'90s Movies Where Kids Get To Be In Charge
Copy link
While the movies of the 1980s frequently saw children embarking on fantasy and sci-fi quests, the 1990s let kids take control of more familiar situations. These hilarious stories explore versions of the world where kids rule over adults, whether defending themselves after parents accidentally abandon them, taking initiative to lead a sports team to victory, or simply outsmarting all the bumbling grown-ups around them. This genre launched the career of many child actors, some of whom appeared in several films where they outsmarted adults.
With a sense of fantasy fulfillment for kids watching, these movies bring a warm wave of '90s nostalgia as they let the kids take charge.
- 1340 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
A breakout role for Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone centers 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, always overlooked among his large family. When Kevin is accidentally left behind while the rest of his family heads to Paris for Christmas, he has a blast hanging out at home with no rules, until he realizes he must defend the house from two nasty burglars known as the Wet Bandits.
This holiday classic is the first, and arguably best, of six films in the resulting Home Alone franchise. Kevin's booby-trap defense of his home is a hysterical and inventive sequence, and the story manages touching moments as well, like when Kevin's reunited with his mother (Catharine O'Hara). This holiday classic played a big part in launching the '90s trend of films with kids taking charge on their own.
More Home Alone
- Dig Deeper...Home Alone Is Way, Way More Messed Up Than You Remember
- #2 of 50 onThe Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
- #8 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 2273 VOTESPhoto: Sony Pictures Releasing
In this popular 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, a child prodigy stands up for all the kids at her school with her mysterious gifts. Played by Mara Wilson, Matilda has a keen desire for knowledge which awakens telekinetic abilities that allow her to stick up for herself, and her peers, against her parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman) and the mean principal Mrs. Trunchbull (Pam Ferris).
Though Matilda could easily use her telekinetic powers for selfish reasons, she uses it only to put bullies in their place and knows when to stop, demonstrating remarkable maturity. In fact, with the exception of the kind teacher Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) most of the adults in this movie are more childish than the kids, and Matilda teaches them all some important lessons about kindness.
- 3208 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros.
While her mom going out of the country for a whole summer is a dream come true for 17-year-old Sue “Swell” Ellen Cromwell (Christina Applegate), her hopes are dashed when she meets her babysitter, elderly Mrs. Sturak, who seems to derive joy from spoiling fun. When Mrs. Sturak promptly dies of natural causes, Swell helps her younger siblings maintain the charade that she's still alive so they can live out their dream summer.
However, Swell quickly learns to be careful what she wishes for, as making sure her siblings don't endanger themselves or give away the scheme forces her into a responsible chaperone role. In the end, Swell learns how to hold a job, keep the household in order, and even helps save a local business while keeping her siblings alive until their mom returns. This 1991 dark comedy has become a cult favorite for a reason.
- #259 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #20 of 86 onThe Best Movies Of 1991, Ranked
- #107 of 278 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
- 4230 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
Though sequels don't always live up to the hype, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is just as amazing as the first movie. Macaulay Culkin reprises his role as Kevin McCallister, who finds himself once again separate from his parents, this time in New York City. When he runs into his old friends, the Wet Bandits, planning to rob a toy store, Kevin takes action.
Kevin makes the Big Apple his personal playground, with tons of exciting people to meet and places to explore. Kevin’s pranks against the Bandits reach an even larger scale, as he fills an entire townhouse with booby traps. Kevin's selflessness as he protects a toy store and befriends a homeless woman who feed pigeons in Central Park shows that he's one kid who can be trusted on his own.
- #31 of 50 onThe Biggest Movies Of The '90s, Ranked
- #189 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #176 of 704 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- 5220 VOTES
Richie Rich
Photo: Warner Bros.Richard “Richie” Rich, Jr., played by expert child-actor-in-charge Macaulay Culkin, has billions of dollars at his disposal thanks to his loving billionaire parents, who are also his only company, though he longs for friends. When his parents go missing in a plane crash, Richie takes over their company, but requires the help of local kids to to find his parents and stop the greedy CFO Lawrence Van Dough (John Larroquette) from taking control for himself.
Richie Rich is Culkin’s last movie as a young star, and it’s definitely a great family comedy to end his childhood career with! There's plenty of comedy from Richie's lack of awareness of his wealth, plus warm feelings from the genuine friendship he forms with Gloria and other kids as they take the lead to save Rich Industries.
More Richie Rich- #105 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
- #31 of 85 onThe Best Movies Of 1994
- #15 of 62 onThe Best Movies with Rich People Spending Big
- 6196 VOTES
12-year-old Morris “Mud” Himmel (Jonathan Jackson) wants nothing less than to attend the boring computer camp his parents signed him up for. He gathers like-minded friends and blackmails a teacher (Christopher Lloyd) as a stand-in grown-up to let them create a camp with “no counselors, no rules, and no parents”. With Mud's guidance, the campers manage to have a free-for-all summer living out their wildest dreams of climbing on the roof and playing with fireworks, while writing letters home to their parents claiming everything's normal.
