’90s Movies With Special Effects That Still Hold up Today

Special effects have become intrinsically linked with the world of cinema, creating a more realistic and immersive viewing experience. Beginning in the late 19th century with Georges Méliès’ groundbreaking use of substitute splicing and double exposure, technological developments have seen miniatures, optical effects and CGI become commonplace in movies.

The 1990s were a revolutionary period for special effects leading to the seamless blend of CGI and practical effects we see today. Due to the rapid advancements in technology, it’s hardly surprising, though, that many effects that were considered cutting edge at the time quickly become dated. The following movies, however, have managed to strike gold when it comes to their use of special effects, creating pieces of art that still hold up to this day.

10 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Henry Sellick’s directorial debut has gone down in history as one of the most iconic and groundbreaking stop-motion animated movies ever. With a strong cult following still thriving today, 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas follows the macabre tale of Jack Skellington as he attempts to bring the Christmas spirit to his home of Halloween Town.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Is the Product of Meticulous Craftsmanship and Painstaking Labor

The movie’s innovative stop-motion animation involved the use of highly detailed miniature sets and character puppets. Painstakingly animated frame by frame, Selick brought to life Tim Burton’s characters using advanced lighting effects and clever camera work.

While many animated movies were experimenting with CGI techniques during the ’90s, the rapid pace at which this technology was evolving led to certain effects feeling dated, quickly. The Nightmare Before Christmas’ meticulous stop-motion, however, retains a timeless charm that more than holds up over 3 decades after its release.

Stream on Disney+

9 Independence Day (1996)

Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum star in this epic sci-fi action flick about an alien invasion. The movie was a huge box office smash, raking in over $800 million on a $75 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film of the year.

Independence Day Delivers Huge-Scale Visual Devastation

A battle of this magnitude, between humans and aliens, had never been seen on-screen prior to the release of Independence Day. From intense, high-speed flying dog fights to the utter destruction of Washington D.C. at the hands of the aliens, the effects are jaw-dropping. Winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the movie still makes for a great watch with its spectacular exploding White House scene remaining iconic to this day.

8 Forrest Gump (1994)

1994’s Best Picture winner is considered by many as among the greatest movies of all time. Tom Hanks captured the hearts of millions with his tour-de-force performance as the movie’s intellectually challenged yet determined, titular character.

Forrest Gump Subtly Incorporated Groundbreaking Effects into its Engaging Story

Not necessarily known for its spectacular effects in the same ways as some of the more visually striking blockbusters on this list, it’s not to say they’re not impressive. The superimposing of Forrest into various historical situations was ground-breaking at the time and seamlessly fits into the movie. Similarly, the disabled Lieutenant Dan’s legs were removed using digital effects and camera trickery, at a time when this was no easy feat.

7 Total Recall (1990)

Fresh off the success of a slew of late ’80s blockbuster hits including Twins and Predator, Arnold Schwarzenegger entered the ’90s as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars. His first movie of the decade was the sci-fi action thriller Total Recall.

The movie was a hit with critics and audiences alike, who were particularly impressed with Schwarzenegger’s willingness to display a more vulnerable and sympathetic side to himself in his character, something rarely seen by the action star before.

Total Recall Had Help From an Oscar-Winning Visual Effects Team

Working with Dream Quest Images, the team behind The Abyss’ Visual Effects Oscar win the year before, Total Recall also went on to win the Visual Effects Oscar, and rightfully so. During a time when early CGI technology was being adopted by many other studios, they decided to predominantly stick with miniatures, motion control and practical effects. The move paid off, and the effects remain some of the finest ever committed to film.

6 Naked Lunch (1991)

A work of surreal, nightmarish science fiction from the master of body horror, David Cronenberg, Naked Lunch is a masterclass in practical effects. At a time when many studios were opting to utilize emerging CGI technology, Cronenberg stuck to his guns and retained the practical effects that had worked so effectively in his previous projects like Videodrome and Scanners.

