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Ranking Every ‘90s Teen Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best

Here's how these beloved teen classics measure up when it comes to Rotten Tomatoes score.

still from clueless
Paramount Pictures

The '90s defined the teen movie for a new generation: Films like Clueless, She's All That, and American Pie taught young people how to dress, how to talk, and how to prioritize prom over anything else. But while many of us grew up loving these movies, the critics weren't always so kind. To show you how all the decade's teen classics stack up when it comes to the reviews, we're ranking every '90s teen movie by Rotten Tomatoes score. You might be shocked to find out that some of the flicks you thought were universally beloved actually got panned.


OK, so we couldn't actually include every '90s teen movie, but we tried to list all your faves—teen comedies, teen romances, teen horror, and yes, even a few that stretch the definition of the genre but do prominently feature teen characters. So read on to find out which 50 teen movies made the cut, and whether or not you agree with the critics. And for more '90s nostalgia, revisit these 30 Beloved Movies You Won't Believe Are 30 Years Old.

50 | The Next Karate Kid (1994)

the next karate kidColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 7 percent

49 | Jawbreaker (1999)

still from jawbreakerSony Pictures Releasing

Rotten Tomatoes score: 11 percent

And for more movies we're still quoting, check out these 30 Movie Quotes Every '90s Kid Knows by Heart.

48 | My Boyfriend’s Back (1993)

my boyfriend's backBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 14 percent

47 | Encino Man (1992)

encino manBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15 percent

And for more movies the critics hated, These Are the Movies on Rotten Tomatoes With 0 Percent Ratings.

46 | Idle Hands (1999)

still from idle handsSony Pictures Releasing

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15 percent

45 | High School High (1996)

high school highTriStar Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19 percent

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44 | Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999)

teaching mrs. tingleMiramax Films

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19 percent

43 | The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)

the rage carrie 2MGM

Rotten Tomatoes score: 20 percent

And for some follow-ups that are actually worth watching, here are 20 Movie Sequels Better Than the Original.

42 | Mad Love (1995)

still from mad loveBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 28 percent

41 | Drive Me Crazy (1999)

drive me crazy20th Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes score: 28 percent

And to see how the critics felt about more movies you love, we're also Ranking Every Marvel Movie, From Worst Reviewed to Best.

40 | Dangerous Minds (1995)

dangerous mindsBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 28 percent

39 | Empire Records (1995)

empire recordsWarner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 29 percent

38 | Good Burger (1997)

good burgerParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 32 percent

37 | Hackers (1995)

still from hackersMGM

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33 percent

36 | Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991)

don't tell mom the babysitter's deadWarner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 34 percent

35 | Disturbing Behavior (1998)

still from disturbing behaviorMGM

Rotten Tomatoes score: 34 percent

34 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

buffy the vampire slayer movie20th Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes score: 35 percent

33 | Hocus Pocus (1993)

still from hocus pocusBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 37 percent

32 | Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)

can't hardly waitSony Pictures Releasing

Rotten Tomatoes score: 40 percent

31 | But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

but i'm a cheerleaderLionsgate

Rotten Tomatoes score: 40 percent

30 | She’s All That (1999)

she's all thatMiramax Films

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41 percent

29 | Varsity Blues (1999)

varsity bluesParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 42 percent

28 | I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

I know what you did last summerColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 42 percent

27 | Fear (1996)

still from fearUniversal Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46 percent

26 | Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

still from drop dead gorgeousNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46 percent

25 | The Doom Generation (1995)

the doom generationLionsgate

Rotten Tomatoes score: 47 percent

24 | Detroit Rock City (1999)

detroit rock cityNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 48 percent

23 | The Faculty (1998)

still from the facultyParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 53 percent

22 | Cruel Intentions (1999)

cruel intentionsColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 54 percent

21 | The Craft (1996)

still from the craftColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55 percent

20 | Never Been Kissed (1999)

never been kissed20th Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55 percent

19 | School Ties (1992)

still from school tiesParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60 percent

18 | American Pie (1999)

still from american pieUniversal Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 61 percent

17 | Wild Things (1998)

still from wild thingsColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 63 percent

16 | All I Wanna Do (1998)

all I wanna doMiramax Films

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67 percent

15 | The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)

the babysitters club movieColumbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67 percent

14 | Angus (1995)

still from angusNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67 percent

13 | 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

10 things I hate about youBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69 percent

12 | Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion

romy and michele's high school reunionBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72 percent

11 | Romeo + Juliet (1996)

still from the 1996 romeo and juliet20th Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72 percent

10 | Mermaids (1990)

still from mermaidsMGM

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73 percent

9 | Cry-Baby (1990)

still from cry-babyUniversal Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73 percent

8 | Scream (1996)

still from screamParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79 percent

7 | Pump Up the Volume (1990)

pump up the volumeNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81 percent

6 | Clueless (1995)

still from cluelessParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81 percent

5 | Pleasantville (1998)

still from pleasantvilleNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85 percent

4 | Rushmore (1998)

still from rushmoreBuena Vista Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89 percent

3 | Dazed and Confused (1993)

still from dazed and confusedUniversal Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent

2 | Election (1999)

still from electionParamount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92 percent

1 | House Party (1990)

still from house partyNew Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93 percent