Nine years after the last sequel and 13 years after the original was released, Jason Biggs, Tara Reid and the rest of the gang had an "American Reunion" this weekend, as they looked back on their high school years with wistful nostalgia.
Yes, it may be shocking to some, but the '90s are now a good decade and some past us. Given Hollywood's love for remakes and sequels, it's already started turning towards the '90s well — the 80's have already been well-plundered, after all. Besides "American Reunion," there was, of course, the announcement that Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels will reunite for a sequel to 1994's uproarious "Dumb & Dumber." Clearly, we're in for an avalanche of '90s nostalgia for the next decade!
So, which '90s movies are ripe for a sequel? Here are five that we think would be great.
"Clueless"
We already mentioned this yesterday in our high school movie reunions piece, but it bears another mention here. Tina Fey and Lindsay Lohan garnered a lot of attention for "Mean Girls" back in 2004, but if we're being honest, this 1995 interpretation of "Emma," starring a pitch-perfect Alicia Silverstone as a privileged high schooler, was better. Chockfull of quote-worthy lines (Cher on boys: "I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so!") and featuring several great characters, "Clueless" transcends the teen movie genre.
Wouldn't it be great to have a sequel where we could see if lovebirds Cher (Silverstone) and Josh (Paul Rudd) lasted the distance? Now that Rudd's a major comedic star, surely he has the clout to get a sequel greenlit. I, for one, would love to hear Cher critique the fashion trends of today's high school boys. Of course, what would be missing from the sequel would be Brittany Murphy, who played standout character, Tai (Remember "Rolling with the Homies?"), but then, the sequel could be a way to pay tribute to Murphy. After all, the star had gotten her big break with "Clueless."
"Reality Bites"
Before Gen-Y and the Millenials, we had Generation X, the children of baby boomers. And if there was one movie that defined the generation that grew up on the end of the Cold War and the rise of AIDS, it would be 1994's "Reality Bites." The movie, starring Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder and Ben Stiller, captured the voice of the early '90s slackerdom culture, and its soundtrack, featuring Lisa Loeb's "Stay," defined its sound.
At the end of "Reality Bites," Ryder chooses Hawke's slacker character, Troy, over Stiller's ambitious, driven Michael. But was that the right decision, 20 years down the road? Certainly, while Hawke is no slouch, Stiller is the bigger star in Hollywood today. A "Reality Bites" sequel could continue to be the voice of Generation X – instead of pondering about hanging out and which boy to choose, the trio could instead discuss mid-life crises, and how decisions made in your twenties can profoundly shape the way your future unfolds.
"Wayne's World"
Ok, "MacGruber" didn't do so hot, but back in 1992, "Wayne's World," based on a "Saturday Night Live" skit, became a $100 million megahit and even spawned a quick sequel a year later.
Since "Austin Powers" and "Shrek" concluded, star Mike Myers has been trying unsuccessfully to launch another franchise, most recently bombing with "The Love Guru." Instead of trying to start one, why not revive his first and arguably still best franchise? We can imagine it already: Myers and Carvey rocking it out to Katy Perry and Rihanna, while riffing on erectile dysfunction.
"I Know What You Did Last Summer"
The "Scream" franchise, which revived the slasher genre in the '90s, was successfully relaunched last year with a third sequel. So, why not a sequel to the obviously "Scream"-inspired "I Know What You Did Last Summer" then?
The movie, and its sequel "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer," was, let's face it, sold largely on the sex appeal of star Jennifer Love Hewitt. Well, more then a decade later, Hewitt is still smoking hot, as anyone who's seen the trailers to her latest TV series, "The Client List," can attest. Plus, a reunion of the original cast of late '90s teen icons Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe and Freddie Prinze Jr. will certainly up the curiosity factor. So, bring on "I Will Never Forget What You Did That One Summer Over 15 Years Ago" already!
"The Big Lebowski"
You know that a movie has become a cult classic when there is an internet religion dedicated to the philosophy of its main character. Yes, "The Big Lebowski" barely made a ripple when it was released in 1998, but over the years, it has gathered many new fans, even inspiring the The Church of the Latter-Day Dude.
There's an obvious plot for a "Lebowski" sequel. At the end of the iconic stoner flick, it is strongly hinted that Julianne Moore might be pregnant with The Dude's (Jeff Bridges) child. So, of course, we can imagine a sequel where The Dude imparts his ways to his son. Given how James Franco so aptly portrayed a stoner in "Pineapple Express," we can already see him getting cast for this role. And if you fret about where Steve Buscemi might fit in, remember the original cast remember can always pop up in one of The Dude's dream sequences.
Tell us which '90s movies you want to see sequels to in the comments section or on Twitter!
