The 90s have made a great impact on modern TV shows and movies. Without Twin Peaks, would we have seen Lost? And without Friends, would there be How I Met Your Mother? Probably not. It was a great era of movie-making breakthroughs, amazing sitcoms and cool kids’ shows. And while watching all of 90s shows would probably be impossible, you can settle for a list of crème de la crème TV shows that are a must-see for anyone who appreciates great plots and engaging stories.
ER (1994-2009)
This is definitely one of the greatest hospital dramas ever created. Not only did it launch the career of George Clooney, but it also revealed the hectic world of nurses and emergency room doctors along with gruesome and funny things they have to deal with every day. Spiced with a fair share of personal drama, ER became a real TV show gem of the 90s.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
The Fresh Prince is iconic in so many ways, that we shouldn’t even be talking about the show – you probably know everything already! From Will Smith’s funny performance to the catchy theme song that’s still popular nowadays, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is entertaining beyond comparison.
Full House (1987-1995)
Full House might have been a bit cheesy and simplistic, but it was one of the most watchable sitcoms on TV a few decades ago. If you wanted to relax after a hard working day – this was the perfect remedy.
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995–2001)
Today we see female protagonists everywhere, but back in the day it was still a new thing. Not only does Xena: Warrior Princess have two female leading roles, she also portrays a female warrior who’s fighting for the greater good. Xena travels around the ancient world with her friend Gabrielle and encounters all kinds of gods, spirits and otherworldly creatures.
Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)
This witty show managed to explore lots of important issues (love, war, coming of age) without talking down to kids. It was weird at times, but also incredibly funny!
Friends (1994-2004)
Not many shows can boast such a huge fan base. It has definitely hit a sweet spot with millions of people all over the world, depicting six extremely funny, witty and loveable friends living together in New York. It’s a story about growing up and finding your place in life.
Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990-2000)
While the acting wasn’t always stellar, you could be sure that this show would bring amazingly eerie plots week after week. The whole show was chilling to the bone! And it’s one of the few truly great anthology horror series that has ever been produced on TV.
Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
An incredibly smart show with a sci-fi twist that explored various historic periods and a wide range of human problems from politics to personal issues. Sam got the ability to leap through time and correct past mistakes. By ‘taking’ other people’s bodies he got a unique point of view as his ‘personas’ weren’t always limited to men only.
The X-Files (1993-2002)
This show is still one of the coolest things you can watch in the sci-fi/conspiracy genre. Today we have Fringe and Warehouse 13, but nothing can compete with the amazing chemistry between Mulder and Scully, and the truly eerie cases they had to deal with.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Back in the day when vampires weren’t a trend and supernatural was just another word and not a name of a whole new TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was born…It’s definitely among the coolest 90s shows that explored the hard lives of teens that had to deal with something more than just school and dating. Buffy saved the world a lot, had a witch as a best friend and a librarian who could fight demons. A girl’s dream come true!
The Simpsons (1989-present)
It’s a never-ending story with these guys, and we can only applaud the directors and the writers that have been working on it for decades. Nowadays the humor of the show might not be as sharp as it used to be back in the day, so you should definitely check out the older episodes.
Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
You can’t talk about 90s shows and not mention Twin Peaks. Lynch’s cult creation is unnerving, trippy and incredibly disturbing at times. Depicting the secret lives of bizarre people in small towns is somewhat of a trend now due to the show’s success.
