This is our ongoing series of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen. You can access links to previous lists below. This article is about the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1990 – 1994.
Listed below are the links to previous years and links of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen lists:
- Teen & College Comedies – The 1970’s
- Teen & College Comedies – 1980 – 1984
- Teen & College Comedies – 1985 – 1989
- Teen & College Comedies – 1990 – 1994
- Teen & College Comedies – 1995 – 1999
- Teen & College Comedies – 2000 – 2004
- Teen & College Comedies – 2005 – 2009
- Teen & College Comedies – 2010 – 2013
- Teen & College Comedies – 2014 – 2017
- Teen & College Comedies – 2018 – 2022
Teen & College Comedies suffered from subgenre fatigue going into the 1990’s. Due to the overwhelming amount of these films in the 1980’s, the 1990’s saw a significant decrease in the number of subgenre films. The tone of the subgenre also significantly shifted from the light-hearted comedies of the 1980’s to a more pessimistic and darker tone for 1990’s teen comedies and coming of age films. This correlated to the rise in grunge culture and growing nihilistic mindset of Gen X.
While pessimism was an underlying theme throughout the decade, Teen Comedies from 1990 – 1994 also featured additional themes and subgenres including Period Pieces with Coming-of-Age Narratives, Slapstick Comedies and Sports Comedies.
The Pessimism and Gen X angst theme was prevalent in films Pump Up the Volume (1990), Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990), Hangin’ with the Homeboys (1991), Samantha (1992), Naked in New York (1993) and Reality Bites (1994).
The first half of the decade also saw many Teen Comedies and Coming-of-Age films set in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s with Cry-Baby (1990), Book of Love (1990), Dogfight (1991), Oh, What a Night (1992), Calendar Girl (1993), Dazed and Confused (1993) and There Goes My Baby (1994).
Early 1990’s teen comedies and college comedies also saw the slapstick comedy continue from the 1980’s with If Looks Could Kill (1991), Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991), Encino Man (1992) and PCU (1994).
And Sports Comedies were also prevalent within the subgenre with Ski Patrol (1990), Necessary Roughness (1991), The Sandlot (1993) and Airborne (1993).
Other classic and notable subgenre films from 1990 – 1994 included The Freshman (1990), Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead (1991), My Girl (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and Threesome (1994).
For our list of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1990 – 1994, we selected some lesser-known films from a variety of subgenre themes. We also tried to select films that were representative of early 1990’s culture and nostalgia.
Classic, must-see subgenre films from 1990 – 1994: Pump Up the Volume (1990), Hangin’ with the Homeboys (1991), Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991), My Girl (1991), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), The Sandlot (1993), Dazed and Confused (1993), Reality Bites (1994), Threesome (1994) and PCU (1994).
Lesser-known subgenre films that didn’t make our list: My Father the Hero (1991), Oh, What a Night (1992), Samantha (1992), Calendar Girl (1993), Naked in New York (1993), Just One of the Girls (1993) and There Goes My Baby (1994).
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here is our list of the Top Teen & College Comedies You Haven’t Seen – 1990 – 1994:
Plot: Student comes back from the dead as a Zombie and wants to take his still living crush to the prom.
KBZ’s Take: While not an all-out Zombie Horror Comedy film like Warm Bodies (2013), My Boyfriend’s Back is a somewhat entertaining subgenre film. While the film won’t win any Academy Awards, it’s a lighthearted comedy with some amusing moments in the film. Only recommended for fans and completists of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HKuKB2
Plot: The Texas Southern Armadillos football team is disqualified for cheating and has to pick a rag-tag team of actual University students.
KBZ’s Take: This was a somewhat popular Sports Comedy in the early 1990’s and the first thing you’ll notice is all the college students look as if they’re in their early 30’s. However, it’s a fun film and one of the better college-themed football comedies. While the comedy and sporting moments are cliché, it’s the performances from Scott Bakula, Robert Loggia, Sinbad, and Jason Bateman that help it rise above similar subgenre films.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Jvunf5
Plot: Michael Corben, on a trip with his high school French class to France, is mistaken for a James Bond-like spy.
