The '90s is considered one of the most influential decades in history. That will never stop people who grew up in any other decade from combating this claim, but regardless, they can't deny the influence it has had on pop culture over the last 25 years. There was iconic music, movies, and, of course, TV shows.
There are countless classic '90s shows. Kids will remember popular series from Nickelodeon like All That and Rugrats, and then Dexters Lab and Courage the Cowardly Dog on Cartoon Network. Anime fans got Sailor Moon, the beginnings of Pokémon, and One Piece. Then we have the classic sitcoms like Friends, Home Improvement, and Boy Meets World. If you're feeling nostalgic and looking for a '90s binge on Netflix, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
10 YuYu Hakusho (1992 – 1994)
Ever since its debut in 1992, YuYu Hakusho is an anime many fans return to for a nostalgic binge session. YuYu Hakusho is not only considered one of the greatest anime of the '90s, it's also considered one of the greatest animated series of all time, with IGN ranking the series at number ten on theirgreatest animated series of all time list. According to Animage Anime Grand Prix, YuYu Hakusho was voted the best anime in 1994 and 1995.
Yu Yu Hakusho
TV-14
Animation
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
- Release Date
- October 10, 1992
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Creator(s)
- Yoshihiro Togashi
- Seasons
- 4
Spirit Gun Is Plenty of Fun
YuYu Hakusho is a story about a teenager who, after being killed while saving a child's life, is revived and given the title of "Underworld Detective" and is tasked with investigating supernatural cases in the human world. It's full of action and adventure, with many fans saying the villains are some of the best characters in the show. It's also a huge reason Cartoon Network's Toonami became a household name for anime fans.
9 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993 - 1995)
'90s kids who say they didn't attempt to learn karate by watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers are either lying or never watched the show. Yeah, Power Rangers is cheesy, full of weak dialogue, outrageous special effects, and over-the-top action. But that's also what makes it fun. It's a show you're not supposed to dissect to find a deeper message. The storylines are simple. Good guys save the day by beating up super evil bad guys. There's not much more to it than that.
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
Action
Adventure
children
- Release Date
- August 28, 1993
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 27
Easy to Understand & Even Easier to Market
Power Rangers was a huge marketing success. The show spawned countless spinoffs and became so popular, that before the franchise hit its 10th anniversary, it made over six billion dollars in toy sales. At the end of the '90s, everyone and their grandma knew who the Power Rangers were. Now, does having a marketable product equal good movies and TV shows? No, but again, it's a simple plot that will entertain kids.
8 Goosebumps (1995 - 1998)
Goosebumps and Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? are responsible for a good chunk of '90s kids' nightmares. The special effects, while cheesy and over the top for some viewers, are still just as creepy today as they were in 1995. The budget for each episode might have been small, but the scares and atmosphere they built in each episode are top-notch.
Goosebumps
Summary
Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novellas by American author R. L. Stine, initially published by Scholastic Publishing. The stories follow child characters, who find themselves in scary situations. From 1992 to 1997, 62 books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title. Various spin-off series were written by Stine: Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, Goosebumps HorrorLand, and Goosebumps Most Wanted. Another series, Goosebumps Gold, was never released. Goosebumps has spawned a television series and merchandise, as well as an upcoming feature film starring Jack Black as R. L. Stine.Since the release of its first novel, Welcome to Dead House, in July 1992, the books have gained immense popularity and commercial success worldwide. As of 2014, the series has sold over 350 million books worldwide in 32 languages, and individual books in the series have been listed in many bestseller lists, including the New York Times Best Seller list for children.
Inspiring a New Generation of Horror Fans
The show is based off the popular book series. Fans of Goosebumps have praised the creators for bringing the stories to life. The show was so popular it inspired the Goosebumps movie series starring Jack Black and a new TV show on Disney+ starring Rachael Harris and Justin Long. The whole series may not be on Netflix, but enough memorable episodes are available for a good binge session.
7 The Powerpuff Girls (1998 - 2005)
Sugar, spice, everything nice, and chemical x, is not just the recipe for creating three superheroes, it also makes for a super fun show. The Powerpuff Girls weren't just super adorable, although they were that. They also brought plenty of laughs and action to the small screen. There's a reason they've remained so iconic.
The Powerpuff Girls
Summary
The show centers on Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, three girls with superpowers, as well as their father, the brainy scientist Professor Utonium, who all live in the fictional city of Townsville, USA. The girls are frequently called upon by the town's childlike and naive mayor to help fight nearby criminals using their powers.
The Original Girls Get It Done
The show centers around Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, who were created to be the perfect daughters, but due to chemical x accidentally being added, they have superpowers and are now the official defenders of Townsville. Each Powerpuff Girl has their own distinct personality that makes for some hilarious moments while they're kicking bad guy butts. The villains in this show are equally iconic, like Mojo Jojo and HIM.