The Surreal, Hallucinogenic Nature of the Movie Allows for Boundless Creativity

Focusing more on surrealistic visuals and thematic elements than a typical story, much of Naked Lunch is based on drug-induced hallucinations, which means that the sky really is the limit when it comes to its use of special effects. From fluid-excreting lizard men to giant talking beetle-typewriter hybrids, these special effects really have to be seen to be believed.

5 Starship Troopers (1997)

Despite receiving negative reviews at the time of its release and a lackluster performance at the box office, Starship Troopers has since amassed a strong cult following. The high-octane sci-fi action movie follows an elite team of soldiers as they engage in a high-stakes interstellar war with an assortment of deadly aliens.

Starship Troopers had a Huge Special Effects Budget

While a lot of the over-the-top action sequences bring to mind the classic sci-fi and action B movies of the ’80s and ’90s, the special effects rival the biggest blockbuster efforts. Made on a huge budget of around $110 million, it’s been reported that about half of that was spent on special effects. Combining cutting-edge CGI and impressive practical effects, the movie was nominated for the Best Visual Effects Oscar and still remains one of the most visually impressive movies of all time.

4 Titanic (1997)

It’s near impossible to think of ’90s movies and not have James Cameron’s epic retelling of the tragic Titanic expedition, spring to mind. The movie quickly became the highest-grossing movie of all time and was lauded for its impressive effects, heart-wrenching love story, and its devastating depiction of the ship’s final moments.

Titanic Left an Indelible Mark on the World of Cinema

The movie won a total of 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Visual Effects. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert stated that the movie “is a triumph of reconstructed realism: Inside and out, in good times and bad”. Thanks to the most advanced and cutting-edge effects, it’s this undeniable realism in the portrayal of the tragic sinking of the colossal Titanic ship that had such a profound effect on the viewers.

3 The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix was unleashed onto the general public back in 1999 and cinema has never been the same since. A huge commercial hit, the movie explores the idea that humanity is unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality known as ‘the matrix’. This concept has since become a ubiquitous cultural talking point.

The Matrix Is Synonymous With Cutting Edge Special Effects

With its video game, cyberpunk aesthetics, and highly stylized action, the jaw-dropping special effects in The Matrix are among the most iconic in the history of cinema. Whether witnessing the disturbing transformation of avatars into agents or the slow motion, gravity-defying bullet dodging of Neo, it will forever be remembered as one of the most visually impressive movies of all time.

2 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Terminator 2 sees the highly advanced Terminator cyborg assassin being sent into 1995 to kill a young John Connor and prevent him becoming the future leader of the human resistance. With its relentless action sequences and thought-provoking narrative, the movie is fondly remembered as one of the greatest sci-fi and action movies ever made.

James Cameron Had a Higher Budget and More Creative Freedom With Terminator 2

The original Terminator, made on a modest budget of just $6.4 million, was a huge hit and elevated its director, James Cameron, and star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to superstar status.

When it came to the sequel, the budget was vastly raised to around $100 million, which is reflected in its utilization of cutting-edge special effects technology. Combining practical and CGI, standout moments include the fluid movement of the liquid metal T-1000 android and the nuclear destruction of Los Angeles.

1 Jurassic Park (1993)

Directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg and starring Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neil, it’s hard to believe that Jurassic Park is now over 30 years old. At the time of its release, it quickly became the highest-grossing movie of all time, a record it held onto until 1997’s Titanic. Its story was captivating and compelling, the acting was top-notch and, most of all, the effects were utterly jaw-dropping and groundbreaking.

The Special Effects in Jurassic Park, Arguably, Have Yet To Be Surpassed

Combining groundbreaking CGI with practical animatronics, the film achieved a level of realism and immersion that set a new standard for visual effects. Despite advances in technology, it can be argued that the seamless integration of these techniques has not been matched, as later films often rely more heavily on CGI, sometimes at the expense of the tangible authenticity that Jurassic Park mastered.