Despite these characters being among the most memorable of 1990s movies, we never got to see them again. The ’90s saw a rise in Hollywood’s franchise filmmaking, with a number of mᴀssive film series beginning in this decade, including the Jurᴀssic Park movies and the Mission: Impossible installments, which continue to this day.
There were also iconic characters who were introduced into cinema history in some classic ’90s movies that ended up being revisited in several different projects, including Hannibal Lecter and Candyman. However, there are some ’90s movie characters that made their mark, but never again appeared in a sequel, prequel, or remake, leaving their only appearance behind to be remembered by.
10
Rose DeWitt – тιтanic (1997)
Played By Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet made herself a household name thanks to her performance as Rose in тιтanic. While Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) was key to Rose’s story, her arc and character allowed her to stand on her own as a terrific creation, regardless of the romance. Also, she was sadly the only one of the two of them to survive.
Rose was a tragic character in the beginning, but gradually found her own strength, independence, and resilience, even in the midst of such a terrifying situation. You might think that the highest-grossing movie of the 1990s would lead to a franchise for Rose, but тιтanic didn’t really leave a lot of avenues for more stories.
Rose’s life after тιтanic was a rich one, and it might have been something special to see the woman she became. However, with the older Rose dying at the end of the story and reuniting with Jack, it made for an ideal ending for her.
9
Jack Skellington – The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Played By Chris Sarandon
The 1990s saw a number of animated movies give birth to their own franchises, from The Lion King to Toy Story. The Nightmare Before Christmas was one of the few successful animated movies of the decade that never received any follow-up. As such, fans have only got to enjoy Jack Skellington once.
Jack is a lively protagonist for the strange and entertaining holiday story. Despite the wondrous world he lives in, he is struck with a very relatable dilemma of growing stale doing the same thing over and over. His desire to step outside his comfort zone is admirable, even if it doesn’t go well.
The Nightmare Before Christmas‘ various holiday towns, including ones for Thanksgiving and Easter, seem to set the stage for a perfect sequel. However, more than 30 years later, there has been no indication that the character will ever return for more adventures, though Jack Skellington did pop up in the background of a few films.
8
Red – The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Played By Morgan Freeman
The Shawshank Redemption may have been a flop when it was originally released, but before the 1990s were over, it was recognized as a masterpiece and remains beloved to this day. One of the standout aspects of the movie is the character of Red (Morgan Freeman), who gradually becomes the movie’s main character.
According to himself, Red is Shawshank’s only guilty inmate, immediately making him an intriguing character in the story. While his friendship with Andy (Tim Robbins) is deeply moving, it is meaningful watching Red’s own journey of coming to terms with his guilt and embracing hope for the first time in years.
The Shawshank Redemption delivers a pitch-perfect ending as Red and Andy reunite as free men on a tropical beach, never needing a sequel to give us more. However, it would be nice to just spend some time with these old friends living in paradise together, and Red getting the happiness he denied himself for so long.
7
Vivian Ward – Pretty Woman (1990)
Played By Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts became one of the biggest stars of the 1990s, and that all started with her breakout role in Pretty Woman. Looking back on the acclaimed rom-com, it does feel like a big risk with Roberts playing Vivian Ward, the Sєx worker with a heart of gold, but Roberts’ performance is a big reason it works.
Vivian is a vibrant and fun personality, allowing the audience to quickly fall in love with her. It is also her line of work that makes her so intriguing, as she has her own aspirations, but she is also not willing to be looked down upon by others.
Despite being one of the biggest film stars of all time, Roberts doesn’t typically appear in sequels, save for the Ocean’s movies. However, if there was one role that fans would likely want to see her return to again, it would have to be this star-making character that created a new type of rom-com leading lady.
6
Marge Gunderson – Fargo (1996)
Played By Frances McDormand
The Coen Brothers’ Fargo is a subversive crime story to come out of the 1990s, and Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) is a big reason why. Only introduced in the second act of the story, Marge comfortably takes over as the main character, providing a pleasant and friendly disposition among the bloodshed.
