Image: Carolco Pictures
About This Quiz
Picture it: 1990 — the beginning of a brand new decade. Madonna's "Vogue" and MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This" topped the Billboard charts, while the flashy fashion trends of the '80s began to give way to more subdued staples like black leggings and crop tops. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, and sitcoms such as "Cheers," "Roseanne" and "Murphy Brown" ruled the small screen. It was also the year Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise married a little-known actress named Nicole Kidman. Yes, all of these things happened 30 years ago. It's hard to believe!
It was also a banner year at the movies, with time-tested hits like "Ghost," "Home Alone" and "Pretty Woman," making their debuts. The sci-fi film, "Total Recall," became one of the first to utilize a groundbreaking special effects technique called CGI, while Kevin Costner's epic Western, "Dances With Wolves," grossed more than $424 million worldwide. It was also a year that featured a slew of sequels, like "Young Guns II" and "Another 48 Hrs" to "Look Who's Talking Now" and "Three Men and a Little Lady."
How well do you remember the movies of 1990? This quiz features screenshots from some of the year's best films, along with a few flops. How many can you identify? Get ready to travel back in time and find out!
"Edward Scissorhands"
This film marks Burton's first collaboration with Johnny Depp, whom he went on to direct in movies such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
"Batman Returns"
"Ed Wood"
"Beetlejuice"
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"Ghost"
Starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, "Ghost" grossed more than $505 million at the box office worldwide. It also won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (for Goldberg) and Best Original Screenplay.
"Pretty Woman"
"Total Recall"
"Dances with Wolves"
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"The Shining"
"It"
"Misery"
Based on the 1987 novel by prolific horror writer Stephen King, "Misery" was a critical and box office success. Kathy Bates won an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the psychotic Annie Wilkes.
"The Mist"
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"Twins"
"Kindergarten Cop"
Directed by Ivan Reitman, who also worked with Schwarzenegger on films like "Twins" and "Junior," "Kindergarten Cop" was one of the highest-grossing movies of 1990. A sequel starring Dolph Lundgren, "Kindergarten Cop 2," was released as a direct-to-DVD feature in 2018.
"Junior"
"True Lies"
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"Gremlins"
"The Relic"
"Species"
"Tremors"
A modest success when first released in January of 1990, "Tremors" was a massive hit on home video and became one of the most rented films of that year. It also spawned four direct-to-video sequels.
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"Goodfellas"
Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) star in this critically acclaimed film about the real-life story of mobster Henry Hill. The movie also features appearances by Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino.
"The Color of Money "
"Casino"
"Gangs of New York"
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"Misery"
"Cape Fear"
"Flatliners"
Featuring an ensemble cast that included Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin and Kevin Bacon, "Flatliners" was a moderate success when it debuted. A reboot starring Ellen Page was released in 2017.
"Dead Again"
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"Mystic Pizza"
"Runaway Bride"
"Sleeping With the Enemy"
"Pretty Woman"
One of the top grossing movies of 1990, "Pretty Woman" raked in more than $463 million at the box office worldwide. Julia Roberts was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and she won a Golden Globe.
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"Scary Kid"
"Problem Child"
Staring John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck, "Problem Child" was an unexpected hit. The movie went on to spawn two sequels — a feature film, "Problem Child 2," in 1991, and a TV movie, "Problem Child 3: Junior in Love," in 1995.
"Problem Kid"
"Temper Tantrum"
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"Look Who's Talking Too"
This follow-up to the 1989 hit, "Look Who's Talking," stars John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and the voice of Bruce Willis reprising their roles from the original film. It also adds the voice of Roseanne Barr as baby Julie.
"Die Hard 2"
"Babies R Us 2"
"Look Who's Talking Now"
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"Home Alone"
Starring Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, "Home Alone" held the record for the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time until it was surpassed by the computer-animated movie, "The Grinch," in 2018.
"Home Alone 2: Lost in New York"
"Uncle Buck"
"My Girl"
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"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
The ninth-highest-grossing film of 1990, this movie features costumes created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. It was also the highest-grossing of all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies until the reboot came out in 2014.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze"
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III"
"T3"
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"Nuns on the Run"
Starring Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane as gangsters disguised as nuns, the soundtrack for this comedy features popular song such as "Roll With It" by Steve Winwood and "Blow Away" by George Harrison.
"The Full Monty"
"Bean"
"Peter's Friends"
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"Predator"
"True Lies"
"Total Recall"
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and featuring an early screen performance by Sharon Stone, "Total Recall" was one of the most expensive movies ever made at the time of its release. A reboot starring Colin Farrell came out in 2012.
"The Terminator"
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"House Party"
Starring rappers Kid 'n Play, this lighthearted comedy was originally written for DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. It became a cult classic and was followed by two feature film and two direct-to-video sequels.
"Friday"
"Next Friday"
Class Act
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"Working Girl"
"Regarding Henry"
"Postcards from the Edge"
Based on the 1987 novel of the same name, which was written by Carrie Fisher, this hit movie stars Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid. It also features music by Carly Simon.
"The Birdcage"
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"Dances With Wolves"
Kevin Coster directed, produced and starred in this film, which is based on a 1988 book of the same name. The movie was a huge hit, grossing more than $424 million worldwide and winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
"Unforgiven"
"Tombstone"
"Desperado"
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"Green Card"
Starring Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, this romantic comedy won Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor (for Depardieu). It was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
"Muriel's Wedding"
"While You Were Sleeping"
"Never Been Kissed"
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"You've Got Mail"
"Sleepless in Seattle"
"Joe Versus the Volcano"
"Joe Versus the Volcano" is the first of three movies that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan star in together. The other two are the romantic comedies "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993) and You've Got Mail" (1998).
