the 1990s were a great decade in cinema history. We were blessed with some truly great actors and movies. People like Robin williams and tom hanks were able to play both dramatic and comic roles and both do it extremely well. Robin Williams 1951-2014
are you kidding me a 90s list without Anthony Hopkins 1998 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role Amistad (1997) 1996 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role Nixon (1995) 1994 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role The Remains of the Day (1993) 1992 Won Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Valdrin Ferataj I'd add The Remains of the Day and Mask of Zorro...And firstly - don't forget his Oscar in 1992 for The Silence of the Lambs. Most iconic villain of all time (besides Darth Vader) didn't even get a mention!
You also forgot to mention Tom Hanks starred in The Green Mile aswell as Toy Story 2. Tom Hanks in the 90s was probably the most successful actor of a decade ever.
Don't miss the rest of the videos in this series, Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1920s Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1930s Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1940s Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1950s Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1960s Top 10 Decade Defining Actors: 1970s Saturday - Top 10 Actors of the 1990s Sunday - Top 10 Actors of the 2000s
Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, Leonardo Dicaprio, Dennis Quaid, Val Kilmer, Alec Baldwin, Antonio Banderas, John Malkovich, Wesley Snipes, John Cusack, Richard Gere, Christopher Walken, Liam Neeson, were huge hits of the 90s
What? He wasn't even that good in the 90's lol yeah he's in Pulp Fiction and a minor role in Jurassic Park...but other than that he wasn't that big of a deal. Don't get me wrong I see all his movies because I do like him. But for a top 10 list I'm pretty relieved he's not on here.
Keanu Reeves gets an honorable mention but you don't even talk about Anthony Hopkins (4 Oscar nominations in the 90s, played one of the most discussed villains in movie history)? And since when was Will Smith more defining than Morgan Freeman? Also Kevin Spacey could have been much higher.
you forgot glengarry glen ross, i was utterly disappointed when i saw Spacey at no 9. will smith is even above him. the 80's and 90's lists are disappointing for me.
my opinion: 1 Kevin Spacey 2 Robin WIlliams 3 Tom Hanks 4 Jim Carrey 5 Denzel Washington 6 Johnny Depp 7 Morgan Freeman 8 John Travolta 9 Samuel L Jackson 10 Edward Norton
Again, the list is for decade DEFINING actors, the actors whom you associate with this particular decade. The list doesn't say "Best Actors" or "Most not-insane actors" or "Most not-hated actors." People seem to not be grasping the concept of these lists.
Okay, how the hell is Keanu not on here? Even if you don't rate him as an actor he was in the some of the biggest films of the 90's and he really summed up the 90's depiction of cool.
jim carrey was definitely the primary defining face of comedy in the 90's. in a period of just 5 years in the 90's he made 9 comedies, and all of them were popular. he earned that number 2 spot. it's not about how good he is at acting, it's about defining the decade, and he defined comedy back in the 90's.
1. Tom Hanks 2. Kevin Spacey 3. Morgan Freeman 4. Samuel L. Jackson 5. Anthony Hopkins 6. Will Smith 7. Leonardo DiCaprio 8. Tommy Lee Jones 9. Arnold Schwarzenegger 10. Jim Carrey
How do you have Edward Norton as an honorable mention? I know he was only prominent at the end of the decade but with his performances in Primal Fear, American History X, and Fight Club he deserves a spot on the list much more than some of the actors you had on there...and Nicholas Cage ahead of Kevin Spacey?...
