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Unforgiven (1992)
The Moment: William Bunny (Clint Eastwood) realises that he can't escape his violent past, and confronts sadistic Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman): "I've killed women and children. I've killed just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned."
Only In The '90s: A Western takes Best Picture. See also: Dances With Wolves .
If It Was Made Today: Probably the same result, provided Clint was involved.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
The Moment: As stripper Santánico Pandemonium (Salma Hayek) writhes on-stage with a snake, the Gecko brothers (George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino) realise that the Titty Twister bar is not all it seems.
Only In The '90s: Tarantino's friendship with Robert Rodriguez spurs the latter filmmaker to revitalise the lost art of grindhouse filmmaking by splicing road movie with vampire action.
If It Was Made Today: The casting would be even more mental and eclectic than it was in '96. Our money's on Lady Gaga as the stripper.
Babe (1995)
The Moment: You'll believe a pig can be a sheep-dog. "That'll do, pig, that'll do."
Only In The '90s: A plea to stay off the bacon becomes a box-office smash and a Best Picture nominee.
If It Was Made Today: A fast food chain would snatch up tie-in rights to prove their credentials in corporate and social responsibility.
Braindead (1992)
The Moment: What's a guy to do when his house is infested with the ravenous undead? In Lionel Cosgrove's (Timothy Balme) case, the answer is simple - bring out the Flymo and start mowing.
Only In The '90s: Peter Jackson was still making low-budget, no-holds-barred, gory horror movies.
If It Was Made Today: It'd be a miracle - Jackson is contractually bound to Middle Earth for the near future.
Home Alone (1990)
The Moment: The Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) reckon it'll be easy to break into the McCallister house. However: they haven't factored in Kevin's (Macauley Culkin) prowess in rigging up booby traps.
Only In The '90s: Instant child stardom from - let's be honest - maiming and torturing two grown men.
If It Was Made Today: Kids have to enter The X Factor for that kind of fame. Meanwhile, you want to see people getting hurt? Go watch Saw .
Indecent Proposal (1993)
The Moment: "Suppose I were to offer you one million dollars for one night with your wife?" Billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford) makes David and Diane Murphy (Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore) an offer they can't refuse.
Only In The '90s: The Western world goes nuts debating morality, based on a silly high-concept pitch.
If It Was Made Today: The Murphys would whore themselves out to reality television instead.
American Beauty (1999)
The Moment: The mid-life crisis of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) gets serious when he spies cheerleader Angela (Mena Suvari) and fantasies her doing a rose-breasted dance just for him.
Only In The '90s: Kevin Spacey's name in the cast is a faultless barometer of greatness.
If It Was Made Today: Sam Mendes would be tempted to throw in an action sequence or two. Speaking of which...
Goldeneye (1995)
The Moment: After a six-year absence, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) reminds the audience what they've been missing by beginning his comeback with a jaw-dropping bungee jump off a dam.
Only In The '90s: Eric Serra's "what were they thinking?" score to the movie.
If It Was Made Today: It wouldn't be only a single scene in which 007 takes a "skyfall."
American History X (1998)
The Moment: Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) confirms his hard-nut neo-Nazi credentials by capturing a black gang member and giving him a curb-side head-stomp.
Only In The '90s: Edward Norton became the decade's edgiest, most intense star and apparently so dedicated he wanted a say in the editing suite, too.
If It Was Made Today: Norton's a supporting role these days. He'd play white supremacy boss Cameron Alexander, and Ryan Gosling would be Derek.
True Romance (1993)
The Moment: Cult icons collide, as gangster Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken) visits Clifford Worley (Dennis Hopper) to discover the whereabouts of the latter's son.
Only In The '90s: The studios notice that the indie kids are casting all the cool actors, and start filling their thrillers with amazing casts.
If It Was Made Today: Any half-decent actor gets hired by Marvel instead.