With Lloyd holding things down as the irresponsible adult “chaperone,” and the young ensemble going to great lengths to protect their summer of freedom from the suspicion of their parents, Camp Nowhere derives plenty of laughs from pre-pubescent kids coming together to run a camp operation.
- 7217 VOTES
Though Hocus Pocus is remembered mainly as a Halloween classic, it also puts kids in charge of protecting their parents. On Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts, new kid Max Dennison (Omri Katz) accidentally awakens the three Sanderson Sisters, witches who steal children's souls to stay young forever. With all the adults out of commission due to a spell, it’s up Max, his younger sister Dani (Thora Birch), his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw), and the Sandersons' victim-turned-talking-cat Thackery Binx (voiced by Jason Marsden) to save the day.
This movie remains a cult classic thanks to its legendary cast, including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the trio of witches, who keep the adults of the town hypnotized and out of commission. With an amusing and catchy rendition of “I Put a Spell On You,” the witches magically force the adults to stay dancing all night while Max and his friends come up with a plan to save the whole town. As a result, Hocus Pocus is great nostalgic watch, even outside of spooky season.
More Hocus Pocus- Dig Deeper...All The Ways 'Hocus Pocus' Is The Best Halloween Movie Ever Made
- And Deeper...The Cast Of 'Hocus Pocus,' Then And Now
- #90 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- 8180 VOTESPhoto: Columbia Pictures
When 12-year-old Billy Heywood (Luke Edwards) inherits ownership of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from his grandfather, he boldly assigns himself the position of the team's manager. Naturally, the adult players are skeptical at taking orders from a kid. As their boss, Billy navigates scandals and strategic challenges in order to gain the team's trust and lead them to victory.
Even as one of the less serious sports movies out there, Little Big League offers a lot to love. Billy’s struggles to balance his friendships with new adult responsibilities like paperwork are funny, and his desire to remind the professional baseball players to love the game like kids do is heartwarming as well.
More Little Big League- #99 of 207 onThe Best Sports Movies Ever Made
- #21 of 93 onThe All-Time Best Baseball Films
- #53 of 80 onThe Best Sports Movies About Coaches
- 9188 VOTES
This sports film is a remake of the original movie from 1951. This version follows Roger Bomman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young foster kid, who prays for the Anaheim Angels to win the World Series so he can reunite with his father. Roger doesn’t expect an actual angel (Christopher Lloyd) to appear and help the Angels start winning - and since Roger's the only one who can see the real angels, he becomes invaluable to the team in helping them understand their new success. Eventually, Roger becomes close with the team manger, George (Danny Glover), advising him on which players are receiving magical assistance at a given moment.
This heartwarming sports drama with fantasy elements is a favorite for many viewers, especially sports fans. Even though Roger's wish for the team to win to bring his father back is a bit too far, he finds a new father figure in George, who eventually adopts him. If you need a little hope, then Angels in the Outfield is the movie to watch.
- #60 of 207 onThe Best Sports Movies Ever Made
- #140 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
- #144 of 278 on'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime
- 10166 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros.
Two lonely souls find each other in Free Willy when a stubborn orca named Willy meets rebellious orphan Jesse (Jason James Richter). After being sent clean graffiti around Willy's tank, Jesse begins to befriend the whale, who enjoys his harmonica playing. When the park owner enacts a plot to let Willy die and collect the insurance money, Jesse works hard to help his new friend escape back to the ocean.
Jesse holds power in the story due to his ability to get through with Willy, which none of the aquatic park workers had been able to do. Though a few adults help him, Jesse is the driving force in the rescue, largely due to his empathy for the orca who, like Jesse, is separated from his family. This tear-jerker is clearly a viewer favorite, growing a franchise of sequels and even an animated TV series since the first movie’s release in 1993.
More Free Willy- #63 of 155 onThe 150+ Best Classic Tween Movies
- #393 of 483 onThings That Are Not As Cool As People Think They Are
- #45 of 176 onThe 150+ Best Animal Movies
- 11200 VOTESPhoto: 20th Century Fox
1993 sports comedy Rookie of the Year shows what happens when a 12-year-old dominates Major League Baseball. After an injury causes his tendons to heal in an unusual fashion, previously poor Little League player Henry Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas) gains the ability to pitch a fastball at over 100 miles per hour. Henry’s borderline supernatural skill catches the attention of the managers at Wrigley Field, and he becomes the new pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.
What really catches a viewer’s attention is the relationship Henry forms with aging pitcher Chet “Rocket” Steadman (Gary Busey), who teaches Henry vital control of his fastball. With his rise to professional play, Henry's story is a dream for any kid watching, and watching him taunt adult players like fellow kids on the schoolyard is hilarious to watch.