1. Morgan Freeman 2. Tom Hanks 3. Brad Pitt 4. William H. Macy 5. Anthony Hopkins 6. Edward Norton 7. Denzel Washington 8. Kevin Spacey 9. Mel Gibson 10. Steve Buscemi HM: Jim Carrey, Nic Cage, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Costner
damn, that was one strange list. here's my take on it 1. Tom Hanks 2. Jim Carrey 3. Bruce Willis 4. Tom Cruise 5. Keanu Reeves 5. Will Smith 6. Mel Gibson 7. Arnold Schwarzenegger 8. Leonardo DiCaprio 9. Kevin Spacey 10.Robert De Niro
Adam Sandler anyone????? -Billy Madison (1995) -Happy Gilmore (1996) -The Water Boy (1998) -The Wedding Singer (1998) -Big Daddy (1999) The fact you forgot him is criminal. He was Top 3-5 in the 90’s
I find him annoying as fuck I actually find Tom Hanks' character in spr funnier than anything i've ever seen of him But a lot of people do like him for some reason
Mr Professional I love when people say that. It's like saying "i know shit about cinematography". It's like person saying "Bach sucks, techno is better", we get it's his personal opinion, but we also are sure he doesnt know much about music. So yeah... it's not overrated, it's just too good for you to understand it.
You guys at watchmojo failed big time not even mentioning Anthony Hopkins. He is one of the finest actors of our time. Silence Of The Lambs, Shadowlands, Remains Of The Day, Legends Of The Fall, and Howards End are just a few examples of why this man should have been on the list for this decade.
I'm going to guess right now who will be on the 2000 list- 10) Jason Statham 9) Leonardo Dicaprio 8) Tom Cruise 7) Matt Damon 6) Liam Neeson 5) Johnny Depp 4) Hugh Jackman 3) Robert Downey Jr Next Two are a toss up but I'm Going to say: 2) Ian Mckellen 1) Christian Bale I Know Tom Cruise was on an earlier list but he still did many big movies in the 2000's so I included him again. I know everyone is screaming Heath Ledger but he only did two noteworthy movies so I don't think he makes the cut. Make your own list and lets see who gets the best guess!
10. Heath Ledger 9. George Clooney 8. Hugh Jackman 7. Johnny Depp 6. Russell Crowe 5. Robert Downey Jr. 4. Daniel Day Lewis 3. Leonardo Dicaprio 2. Christian Bale 1. Sean Penn Mark Confucius' words here son. This list will come to fruition!
Tom Cruise is already in the 80's list, Robert Downey Jr is only well known for His portrayal of Iron man while Hugh Jackman's wolverine but in the 90's not so much (except Chaplin for RDJ) Jason Statham, Leonardo Dicaprio, Christian Bale they are in the 2000's
Rest in peace... You were a genius Robin Williams, you made us laugh, cry, be angry at you...and for that shine you showed on screen...your art and you will always be remember. Respects.. From Argentina.
Wait... Kevin Costner is above Williams, Spacey, Cage, Gibson, Freeman, Reeves, Depp and Washington? Umm, Watchmojo, you are aware Costner was in "Waterworld" and "The Postman" which came out the same decade, right? I mean you aren't even saying his work after 1992. What the hell? Spacey... has TWO count 'em TWO Oscars for acting, and Costner also has two... for directing and best picture. NOT acting. Not to mention he has two razzies for worst actor, one for "Robin Hood," and "The Postman." At the very least, an honorable mention. Above Williams and Freeman? Give me a break. But at least he's lower than Smith, Carrey and Hanks.
As always, good list, bad order. Spacey should have been higher, top 3 if you ask me. Also, Ed Norton and Morgan Freeman should have been there, while Johnny Depp should be on the 2000's list.
It's unfortunate that actors can only appear once per decade. Tom Cruise had more success during the 90s than he did in the 80s. A Few Good Men, The Firm, Mission: impossible, Jerry Maguire, Magnolia etc.
Totally agree with where you put Tom Hanks. "Forrest Gump" is a classic, no other word to describe it. And am I the only one who finds Jim Carrey's "comedic" roles anything but? He can act, as was shown when he was Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", but when he tries to be funny, I just find him annoying. He's like the class clown that kept mugging for attention from the teacher and didn't know when to just sit down and shut up.
I agree, harvey keitel had amazing movies in 90's Thelma $ Louise, Bugsy(nominated on oscar for supporting role), reservoir dogs, bad liutenant, piano, pulp fiction, cop land and E.t
Morgan Freeman should have been on the list, not just an honorable mention. Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson should at least have gotten an an honorable mention.