"When Harry Met Sally"
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"Tremors"
"Misery"
"Jacob's Ladder"
A modest success upon its release, "Jacob's Ladder" has become a cult classic. In 2019, a remake starring Michael Ealy was released, though it did not come close to matching the success of the original film.
"Arachnophobia"
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"Sixteen Candles"
"For Keeps"
"Betsy's Wedding"
Written, directed by and starring Alan Alda, this romantic comedy also features performances by Molly Ringwald, Madeline Kahn, Ally Sheedy and Catherine O'Hara. The story was reportedly inspired by Alda's youngest daughter.
"Sweet Liberty"
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"Another 48 Hrs."
In this highly anticipated sequel to the 1984 hit movie, "48 Hrs.," Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte reprise their roles as the unlikely crime-fighting duo of Jack Cates and Reggie Hammond.
"Beverly Hills Cop 2"
"The Golden Child"
"Trading Places"
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"Dead Calm"
"Far and Away"
"Malice"
"Days of Thunder"
Also starring Tom Cruise, who was married to Kidman from 1990 until 2001, this action-packed movie about race car drivers was a box office hit. It was also a huge success on home video, earning $40 million in rental revenue.
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"Moonstruck"
"Quick Change"
"Groundhog Day"
"Mermaids"
Winona Ryder received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Cher's daughter in this film. The movie also features Christina Ricci in her feature film debut.
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"The Hunt for Red October"
The first film in the wildly successful Jack Ryan franchise (which are based on books by Tom Clancy), this movie stars Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones and Sam Neill. It is the only installment to feature Baldwin as Jack Ryan.
"Patriot Games"
"Clear and Present Danger"
"The Sum of All Fears"
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"Pump Up the Volume"
Christian Slater stars in this moderately successful movie about a high school kid who broadcasts a pirate radio station from the basement of his parents' house. The film also features Ellen Greene and Samantha Mathis.
"Heathers"
"The Legend of Billie Jean"
"The Name of the Rose"
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"Darkman"
Directed by Sam Raimi, this movie was Neeson's first action film. It spawned two direct-to-video sequels, "Darkman II: The Return of Durant," in 1995, and "Darkman III: Die Darkman Die," in 1996, neither of which featured Neeson.
"Army of Darkness"
"Taken"
"The Evil Dead"
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"Cadillac Man"
"The Fisher King"
"Awakenings"
Directed by Penny Marshall and co-starring Robert De Niro, "Awakenings" was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (for De Niro). The film lost to "Dances With Wolves."
"Dead Poets Society"
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"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle"
"Fear"
"Unlawful Entry"
"Pacific Heights"
Also starring Melanie Griffith, Matthew Modine and Laurie Metcalf, this creepy flick features Keaton as a nightmare tenant. A modest box office success, it received mixed reviews from critics.
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"Reversal of Fortune"
Based on the 1985 book, "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case," this movie stars Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons and Ron Silver. Irons won both an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance.
"Jagged Edge"
"Fracture"
"Fatal Attraction"
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"Chinatown 2"
"The Two Jakes"
Jack Nicholson starred in and directed this "Chinatown" follow-up, which was a financial and critical disappointment. Plans for a third film were abandoned after "The Two Jakes" tanked at the box office.
"Chinatown Again"
"The Two Jacks"
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"Wild at Heart"
Based on a 1989 novel of the same name, "Wild at Heart" stars Laura Dern, Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe and Harry Dean Stanton. It also features Diane Ladd, who was nominated for both an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.
"Twin Peaks"
"Blue Velvet"
"Dune"
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"A League of Their Own"
"Desperately Seeking Susan"
"Body of Evidence"
"Dick Tracy"
Based on the 1930s comic strip of the same name, this movie was written and directed by Warren Beatty, who also starred in the tile role. In addition to Madonna, the film also features performances by Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman and Mandy Patinkin.
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"Roxanne"
"The Jerk"
"The Man With Two Brains"
"My Blue Heaven"
This comedy is loosely based on the life of Henry Hill, who was also the inspiration for the 1990 Martin Scorsese drama, "Goodfellas." It also stars Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, Bill Irwin and Carol Kane.
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"Stripes"
"Groundhog Day"
"Quick Change"
In addition to starring in this film, Bill Murray co-directed the crime comedy with Howard Franklin. A remake of the 1985 French film, "Hold-Up," it also stars Geena Davis, Randy Quaid and Jason Robards.
"What About Bob"
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"What Lies Beneath"
""The Fugitive"
"Presumed Innocent"
Based on a 1987 novel of the same name, this legal thriller earned more than $221 million in box office sales worldwide. It also stars Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia and Bradley Whitford.
"Witness"
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"Young Guns"
"Young Guns II"
A sequel to the 1988 hit "Young Guns," this movie stars Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips and Christian Slater. It also features the hit song, "Blaze of Glory," which was written for the film by Jon Bon Jovi, who also makes a cameo.
"Wyatt Earp"
"Blaze of Glory"
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"Three Men and a Baby"
"Three Men and a Little Lady"
Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson reprise their roles in this sequel to the 1987 hit, "Three Men and a Baby." Unfortunately, the film was nowhere near as successful as the original.
"Father of the Bride"
"It Takes Two"
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"Do the Right Thing"
"She's Gotta Have It"
"Mo' Better Blues"
This jazzy musical drama stars Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes. It also features notable appearances by Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson , John Turturro, Diahann Carroll and Rubén Blades.
"Jungle Fever"
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"Gremlins"
"Gremlins 2: The New Batch"
Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates reprise their roles in this sequel to the 1984 hit, "Gremlins." Fun fact: Howie Mandel was the voice of Gizmo in both "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch."
"Trolls"
"Munchies"
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You Got:
/40
