1990s and early 2000s to focus on her family, thus explaining why she disappeared.
4 Winona Ryder Disappeared Then Made a Grand Return
- Most popular ’90s movie: Edward Scissorhands
Yes, Winona Ryder did have a massive career revival in the 2010s thanks to her role as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things, as well as her recent return as Lydia Deetz in 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. However, back in the 1980s and 1990s, Ryder’s name was inescapable. She first gained fame for her breakout roles in Beetlejuice and Heathers. But, the ’90s was the period where Ryder prospered the most.
After Beetlejuice, Ryder teamed up with director Tim Burton again for Edward Scissorhands, co-starring alongside Johnny Depp. Two years later, she worked with another acclaimed director, Francis Ford Coppola, in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Other ’90s movies she starred in included Reality Bites, Little Women, The Crucible, and Alien Resurrection. She closed the decade with a leading performance in the award-winning drama Girl, Interrupted. But, Ryder’s career changed dramatically in the 2000s when she got caught shoplifting. The scandal made headlines, and she took a step back from acting. Despite getting supporting roles in movies like A Scanner Darkly and Black Swan, it wouldn’t be until the 2016 debut of Stranger Things that Ryder was back on everyone’s radar.
3 Joe Pesci Starred in Popular Gangster Films And Comedies
- Most popular ’90s movie: Goodfellas
Joe Pesci was one actor who ranged from playing incredibly intimidating figures to surprisingly funny protagonists and villains. In 1990, Pesci starred in two famous yet tonally different movies that made audiences everywhere appreciate his excellent range. First, Pesci worked with director Martin Scorsese on Goodfellas, where his fantastic performance as gangster Tommy Devito won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
A few months after Goodfellas‘ release, Pesci had everyone chuckling over his over-the-top yet gleefully villainous performance as burglar Harry Lyme in Home Alone. He reprised the role in the sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Other comedies that defined his hot streak in the ’90s were My Cousin Vinny, where he portrayed the titular lawyer Vinny, and the Lethal Weapon sequels, where he occasionally stole the show as Leo Getz. In terms of drama, he re-teamed with Scorsese and Robert De Niro for 1995’s Casino. However, in 1999, Pesci entered semi-retirement to focus on his life away from the camera. It wouldn’t be until 2019’s The Irishman, another film directed by Scorsese, that he made a grand return to acting and earned his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
2 Alicia Silverstone Shined The Brightest During The 1990s
- Most popular ’90s movie: Clueless
Alicia Silverstone was on track to be the next big thing after the 1990s, yet the decade contained both her best and worst movies. While the start of the decade was slow for her, it wouldn’t be until 1995’s Clueless that her career really took off. Her performance as Cher Horowitz, a wealthy Beverly Hills high school student, in the teen comedy romance film, won her widespread acclaim. To this day, Clueless has a loyal following and remains one of the best ’90s romance movies.
After this star-making performance, it seemed that Silverstone’s career would only go up. However, her next big mainstream project after Clueless was 1997’s Batman & Robin, where she played Batgirl. Anyone who has seen this superhero movie knows of its infamous reputation of being one of the worst entries in the genre. Everyone who worked on Batman & Robin, including Silverstone, was met with backlash. Silverstone’s career hit a major roadblock after Batman & Robin was despised by critics and fans. While she did rebound with Blast from the Past, co-starring alongside Brendan Fraser, Silverstone’s career post-1990s has been less successful. She does still act from time to time, but none of her films have come anywhere near the same heights as Clueless.
1 Macaulay Culkin Was One of The Best ’90s Child Actors
- Most popular ’90s movie: Home Alone
There have been plenty of child actors who had thriving careers in the 1990s and Macaulay Culkin was the most successful. His most legendary movie came at the beginning of the decade with Home Alone. The iconic Christmas movie remains a holiday classic for many families. Culkin played Kevin McCallister, the youngest son of a family who accidentally leaves him behind. When a burglar duo threatens to invade his home, Kevin must use his intelligence to outsmart them.
Home Alone became a box office sensation and earned a sequel two years later, subtitled Lost in New York, where Culkin reprised Kevin. The first two Home Alone films weren’t the only things Culkin was known for. In between those films, he had a crucial role in My Girl, a movie revolving around two young kids learning about friendship and love. Culkin expanded his brilliant range with a bone-chilling performance in The Good Son. Then, in 1994, he starred in two more notable movies. One was the fantasy film The Pagemaster, which featured an excellent mix of live-action and animation. The other was Richie Rich, which centered on a kid who inherits billions of dollars. Even after achieving all this fame, Culkin took an understandable break from acting after the ’90s, stating he wanted to explore other career opportunities. Today, he’s mainly focused on his family life, although, once in a while, he has returned to acting and tried music.