The 1990s marked an all-time high for the teen genre, characterized by a diverse array of films ranging from the raunchy high school hijinks of American Pie and She’s All That to the hair-raising horrors of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. As the teen theme evolved throughout the '60s, '70s, and '80s, its popularity peaked during the '90s, and it naturally gave rise to certain tropes and conventions shaped by the perceived desires of the audience. Things like high school hierarchies and teen romances became staples of the genre.

Unsurprisingly, though, the market became oversaturated and, as a result, a number of filmmakers began thinking outside the box, subverting expectations and playing with these established tropes and conventions to set their movies apart from the herd. Consequently, a slew of unconventional teen movies were released that eschewed traditional cliches, broke new ground, and challenged the notion that teen movies needed to adhere to established formulas. Here are 15 '90s teen movies across a range of genres that dared to defy conventions.

15 Kids (1995)

Kids is a gritty and unflinching exploration of the lives of a group of New York City teenagers. Centered around their love of skateboarding and their hedonistic lifestyles, the movie touches on a plethora of taboo topics, including statutory rape, drug abuse, and the AIDS epidemic. If this wasn’t harrowing enough, it was made all the more realistic and raw by the almost documentary style it was shot in. To further add to this verisimilitude, the vast majority of the young cast (which includes Rosario Dawson, Leo Fitzpatrick, and Chloë Sevigny in their debut roles), had no previous acting experience and were, instead, instructed to just act as themselves.

Kids Was Met with Both Praise and Criticism and Sparked Widespread Controversy

Kids was one of the most divisive and controversial movies of the '90s, and despite its dark subject matter, was still a financial success and has since achieved cult status. While it was widely praised for its visual style and the authentic acting of its young, inexperienced cast, it was also accused by some of lacking artistic merit and being "exploitative" due to the controversial choice to use actual teenage and child actors. On the flip side, Janet Maslin of The New York Times saw it more as a "wake-up call to the modern world" about the current state of the urban youth.

14 Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

Unlike a lot of teen movies, Welcome to the Dollhouse focuses on the transitional period between childhood and teenage years. In this case, the focus is placed on awkward middle school student Dawn and the extreme lengths she goes to try and earn the respect of her classmates. Its unflinching portrayal of its subject matter sets it apart from its more idealized counterparts as it explores uncomfortable topics such as bullying, depression, rape, pedophilia, and dysfunctional family dynamics, whilst managing to retain a strong undercurrent of dark humor.

Welcome to the Dollhouse Was a Surprise Hit

Until this point, director Todd Solondz had been struggling to truly find his voice. After a few short films, his feature debut Fear, Anxiety & Depression went largely unnoticed among the general public and received mixed reviews from critics. Welcome to the Dollhouse, however, was a huge critical hit, earning a near-perfect 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With a tiny budget of just $800,000, it went on to exceed all expectations and rake in a highly impressive $5 million at the box office. The movie was praised for its raw, honest depiction of teenage angst and its biting dark comedy and satirical exploration of American Middle-Class Suburbia.

Welcome to the Dollhouse is available to stream on Tubi.

13 But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)

But I’m a Cheerleader is a satirical teen comedy that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1999. Natasha Lyonne plays a high school cheerleader who is sent to a "conversion camp" by her parents in an attempt to "cure" her of her homosexuality. Ultimately a heartwarming tale of self-acceptance, director Jamie Babbit employs a joyous blend of satire, dark comedy, and irreverent humor to address some serious issues around the social construction of gender roles and heteronormativity.

Despite Mixed Reviews, But I’m a Cheerleader Was Embraced By LGBTQ+ Media

Whilst the performances were generally praised, many critics felt the humor was obnoxious with particular criticism aimed at the use of homosexual stereotypes to elicit cheap laughs. Reviews from LGBTQ+ media, on the other hand, tended to be far more positive with AfterEllen.com citing it as one of the top five greatest "lesbian movies ever made" and Curve magazine stating that it "redefined Lesbian film."

But I'm a Cheerleader is available to stream on Prime Video and Tubi.

12 Mallrats (1995)

Kevin Smith’s follow-up to the surprise indie hit Clerks, may not have been as groundbreaking as its predecessor but Mallrats still retains much of the charm and oddball humor that has since become a trademark of his. The story loosely revolves around college student T.S. Quint and his best friend Brodie, who have both recently been dumped by their partners, as they try to cheer themselves up by hanging out at the local mall.

Mallrats Is Quintessentially '90s

More important than the plot itself, is the world that Kevin Smith builds and the characters that inhabit it. Further expanding on his View Askewniverse, which was introduced to the world with Clerks, Mallrats is set against the backdrop of a shopping mall, the ultimate '90s hangout hub for teens. It's these characters and their utterly absurd antics (sometimes verging on surrealism) that set the movie apart from others of the era. That, and of course, Smith’s knack for scripting sharp and irreverent dialogue laden with pop culture references.

Mallrats is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.

