7 Documentaries That Sum Up the 90s

The 90s marks a unique place in history—the Cold War ended, September 11th was just another date, grunge and hip-hop emerged in full force, and we saw advances in technology never before seen. At a time when individualism was starting to become the norm, the lack of technology meant a lack of platforms to express the times compared to today’s standards. Here are seven documentaries to bring back the nostalgia of the 90s.

Hands on a Hard Body (1997)

Hands on a Hard Body documents a contest put on by a car dealership in Long View, Texas in 1995. The rules are simple; deemed an endurance test, participants must touch a Nissan hardbody truck and whoever stays the longest wins the truck. Even though the premise and most of the film are hilarious, it strikes humanity, with an anthropological lens, in the contestants. Hands on a Hard Body is a fun glimpse into the antics of the 90s with humor and heart.

Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99 (2022)

You’d be hard put to find a more pertinent film title than this docuseries. Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99 uses interviews, footage, and sound bites to portray the wreckage of the failed revival of the ‘69 music festival Woodstock. The film uncovers the violence and chaos of the festival with new stories from those who performed there including Gavin Rossdale, Fatboy Slim, and Carson Daly. Trainwreck gives its audience a well-rounded view of how mob mentality, organization, and cultural disposition shaped the festival’s infamy. Fans of this documentary may also appreciate Freaknik: The Wildest Story Never Told.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000)

Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker became one of the most infamous televangelists of their time, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye chronicles Messner’s life after controversy. Though Tammy Faye Messner’s (more famously known as Tammy Faye Bakker) evangelistic rise and fall spanned decades, her controversy came to a head in the 90s when the documentary was filmed. Known for her unique fashion sense, Tammy Faye shines in this documentary as she exudes herself fully and unabashedly tells her side of the story.

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

Paradise Lost is a trilogy following the trial and conviction of three teenage boys named the West Memphis Three. While the subject matter may be hard for some viewers, the film takes its audience through the boys’ trial for the murders of three children in West Memphis, Arkansas. The movie uses Metallica songs as the accused were fans—notably the first time the band has allowed that. No matter what side you’re on, the film offers compelling evidence and insight into a crime that shocked a small Arkansas town.

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Often regarded as one of the best documentaries, Hoop Dreams follows Arthur Agee and William Gates as they reach their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. This inspirational journey holds space for high schoolers with a dream— a specific moment in time that many of us have felt. While sports fans will surely appreciate Agee and Gates’ journey, the rich and complex nature of Hoop Dreams sheds light on many cultural aspects of America at the time.

The War Room (1993)

Bill Clinton’s campaign against George H. W. Bush and term as the United States’ 42nd president covered nearly all of the 90s, but The War Room serves as a time capsule for historical politics. The film mainly follows Clinton’s political advisors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos as they navigate the media and each presidential candidate’s reputation. The War Room gives politicians rockstar levity and a backstage view of how the Clinton campaign was won.

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1997)

If chaos and nostalgia had a baby it would be Errol Morris’ Fast, Cheap and Out of Control. The film profiles four men with eclectic careers like topiary gardening and mole-rat specialization. While the plot may suggest a PBS-style production, the documentary gives a passionate, in-your-face look at their lives. Anyone into 90s technology nostalgia should pay special attention to one of the subjects, Rodney Brooks, an MIT robotic scientist, as he describes the future of robotics in the pre-technology boom era.

-Kaitlyn Hall

Photo composite: Beverly Hills 90210 (Getty), Doc Martens (lPasseggero via Wikimedia Commons), dial-up modem (public domain).