McDormand won an Oscar for her performance that brilliantly brings this complicated character to life. She is hilarious and warm, but McDormand always keeps her grounded and never cartoonish. Her reaction to the grisly aftermath of the crimes is oddly heartbreaking, like a mother who is disappointed in a child.
Marge nearly appeared again, with a planned TV series starring Edie Falco that never aired. Similarly, the Fargo series, which has become a critical hit, features many characters obviously inspired by Marge. However, she remains untouched as a completely original movie hero.
5
Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire – Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Played By Robin Williams
Robin Williams was one of the greatest comedic actors of all time, but it is hard to top what he did with the character of Mrs. Doubtfire. In actuality, Daniel Hillard is the character Williams is playing, a desperate divorced father who pretends to be a Scottish nanny in order to spend time with his kids.
There are certainly a lot of hilarious antics with Williams dressed as this kindly old lady, but it is shocking how transformative the actor is in the role. With the sweetness and whimsical nature of Mrs. Doubtfire, there are times when you will forget that it is Williams underneath all of that makeup.
Mrs. Doubtfire is one of the defining movies of Robin Williams’ career, and there were discussions of a sequel various times when he was still alive. However, once he died, it became clear a sequel would be impossible as no one could replace him in the role.
4
Jules Winnfield – Pulp Fiction (1994)
Played By Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson announced himself as a star in Hollywood with his stunning performance as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. The role was the perfect marriage of script and actor as Jackson proved no one could deliver Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue quite as effectively as him.
Jules is a character who embodies the subversive way Tarantino approaches the crime genre. This hitman, who leaves behind his life of violence after seemingly witnessing a miracle, is a fascinating creation. From the early scenes of him ruthlessly confronting his targets to his final scene showing mercy to some thieves, it shows a brilliant evolution.
There were rumors that Tarantino’s canceled movie The Movie Critic would have featured a cameo from Jules. Indeed, with him ending Pulp Fiction with the promise that he is simply going to “walk the Earth,” it set up an enticing prospect of further Jules Winnfield adventures.
3
The Dude – The Big Lebowski (1998)
Played By Jeff Bridges
The cast of The Big Lebowski is filled with colorful characters, but it is The Dude (Jeff Bridges) who has become an icon in his own right. This middle-aged stoner shuffles through the movie, sipping on White Russians and accidentally stumbling into a kidnapping case. However, as clueless as he is, there is something enviable about the man.
Though Bridges was known as a dramatic actor for the most part, he delivers a tour-de-force comedic performance, so embodying the character of The Dude that every line and mannerism feels authentic. He makes it a joy to hang out with this guy, and that sentiment has lasted over the years.
The Dude has since become something of a Zen icon for people, with “The Dude abides” being used as a mantra for people. However, this cult following never led to any more appearances from the beloved stoner.
2
Tyler Durden – Fight Club (1999)
Played By Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt delivered his most iconic character in Fight Club as the enigmatic and destructive Tyler Durden. Though the twist ultimately reveals that Tyler is a figment of the Narrator’s (Edward Norton) mind, he is still more captivating than most real characters.
Tyler steps into the movie as one of the most fascinating people in the world, and learning more about his outlook on life and society only becomes more interesting. When it becomes clear that Tyler is actually the villain of the story, it takes nothing away from his alluring nature.
The ending of Fight Club does seemingly leave Tyler ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, but since he wasn’t alive in the first place, it is certainly possible that he could return. Author Chuck Palinuk did write a sequel to his original Fight Club novel, but there have been no attempts to adapt it yet.
1
Forrest Gump – Forrest Gump (1994)
Played By Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks won his second Oscar and created one of the most endearing movie characters of all time with Forrest Gump. While there are many who dismiss the film now as being oversentimental and criticize the character of Forrest Gump for being problematic, it is still hard not to get swept up in his story.
Regardless of the merits of the criticisms, Hanks’ performance avoids making Forrest the ʙuтт of the joke. He is a simple man, but he understands emotions and his own feelings while also knowing that the experiences he had in life are special.
It is not surprising that there were attempts at a Forrest Gump sequel in the past, but it is wise that Hanks and the creative team ultimately decided not to go down that road. It is not likely that Forrest would work outside of that original movie, but it remains a classic that still captures him as a lovable cinema character.
