90 Fascinating Facts About the 1990s

As the 20th anniversary of the '90s approaches, it’s the perfect time to revisit the iconic music, blockbuster movies, beloved TV shows, and questionable fashion choices that defined the era. For those who experienced it firsthand, these 90 facts will evoke a wave of nostalgia. For younger generations, try to withhold judgment on the decade’s Hanson albums, pog collections, and PalmPilot obsessions.

1. Furbies were thought to be secret spies.

In 1999, rumors spread that Furbies had built-in computer chips designed to record and mimic speech. Although this was proven false, the National Security Agency took precautions by banning Furbies from their offices.

2. Jennifer Aniston disliked her iconic Friends hairstyle.

Jennifer Aniston's Friends haircut, famously dubbed "the Rachel," became a cultural phenomenon. However, the actress later revealed her distaste for it, even describing it as “the ugliest haircut I've ever seen.”

3. Alanis Morissette's popular track, "Ironic," didn't quite grasp the concept of irony.

No, "a traffic jam when you're already late" doesn't qualify as irony, but Morissette points out the irony in naming a song "Ironic" when it lacks true examples of irony. Touché.

4. Napster found its way onto countless computers worldwide.

The music-sharing platform debuted in 1999 and amassed 26.4 million users in just two years.

5. AOL Instant Messenger took the world by storm.

AOL Instant Messenger launched in 1997, attracting 53 million users in under a decade, and remained active until its eventual shutdown in December 2017.

6. Pagers were a cornerstone of communication in the '90s.

By 1994, pagers were in the hands of 61 million users.

7. Hillary Clinton once made a dismissive remark about a country music icon.

During a 1992 60 Minutes interview addressing Bill Clinton's infidelity, Hillary Clinton remarked, “I'm not sitting here as some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette.” She later apologized to the country music legend.

8. The '90s self-help book Who Moved My Cheese? became a global phenomenon.

The 1998 book sold millions of copies in China, inspiring titles like Whose Cheese Should I Move? and No One Can Move My Cheese! This is particularly ironic given that cheese isn’t a staple in Chinese cuisine.

9. Jackie Chan was a powerhouse.

At least for Disney, he was. Chan lent his voice to the Beast in the Chinese version of Beauty and the Beast.

10. The chokers everyone wore in high school? They have a rich history. 

Choker necklaces saw a revival in the '90s, but their significance dates back centuries. During the French Revolution, women wore red ribbons to honor the executed, while in the 1800s, they were used to mark prostitutes.

11. Doc Martens experienced a resurgence in the '90s grunge scene.

Claus Martens, the inventor, created the iconic shoes after a ski injury left him in need of comfortable, low-impact footwear.

12. Miss Cleo claimed to predict futures (though likely not).

Miss Cleo, the face of Psychic Readers Network Inc., gained fame for her pay-per-call psychic readings. However, she was later fined $5 million by the FTC for deceptive practices, including her supposed psychic abilities. Ironically, she didn’t foresee that coming.

13. The NC-17 movie rating was introduced in 1990.

The first film to receive this rating was 1990's Henry & June.

14. Slap Bracelets loudly decorated wrists in high schools across the globe.

This fleeting trend was created by a high school shop teacher experimenting with steel ribbons.

15. Billy Crystal passed on the opportunity to be part of Toy Story.

Pixar's 1995 animated blockbuster earned a staggering $373 million globally, so it’s no surprise that Billy Crystal has openly expressed regret over declining the role of Buzz Lightyear.

16. Pulp Fiction didn’t make the cut for Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus passed on the role of Mia in Pulp Fiction because of her commitments to Seinfeld.

17. The "show about nothing" had a strict guideline.

Larry David enforced a “no hugging, no learning” policy for Seinfeld scripts, ensuring the characters avoided sentimental, Full House-style moments.

18. Microsoft Office ... for Mac?

While Microsoft Office is often linked to '90s PCs, it originally launched in 1989 for Apple Macintosh computers, with the Windows version following in October 1990.

