The 1990s were an amazing time for comedy movies. Major stars like Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler seemed to be churning out one hit after another, dominating the box office with their seemingly endless stream of big laughs. Rom-coms also flourished during this era, with numerous major hits like Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You consistently pleasing audiences with their enjoyable balance of humor and heart. No matter what your tastes were, there was bound to be something to make you laugh when you entered a movie theater in the '90s, even if it was cringe comedy.

However, not every films are great options.

10 Mystery Men (1999)

Directed By Kinka Usher

Nowadays, theaters are flooded with one superhero movie after another, with major studios constantly churning out new stories about daring individuals with special powers saving the day. The 1999 now-cult classic film, Mystery Men, however, decided to explore the humorous side of this genre.

When the primary hero of Champion City is captured, a team of lesser-known heroes with rather unimpressive powers must band together in a brave attempt to overcome the forces of evil and save the day. Mystery Men provides a hilarious spin on the popular genre, painting a more down-to-earth portrait of what life is like in these fictional worlds.

The idea is clever, the jokes are nonstop, and the costumes/sets are perfect for some cheesy, lighthearted fun. Mystery Men also boasts a stacked cast, featuring off-the-walls performances by Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, Hank Azaria, and many other comedy powerhouses. Whether you love superhero movies, or you're positively sick of them, Mystery Men is sure to be a good time.

9 East Is East (1999)

Directed By Damien O'Donnell

Sometimes, films can address serious subject matter while still being able to consistently make their audiences laugh. One '90s movie that managed to achieve this feat is East Is East, a British comedy-drama directed by Damien O'Donnell. The humorous film primarily follows a family consisting of George Khan, a Pakistani Muslim man, his British Roman Catholic wife, Ella, and their seven children. They run a fish and chips shop together as they navigate cultural tensions in their Lancashire home.

East Is East thrives on being able to handle the complex issues at its core in a way that makes them not only understandable for the audience, but also funny. The film actually achieved great success upon its release, earning ten times its budget at the box office, but failed to maintain the high levels of popularity achieved by more mainstream comedies. For those looking for a witty comedy with a real message at its core, East Is East is a great candidate.

8 My Blue Heaven (1990)

Directed By Herbert Ross

Along with being an exciting time for comedies, the 1990s were also a genre-defining era for crime movies, thanks to hits like Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, and Goodfellas. As this was all happening, some filmmakers decided to combine the two genres, putting a funny twist on a gripping crime narrative. One such mob comedy film is My Blue Heaven, a 1990 feature directed by Herbert Ross.

Inspired by the life of Henry Hill (who also inspired Goodfellas), the film follows an FBI agent who must protect a former mobster who has entered the Witness Protection Program. My Blue Heaven is a perfect choice for people who love crime movies, but could use something more fun and lighthearted once in a while.

In addition to a clever script, My Blue Heaven is also boosted by a pair of great lead performances by the powerful duo of Rick Moranis and Steve Martin.

The film features all the elements of any great crime film, with the added element of some laugh-out-loud humor. In addition to a clever script, My Blue Heaven is also boosted by a pair of great lead performances by the powerful duo of Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. It may not be the most well-known movie to include both of them, but it is one that is impossible to forget.

7 Quick Change (1990)

Directed By Howard Franklin And Bill Murray

Another comedy/crime hybrid to premiere in the 1990s was Quick Change, although the crime at the center of this particular film was far from a typical heist. Quick Change stars comedy icon Bill Murray (who also served as co-director) as Grimm, a down-on-his-luck New Yorker desperate for a way out of his miserable life.

With the help of his girlfriend (Geena Davis) and his best pal (Randy Quaid), Grimm successfully steals a million dollars by disguising himself as a clown and robbing a bank. However, getting out of the city proves to be much more difficult. That one element alone is enough to help Quick Change turn the crime genre completely on its head in a thoroughly hilarious way.

Instead of focusing on the actual robbery itself, the film highlights the poor luck of the main trio as they attempt to flee the city afterward. Fate does not appear to be on their side, as one issue after another continues to arise, creating a constant flow of comedy as the "easy" part of their plan proves increasingly difficult.

6 Mouse Hunt (1997)

Directed By Gore Verbinski

Recently, Hundreds of Beavers became a fan-favorite thanks to its modern take on slapstick comedy. However, this wasn't the first rodent-centered, slapstick-inspired comedy to wow its audiences. In 1997, Mouse Hunt delighted moviegoers thanks to its lovably bizarre premise and hilarious execution.

The film focuses on the antics of Ernie and Lars Smuntz, a bumbling pair of brothers who have recently inherited their late father's mansion. However, a tiny mouse living in the mansion isn't going to hand over the property without a fight. Mouse Hunt may not be the most profound movie by any means, but it is undeniably fun from beginning to end.