6 Martin (1992 - 1997)
Did you forget that Martin Lawrence had a TV show? If you did, don't worry, you aren't alone, but it's a shame because it's actually a pretty fun show. In Martin, Lawrence plays an excentric disc jockey living with his sassy girlfriend, played by Tisha Campbell.
Why Did Martin Go Away?
Martin is a show that started off really strong but kind of floundered in the last two seasons. The last season was also an emotional roller-coaster behind the camera due to Tisha Campbell suing Martin Lawrence and the producers for sexual harassment, along with verbal and physical harassment. It was so bad Campbell didn't come back to the show until the lawsuit was settled and demanded not to be part of any scenes with Lawrence. But the show still has a strong following and a prequel series called Young Martin is currently in development.
5 The Magic School Bus (1994 - 1997)
Seat belts everyone, because you never know where Ms. Frizzle is going to take her students on The Magic School Bus.Based on the popular children's book series, The Magic School Bus follows a class led by Ms. Frizzle, voiced by Lilly Tomlin, who constantly takes her students on bizarre field trips in her magical school bus. This bus can do everything; shrink to microscopic levels, turn the kids into animals, and even take the students back in time.
The Magic School Bus
TV-Y
Educational
- Release Date
- September 10, 1994
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 4
Makes Science and History Fun
The Magic School Bus was a hit with critics and kids. The show was nominated for several Daytime Emmy Awards and Lilly Tomlin won an Emmy for her performance as Ms. Frizzle. Students from the '90s likely have many fond memories of watching an episode or two during class. In 2017, The Magic School Bus got a revival on Netflix, with Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon as Ms. Frizzle's sister, Fiona Frizzle, continuing the magic for a new generation.
4 The Jamie Foxx Show (1996 - 2001)
The Jamie Foxx Show
Comedy
- Release Date
- August 28, 1996
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 5
Like Martin Lawerence, it's funny to remember that before Jamie Foxx won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, he starred in his own sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show. The show helped jump-start the Ray star's career and was one of the first hits on The WB Television Network. It follows Foxx, who plays an aspiring musician looking to make a name for himself in the City of Angels, but it never gained a massive following.
Why No Love for Jamie Foxx?
The Jamie Foxx Show is the perfect example of keeping things simple and safe. There are plenty of laughs and great performances by Foxx and Garcelle Beauvais, but there isn't much depth to the show. It's a light-hearted comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't preach to its viewers about life or social issues. It's a fun comedy, but also a forgettable moment in Foxx's career.
3 Sex and the City (1998-2004)
Sex and the City may have hit its stride in the early 2000s, but it got its start in the late '90s. The show stars Sarah Jessica Parker as she and her friends navigate life in New York City, discussing their sexuality, friendships, and what it means to be a woman. It's a very progressive show for the time that was banned in some countries, but it still strikes a powerful chord with its viewers.
Sex and the City
- Release Date
- June 6, 1998
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 6
- Cast
- Sarah Jessica Parker , Kim Cattrall , Cynthia Nixon , Kristin Davis
Steamy Conversations, Powerful Message
The show may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Sex and the City was a massive hit. It earned 50 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Comedy Series, with stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon also winning Emmys for their performances. It was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time.
2 Pokémon: Indigo League (1997 - 1999)
The phenomenon that took '90s kids by storm, the Pokémon TV series is one of the most loved shows by '90s kids. The show helped fuel Pokémon addictions around the world. '90s kids may have tuned in for Pokémon battles, but one could argue kids stayed for the characters.
Pokémon
TV-Y7
- Release Date
- September 7, 1998
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 18
It's More Than Just Pokémon Battles
Ash, Brock, and Misty played a huge part in '90s kids' lives. They were the ones we followed and inspired us to want to go on our own Pokémon journey. The show also took some Pokémon that card collectors and gamers didn't care for and turned them into fan favorites of the franchise. It was a magical time for '90s kids and while the Pokémon Go craze in 2016 was an unprecedented nostalgic blast, it still pales in comparison to the excitement that kids had watching this show.
1 Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)
It's a show about nothing. Genius. Jerry Seinfeld stars in his self-titled sitcom that went on to earn the nickname, the show of the '90s. Which is impressive considering it was competing with shows like Friends, Frasier, That '70s Show, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Seinfeld
- Release Date
- July 5, 1989
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 9
- Cast
- Jerry Seinfeld , Jason Alexander , Michael Richards , Julia Louis-Dreyfus
A Show About Nothing Turned Into a Classic
The Writers Guild of America voted Seinfeld as the second best-written TV series of all time, behind only The Sopranos. The show won 10 Primetime Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Globe Awards. It also made Jerry Seinfeld's co-stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander some of the biggest stars in television history.
One of the best things about Seinfeld is that you can jump in almost anywhere across its 180 episodes in nine seasons, without missing a beat. Its iconic jokes and running gags have aged like a fine win and it's certainly worth a binge-watch session.