9 Best Movie Sing-A-Longs From The '90s

What's better than a movie moment sing-a-long? Nothing, that's what. At least nothing that I've ever heard of. I'm not talking about musical movies with soundtracks written by Elton John either (so sadly, there will be no The Lion King songs on this list). I mean in movies where the characters unexpectedly break into song that isn't necessarily part of the story, just part of a great scene. These scenes and songs became iconic, and the '90s movie sing-a-longs we remember and love stoke the fire of our nostalgia with their melodies.

I feel like I should warn you: by the end of this list you're going to have songs stuck in your head you might have forgotten about. You might also be inspired to stay in all weekend and binge watch '90s movies. I take full and happy responsibility for this, because after all, there are worse things you can do with your weekend than revisit your favorite decade in cinema. Nineties movie nostalgia is something really unique — they don't make movies quite the same way anymore. That is to say, they don't make movies with simple plots, record stores and meandering conversations. Here are some of the best movie sing-a-longs from the '90s to inspire you.

1. Empire Records (1995), "Seems" by Queen Sarah Saturday

If you aspired to work in a record store when you were a kid in the '90s, it was probably because of Empire Records, and no one blames you. Empire Records is a '90s classic. There's plenty of music in the film ("Oh Rexy, you're so sexy!") but one of the best sing-a-longs happens when the Empire gang is opening the store and while singing to "Seems" by Queen Sarah Saturday. It makes aimless youth look so, so cool.

2. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), "Say A Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin

At some point in the '90s all you wanted to do was burst into song with your friends and family at a group meal. Bonus points for getting the rest of the restaurant to join in too. The sing-a-long scene in My Best Friend's Wedding to "Say A Little Prayer" was an instant classic, and still the version we think of when we think of Aretha Franklin's iconic song.

3. Now & Then (1995), "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando & Dawn

Friendship never looked sweeter than it did in Now & Then. It was also probably the first time you and your friends, as kids, assigned each other characters based on personality. I was a Samantha, if you were curious (although I always sort of wished I was a Teeny). The bike scene where the girls sing "Knock Three Times" is what childhood dreams are made of.

4. Wayne's World (1992), "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

It's not just "Bohemian Rhapsody", the ultimate sing-a-long song EVER, it's "Bohemian Rhapsody" ON TAPE. It doesn't get much more '90s than that. If you've ever been with friends with "Bohemian Rhapsody" comes on the speaker, then you'll know it's impossible not to drop everything and immediately start singing. And head banging during the instrumental breakdown, of course.

5. Clueless (1995), "Rollin' With My Homies" by Coolio

There's no more iconic scene from the '90s than when Tai (Brittany Murphy) gets knocked out and Elton (Jeremy Sisto) brings her back to life with an adorable rendition of "Rollin' With My Homies" in Clueless.

6. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" by Frankie Valli

By the end of the '90s I was deep into horny teenage-hood, and all my romantic dreams revolved around Heath Ledger singing Frankie Valli songs to me at school in a proclamation of love. After seeing him singing "Can't Take My Eyes For You," there probably wasn't a teenager who wasn't instantly head over heels. In fact, I think most of us are still swooning now.

7. Mermaids (1990), "If You Wanna Be Happy" by Jimmy Soul

There's nothing more heartwarming, and nothing that will make you want to call your mom more than the scene at the end of Mermaids when Cher and tiny Christina Ricci and medium Wynona Ryder dance to "If You Wanna Be Happy". Cue all the feels.

8. Practical Magic (1998), "Put The Lime In The Coconut" by Harry Nilsson

Speaking of familial spontaneous song/dance break outs, the midnight margaritas and sing-a-long to "Put The Lime In The Coconut" in Practical Magic is, well, magic. That, and Sandra Bullock is the Queen of '90s movies.

9. Spice World (1997), "My Boy Lollipop" by Millie Smalls

I'm including this because the impromptu sing-a-long isn't actually to a Spice Girls song. It's to Millie Small's "My Boy Lollipop", and as a teen in the '90s, the boat scene in Spice World made me dream of one day winning a competition to meet the Spice Girls. I still have that dream.

Images: New Line Cinemas