KBZ’s Take: Another popular subgenre film from 1991 that’s been lost to time. It’s basically a parody of James Bond films if James Bond was a high school slacker who suddenly had access to all those amazing Spy toys. It has many funny moments especially with the recurring joke of a new bus driver for the students (as each prior bus driver is assassinated). It’s a film worth checking out if you haven’t seen it yet and recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Ycq1Oi
Plot: Teenager has to watch over her siblings after their babysitter dies.
KBZ’s Take: This is another early 1990’s film that embraced Black Comedy and the pessimism and angst that became popular in the subgenre during this decade. Christina Applegate was in her prime playing Kelly Bundy on TV’s Married with Children, and this was her first starring role where she shines in the role of the babysitter. While the film is a Black Comedy it also has some very funny moments especially with any scene featuring Keith Coogan as Kenny (the stoner brother). It’s another film that’s been lost to time but it’s worth seeking out for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3HrRqFc
#6
Threesome
Plot: College roommate Stuart yearns for female roommate Alex who years for gay roommate Eddy while Eddy yearns for Stuart.
KBZ’s Take: This film was a minor subgenre hit in 1994 with some controversial themes. While the film failed to stir up any major controversy, it was quite a departure from the more light-hearted subgenre fare of the 80’s. The film featuring a gay character, sexual themes involving a threesome between the three roommates, and frank discussions about sex. It was a film ahead of its time that paved the way for more comedic (yet serious) themes that were featured in films over the next few decades.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DskTh3
Plot: Buffy is your typical high school cheerleader that has been chosen by fate to kill vampires.
KBZ’s Take: This a unique situation where the series (Buffy The Vampire Slayer 1997 – 2003) that spawned from the movie is considered better than the film it was based on. With that said, the film is often overlooked within the subgenre and is still a lot of fun to watch. Kristy Swanson is a great Buffy and has a supporting cast including Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry and David Arquette. Fans of the TV series have likely seen the film, but for other subgenre fans, it’s worth checking out.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DueVMC
#4
Dogfight
Plot: 18-year-old marine in 1963 is about to ship out to Vietnam and he and his other marine buddies have a contest called a Dogfight.
KBZ’s Take: More of a coming-of-age period drama than a straight up comedy, Dogfight has some surprisingly emotional moments in the film especially between River Phoenix and Lily Taylor. At its core, it’s a film about finding your better self and developing friendships that can last a lifetime. It’s a lesser-known gem that is highly recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y4v96O
#3
PCU
Plot: High school student visits college where he gets caught up with a fraternity fighting the PC culture of the school.
KBZ’s Take: This was initially a hopeful successor to Animal House (1979), but while it’s a good film, Animal House it is not. The film is a great time capsule into the mid-90’s where PC culture ran rampant on college campuses. While the film (thankfully) doesn’t take sides on PC culture itself, it’s more of a 90’s frat comedy with some funny characters and moments. One character is Gutter (played by an almost unrecognizable Jon Favreau) who typified the grunge culture of the period. Recommended film for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40dBfnl
Plot: Two African-Americans and Two Puerto Ricans (all friends) go out on the town on a Friday night.
KBZ’s Take: An overlooked subgenre film of the early 90’s that was lost in the explosion of “Hood Films”. While most Hood Films were dramas, Homeboys took a more comedic approach to the lives of young adult African-Americans and Puerto Ricans that hadn’t yet been captured on film. The film is similar to another subgenre film, Diner (1982), that explored young adults embracing friendship while resisting the inevitable responsibilities of adulthood. It’s a highly recommended film of the subgenre that shouldn’t be missed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RfLrI1
Plot: Lonely high school student uses his shortwave radio to pose as a popular pirate DJ.
KBZ’s Take: We had to list this film as #1 on our list given its impact on the subgenre throughout the rest of the decade. Pump Up the Volume literally defined the shift from the lighthearted subgenre fare of the 80’s into the more nihilistic attitude found in the 90’s. While the film has some comedic moments, it’s more of a Dramedy film dealing with serious issues of the time including teen suicide. It also showed a more realistic side of high school students of the time period and the nihilism that was permeating throughout the generation. It was a popular film in 1990 and later generations should check the film out to see that though times change, themes and concerns of a generation often do not.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Js8NYR
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