Nelson Mandela is released
After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela walks free in South Africa, one of the defining news moments of the decade.
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The 90s timeline: every big moment, 1990–2000
Scroll through 88 defining moments of the decade, from slap bracelets to Y2K. Filter by topic, jump to any year, or let us surprise you. Every moment links to a full guide.
- 11 years
- 88 moments
- 6 topics
1990
Neon leftovers, turtle mania and the first hints of a new decade.
What was popular in 1990 →-
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Turtles take over the box office
A live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie arrives and turtle toys, cereal and lunchboxes are everywhere.
Go deeper: Popular 90s toys
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The Hubble Space Telescope launches
NASA puts Hubble into orbit, beginning decades of stunning space images.
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Slap bracelets snap onto every wrist
The fabric-covered metal bands become a schoolyard craze, and many schools ban them.
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premieres
A West Philadelphia teen moves in with his rich relatives and a sitcom classic is born.
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Germany reunifies
East and West Germany officially become one country again.
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Home Alone opens
A boy accidentally left behind for the holidays becomes one of the biggest comedies ever.
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"Ice Ice Baby" tops the charts
Vanilla Ice scores a number-one hit that still fills dance floors at 90s parties.
Go deeper: 90s party songs
1991
The year grunge broke and the 16-bit console war began.
What was popular in 1991 →-
The Gulf War
A US-led coalition fights in the Gulf War, broadcast live on 24-hour news.
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Sonic the Hedgehog speeds onto the Genesis
Sega's blue mascot launches and gives Nintendo a real rival.
Go deeper: Best Sega Genesis games
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The Super Nintendo launches in North America
Super Mario World comes in the box, kicking off a golden age of 2D games.
Go deeper: Best SNES games
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The first three Nicktoons premiere
Doug, Rugrats and The Ren & Stimpy Show debut on the same day.
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The World Wide Web goes public
The web becomes publicly available, quietly changing everything.
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Nevermind is released
A Seattle band's second album takes grunge, and flannel, mainstream.
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Fruit snacks get wild
Liquid-center fruit snacks and three-foot fruit tape land in lunchboxes.
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The Soviet Union dissolves
The USSR officially ends, closing the Cold War era.
1992
Hip hop rewrites fashion and kids get a 24-hour cartoon channel.
What was popular in 1992 →-
Baggy hip hop style goes national
Oversized jeans, big logos and clothes worn backwards spread from city streets to every mall.
Go deeper: 90s hip hop fashion
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The "Dream Team" plays in Barcelona
NBA superstars play at the Olympics for the first time.
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Batman: The Animated Series premieres
A dark, stylish Batman sets a new standard for superhero cartoons.
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Cartoon Network launches
A channel showing cartoons around the clock goes on the air on October 1.
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X-Men debuts on Saturday mornings
Its dramatic theme becomes one of the decade's most famous intros.
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Aladdin opens
A street-smart hero and a wisecracking genie become a massive animated hit.
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The Talkboy becomes a must-have
A holiday movie sequel turns a cassette voice recorder into the gift of the season.
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The first text message is sent
A short holiday greeting becomes the first SMS ever sent.
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1993
Dinosaurs, Power Rangers and the start of the collecting craze.
What was popular in 1993 →-
Beanie Babies debut
Small bean-filled plush animals appear and later spark a collecting frenzy.
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Jurassic Park opens
Cloned dinosaurs become the highest-grossing film in the world at the time.
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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premieres
Teen heroes in colorful suits take over Saturday mornings and toy aisles.
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Magic: The Gathering launches
A fantasy trading card game starts a whole new hobby.
Go deeper: Vintage pokemon cards worth money
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Myst arrives on CD-ROM
A calm puzzle adventure helps sell CD-ROM drives to families.
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"Got Milk?" begins
A two-word question becomes one of the most famous ad campaigns ever.
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Magic Eye posters appear in every mall
People stare at colorful patterns trying to see the hidden 3D picture.
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Doom is released
The first-person shooter that defined a genre and launched modding.
Go deeper: 90s PC games
1994
Minimalism, Friends and the web gets its first big browser.
What was popular in 1994 →-
Minimalism takes over
Slip dresses, neutrals and clean lines replace 80s excess.
Go deeper: 90s minimalist fashion
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A unisex fragrance launches
A clean citrus scent sold to everyone becomes the smell of the decade.
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The Lion King opens
An animated lion cub becomes a worldwide phenomenon.
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The World Cup comes to the US
The FIFA World Cup is played across American cities.
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Friends premieres
Six friends and a coffee shop set hair, fashion and catchphrase trends.
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Pogs reach their peak
Milk caps and slammers take over playgrounds before many schools ban them.
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The Zip drive arrives
100 MB on a removable disk feels enormous.
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PlayStation launches in Japan
Sony's first console begins its journey to the top.
Go deeper: Best PS1 games
1995
Plaid skirt suits, Windows 95 and the first computer-animated film.
What was popular in 1995 →-
Clueless makes plaid iconic
Yellow plaid skirt suits and knee socks become the definition of 90s preppy.
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"The Rachel" haircut takes off
A layered, bouncy cut from a hit sitcom becomes the most requested in salons.
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A legendary running shoe drops
Air-cushioned sneakers become streetwear classics.
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Windows 95 launches
A huge launch brings the Start button and the internet age home.
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PlayStation launches in North America
CD games and grown-up marketing change who plays video games.
Go deeper: Best PS1 games
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Kids' WB launches
A new Saturday morning block brings Pinky and the Brain and more.
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Toy Story opens
The first fully computer-animated feature film is released.
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Online shopping begins
Online auction and shopping sites launch, and buying online starts to feel normal.