19. The iconic voice behind your email revealed.

The famous "You've Got Mail!" notification was voiced by Elwood Edwards, who recorded it in his living room using a cassette deck.

20. The PalmPilot paved the way for the iPad.

Jeff Hawkins designed the PalmPilot by carving a wooden block to the desired size and using a chopstick as the prototype for the stylus.

21. "I'll Be There For You" Peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Rembrandts owe their sole hit, "I’ll Be There for You," to the TV show Friends, as the song was co-written by the show’s producers.

22. NSYNC’s name was inspired by Justin Timberlake's mother. 

Justin Timberlake's mom coined the name *NSYNC, using the last letter of each band member’s first name.

23. The Backstreet Boys got their name from a flea market. 

The Backstreet Boys were named after Orlando’s Backstreet Market, a local flea market.

24. Nintendo's Game Boy broke free from earthly limits.

In 1993, a Russian cosmonaut took his Game Boy to space, permitted to bring just one game—Tetris.

25. Anthony Hopkins drew inspiration from two unexpected figures for his Hannibal Lecter voice. 

Anthony Hopkins’s iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs featured a voice he described as a blend of Truman Capote and Katharine Hepburn.

26. Warheads candy left everyone with a sour face.

The mascot on Warheads candy, named Wally Warheads, is a lesser-known fact about the tangy treat.

27. Power Rangers faced a ban in New Zealand. 

Despite several Power Rangers series being filmed in New Zealand during the '90s, the show was prohibited there due to its violent content until 2011.

28. Pogs were prohibited in schools nationwide. 

Those small cardboard discs were banned in many schools during the '90s due to concerns they encouraged gambling. Ironically, Pogs held no real value.

29. The Mall of America, a colossal shopping destination, opened in 1992 in Bloomington, Minnesota.

This enormous shopping complex is so vast that seven Yankee Stadiums could fit inside it.

30. Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" was never intended to become a hit.

"Ice Ice Baby" was initially a B-side track and only gained popularity after a Georgia radio DJ played it, possibly by mistake.

31. The bucket hat staged a triumphant return.

In Australia, bucket hats are affectionately called "giggle hats."

32. The Lion King originally featured a full song dedicated to eating bugs.

The 1994 animated movie went on to earn over $950 million globally, so it clearly didn’t suffer from the absence of this song.

33. Fun fact: Young Simba was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

Matthew Broderick provided the voice for the older Simba.

34. Here’s the ultimate '90s fact for you.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas received the first-ever Nickelodeon Kids Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement.

35. eBay debuted in 1995.

The groundbreaking auction platform was initially named AuctionWeb.

36. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was published in 1999.

Stephen Chbosky, the author, was inspired to write the book in its unique format after sending an anonymous letter to a professor who conducted a seminar at USC.

37. Michael Jordan secured six NBA championships in just eight years (1991-1993, 1996-1998).

While Michael Jordan became wealthy through Nike Air Jordans, he initially preferred Adidas. He even presented his Nike contract to Adidas, offering to sign with them if they could match the deal, but they declined.

38. A popular '90s myth to dispel: Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

This myth gained traction during Jordan's championship streak in the '90s, but it’s false. He was, however, placed on the JV team, which in hindsight was likely a misjudgment.

39. Another '90s myth: the Taco Bell Chihuahua ads ended because the dog passed away.

In reality, the ads stopped when everyone collectively agreed they were incredibly irritating.

40. Chuckie from Rugrats was inspired by Devo’s lead singer, Mark Mothersbaugh.

Mothersbaugh also contributed as a composer for the show.

41. The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990.

As reported by the Space Telescope Science Institute, it could maintain its focus on a target with precision equivalent to the width of a human hair viewed from a mile away.

42. Chris Wiggs created Polly Pocket after crafting a dollhouse for his daughter using a powder compact.

Although the toyline launched in the late '80s, it dominated the early '90s.

