10 Oscar-Winning Movies From The 1990s To Watch This Weekend

This weekend, get excited for the Best Picture Oscar-winning films from the 1990s. If you can’t recall them all, don't worry — we've gathered the entire list for your viewing pleasure.

Do you remember the stunning cinematography in the epic period pieces “Dances with Wolves” and “Braveheart”? Or how about the film whose titular character compared life to a box of chocolates? And let's not forget the film about star-crossed lovers Rose and Jack.

Then, there's the only horror film to ever have won the Academy Award for Best Picture in Oscars history: "The Silence of the Lambs." And if you're into the Western genre, "Unforgiven" is a sure hit.

Check out the full list of these Oscar-winning films from the 1990s.

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“Dances with Wolves” (1990) — Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell; directed by Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner’s sweeping epic Western drama captured the hearts of devoted cinephiles with its amazing poignancy, deft direction and breathtaking cinematography, winning seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Based on Michael Blake’s 1988 best-selling novel, the three-hour historical saga follows the story of Union Army 1st Lt. John Dunbar (Costner), who abandons his life to join the Sioux Indians during the American Civil War. Taking on the name of “Dances with Wolves,” Dunbar settles in and falls for a white woman (Mary McDonnell) being raised among the tribe. However, danger looms ahead in his newfound simple life.

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“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) — Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins; directed by Jonathan Demme

Hailed as the only horror film to have ever won an Academy Award for Best Picture, “The Silence of the Lambs” stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a neophyte FBI agent tasked to hunt down a serial killer who skins the corpses of his female victims. In the process, she must create the madman’s profile with the help of Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer. What ensues is a psychological warfare between Starling and Lecter as the latter tries to manipulate the FBI cadet. The provocative, well-acted and well-crafted horror-thriller won all top five categories at the 64th Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Demme), Best Actor (Hopkins), Best Actress (Foster) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

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“Unforgiven” (1992) — Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman; directed by Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood leads a cast of outstanding actors in the harrowing-yet-compelling Western film about violence, revenge and justice during the 1880s Old West. At the center of the narrative is William Munny (Eastwood), a retired gunslinger who teams up with his longtime pal (Morgan Freeman) and a young man (Jaimz Woolvett) to track down two cowboys accused of slashing a prostitute’s face. However, the trio soon discovers that Sheriff Daggett (Gene Hackman) will make their claim on the bounty next to impossible. The film won four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Eastwood), Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman) and Best Editing at the 65th Academy Awards.

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“Schindler’s List” (1993) — Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley; directed by Steven Spielberg

Based on Thomas Keneally’s well-acclaimed 1982 novel, “Schindler’s Ark,” Steven Spielberg’s cinematic opus scored seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and a Best Director win for the iconic filmmaker. Set during World War II, the 195-minute biopic chronicles the life of German industrialist Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), who — alongside his wife, Emilie Schindler (Caroline Goodall) — saved approximately 1,100 Jewish lives from the abject horrors of the Holocaust. Gripping and affecting, the epic war drama is a monumental, breathtaking body of work.

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“Forrest Gump” (1994) — Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise; directed by Robert Zemeckis

Have you ever wondered which movie made famous the line, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get"? Well, it’s “Forrest Gump,” Robert Zemeckis’ dramedy based on Winston Groom’s 1986 best-selling novel of the same name. The film stars Tom Hanks as the titular war hero who recounts his fascinating life story to a group of strangers gathered at a bus stop in Savannah, Georgia, in 1981. What unfolds is a series of important historical events, including the presidencies of John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, the anti-war rally “March on the Pentagon,” the Watergate scandal, and the devastation of Hurricane Carmen. Interestingly, Forrest plays a key role in every single one of them. The movie won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Zemeckis) and Best Actor (Hanks).

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“Braveheart” (1995) — Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau; directed by Mel Gibson

Adapted from Blind Harry's 15th century epic poem, “The Wallace,” Mel Gibson’s period drama is a fictional depiction of the life of William Wallace (Gibson) and his tireless efforts to lead the Scots against King Edward I of England during the First War of Scottish Independence. The story opens with a youthful Wallace surviving his father’s death and being taken into the custody of his uncle, who is domiciled abroad. Twenty years later, Wallace returns to Scotland to live a simple life with his childhood sweetheart, Murron (Catherine McCormack). However, his peace and quiet are disrupted when Murron is murdered by English soldiers, setting in motion Wallace’s quest for freedom and retribution. With stirring dramatization of brutally rousing battles, outstanding cinematography and deft direction, “Braveheart” scored five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Director.

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“The English Patient” (1996) — Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas; directed by Anthony Minghella

Michael Ondaatje’s 1992 best-seller comes to life in Anthony Minghella’s romantic war drama about a fateful love affair set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, the eponymous titular character (Ralph Fiennes) — a man with a burned and disfigured face who speaks with an English accent — recounts his life story to a Canadian nurse (Juliette Binoche) caring for him. Ultimately, in a series of flashbacks, we will learn about his identity, his doomed and tragic romance with his best friend’s wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) and his shameful secrets. Compelling to the core, “The English Patient” took home a total of nine Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Binoche).

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“Titanic” (1997) — Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet; directed by James Cameron

Hailed as one of the greatest romantic movies in modern cinema, James Cameron’s beloved “Titanic” depicts a selfless love that knows no bounds, set against the backdrop of the tragic sea disaster of April 15, 1912. The beautiful film stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as a pair of passengers — 17-year-old aristocrat Rose and struggling artist Jack — who meet and fall in love aboard the ship during the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Can Rose and Jack survive the oceanic catastrophe in the end? Winner of Best Picture and Best Director at the 69th Academy Awards, “Titanic” took home a total of 11 Oscars in 1997, tying the record of “Ben-Hur” (1959) for the most Oscars won by a single film. (Six years later, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” joined the ranks of “Ben-Hur” and “Titanic,” having won the same number of Academy Awards at the 2003 Oscars.)

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“Shakespeare in Love” (1998) — Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes; directed by John Madden

John Madden’s fictional period romantic comedy tells the story of William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), a young playwright suffering from an acute case of writer’s block. What is he to do now, considering he is even cash-strapped? Enter the lovely Lady Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), who catches the Bard’s eyes and ultimately inspires our hero to write a new comedy that will become the famous “Romeo and Juliet.” The well-acclaimed and commercially successful film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Paltrow) and a Best Supporting Actress win for Judi Dench for her magnificent eight-minute portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I.

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“American Beauty” (1999) — Annette Bening, Kevin Spacey; directed by Sam Mendes

Bursting with a dry sense of humor and wit, Sam Mendes’ Best Picture Oscar winner is a stinging satire of contemporary life in suburban America, exploring themes of sexuality, love, materialism and redemption. At the center of the story is the Burnham family. The patriarch is Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), an advertising executive who suffers a midlife crisis. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Lester, his unhappy and neurotic wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening), is pursuing an extramarital affair with a married man. To add insult to injury, the couple’s 16-year-old daughter, Jane (Thora Birch), absolutely despises her parents. It won’t be long before the trio’s lives all collide like a catastrophic disaster waiting to happen.

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