Tim Allen was pretty popular back then with "Home Improvement" and "Toy Story". Jerry Seinfeld was pretty popular thanks to his show, but I don't see him really as decade defining. To be honest, I think this is a really awesome list. I think you guys did great here. Not perfect, but still great!
Morgan Freeman, while incredibly successful, didn't have much of his success in the 90's. I'm certain he will be seen in the 2000's list though. Besides, there was such an over-abundance of great work being done in the 90's, you need a top 20 list.
K1productions Driving miss Daisy, Glory, Shawshank Redemption, Seven, Outbreak, Unforgiven, Deep Impact, Robin Hood, Amistad......He should definitely be more than just an honorable mention.
anakinsol Driving Miss Daisy - Yes, great film,... but never quite hit mainstream Glory - Yes, I'll go with that one Shawshank Redemption - Absolutely Seven was more identified as Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacy Robin Hood.... Kevin Costner stole the screen from everyone Deep Impact... unfortunately, supporting role in a movie that was even more unfortunately overshadowed by Armageddon >shudder< There are several criteria that watchmojo was going from, and unfortunately the nature of these films (yes, I call them films, not "movies") holds them back. Especially considering how much absolutely great stuff was out in the 90's. Too many things get left out because people couldn't go to the movies every single weekend, which you needed to do, just to see everything.
Tom Hanks definitely is #1 in this eclectic 90s list! Best line from Forrest Gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates; You never know what you're gonna get..."
He was a box office king in the 90s, but not all of his movies were great. Patch Adams for instance, did very well at the box office, but was slammed by critics.
Ouch, it looks like watch mojo now has to update the year robin williams died now. They released the video a few days too early. Bad timing. RIP Robin Williams.
Can't honestly understand how Bruce Willis was snubbed on this list. He actually fits much better here than in the 80s list. Bruce was GIANT in the 90s: Pulp Fiction, 12 Monkeys, Sixth Sense, The Last Boy Scout, Die Hard 2 & 3, Fifth Element, Armageddon and more. Apart from the first Die Hard and the TV series Moonlighting I can't remember anything of him in the 80s.
Feel like Will Smith should've been saved for the 2000's, yes he had the originial Bad Boys, MIB and Independence Day in the 90's which launched him, but then he had the sequels, I Robot, Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Ali, HItch all in the 2000's
Di caprio's breakout role was Titanic in 1997 and most of his good movies were in the 2000's and why teh fuck would Will Smith be in the 2000s? he dominated the 90s.
raouf sb Depp and DiCaprio both belong on the 00's list more than Will Smith. Will Smith fits way better here, he was HUGE in the 90's, yet I struggle to even think of 5 movies he starred in during the 00's. I'm honestly shocked to see that Depp won't even be on the next list since he was an honorable mention here. Seemed like he was all over the place during the 00's. As great as Gary Oldman is, nearly all of his more famous roles have been as a supporting character. Aside from Dracula, I can't think of any major hit 90's films he starred in off the top of my head. If there's anyone who truly got snubbed from this list, it's Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins.
I think Jim Carrey was placed way too high. He's talented, but after awhile, his loony, rubber-faced antics can get a bit grating in his comedies, particularly those Pet Detective flicks. His hyper, over-the-top schtick got old real fast in those films.
I love WatchMojo but I hated this list. Perhaps it's only a question of tastes. I don't consider Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks or Will Smith particularly good actors, especially not good compared to Mel Gibson, Edward Norton, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey or some others who appeared on the video.
I know this was made before Robin Williams' passing but to have his part end with the quote "I'm here guys, in some form" is absolutely heartbreaking now
I wish Samuel L Jackson was on this list! There were a lot of great films that he totally nailed like Pulp Fiction which he should’ve won an Oscar for the Interrogation scene and some of the worst films he had great moments like Phantom Menace and Deep Blue Sea.