43. JNCO jeans turned our pant legs into wide canvases (and public spaces into colorful displays).

Graffiti artists played a role in JNCO jeans' popularity—the company enlisted them to paint murals promoting the brand in LA.

44. A dog helped create Jurassic Park's unforgettable roar.

The iconic roar of the T. rex in Jurassic Park was created by slowing down a recording of a Jack Russell terrier playing with a rope.

45. Carmen Sandiego has a complete name. 

Her middle name is Isabella, so we know her identity—but her location remains a mystery.

46. Pepsi experimented with nearly 3,000 versions of Crystal Pepsi, yet it still fell short.

Despite all the effort, the drink debuted in 1992 and was discontinued by 1994.

47. Britney Spears's cousin starred as her love interest in the "Baby One More Time" music video.

Cousin Chad had his moment of fame in the video that catapulted Britney Spears to stardom.

48. The 1998 "Hamster Dance" website is still active. 

Deidre LaCarte, an art student, launched the Hamster Dance website in 1998 to boost traffic to her site.

49. In 1997, Tickle Me Elmo dolls were resold online for as much as $1500.

Originally priced at $30, the must-have toy of the 1997 holiday season quickly became a scalper’s goldmine.

50. Saved by the Bell began as a series about an Indianapolis teacher titled Good Morning, Miss Bliss.

In 1989, it was revamped into the beloved show that continues to air in reruns today.

51. Tara Lipinski began her athletic career as a roller skater before transitioning to ice skating.

She later achieved gold medal glory at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

52. Upon its release in 1992, the Hummer weighed a hefty 10,000 pounds and had a fuel efficiency of less than 10 miles per gallon.

Today, electric versions of the Hummer are in development.

53. Another iconic 1992 creation: light-up sneakers.

LA Gear moved approximately 5 million pairs each year during its initial launch period.

54. The Matrix was a risky venture for Warner Bros. 

Warner Bros. executives were hesitant about The Matrix, given that the Wachowskis were relatively unknown. To persuade the studio, they created a 600-page storyboard detailing every shot. The film eventually earned over $450 million.

55. Mattel took legal action against MCA Records over Aqua’s song "Barbie Girl," alleging copyright infringement.

The case reached the U.S. Court of Appeals, where Judge Alex Kozinski famously advised both parties to “chill.”

56. Psychic Uri Geller filed a lawsuit against Pokémon.

Uri Geller claimed the Pokémon character Kadabra, known for bending spoons with his mind, was based on him. The character has since been discontinued.

57. R.L. Stine had already established himself before creating the Goosebumps series.

He also authored novelizations for Spaceballs and Ghostbusters 2.

58. The toy Bop It drew inspiration from the games Simon and Whack-a-Mole.

Decades later, you can still purchase it on Amazon. 

59. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Has a Real ZIP Code.

Sabrina, the teenage witch, resides in the fictional town of Westbridge, but its ZIP Code matches that of Salem, Massachusetts. Her address, 133 Collins Road, is the same as in Dark Shadows. Interestingly, her cat is also named Salem.

60. The Thighmaster was created by Joshua Reynolds, an heir to the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company.

He is also credited with inventing the mood ring.

61. Speaking of innovators: The '90s boy band Hanson now has its own beer brand named mmmHops.

Naturally, now that all the members are of legal drinking age.

62. 80 crew members working on the movie Titanic fell ill on the same day.

Some were hospitalized after experiencing hallucinations. The cause was traced back to PCP-laced lobster chowder.

63. The creator of Budweiser's "Whassup" ads has been revealed. 

Justin Reardon devised the iconic "Whassup" Budweiser commercial. As a reward, the company gave him a $250 bonus and a baseball bat inscribed with something like, 'Way to go, slugger!'

64. Nirvana dropped Nevermind, earning praise from Metallica. (Though Lars still has his gripes ... about something.)

Nirvana once received a fax that read: “We really dig Nirvana. Nevermind is the best album of the year. Let's get together soon, love, Metallica. P.S., Lars hates the band." It’s unclear if the band Lars hated was Metallica or Nirvana, but either way, it’s probably true.

