. During the decade, Disney experienced their Renaissance, dropping classics like and on an almost yearly basis, returned to the big screen with the release of and stars like and dominated the box office. At the same time, a burgeoning independent film scene was growing, culminating in the release of all-time greats like and .

However, while the '90s was host to a seemingly endless list of timeless classics, ; movies that are genuinely great films, but that have also left a huge impact on the film industry as a whole. These are , ranked based on their level of enjoyability and overall impact.

's is, to this day, . Starring and , the film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Foster) as she investigates a string of murderers perpetrated by serial killer "Buffalo Bill" (), with occasional assistance from Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins), an imprisoned, cannibalistic serial killer with insight into the case.

. Hopkins' is appropriately menacing as Lecter, bringing tension to each of his scenes with his presence alone, while Foster is easy to root for as Starling, lending the film an engaging protagonist who is given a surprising amount of depth. Demme is also a notable asset to the film, . The contributions of all three, supported by one of Hollywood's most thrilling scripts, combine to make The Silence of the Lambs .

1994's , a silver screen adaptation of the novella , focuses on Andy Dufresne () and Ellis Boyd Redding (), also known as "Red", two convicts serving lengthy sentences at Shawshank State Prison. The film was a major critical success, earning itself seven Oscar nominations (including one for Best Picture), while still .

A large part of what makes Shawshank such a stand-out is its exploration of male friendships.; the fact that they remain loyal to each other helps them to maintain hope. Their friendship is brilliantly brought to life by Robbins and Freeman, in the wake of the film's release. The fact that it's a genuinely great drama anchored by some truly stellar performances makes The Shawshank Redemption .

Directed by and produced on a shoestring budget, is an independent filmfocused on Dante Hicks (), a convenience store clerk who comes in on his day off. Despite only expecting to cover for a few hours, Dante ends up stuck at work for the whole day, encountering a wide variety of annoying customers, all while being pestered by his best friend, Randal Graves (), who works at the video store next door. The film became , while also launching Smith's career.

. O'Halloran and Anderson aren't the best actors in the world, but their performances feel exceedingly authentic, making Dante and Randal very memorable characters. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they're backed by some especially well-written dialogue. , and that skill is on full display here, despite it being his debut feature. Like many '90s comedies, it hasn't aged perfectly, but .

The sophomore film of , is . Featuring an all-star cast including heavy-hitters like , , and , the film was a box office hit, with , both upon its initial release, and in the decades since.

Despite the fact that it was only his second film, . The script is witty and engaging, enhanced by perfect casting, and each scene is masterfully shot and paced. Jackson and Travolta, who play hitmen Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega respectively, are also notable. The two actors share fantastic chemistry, with their partnership lending the film some of its most quotable lines. In the over 30 years since its release, , solidifying it as one of the most essential '90s movies.

The follow-up to 1984's , an already well-regarded film in its own right, . Picking up years after its predecessor, T2 follows a now hardened Sarah Connor () as she defends her son, John (), from the murderous T-1000 (), with the help of a pacified T-800 ().

, and for good reason. , effortlessly blasting and quipping his way through each of its memorable action set pieces, but , given plenty of time to shine as Sarah. , because of both Patrick's intimidating performance and the , much of which still holds up to this day. Simply said, .

Centered on Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll stricken with jealousy when he is seemingly replaced by Buzz Lightyear (), a shiny, new astronaut action figure, was a huge hit with audiences and critics alike in 1995. Not only was it technologically groundbreaking in being , but it was also a genuinely great movie, .

To this day, Toy Story continues to be . The script, while , effectively drawing on both Hanks and Allen's backgrounds in comedy. It should also be noted that . Humans look uncanny, as Pixar hadn't quite mastered animating them yet, but Buzz, Woody and the rest of Andy's () toys still look fantastic, as does the world that they inhabit. , only appearing in a few scattered releases here and there nowadays. for anyone trying to revisit the '90s.

Following Neo (), a man who learns that his entire life has only existed within a simulation before becoming a part of the Resistance against its artificial overlords, , showcasing new and innovative special effects, while masterfully integrating elements of gun fu, a style of action choreography originally popularized by . The film wound up being a huge financial success, .

To this day, the action sequences in The Matrix are exceedingly fun to watch. , which is frequently cheesy, but fitting nonetheless. The film is also notable for cementing Reeves as an action star in the minds of many, opening the door for the franchise in the future. Future Matrix movies are admittedly a mixed bag, but the original is .

Prior to , James Cameron had already made quite a name for himself in Hollywood. The director had been at the helm of a number of hits, including Terminator 2 and earlier in the '90s, but . The iconic romance between Jack Dawson () and Rose DeWitt Bukater () , a title which it would hold on to until Cameron would dethrone himself with the release of 2009's .

Perhaps the largest factor contributing to Titanic's success was its core concept. , with DiCaprio and Winslet being perfect in their roles, on par with Cameron's more action-oriented work. The scenes depicting the sinking of the titular ocean liner are incredibly well-done, and effectively set the film apart from many of its contemporaries. Admittedly, the film's pacing may not appeal to everyone, but .

is based on the real life story of Oskar Schindler (), a German business person who, during World War II, secretly worked to protect members of the Jewish community from the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps by employing them at his factories. The film is an absolutely heartbreaking depiction of the Holocaust, opening the door for deeper conversations regarding the historical tragedy, making it .

In all honesty, . Each and every performance is emotional and entirely convincing, with Neeson doing a brilliant job of showing Schindler's gradual shift from being an apathetic bystander to a man desperate to save as many people as possible. is another highlight as Amon Göth, a Nazi leader without a shred of humanity, save for a single scene where Fiennes gives viewers a peek behind the curtain, only to violently yank it shut once again. Director also did some of the best work of his entire career, proving to audiences just how effectively he could tell a more mature story. Shortly after its release, , earning Spielberg his first Oscars, and solidifying it as an absolutely essential '90s watch.

The same year that Steven Spielberg released Schindler's List, winning him an Oscar for Best Picture, he also released . Based on the hit Michael Crichton novel of the same name, Jurassic Park follows a group of scientists as they attempt to survive on an island overrun by dinosaurs after a visit to an experimental theme park takes a turn for the worse.

A huge factor in Jurassic Park's success was its breathtaking special effects work. Spielberg combined groundbreaking CGI with impressive animatronics from special effects legend Stan Winston to create some truly incredible dinosaurs that dazzled audiences in the '90s, and still hold up today. However, while the dinosaurs are a great visual spectacle, the film wouldn't have been the hit that it was without its compelling cast of characters. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) has a genuinely great arc where he learns to be better with kids through working to ensure the safety of young Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards) Murphy, but Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are also very likable characters, guaranteeing that the audience is genuinely invested in the survival of the main cast the entire way through. The fact that Jurassic Park is so enjoyable in every aspect makes it the single most essential '90s movie.

NEXT: The 10 Biggest Movie Stars of the '90s, Ranked