11 Jawbreaker (1999)

What makes Jawbreaker so unconventional is its ability to find humor in the darkest of places. After the accidental death of a high school student following a prank gone horribly wrong, Jawbreaker follows a group of popular girls and the lengths they go to, not just to cover their mistakes, but to maintain their social standing. It takes the concept of the Mean Girls plastics and their moral ambiguity and cranks it up to 11.

Jawbreaker Is a Visual Treat

It’s not just the pitch-black humor and unsettling subject matter that sets Jawbreaker apart, it also looks like no other movie within its genre. With its stylized visuals and vibrant cinematography, parts of the movie have an air of surrealism to them, heightened by the use of bold colors, flamboyant set designs, and over-the-top costumes. At times, it feels almost like a fantasy movie, which really aids in driving its satirical undertones across.

Jawbreaker is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.

10 The Doom Generation (1995)

The Doom Generation might explore typical themes of teenage angst like alienation and disillusionment, but the way it tackles these topics is anything but conventional. For a start, the movie takes place across a selection of seedy motels, dingy underpasses, and baron highways as opposed to high schools and shopping malls. Secondly, it’s excessively violent and brutal, making it closer to something by Quentin Tarantino than the likes of American Pie or Mean Girls. Totally nihilistic in tone, it follows a group of disenfranchised teenagers as they embark on a chaotic road trip across Southern California.

The Doom Generation’s Non-Linear Narrative Verges on Surrealism

Pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling through its dreamlike sequences and increasingly absurd encounters, the movie frequently blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. This, coupled with some of the characters’ drug-induced visions, makes for a disorientating and surreal journey into the underbelly of Southern California and those who inhabit it.

The Doom Generation is available to rent on Apple TV.

9 SLC Punk! (1998)

Set in Salt Lake City in the 1980s, SLC Punk! revolves around two young men, Stevo (Matthew Lillard) and “Heroin” Bob (Michael A. Goorjian), as they transition from rebellious punk-rocking teens to young adults and grapple with the realities of life outside their local punk scene. While they move through life, Stevo begins to feel a bit disenfranchised by the punk life and a tragic accident forces him to make some difficult life decisions.

SLC Punk! Perfectly Encapsulates the '80s Burgeoning Punk Scene

The punk rock subculture is one that is not too often explored in movies but certainly makes for an exciting backdrop. The fast-paced aggressive soundtrack is often associated with a young chaotic, hedonistic fan base and symbolizes rebellion and individuality. All of this is fully on display in SLC Punk! as its cast of disenfranchised teens take center stage as we experience the highs and lows of life as a punk rocker in 1980s Salt Lake City.

SLC Punk! is available to stream on Tubi.

8 Angus (1995)

Starring Charlie Talbert as Angus and featuring James Van Der Beek in his first major role, Angus is a coming-of-age film released in 1995. Whilst billed as a comedy-drama, it refuses to exploit Angus’ differences for cheap laughs and instead tackles the serious problems faced by many teenagers such as bullying, unrequited love, and body-image issues, with a nuanced maturity. It’s this nuanced portrayal of adolescence that sets it apart. It doesn’t rely solely on romantic subplots to drive forward its narrative, instead choosing to focus on Angus’s journey of self-discovery.

Angus Is a Heartwarming Movie About Resilience and Self-Acceptance

Angus' struggles will be highly relatable to many, and the movie never shies away from these struggles. Despite this, it’s ultimately an uplifting story in which the audience is invited to share in Angus’ personal wins and self-discovery as he finds courage and ultimately learns to love himself for who he is.

Angus is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.

7 Cry-Baby (1990)

Released in 1990, Cry-Baby features a fabulously diverse array of actors and celebrities, including the likes of Johnny Depp, Traci Lords, Ricki Lake, Iggy Pop, and Willem Dafoe. It follows a group of rebellious teens known as "the drapes" as they navigate the struggles of living in conservative 1950s Baltimore, Maryland. To complicate issues further, the prominent drape "Cry-Baby" Walker breaks all kinds of societal taboos by falling in love with a woman from the town’s opposing subculture, "the squares."

Despite Box Office Disappointment, Cry-Baby Became a Cult Classic

Having been written and directed by John Waters, the creative mastermind behind some of the most outrageous movies of the '70s and '80s, it’s hardly surprising that Cry-Baby is anything but conventional. Taking typical tropes associated with the teen genre and tipping them on their heads, Cry-Baby is a smorgasbord of genres and styles, featuring moments of hard-hitting drama and elements of light-hearted campy humor, all delivered as a musical. While it certainly strays away from the over-the-top shock tactics found in some of Waters’ earlier work like Pink Flamingos, his touch is still very evident.

Perhaps a little too offbeat for the average cinema-goer, the movie failed to set the box office alight and was ultimately considered a commercial flop despite positive reviews. However, much like a lot of Waters’ work, it later found a strong following when released on VHS and has since become a cult classic.

Cry-Baby is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.

6 Strangeland (1998)