Looper
90s Fantasy Movies That Still Hold Up Today
By KATIE RANNO
Feb. 7, 2026
While the 1980s leaned into dark fantasy, films of the 1990s explored the broader fantasy genre, branching into several avenues that pushed the boundaries to show us how far this genre could go. This experimentation seemed like a logical way to go as fantasy series like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Gargoyles,” and “Charmed” began to attract attention from a wider range of age groups.
Like these shows, many of the movies on this list are so imaginative and realistic that they still hold up some 30 years after they premiered. Some contain human-like beings that we never dreamed of. Others remind us of childhood, allowing us to explore a tale that is nostalgic for the whole family. Some adventures even connect us to the past and expand on stories we thought we already knew.
No matter the plot, some of these movies remain enjoyable because they use fantasy elements to connect the dots while still giving characters room to deliver relatable performances. So, grab your favorite nostalgic snack, and let’s take a look at five fantasy films from the 1990s that still hold up today.
Matilda
Based on Roald Dahl’s classic 1988 book, the 1996 adaptation of “Matilda” goes all out to make this tale an immersive experience for the whole family.
That immersion is created by the sets and clothing choices, which help you understand each character’s personality before they even open their mouths. For example, level-headed Matilda (Mara Wilson) wears sensible dresses, while her obnoxious parents wear loud outfits and live in a wildly colored house, trying to show off their wealth to their community. While they are caught up in their own (often nefarious) activities, Matilda discovers her psychic abilities, which lead to some cutting-edge practical effects as she makes objects float in thin air, offering a moment of delight amid family chaos.
Matilda tries to bring that delight to Crunchem Hall Primary School, run by headmistress Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Farris), whose lines are just as menacing as her dark, boxy suits. While she finds herself the victim of Trunchbull’s bullying, Matilda learns that her teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), has plenty of her own reasons to be terrified of Trunchbull. Miss Honey teaches her that showing kindness to others creates positive energy that can stop evil rather than fuel it. Both learn to lean on their strengths as they work and grow together, while teaching kids that positive power can always be found within them.
Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, Pam Ferris
Rating: PG
Year: 1996
Runtime: 98 min
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Edward Scissorhands
When “Edward Scissorhands” premiered in 1990, many knew that Tim Burton had an eye for the unique and unusual, and “Edward Scissorhands” proved that he still had fresh content up his sleeves by introducing a new hero that stretched the fantasy genre.
Edward (Johnny Depp), the young man with scissors for hands, has a sense of wonder and timidity as Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest), the Avon lady, brings him to her quiet suburban neighborhood after finding him alone in a dark mansion. He’s excited to explore the world that sits below his former home, but he’s also uncertain of what to make of all of it as he nervously pokes a waterbed and even exhibits an endearing awkwardness around Peg’s daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder). While many of these moments are quiet because of Edward’s limited dialogue, they are loud as Depp uses his body language to convey each emotion, allowing viewers to study his humanity.
Burton blends the ordinary with the extraordinary by placing Edward in familiar movie plots, as he falls for the girl who ignores him and listens to the gossip spread by nosey neighbors. Those storylines are used to examine the perfection that many attach to a so-called normal life. As for the gossiping neighbors, Edward realizes that they have more problems than he does, but their groupthink mentality places attention on his weaknesses. It’s a deep study of human nature and societal expectations, set in a tale that includes imaginative topiaries and Frankenstein-like flashbacks, making this movie as entertaining as it is thoughtful.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
Rating: PG-13
Year: 1990
Runtime: 105 min
Where to Watch: Disney+, Apple TV
Toy Story
The first feature-length film from Pixar Animation Studios is beloved by those who grew up in the 1990s because it’s a tale that connects us to the joy of childhood while offering a lesson about inevitable change. “Toy Story” follows Woody (Tom Hanks), a toy sheriff who is worried that he’ll be forgotten when his child, Andy (John Morris), receives Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) as a birthday gift. While the other toys are becoming friends with Buzz, Woody can’t get past his jealousy and the fact that Buzz thinks that he’s a real space ranger.
It’s clear that Buzz represents the inner child who resists the box the world tries to put them in. Woody represents the part of our souls that knows that facing reality is practical, but that reality can also bring uncomfortable changes. Put it all together, and it creates a story that is really about the rollercoaster ride of growing up and making room for new experiences. Adults continue to face these feelings as we step into new chapters of life, and this is reflected in the toys as they step into new chapters with each installment of the “Toy Story” franchise.
Filmmakers also made wise decisions with this cast of characters, since the toys represented are not fads but timeless favorites enjoyed by generations, including Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) and an RC car that becomes a key part of the film’s adventurous finale.
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Don Rickles
Rating: G
Year: 1995
Runtime: 81 min
Where to Watch: Disney+
The Mummy
“The Mummy” changed action movies forever, while continuing the adventure style that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” brought back to the big screen in the 1980s. That style is achieved through sets that bring ancient Egypt to life as Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), recruit American French Foreign Legion Officer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) to lead them to the lost city of Hamunaptra.
They interact with artifacts that contain the secrets they’re searching for, but those secrets lead to danger — rendered with cutting-edge computer graphics. This technology is seen as beetles dig into their victim’s skin, and when sand turns into a ghostly face ready to bring age-old wrath. Undead mummies are also computer-generated, and their interactions with human characters and practical effects make them feel real despite their cartoon-like nature.
While the story feels otherworldly, the characters help ground viewers in reality, with a relatability that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” doesn’t always have. The heroes in “The Mummy” aren’t heroes to begin with. At the beginning of the film, Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) is a laughing stock at work while Rick is on the verge of being executed. They have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. This gives them high stakes before they even face the evil Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo). Their shared failure gives viewers a way to become emotionally invested while taking in the visual spectacle that moves the story toward a fantastical ending that should inspire any would-be blockbuster.
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo
Rating: PG-13
Year: 1999
Runtime: 124 min
Where to Watch: Disney+, Apple TV
Hocus Pocus
This campy flick is a Halloween tradition for many families, and what makes “Hocus Pocus” so special is its mix of the old and the new, coupled with a reimagining of history and lore. Teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) has just moved to Salem, Massachusetts, and his new home feels too predictable. An accidental run-in with the Black Flame Candle changes everything, leading to the resurrection of Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy).
The witches think they have the upper hand, but these kids know they’re in charge as they scare the sisters with new inventions. Their interactions with newfangled concepts like vacuums and costume parties are some of the most memorable moments in the film. However, the sisters know how to fire back, and that leads to a magical lesson that connects to the past.
While magical realism makes this movie an eye-popping spectacle, the villains’ character development helps it stand out. It would be easy to focus only on their mission to stay alive, but “Hocus Pocus” reveals details about their pasts to make the Sanderson sisters three-dimensional. A human spirit in cat form, Thackery Binx (Sean Murray), shares their trials with Max and his crew, even providing details about their quarrel with Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), who is also brought back to life. This insight helps us better understand how fickle these sisters can be toward each other, while allowing audience members to identify weaknesses that hint at their eventual demise.
Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw
Rating: PG
Year: 1993
Runtime: 96 min
Where to Watch: Disney+