65. The first Google server’s storage rack was constructed using Legos.

Today, the company generates over $100 billion annually.

66. The character Doug Funnie first appeared in Florida grapefruit juice commercials.

It took two more years before the character debuted on Nickelodeon in Doug. 

67. Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker, demonstrated the water gun during a meeting with the president of Larami toy company.

Johnson also worked as an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

68. The Macarena even made its way to the Democratic National Convention.

The Macarena was so widely loved during the 1996 Democratic National Convention that Al Gore joked: “And if I could have your silence, I would like to demonstrate for you the Al Gore version of the Macarena,” before standing completely still.

69. The Magic School Bus Was Designed to Keep Young Girls and Minorities Engaged in Science. 

Deborah Forte, a producer at Scholastic Entertainment, revealed that the Magic School Bus TV show was created after discovering that many girls and minorities were losing interest in science at a young age.

70. In the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the SEGA logo and its accompanying sound at the start consumed 1/8 of the game cartridge’s memory.

Totally worth it.

71. Amy Heckerling, the writer and director of Clueless, attended high school classes to capture authentic teen dialogue.

Her efforts paid off, as Clueless earned over $50 million at the box office. 

72. Hermione Granger’s last name was nearly Puckle.

Hey Puckle, we couldn’t help but notice your initials are H.P.

73. Coca-Cola introduced Surge to rival Mountain Dew.

During its development, employees referred to it as "Mountain Dew Killer."

74. The princess Beanie Baby generated over $15 million for the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

Today, they sell for more than $10,000 on eBay. 

75. David Lynch and Mark Frost once attempted to create a biopic about Marilyn Monroe.

Although that project didn’t materialize, they went on to create Twin Peaks, which also revolves around a beloved blonde who died young, uncovering hidden secrets.

76. 32 percent of the original iMacs were purchased by first-time computer buyers.

The original iMac model was released on August 15, 1998.

77. Mike Myers was inspired to create Austin Powers after hearing Dusty Springfield’s song, "The Look of Love."

The 1997 film Austin Powers earned over $50 million against a $16 million budget. Its sequel, 1999's The Spy Who Shagged Me, grossed more than $300 million globally. 

78. Destiny's Child was initially named Girls Tyme.

Their debut album was released on February 17, 1998.

79. Bridget Jones first appeared in a newspaper column in The Independent.

The first book, Bridget Jones's Diary, was published in 1996. 

80. The most iconic slogan in beverage history is "Got Milk?"

Remember the "Alexander Hamilton" ad for the "Got Milk?" campaign? It was directed by Michael Bay. 

81. Will Smith anticipated that people would forever associate him with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air character, so he named the character Will Smith.

And yes, we still refer to him that way.

82. During high school, Tupac’s friend was accidentally shot while handling a gun.

Tupac responded by writing his first rap, which focused on gun control.

83. 1991's My Girl made Macaulay Culkin the first child actor to earn $1 million for a movie.

Home Alone 2 earned him $4.5 million just a year later. 

84. During its development, the Nintendo 64 was codenamed "Project Reality."

Its planned final name was the "Ultra 64," and it was referenced as such until just a few months before its release. 

85. In 1997, a band named Kara’s Flowers performed on Beverly Hills 90210. 

They are now known as Maroon 5.

86. Simon Cowell wanted to sign the Spice Girls back in the day, but he approached them too late.

He considers this his greatest regret.

87. Marilyn Manson initially performed alongside friends like Madonna, Wayne Gacy, and Olivia Newton Bundy.

For what it’s worth.

88. The name Tamagotchi is derived from the Japanese words for egg and friend.

These items are still widely available if you’re craving a nostalgic experience.

89. Lois Lowry penned The Giver as her father began to lose his memory.

The book has since sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

90. The United States invested approximately $100 billion preparing for Y2K.

And here we are, still alive to discuss it.

For more fascinating insights about the '90s, watch our dedicated video on the subject: