Heartthrobs From The '90s Ranked By How Much We're Still Crushing

Jacob Shelton

Updated May 22, 2024 2.1M views 14 items

Ranked By

992.5K votes

87.4K voters

Voting Rules

Vote up the 90s boy crushes you're still way into.

Was there a better era for heartthrobs than the '90s? The decade was a magical time for teen boys who were total dreamboats. But as hot as your fave '90s boy toy may have been on TGIF, would you hook up with your '90s crush now? Not only are you different people these days, but most of your boy crushes from the '90s peaked in 1996. What do your '90s crushes look like now? And do you really want to spend a night in Sherman Oaks making out with a guy who won't stop talking about the buffet at Danielle Fishel's wedding?

Is your '90s boy crush still hot? You want to pretend like it doesn’t matter. You want to act like nothing's changed, even if they no longer resemble that Tiger Beat poster you smooched every day before leaving to catch the bus. But deep down, you know you can’t stop thinking about whether Devon Sawa still has those haunting eyes, or if he just looks haunted. Read to the end to find out if your '90s teen boy crushes are still cutie pies, and maybe consider printing out this list and taping it to your mirror. No judgment.

1
42,465 VOTES
Justin Timberlake
- Photo:
  RCA
  20th Century Fox
Then: Back in the '90s, this curly-haired waif jumpstarted puberty for a nation of sixth graders, and the world is better for it. Maybe Justin Timberlake's bleached white hair was questionable, but who cares when he's got a smile that can turn on the sun.
Now: It took almost two decades, but Timberlake finally learned what not to do with his hair. He's still looking good, still insanely successful, and that smile is still poppin'.
Would You Still Hit It?: Will he wear marionette strings? Either way, yes.
42,465 votes
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2
41,513 VOTES
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
- Photo:
  NBC
  ABC
Then: MPG was already a little old in the '90s to be a heartthrob, but who cares when he can freeze time and has that immaculate sandy blond hair?
Now: After Saved by the Bell, Gosselaar managed to keep himself from turning into a joke by taking jobs on a ton of different shows. He's appeared in everything from his very own USA lawyer show to Happy Endings - and he still has that hair.
Would You Still Hit It?: Sure, as long as he didn't try to pull any "time out" stunts.
41,513 votes
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3
41,207 VOTES
Leonardo DiCaprio
- Photo:
  20th Century Fox
  20th Century Fox
Then: Did Leonardo DiCaprio come out of the womb with a squinty pout? It's pointless to argue about whether or not Leo was a babe in the '90s. The only conversation to have is which Leo do you think is hotter: Romeo, Jack, or Arnie?
Now: Leo can still be hot when he wants to be, but he's moved from "steaming hot piece of meat" more into the realm of "serious, Oscar-winning actor."
Would You Still Hit It?: Of course you would! It's not like the beard from The Revenant is that much of a turn-off.
41,207 votes
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4
39,903 VOTES
James Van Der Beek
- Photo:
  The WB
  ABC
Then: Was James Van Der Beek actually hot in the '90s, or was his hotness simply a creation of Big Heartthrob? He's arguably not the hottest guy on Dawson's Creek, but somehow he became the guy. The '90s were weird.
Now: More like James Van Der Babe, right? The Beek has somehow reinvented himself into a hot basic bro who has a sense of humor. Who said there were no second acts?
Would You Still Hit It?: Turn up the Paula Cole and let's get weird.
39,903 votes
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5
38,296 VOTES
Devon Sawa
- Photo:
  Universal Pictures
  20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Then: Devon Sawa was such a '90s spooky babe; if you were into ghosts, demon-infested hands, or movies where death slowly stalked a group of sexy teens, then you had a whole thing for Sawa. Why was he such a babe? It probably had something to do with that ocean wave-styled hair part.
Now: After his heyday came to an end, Sawa seemed like he was doing anything he could to keep from becoming a child actor cliché. Apparently that means mostly playing detectives and guys that scowl. Good for him.
Would You Still Hit It?: Bring back the tidal wave hair and we'll talk.
38,296 votes
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6
38,808 VOTES
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
- Photo:
  Miramax Films
  Fox
Then: Freddie Prinze, Jr. was a jock with heart of gold, and a lot of pre-teens in the '90s were totally into that - at least, until he put on a yellow Fred Jones wig and freaked everyone out.
Now: After the '90s, Prinze more or less disappeared from the film world to do voiceover work, have kids with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and count his money. He's the one heartthrob who figured out how to get out of this world alive.
