Total Recall (1990)
The Moment: When a woman passenger starts freaking out, the villainous Richter (Michael Ironside) figures out it's a disguise - sure enough, when "she" pulls out her ear to reveal Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) underneath.
Only In The '90s: Paul Verhoeven had carte blanche to be as bonkers as he wanted to be.
If It Was Made Today: Something daft would happen like getting Len Wiseman to direct.
Dazed And Confused (1993)
The Moment: Think the hazing meted out to the boys at Lee High School is bad? Meet Darla Marks (Parker Posey), architect of the girls' ritual: "wipe that face off your head, bitch!"
Only In The '90s: A laidback, day-in-a-life, classic-rock groove without any moral lessons or, indeed, much of a story. Just keep livin'.
If It Was Made Today: It would actually be about the Nineties. The Britpop soundtrack doesn't bear thinking about.
Crash (1996)
The Moment: James Ballard (James Spader) gets down 'n' dirty with car crash victim Gabrielle (Rosanna Arquette) by having sex with a wound in her thigh.
Only In The '90s: "Ban this sick film!" screamed the Daily Mail and Westminster Council duly refused to screen it.
If It Was Made Today: The baton for outrage has passed to Tom Six - bring on Human Centipede 3 .
Delicatessen (1991)
The Moment: As a couple has sex, they are joined by a symphony of apartment noise: creaking bed springs, violin recital, bikes pumped, rugs beaten, ceilings painted, moo boxes tested.
Only In The '90s: Jeunet et Caro, making sweet music together.
If It Was Made Today: Jeunet would be directing on his own; Caro has sadly gone to ground.
The Fugitive (1993)
The Moment: U.S. Marshal Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) confronts Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) in the tunnel of a dam, but the innocent fugitive simply dives into the water to continue his search for the One-Armed Man.
Only In The '90s: Hollywood could give an old TV show a makeover and make it better than the original.
If It Was Made Today: Josh Brolin would chase Shia LaBeouf, and probably just shoot him there and then.
Chungking Express (1994)
The Moment: Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) tries to hit on fast food stall assistant Faye (Faye Wong)... only for Faye to fix her attention on Cop 663 (Tony Leung) and change the course of the film.
Only In The '90s: Even the art-house was dancing to the rhythm of the kind of multi-part story popularised by Tarantino.
If It Was Made Today: It'd be doubtful Wong Kar-Wai would be allowed to keep the stories so separate; these days Cop 223 would have to make a last-act re-appearance.
The Fisher King (1991)
The Moment: Parry (Robin Williams) searches for clumsy paramour Lydia (Amanda Plummer) in Grand Central Station, and the commuters suddenly break out in a mass ballroom waltz.
Only In The '90s: Terry Gilliam could persuade a studio to let him make a Hollywood movie.
If It Was Made Today: It'd be a flash mob on YouTube.
Leon (1994)
The Moment: Crazy, corrupt cop Stansfield (Gary Oldman) pops a pill before wreaking havoc: "I like these calm little moments before the storm. It reminds me of Beethoven."
Only In The '90s: Gary Oldman played the villain in every single blockbuster made during the decade.
If It Was Made Today: Mark Strong would get the gig instead.
Lost Highway (1997)
The Moment: The Mystery Man (Robert Blake) meets Fred Madison (Bill Pullman) at a party, and also speaks to him via phone from Fred's home - AT THE SAME TIME. Creepy.
Only In The '90s: It's safer to say... only in Lynch-land. The decade is immaterial; the effect always unmistakable.
If It Was Made Today: It would take a particularly brave producer to cast Robert Blake now.
Speed (1994)
The Moment: Pop quiz, hotshot. You're SWAT officer Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves), trapped on a bus that will blow up if it travels slower than 50mph and is driven by civilian Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock). Oh, and there's a section of the freeway missing ahead. What are ya doing to do, hotshot?
Only In The '90s: Hollywood wouldn't even blink at the idea of driving the bus over the gap in proper, punch-the-air slo-mo cheese.
If It Was Made Today: The bus would be a Transformer.
