What were the 1990s known for?
The 1990s are remembered for moments like these: 1991, Nirvana releases Nevermind; 1993, Jurassic Park opens; 1994, Friends premieres on NBC; 1995, The PlayStation launches in North America; 1996, Bandai releases the Tamagotchi; and 1998, Furby becomes the must-have toy. Scroll the timeline below for more, year by year.
The ’90s, one year at a time.
Swipe through 16 moments we still talk about. Think you know your ’90s? Hide the years and guess.
- TVSeptember 101990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premieres on NBC.
Now this is a story all about how.
Play the ’90s quiz → - Music1991
Nirvana releases Nevermind.
Flannel season.
Shop the cassette tee → - Gadgets1991
The World Wide Web opens to the public.
Please hold while we dial up.
Read: Vintage gadgets → - Movies1993
Jurassic Park opens, based on Michael Crichton’s novel.
Life finds a way.
Born in 1993? See your year → - TV1994
Friends premieres on NBC.
Could we BE any more nostalgic?
Play the ’90s quiz → - Games1994
Sony’s PlayStation launches in Japan.
Press start.
Shop the Game Over tee → - Toys1995
Pixar’s Toy Story becomes the first entirely computer-animated feature film.
To infinity and beyond!
Read: Timeless toys → - GadgetsAugust 241995
Microsoft releases Windows 95.
Start me up.
Read: Vintage gadgets → - Toys1996
Bandai releases the Tamagotchi.
Don’t forget to feed it.
Born in 1996? See your year → - Games1996
Pokémon Red and Green come out in Japan.
Gotta catch ’em all.
Shop the Insert Coin tee → - GamesJune 231996
The Nintendo 64 launches in Japan.
Four controllers, one couch.
Born in 1996? See your year → - Sci-fiJune 261997
The first Harry Potter book is published.
Your letter is still on its way.
Born in 1997? See your year → - Toys1998
Tiger Electronics launches Furby.
Who else hid theirs in a closet?
Read: Timeless toys → - GadgetsSeptember 41998
Google is founded.
Ask Jeeves who?
Read: Vintage gadgets → - MoviesMarch 311999
The Matrix opens in theaters.
Red pill or blue pill?
Born in 1999? See your year → - TVMay 11999
SpongeBob SquarePants premieres on Nickelodeon.
Are ya ready, kids?
Born in 1999? See your year → - Every year, 1990 to 1999 →
- Keep the time machine runningNext stop: the ’50sFlip through the ’50s →Or test yourself on the ’90s →
Swipe for more →
Sources: each moment is checked against its Wikipedia article. Costs: US first-class postage history and the US Department of Labor minimum wage chart.
Pick a lane.
Most influential people
Michael Jordan
Won six NBA titles with the Bulls in the ’90s.
Tom Hanks
Won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.
Mariah Carey
Released her debut album in 1990.
Tiger Woods
Won the 1997 Masters at 21.
Spice Girls
Released “Wannabe” in 1996.
TV and game shows
Seinfeld
Ran from 1989 to 1998.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Premiered September 10, 1990 on NBC.
Rugrats
Premiered in 1991 on Nickelodeon.
Friends
Premiered September 22, 1994 on NBC.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The US version premiered in 1999.
Music and top hits
Billboard year-end No. 1 single for each year.
“Hold On”
Wilson Phillips
“(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”
Bryan Adams
“End of the Road”
Boyz II Men
“I Will Always Love You”
Whitney Houston
“The Sign”
Ace of Base
“Gangsta's Paradise”
Coolio featuring L.V.
“Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
Los del Río
“Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
Elton John
“Too Close”
Next
“Believe”
Cher
Movies
Rank 1 in each year’s box office list.
Ghost
No. 1 at the box office
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
No. 1 at the box office
Aladdin
No. 1 at the box office
Jurassic Park
No. 1 at the box office
The Lion King
No. 1 at the box office
Die Hard with a Vengeance
No. 1 at the box office
Independence Day
No. 1 at the box office
Titanic
No. 1 at the box office
Armageddon
No. 1 at the box office
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
No. 1 at the box office
Cars
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Arrived for the 1990 model year.
Ford Explorer
Arrived for the 1991 model year.
Toyota Prius
Went on sale in Japan in 1997.
Volkswagen New Beetle
Arrived in 1998.
Toys and games
Beanie Babies
Ty introduced them in 1993.
Tamagotchi
Bandai released it in 1996.
Tickle Me Elmo
The 1996 holiday craze.
Pokémon
Red and Green came out in Japan in 1996.
Furby
Tiger Electronics launched it in 1998.
Fashion
Flannel and grunge
Layers, ripped jeans and boots.
Scrunchies
One on every wrist.
Overalls
One strap down, of course.
Slap bracelets
Snap, wrap, done.
Food and diner
Crystal Pepsi
The clear cola arrived in 1992.
Stuffed Crust pizza
Pizza Hut launched it in 1995.
Frappuccino
Starbucks began selling it in 1995.
Sports
Bulls dynasty
Six NBA titles between 1991 and 1998.
Cal Ripken Jr.
Broke Lou Gehrig’s streak on September 6, 1995.
Tiger at the Masters
Won by 12 strokes in 1997.
US women win the World Cup
Won the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup on penalties.
Tech and gadgets
World Wide Web
Opened to the public in 1991.
Windows 95
Released August 24, 1995.
PalmPilot
The pocket organizer arrived in 1996.
DVD
Went on sale in the US in 1997.
Founded September 4, 1998.
What it cost back then
Stamp and wage on January 1 of each year.
| Year | Stamp | Minimum wage | Gas, per gallon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25¢ | $3.35 | not tracked yet |
| 1991 | 25¢ | $3.80 | not tracked yet |
| 1992 | 29¢ | $4.25 | $1.09 |
| 1993 | 29¢ | $4.25 | $1.07 |
| 1994 | 29¢ | $4.25 | $1.07 |
| 1995 | 32¢ | $4.25 | $1.11 |
| 1996 | 32¢ | $4.25 | $1.20 |
| 1997 | 32¢ | $4.75 | $1.20 |
| 1998 | 32¢ | $5.15 | $1.03 |
| 1999 | 32¢ | $5.15 | $1.14 |
Then vs now: a stamp is 82¢ today (since July 12, 2026) and the federal minimum wage is $7.25. Gas averaged $3.10 a gallon in 2025.
See what everything cost the year you were born →Sources: Wikipedia, Billboard year-end charts, USPS postage history, US Department of Labor and US EIA.
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