10 Funky Films from 1993 You Haven't Seen – But Can Right Now!

I’m sure you feel you have exhausted your 1993 movie watchlist long before now. Jurassic Park. Seen it a hundred times. Groundhog Day. Over and over. The Piano, Philadelphia, Schindler’s List. Seen, seen, seen. The Baby of Mâcon. Er. The Snapper. What’s that now? Kika. Who?

But you have iTunes, right? And Amazon? And are aware of YouTube Movies. Then pop open your 1993 movie watchlist, brush off the cobwebs, and add most, if not all, of these to it. Undiscovered gems? Forgotten favourites? Looking for a wacky night in? Guilty pleasures? We’ve got you covered.

Every one the 10 films you are about to see are available to stream online for less money than a taxi fare to your local picture house. I mean, you’ve heard of Stephen Frears, Gary Oldman, Ang Lee and Johnny Depp? They are all here:

Arizona Dream

Eccentric filmmaker, Emir Kusturica, would make an English language film with all his usual, unusual comic tropes. A wacky comedy-drama, with a terrific cast all nuts enough to make this work – Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis, Faye Dunaway, Lili Taylor, Vincent Gallo – wowsers. Kusturica would then venture off to his native Serbia and make the astonishing Underground, and the Palme d’Or at Cannes would follow. Watch Arizona Dream now on iTunes.

The Baby of Mâcon

The Baby of Mâcon sees the ubiquitous Peter Greenaway in gorgeous, grotesque form. Certainly not for all tastes, and to reveal the plot here would ruin the surprise. There’s fresh faces in Ralph Fiennes and Julia Ormond to entice all tastes. Like The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, and her Lover, this is sumptuous Greenaway, a feast for the eyes, but an upset stomach is likely. Watch The Baby of Mâcon now on Amazon Prime.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Rather ironic that as the door closed on Tim Burton’s involvement with the Batman franchise, and they dove head-first into mediocrity at best, this animated feature stands as one of 1993’s most popular films. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm not only deals with the caped crusader battling Gotham City’s riff-raff, and the mob, but also Bruce Wayne’s long-term relationship with Andrea Beaumont. Mark Hamill provides the voice of The Joker.

Benny & Joon

A classic example of unlikey romance, as an eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) comes to stay with Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) and her big brother Benny (Aidan Quinn). I was a sucker for this when it was first released, has a generous serving of physical comedy and dramatic set-pieces. Featuring supporting turns from Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Oliver Platt and Dan Hedaya. Johnny Depp understandably received the plaudits, but it is heart-breaking Mary Stuart Masterson who is the MVP here. Watch Benny & Joon on Amazon Video now.

Kika

Funny, sexy, ferocious, infectious. Films about mothers in some shape or form, fascinating, dominating female characters. A handful of misbehaving adults, lovers, friends, family, making fresh starts and embroiled in troubled pasts. Outrageous, vibrant story-telling and visual prowess. It has to be another exhilarating motion picture from Pedro Almodóvar. Yes please.

Ninja Scroll

Ninja Scroll, written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, is a blistering animation experience. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the flourish of Manga and anime movies (Akira likely the most well-known), catapulting into a worldwide appeal. Ninja Scroll‘s kinetic action sequences and swift, slick animation was one of the first to reach a mass audience. And many would follow in their droves, cult classics, as well as kicking down the doors of inspiration for many live action innovations to come. Watch now on Hulu.

Point of No Return

I confess, I had a crush on Bridget Fonda when I was a teenager. So when Point of No Return arrived, a remake of the superb French film La Femme Nikita, I was pretty psyched. Sure, the American take is not up to par with Luc Besson’s neo-noir gem, but the blueprints are for the most part delivered with bombastic finesse. Director John Badham does not wholly exploit Fonda’s sexual appeal, but attempts to carry over the stylish gusto of the French film – her bouncing hair amidst a frenetic gunfight is just one slick touch. Watch now on iTunes.

Romeo Is Bleeding

Gary Oldman as a corrupt cop, allowed to seemingly let loose with his outlandish acting abilities, is the only selling point you need here. Add to that, a bonkers plot, a wicked sense of humour, and what appears to be a no-holds-barred execution type deal. Juliette Lewis and Annabella Sciorra feature, but it is the over-the-top, brilliant Lena Olin that gobbles up the scenery and spits it out again. Watch now on iTunes.

The Snapper

A delicious comedy, based on the novel by Roddy Doyle, the Irish film The Snapper is a distant cousin of The Commitments. Carrying much of the same witty banter and well-rounded characters. Doyle also wrote the screenplay, and the story follows newly impregnated Sharon, attempting to keep the identity of the father under wraps for as long as possible. Made initially for Irish television, the film was a sleeper hit, making numerous end of year best of lists. Watch right now on Amazon Video.

The Wedding Banquet

Before the days he would step up to the stage to receive two Best Director Oscars (for none-Best-Picture winners Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi), Ang Lee was making a name for himself in his native land. The Wedding Banquet features a Taiwanese and Chinese “romantic” cross-pairing, as well as the central plot dealing with a homosexual couple. It’s a fine film, blending social wit and personal drama in perfect fashion.