8 Best Movies of 1994

By Vlad Zakh · June 29, 2026

1994 was an extraordinary year. Ed Wood follows an enthusiastic but untalented filmmaker, The Crow resurrects a murdered musician for vengeance, and The Lion King sends a young prince away and brings him back. Chungking Express, Leon: The Professional, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption round out the eight.

Ed Wood (1994)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 92% Metacritic 71

A hopelessly earnest B-movie director makes cult schlock with Bela Lugosi in his final years.

Directed by Tim Burton · 2h 07m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars27 wins & 33 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Crow (1994)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A murdered musician is resurrected to take vengeance on the gang that killed him and his fiancee.

Directed by Alex Proyas · 1h 42m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Philo · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Chungking Express (1994)

TMDB ★ 8.0

Two heartbroken Hong Kong police officers deal with loneliness and unexpected romance in the bustling city.

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai · 1h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Lion King (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 92% Metacritic 88

A young lion prince flees his kingdom after his father's murder, only to return years later to reclaim it.

Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff · 1h 29m · Rated G

Won 2 Oscars43 wins & 35 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Léon: The Professional (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 76% Metacritic 64

A hitman reluctantly takes in a young girl after her family is murdered, teaching her his trade.

Directed by Luc Besson · 1h 51m · Rated R

5 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sundance Now, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Forrest Gump (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.8 RT 75% Metacritic 82

A one-man tour through three decades of American history.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 22m · Rated PG-13

Won 6 Oscars51 wins & 74 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pulp Fiction (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.8 RT 92% Metacritic 95

Two hitmen, a boxer and a gangster's wife weave through a nonlinear crime saga in Los Angeles.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino · 2h 34m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar69 wins & 72 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

IMDb ★ 9.3 RT 89% Metacritic 82

Hope as an active choice, not a passive feeling, patiently built over two and a half hours.

Directed by Frank Darabont · 2h 22m · Rated R

Nominated for 7 Oscars21 wins & 43 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Movies of 1994

Ed Wood (1994)

The Crow (1994)

Chungking Express (1994)

The Lion King (1994)

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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