More Rookie of the Year- #63 of 207 onThe Best Sports Movies Ever Made
- #16 of 93 onThe All-Time Best Baseball Films
- #12 of 12 onClassic '90s Kids Movies You Forgot Are Actually Super Messed Up
- 12150 VOTESPhoto: Paramount Pictures
Based on Louise Fitzhugh’s book series, Harriet the Spy follows 11-year-old Harriet Welsch (Michelle Trachtenberg) who enjoys observing people around her. Everything she learns is recorded in her private journal, full of secret knowledge about kids and adults alike. When her private notebook is stolen by the class bully, everyone turns against her upon hearing her private thoughts about them. In the end, Harriet learns to balance her love of spying with consideration for others' privacy.
Beyond the fun premise of watching Harriet learn everyone's secrets, the film is beautiful coming-of-age story of learning how to balance personal desires with the well-being of other people. Harriet is a fierce girl, and a great role model in how she stays true to herself while owning up to her mistakes.
More Harriet the Spy - 13182 VOTESPhoto: Buena Vista Pictures
In Blank Check, Brian Bonsall stars as Preston Waters, an 11-year-old who receives a partly-filled check from an escaped convict that, though a series of mistakes from adults, Preston is allowed to fill out himself and cash for $1,000,000. With a cool million at his disposal, Preston takes on an alter ego called “Mr. Macintosh” and thoroughly enjoys spending his newfound cash while the FBI investigates.
While Preston enjoys flaunting his new cashflow in front of his older brothers, his movie teaches one of the oldest lessons in the world: money can’t buy happiness. Though the plot is outrageous, even for a kids movie, and there's a notably inappropriate scene where an adult woman kisses a child, Blank Check remains nostalgic for many kids who dreamed of coming into riches.
More Blank Check - 14123 VOTESPhoto: MGM
If only getting your parents to sit down and listen to reason was as easy as Grover Beindorf (Kyle Howard) and his younger sister Stacey (Amy Sakasitz) make it seem when they put their parents on House Arrest. After the parents (Kevin Pollak and Jamie Lee Curtis) break the news that they're divorcing, Grover and Stacey lock them in the basement to force them to work out their differences. It turns into a trend of kids taking the reins as other children in the neighborhood toss their parents in the lock-up, too, attempting a ridiculous kind of “group therapy."
It's easy to relate to the Beindorfs' desire for their parents to get along, even if they go to extreme hostage-taking lengths. While there is a tone of sweetness, there is also a lot of humor and hijinks as the kids embrace their independence and the parents try to break out. The cast features a lot of talent, with Wallace Shawn and Jennifer Tilly among the locked-up parents, and early-career Jennifer Love Hewitt as another neighborhood kid.
- 15102 VOTESPhoto: Trimark Pictures
In this ‘90s take on Mark Twain’s novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Thomas Ian Nicholas plays Calvin Fuller, a 14-year-old who's swallowed up by an earthquake during a baseball game that brings him back in time. Calvin finds himself in Camelot, where King Arthur (Joss Ackland) declares him a foretold savior of the kingdom and begins training him to be a knight.
Adjusting to medieval life, Calvin fiercely defends the princesses and all of Camelot in battle, while also teaching the Knights of the Round Table about modern inventions like rollerblades and CD players. Though the premise is flimsy, it's a charming fish-out-of-water story as Calvin steps up with an entire kingdom counting on him. The story teaches Calvin the confidence to hit a home run as soon as he's returned to his baseball game in the present.
- #29 of 48 onThe Best Time Travel Comedies, Ranked
- #4 of 50 on50 Movies That Contained Future Stars
- #19 of 20 on20 Movies Where A Magic Portal Hides Another World
- 16104 VOTES
Newsies teaches kids that it's time to “seize the day” - even by starting a newspaper strike when you’re only 17 years old. This 1992 movie musical is loosely based on the historical Newsboys' Strike of 1899 wherein a group of youngsters refused to deliver the newspaper each morning until they received better wages and lower prices from the greedy newspaper giants.
As the film tells it, teen Jack Kelley (Christian Bale) leads the younger “newsies” in striking, forcing the adults of the city to realize how important their work is. In addition to the touching true story, this movie features stunning musical numbers with incredible choreography, vocals, and acting. Eventually, after recruiting other child laborers to their strike, the newsies are victorious at proving their value, inspiring both children and adults in the audience.
More Newsies- #99 of 204 onMusical Movies With The Best Songs
- #85 of 106 onThe Best Disney Live-Action Movies
- #59 of 98 onThe Best Movies of 1992
- 1787 VOTESPhoto: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Macaulay Culkin, again, takes center stage in 1994's Getting Even With Dad, playing Timmy Gleason, who's sent to live with his father, an ex-convict named Ray Gleason (Ted Danson). Ray tries to keep moving forward with a heist he has planned with his partners, though Timmy takes charge of the entire situation with his plans to visit museums or attend baseball games with his father.
Though Culkin had already proven himself as a capable child actor, seeing him opposite TV legend Danson is a treat. Getting Even with Dad is full of the comedic shenanigans viewers expect from ‘90s films as well as heart due to the growing father-son relationship.