Go deeper: Things invented in the 90s
1996
The Macarena, a giggling red monster and 3D gaming at home.
What was popular in 1996 →-
Pokémon launches in Japan
Pocket Monsters Red and Green arrive on Game Boy.
Go deeper: When did pokemon come out in the us
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Dexter's Laboratory premieres
Cartoon Network's first full original series introduces a boy genius.
Go deeper: Dexter's Laboratory characters
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Everybody does the Macarena
The dance spends 14 weeks at number one in the US.
Go deeper: 90s party songs
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Atlanta hosts the Olympics
The Summer Games come to the US.
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Nintendo 64 launches in North America
Super Mario 64 shows the world how 3D games should move.
Go deeper: Best N64 games
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Hey Arnold! premieres
A kid with a football-shaped head becomes a Nicktoons favorite.
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Tickle Me Elmo sells out
Parents line up for the must-have holiday toy.
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Space Jam opens
A basketball legend teams up with cartoon characters.
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1997
Virtual pets, girl power and a ship that broke records.
What was popular in 1997 →-
"Wannabe" tops the US chart
A British girl group makes "girl power" a global catchphrase.
Go deeper: 90s party songs
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Dolly the sheep is announced
Scientists reveal the first cloned mammal.
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Virtual pets arrive in the US
Egg-shaped digital pets become a classroom obsession, then a classroom ban.
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A computer beats the chess champion
IBM's Deep Blue defeats the world chess champion.
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A rover lands on Mars
NASA's Pathfinder lands on Mars on July 4.
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Platform sneakers and butterfly clips
Pop style takes over with chunky soles and tiny clips.
Go deeper: 90s hair accessories
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The class of 1997 graduates
Their 30-year reunion comes up in 2027.
Go deeper: Class of 1997 30 year reunion ideas
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Titanic opens
An epic romance begins a record-breaking run.
Go deeper: What was popular in 1997
1998
Pokémon arrives in America and a fuzzy toy causes holiday chaos.
What was popular in 1998 →-
Windows 98 is released
Home computers get another big upgrade.
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Candy-colored computers arrive
Translucent all-in-one computers make tech a design object.
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Pokémon lands in the US
The anime premieres and Pokémon Red and Blue hit the Game Boy.
Go deeper: Pokemon red and blue differences
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A search engine startup is founded
A company that will reshape the web opens for business.
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A pop princess debuts
"...Baby One More Time" launches a new era of teen pop.
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Game Boy Color launches
Color handheld gaming arrives just in time for Pokémon.
Go deeper: Best 90s Game Boy games
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The Powerpuff Girls premiere
Three superpowered kindergartners save Townsville.
Go deeper: Powerpuff Girls characters
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Furby mania
The talking, blinking toy is the hit of the holidays.
Go deeper: How to fix a Furby that won't turn on
1999
Pokémania, boy bands and the countdown to Y2K.
What was popular in 1999 →-
Pokémon cards launch in English
The trading card game takes over schools, and some schools ban it.
Go deeper: Vintage pokemon cards worth money
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The Matrix opens
Bullet time redefines action movies.
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Pokémon Snap arrives on N64
Players photograph Pokémon instead of catching them.
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File sharing changes music
A peer-to-peer music service launches and the music industry shifts.
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Dreamcast launches on 9/9/99
Sega's last console brings online play to living rooms.
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Pokémon Yellow is released
Pikachu follows you around, just like in the cartoon.
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Pokémon: The First Movie opens
Moviegoers get exclusive promo cards.
Go deeper: Original pokemon anime
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The world prepares for Y2K
Businesses and governments brace for computer failures at midnight.
Go deeper: What was popular in 2000
2000
The millennium arrives, scooters roll and a new console generation begins.
What was popular in 2000 →-
Y2K passes quietly
The feared computer collapse never happens.
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The dot-com bubble starts to burst
Internet stocks fall sharply after years of hype.
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Survivor premieres
Reality TV becomes a primetime phenomenon.
Go deeper: 90s kids TV shows
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Low-rise jeans take over
The waistline drops as the decade turns.
Go deeper: 90s jeans styles
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Scooters roll down every sidewalk
Foldable kick scooters become the must-have ride.
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Pokémon Gold and Silver arrive
New Pokémon and a new region reach North America.
Go deeper: Original 151 pokemon list
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PlayStation 2 launches in North America
A new generation of consoles begins.
Go deeper: Best PS1 games
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Boy bands rule the charts
Pop groups dominate radio as the decade closes.
Go deeper: 90s trends coming back in 2027
That's the decade! Keep rewinding with our year-by-year guides, the 90s sticker book or the biggest 90s trends.
Frequently asked questions
What were the biggest events of the 90s?
Major 90s events included the release of Nelson Mandela (1990), the public World Wide Web (1991), the end of the Soviet Union (1991), the launch of the PlayStation and Windows 95 (1995), the first cloned mammal (1997), Pokémon's arrival in the US (1998) and the Y2K countdown (1999).
What were the biggest pop culture moments of the 90s?
Grunge going mainstream, Friends, the Macarena, the Spice Girls, Tickle Me Elmo, virtual pets, Titanic, Pokémon and Furby are among the decade's biggest pop culture moments.
How do I use the 90s timeline?
Scroll from 1990 to 2000, tap a year to jump straight to it, or filter by topic to see only fashion, toys, games, TV, music or world events. "Surprise me" jumps to a random moment.
Is 2000 part of the 90s?
Strictly, the 1990s run from 1990 to 1999, but we include 2000 because many late-90s trends carried into it.
Can I link to a specific moment?
Yes. Every moment has its own anchor, and topic filters update the page address so you can share a filtered view.