'90s kids' movies with the wildest plots
There was a lot that flew in the ‘90s that would not today. Instead of listing them all, let’s just focus on the movies — kids’ movies, to be exact. To be even more precise: Let's talk about how movies geared toward the youth of the ‘90s were, well, sort of insane because it’s very unlikely a movie studio would still greenlight a film in which Tom Arnold carjacks a carpool of kids and a disgruntled, overworked father. However, that’s one of the movies kids enjoyed on repeat back in the day. So without further ado, let’s get into those ‘90s kids’ movies with the wildest plots!
‘Little Big League'
There was an abundance of kids’ movies based around sports in the ‘90s, but there weren’t many quite like Little Big League. In this baseball-centric movie, a 12-year-old named Billy takes control of the Minnesota Twins after his grandfather dies. What put this movie over the edge was how dramatic it was for a kids’ movie. Did they think they had an Oscar contender on their hands?
‘Monkey Trouble’
A girl who just wants a dog winds up with a pickpocketing monkey.
‘Home Alone’
Being home alone is not a crazy concept. Add two grown men trying to take out a child who turned into a bit of a psychopath to defend his home. Not only does one get a wild movie, but a holiday classic.
‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’
Just when the world thought Home Alone was a bit out there, Kevin McCallister topped himself. This time, getting on the wrong flight and landing alone in New York City. Some adults in the 21st century would be terrified of this happening to them, so it’s hilarious that a child in 1992 was like, no biggie. Oh, and the same criminals after him again? Yeah, no biggie.
‘The Mighty Ducks’
Overall, The Mighty Ducks is a pretty normal and stellar sports movie that became a beloved trilogy that even spawned a Disney+ series in recent years. However, does anyone remember that Gordon Bombay was sent to coach those kids as part of his community service for drunk driving? What an interesting way to kick off a kids’ movie…
‘Pocahontas’
Every ‘90s kid remembers the day they learned the real history of Pocahontas and then looked at their big clunky VHS copy of the Disney movie like, “Um…what?!”
‘Space Jam’
While a little out there, there’s something sort of magical about one of the most notable names in sports starring in a movie where they have to save Bugs Bunny and Co. from a monster voiced by Danny DeVito.
‘Carpool’
Tom Arnold is a criminal who winds up carjacking a carpool full of kids one morning. Only, he’s not really a horrible guy, and the kids wind up having the time of their lives.
‘Problem Child’
Problem Child 2 is the superior of the franchise, but the original has the crazier plot because it involves a child who is pen pals with a hardcore criminal. Rewatching this as an adult makes people wonder why their parents were okay with this Blockbuster rental.
‘My Girl’
Those who don’t know why people who grew up in the ‘90s are emotional wrecks have never watched and been traumatized by the bees in My Girl. He. Can’t. See. Without. His. Glasses.
‘House Arrest’
House Arrest is a movie in which a group of kids band together to lock their parents in a basement to solve a myriad of parental problems, including potential divorce.
‘3 Ninjas Kick Back’
It's totally normal for three kids to somehow book an international trip to Japan to help their grandfather while their parents are out running errands.
‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’
Within the first five minutes, a man tries to discard a baby into a well, and then that man goes on to keep that child locked away in a bell tower while always being two seconds away from assaulting a gypsy woman. The Hunchback of Notre Dame will forever be one of Disney’s most reckless movies in their little vault.
‘The Parent Trap’
Lindsay Lohan’s The Parent Trap is one of the most beloved and memorable movies of the ‘90s, and while a remake, Lohan truly made this one her own. However, this is still a deranged movie when broken down. The parents really divorced, split up their twins, and never said a word about it to either of them.
‘Hocus Pocus’
It’s not the witches or the talking cat that makes Hocus Pocus a little out there. It’s the fact that a virgin had to light the black candle to resurrect said witches. That never fails to be the funniest plot detail of the movie.
‘Jumanji’
Nothing weird about a kid getting sucked into a board game only to reemerge years later with an entire jungle and a hunter who wants him dead.
‘Matilda’
Yes, this was a treasured book for years before it went to the big screen, but it’s still kind of hard to believe it was greenlit at all, given that the school the kids attended had a legit torture chamber and that a principal who got away with that and actual physical abuse.
‘We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story’
Time travel, talking dinosaurs, the scariest circus known to man. All of that and then some in We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story!
‘Mrs. Doubtfire’
As a kid, Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire seemed like a blast, but as an adult, one has to wonder how they’d feel if their ex went to that much of an extreme.
‘Air Bud’
It's about a dog that plays basketball.
‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’
Within no time, a family of minors is left alone after their babysitter croaks while their mom is on a lengthy international vacation.
‘Kazaam’
Shaquille O'Neal is a rapping genie who doesn’t come from a lamp but rather a boombox. Only in the ‘90s would that sentence make sense.
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