20 Underrated '90s Comedies We Totally Forgot About

Ashley Hunte
A movie clipboard with popcorn sticking out of the clapper part.
Unsplash | GR Stocks

There were a lot of great comedy movies that came out in the 1990s. In fact, sometimes it feels like too many comedies released within that decade. And sure, while having a seemingly endless amount of laughs is great and all, it also means a lot of them will slip through the cracks of our memories.

In this list, we're going to be taking a look at some '90s comedies that are super underrated. Maybe you forgot about them, maybe you never even knew they existed, but here they are.

Bowfinger (1999)

Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in Bowfinger.
IMDb | IMDb

When satire is done right, it's a blast. And Bowfinger is satire done right. Steve Martin starring as a filmmaker who's so desperate to make a hit film, he resorts to secretly filming Eddie Murphy's character. Like, without his knowledge and all that.

Go (1999)

Katie Holmes in Go.
IMDb | IMDb

Everything about this movie feels distinctly '90s, from the dialog, to the characters, to the fashion choices (obviously). And even though it was a hit with the critics, it was a flop in the box office. Which, evidently is the perfect storm for a film to achieve cult status.

Quick Change (1990)

Despite being praised for its performances and humor, Bill Murray's directorial debut (and lone director credit) isn't always remembered. But, this strange, dark comedy heist film is one that probably shouldn't be forgotten so easily.

The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)

A scene from The Brady Bunch Movie
Giphy | Giphy

The Brady Bunch is a beloved '70s comedy full of beloved '70s characters. The Brady Bunch Movie takes those distinctly '70s characters and plops them into the '90s. And the way they stick out like sore thumbs is literally the entire joke.

And, like, the joke landed well enough to give this movie a couple of sequels.

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

A dark comedy about a hitman who goes back to his hometown, only to be contracted for a hit while in town? It honestly sounds way more memorable than it ended up being, which is kind of a shame.

Living in Oblivion (1995)

An independent film about an independent filmmaker making an independent film. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as I'm sure literally any indie filmmaker could tell you, pretty much everything. This total gem definitely deserves more recognition than it got.

What About Bob? (1991)

Bill Murray in What About Bob?
IMDb | IMDb

Another underrated '90s Bill Murray movie to add to your list. This one follows a therapist played by Richard Dreyfuss, whose new patient, the titular Bob (played by Murray) follows him to his vacation home. Hilarity ensues.

Part of what makes this film work as well as it does it probably the fact that Dreyfuss and Murray didn't really get along on set.

Life (1999)

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence returned to work together for the first time since 1992's Boomerang, and while Life might not be as memorable as the duo's first outing, it's still remembered fondly by a small, devoted fan base.

Dick (1999)

Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams in Dick.
IMDb | IMDb

This movie proves that you can find comedy in the strangest things. For example, imagine if Deep Throat, the anonymous whistleblower at the center of the Watergate scandal, was two teenage girls? Well, you could save your imagination and just watch Dick.

L.A. Story (1991)

It's kind of a shame this early '90s satire got buried by other, more notable comedies of the decade. With Steve Martin playing a weatherman in L.A where the whether is so consistently good, he tapes forecasts far in advance, you already have a pretty great set up.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

An adaptation of a stage play based off Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is sort of like the "untold story" of two very small, mostly insignificant characters from the original play. But hey, everyone has their own story, right?

Matinee (1993)

John Goodman in Matinee
IMDb | IMDb

You wouldn't think a film set during the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s could be funny, but this film shows that anything is possible. Despite being loved by critics, it flew under the radar, both in the box office, and in the decades to come.

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

Unsurprisingly, this film is yet another that, for one reason or another, gained cult status. This one may not be as well-received as most of the others in this list, but it still has a lot of laughs to offer.

Delicatessen (1991)

It's no wonder this post-apocalyptic dark comedy about a butcher who uses humans as a cheap meat substitute flew under the radar for English-speaking audiences. After all, it's a French foreign film. But that doesn't make it bad by any means!

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

This film was written by the Coen brothers and took years to get off the ground. But when it did... it kind of bombed in the box office. But surprise, surprise, it has (you guessed it) a cult following.

Bottle Rocket (1996)

Luke Wilson in Bottle Rocket
Giphy | TIFF

It's funny to think about how, despite the fact that this movie didn't do well in the box office, it was still a very successful debut for director Wes Anderson and Owen and Luke Wilson as actors. Life really is strange.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

A dark romantic comedy rife with action sequences and musical numbers. It's not hard to see why critics and audiences weren't fully convinced that this movie was gold, but that definitely doesn't mean they're right!

Dirty Work (1998)

At the time, Bob Saget's directorial debut wasn't as appreciated as it is today. The black comedy has quite the cult following, which has included critics revisiting it to appreciate it a little bit more.

Benny & Joon (1993)

Johnny Depp in Benny & Joon.
youtube | Movieclips Classic Trailers

A very strange romantic comedy, but a good one. Aiden Quinn and Mary Stuart Masterson star as the titular siblings, alongside Johnny Depp as Sam, a strange man who enters their lives. All in all, it's a pretty solid film.

The Cable Guy (1996)

Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy
Giphy | Giphy

Not one of Carrey's most memorable '90s comedies for sure (I mean, when Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber all exist, it's not that surprising). But this comedy about a cable guy trying to strike a friendship with a man (played by Matthew Broderick) by offering him premium cable service still has a lot to offer.