35 years ago, these were the best of the best…no boxoffice considerations…no likey-likey popcorn faves…no “pretty goods but no Cuban cigar”…just the films that shine the strongest and brightest according to HE’s smarthouse standards of 2025.

I’m not saying these are the absolute pick of the litter, but they’re definitely the 1990 films have have stayed in my head.

But before assembling the list, I need to acknowledge upfront that I don’t even remember (a) Karel Reisz and Arthur Miller‘s Everybody Wins, (b) Curtis Hanson‘s Bad Influence, (c) John Boorman‘s Where The Heart Is, (d) Uli Edel‘s Last Exit to Brooklyn or (e) Lawrence Kasdan‘s I Love You to Death. I don’t recall a single scene or line or standout performance from any of these…nothing.

I haven’t listed my 25 picks in order of preference. I’ve just dropped them in by release date.

1. Tony Scott‘s Revenge.

2. George Armitage‘s Miami Blues.

3. John McNaughton‘s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.

4. Mike Figgis‘s Internal Affairs.

5. Ron Underwood‘s Tremors.

6. Alan Rudolph‘s Love at Large.

7. Sidney Lumet‘s Q & A.

8. James Toback‘s The Big Bang.

9. Norman René and Craig Lucas‘s Longtime Companion.

10. Denys Arcand‘s Jesus of Montreal.

11. Warren Beatty‘s Dick Tracy.

12. Whit Stillman‘s Metropolitan.

13. Roger Spottiswode‘s Air America.

14. Allan Moyle‘s Pump Up The Volume.

15. Mike Nichols‘ Postcards From The Edge.

16. Martin Scorsese‘s Goodfellas.

17. Abel Ferrara‘s King of New York.

!8. Barry Levinson‘s Avalon.

19. Joel and Ethan Coen‘s Miller’s Crossing.

20. Barbet Schroeder‘s Reversal of Fortune.

21. Kevin Costner‘s Dances With Wolves.

22. Stephen Frears‘ The Grifters.

23. Bernardo Bertolucci‘s The Sheltering Sky.

24. Ivan Reitman‘s Kindergarten Cop.

25. Woody Allen‘s Alice.