Would You Still Hit It?: That depends on how you feel about someone calling you "bro" mid-hookup.
38,808 votes
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7
39,537 VOTES
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Photo:
  Buena Vista Pictures
  Open Road Films
Then: In the '90s, JGL had the perfect floppy hair and supercute grin. Also, when he spent 7/8 of 10 Things I Hate About You pining for Alex Mack, he was straight-up adorable.
Now: Gordon-Levitt is one of the few heartthrobs that managed to escape heartthrobdom unscathed. He takes on weird character roles more than romantic leads these days, and runs a production company.
Would You Still Hit It?: This is really a judgment call, but keep in mind that if you stay the night he's probably going to show you his collection of pork pie hats.
39,537 votes
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8
38,191 VOTES
Nick Lachey
- Photo:
  Motown
  YouTube
Then: Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees was a classic '90s dreamboat. He had muscles that made him look like a statue, sported tribal tattoos, and wore a ton of vests.
Now: He still has his statue bod going on, so good on him. Lachey has had some personal struggles (he divorced Jessica Simpson) but has since settled down and started a family.
Would You Still Hit It?: He's still a looker, but he looks like he might use Axe body spray.
38,191 votes
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9
37,281 VOTES
Rider Strong
- Photo:
  ABC
  Disney Channel
Then: Rider Strong always seemed like the bad boy actor who would find you across a crowded Boy Meets World wrap party, take you by the hand, and lead you to an arcade on his Vespa where you would play Street Fighter II until he got you home just after curfew.
Now: Strong's still working. And you never know - he might still take you to that arcade.
Would You Still Hit It?: Your call.
37,281 votes
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10
37,960 VOTES
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
- Photo:
  ABC
  20th Television
Then: Was there another '90s heartthrob as ubiquitous as JTT? He was the crown prince of Tiger Beat, J-14, and Teeny Teen Boy Magazine: The Magazine For Teens By Teens. Home Improvement wasn't for everyone, but there wasn't a preteen who wouldn't put up with Tim Allen for the love of Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Now: JTT may not act as much anymore, but here are some facts: dude still looks good. Dude went to Harvard. Dude still has amazing hair.
Would You Still Hit It?: Do you even have to ask?
37,960 votes
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11
36,150 VOTES
AJ McLean
- Photo:
  Jive
  Twitter
Then: The most dangerous of Backstreet Boys, AJ McLean's pencil goatee and 69 belly button tattoo was too much for anyone in the '90s to withstand.
Now: The guy has had a rough go of it since the end of the '90s, but he's still working on music. Though, to be fair, McLean also looks like a guy you'd run into at Coachella.
Would You Still Hit It?: To each their own.
36,150 votes
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12
34,684 VOTES
Jaleel White
- Photo:
  Warner Bros. Television Distribution
  The Asylum
Then: You probably don't think about Jaleel White being a '90s heartthrob, mostly because he was She's All That-ed into wearing glasses and suspenders as Urkel - but he totally was. Charisma for days!
Now: If you watch a lot of the Syfy Channel, then you know White is still working, though he might wish he wasn't being constantly eaten by Mega Sharks and Crocasauruses.
Would You Still Hit It?: If you did, you could honestly say, "Did I do that?"
34,684 votes
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13
34,874 VOTES
Taylor Hanson
- Photo:
  Mercury
  YouTube
Then: Isaac Hanson was too old, Zac Hanson was too young, but Taylor Hanson - the Goldilocks of the group - was the perfect age to be a hot boy in the '90s. He had the slightly feminine look that a heartthrob needs to feel unthreatening, but he also played piano. So hot.
Now: He kind of looks the same. Also, he has a lot of kids.
Would You Still Hit It?: There's no such thing as a one-night stand with Hanson. You're either in or out with this guy.
34,874 votes
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14
29,382 VOTES
Aaron Carter
- Photo:
  Jive
  YouTube
Then: Aaron Carter sure was a cutie when he was young. He was worried about spilling things on couches, and he was having age-appropriate parties. Also he had that eternal youth thing going on.
Now: Like every guy who peaks in their teens, Carter grew up, got a neck tattoo, and supported Donald Trump's bid for presidency before changing his mind.
Would You Still Hit It?: Ehhhhh.
29,382 votes
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Taylor Hanson