Not a single comedic beat is missed thanks to the delightful harmony of all the elements that went into making the film: a pair of hilarious performances by Nathan Lane and Lee Evans, some inspired direction from Gore Verbinski, and, of course, a very crafty mouse. For those who enjoyed Hundreds of Beavers, Mouse Hunt provides a similarly impressive tribute to the comedy that defined the 1940s.

5 Joe Versus The Volcano (1990)

Directed By John Patrick Shanley

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan dominated the romantic comedy genre in the '90s with major hits like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. However, these films were not the duo's first experience with the genre. Their first comedic collaboration actually came in 1990, with the pair starring opposite each other in Joe Versus the Volcano.

Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, this quirky comedy follows Joe, a man who willingly agrees to sacrifice himself in a volcano after discovering that he has a terminal illness. Needless to say, this does not sound like a typical rom-com concept by any means. However, all the pieces start to fall right into place when Joe meets and falls in love with Patricia, the woman responsible for bringing Joe to the volcano where he is meant to meet his ultimate doom.

Joe Versus the Volcano is not only hilarious, but a surprisingly insightful commentary on life, and what makes it worth living. It may not be as popular as later Hanks/Ryan rom-coms, but Joe Versus the Volcano offers a refreshingly unique take on the genre.

4 The Wrong Guy (1997)

Directed By David Steinberg

Former The Kids in the Hall star Dave Foley took center stage for The Wrong Guy, a 1997 dark comedy that allowed Foley to show off all his comedic talents. In the film, Foley plays Nelson Hibbert, a disgruntled employee who threatens to kill his boss in a fit of rage, only to discover that he has been murdered later that day.

Not realizing that the police know he is innocent, Nelson begins a desperate attempt to flee to Mexico, getting himself into all sorts of hijinks along the way. The Wrong Guy consistently makes the most of its hilarious premise, as the film is delightfully stuffed with funny predicaments and sidesplitting one-liners.

David Anthony Higgins, Jennifer Tilly, and Colm Feore also appear in the film, creating a stellar comedic ensemble around Foley. The Wrong Guy may not have the most gripping story from the crime standpoint, but its relentless humor never misses a beat, keeping viewers captivated throughout.

3 Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

Directed By Tom Stoppard

Written and directed by Tom Stoppard (who also created the play it was based on), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead offers a uniquely humorous take on a Shakespeare classic. The film is centered around Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor, largely unimportant characters from the iconic tragedy Hamlet.

This clever film follows the pair as they interpret the events of the play from their unique perspective, trying to make any sense of all the confusing events unfolding around them. For anyone who has struggled to understand the works of Shakespeare, it is certainly quite a relatable premise. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead may have more of a bleak undertone than most comedies of the '90s, but its witty dialogue is consistently enough to make viewers howl with laughter.

Gary Oldman and Tim Roth breathe a new life into these age-old characters, giving them a new perspective, purpose, and, of course, sense of humor. The story may certainly have its fair share of tragic elements to it, but the cunning dialogue and lovable performances prove that even the darkest theatrical stories have humor to be found in them.

2 Living In Oblivion (1995)

Directed By Tom DiCillo

Anyone who has ever attempted to make a movie knows that doing so is an incredibly stressful process. Tom DiCillo's 1995 independent film, Living in Oblivion, puts this harsh reality on display for all the world to see. The film is carefully divided into three distinct sections, with each one highlighting a different scene that the crew of a low-budget movie are attempting to capture.

One issue after another seems to arise, with the director growing increasingly frantic as he desperately attempts to get the shots he has envisioned. Although it failed to become much of a mainstream hit, Living in Oblivion works on numerous levels.

Living in Oblivion has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Perhaps most obviously, it works exceptionally well as a realistic depiction of the high-stress atmosphere of a film, giving an eye-opening look into what the process is like for those unfamiliar. Additionally, the film thrives as a comedy, with Steve Buscemi flourishing as the fictional film's increasingly agitated director. Living in Oblivion finds opportunities for big laughs even in the most unfortunate circumstances.

1 Multiplicity (1996)

Directed By Harold Ramis

Being the co-writer/star of Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis is certainly no stranger to combining the genres of science fiction and comedy. His 1996 feature, Multiplicity, may not have achieved the same level of popularity as his previous works, but it sure does fit a ton of major laughs into its wonderfully crazy premise. This film tells the story of Doug Kinney, a man who creates several clones of himself (each with its own distinct personality) in an attempt to solve some of the problems in his life, only to end up creating a slew of new ones.

The premise may be a bit corny, but Keaton's charisma and the clever script keep Multiplicity both interesting and hilarious from start to finish.

Much of Multiplicity's hilarity is derived from the lead performance (or performances) of Michael Keaton, who perfectly embodies the different personalities of each clone. The premise may be a bit corny, but Keaton's charisma and the clever script keep Multiplicity both interesting and hilarious from start to finish. For a fun, science fiction-inspired comedy, Multiplicity is a great, underappreciated option from the '90s.