The 1990s were a golden age for family films—unless you count the ones that made you want to change the channel. While the decade gave us classics like The Lion King and Toy Story, it also unleashed a wave of cringeworthy disasters that failed to entertain kids or adults. These movies tried to be fun, touching, or funny, but instead landed with a thud. Here are the worst 90s family movies that are painfully awful from start to finish.
10. 'Surf Ninjas' (1993)
This action-comedy from director Neal Israel follows two surfer brothers, Johnny (Ernie Reyes Jr.) and Adam (Nicolas Cowan), who discover they're heirs to a fictional Asian kingdom called Patusan. After a ninja attack at the beach, a magical martial artist (Ernie Reyes Sr.) reveals their royal lineage. The premise alone is ridiculous, but the inclusion of Rob Schneider (playing a teen at age 28) and a plot device involving a "magically healing" Sega Game Gear makes this a cult classic only in the "so bad it's good" sense. For more on movies that look great but fall flat, check out our list of stunning-looking movies that failed.
9. 'Double Dragon' (1994)
Set in a dystopian 2007 Los Angeles renamed "New Angeles," this video game adaptation stars Scott Wolf and Mark Dacascos as brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee. They must protect a mystical amulet from villainous gang boss Koga Shuko (Robert Patrick). Director James Yukich tries to pack in action, but the awful visual effects and cheesy script sink the film. Strangely, the movie abandons the game's plot of rescuing Billy's girlfriend, making it even more baffling.
8. 'Super Mario Bros.' (1993)
Nintendo's iconic video game got a bizarre big-screen adaptation that transported Mario and Luigi to a dimension called Dinohattan, complete with sentient fungus and shape-shifting dinosaurs. Directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton aimed for comedy, but the humor is forced and odd. Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo do their best, but they can't save a nonsensical story that left audiences scratching their heads. This film is a prime example of how even beloved franchises can go wrong—much like some of the best fantasy movies that actually got it right.
7. 'The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia' (1994)
The first NeverEnding Story is a children's classic, but the third installment is a trainwreck. Director Peter MacDonald focuses on Bastian (Jason James Richter) trying to reclaim a magical book from bullies, including a young Jack Black. All the depth of the original is replaced with forced silliness. This film made audiences wish the story would finally end.
6. 'North' (1994)
Rob Reiner's North is a baffling misfire despite an all-star cast including Bruce Willis, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Elijah Wood as the titular boy who sues his parents for neglect. The film's tone is all over the place, and its attempts at heartwarming moments fall flat. It's a rare misstep from a director known for classics.
These films prove that even with big budgets and famous faces, a family movie can be a complete disaster. Whether you're looking for a laugh or a cringe, these 90s clunkers deliver the latter in spades.
