The 1990s saw the rise of a new generation of actors in addition to featuring stellar performances from seasoned actors who came up throughout the '80s. By the close of the decade, the '90s had cemented itself as a golden decade in cinema history. Spanning numerous genres and styles, the actors in these films came to transcend the projects they were in and became the most popular actors of the '90s.

9 Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack
Paramount Pictures

Before he was the acclaimed Oscar-winning actor we know him as today, Leonardo DiCaprio was gaining traction as an exceptional worker throughout the '90s. Getting his mainstream start on the hit series Growing Pains in the early 90s, he would go on to star in some of the biggest films of the decade. From What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Romeo + Juliet, and the mega-hit Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio left his mark on the decade and sprinted into the millennium as one of the best actors working in Hollywood and has an impressive resume of films to his credit.

8 Robin Williams

williams-mrs-doubtfire-1993-20th-century-fox
20th Century Fox

Robin Williams remains one of the funniest humans to ever walk the planet, and his slate of films throughout the '90s is as strong as any actors in any decade. As a uniquely expressive actor, Williams would stretch his talents in numerous different mediums throughout these films. From his family-friendly roles in movies such as Aladdin, Jumanji, and Hook. To more mature films like The Birdcage, as well as dramatic roles in Good Will Hunting and Patch Adams. The late great Robin Williams was undoubtedly one of the most popular actors of the '90s and beyond.

7 Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage in Con Air
Buena Vista Pictures

Nicolas Cage may never enjoy the kind of popularity he has had throughout the 2010s and 2020s, but the 1990s came close. Some of his best work was done throughout this decade, and it made him one of the most popular actors in the business. Con Air, Face/Off, Leaving Los Vegas, and The Rock were some of his most noteworthy roles with a well-balanced stint in the romantic genre with City of Angels. There may never again be a time when Nicolas Cage is not popular, but the 1990s started it all.

Related: 10 Underrated Nicolas Cage Movies Nobody Talks About

6 Eddie Murphy

The Nutty Professor Eddie Murphy
Universal Pictures

It was in the 1980s when Eddie Murphy burst onto the comedy scene on both stage and screen. However, the '90s is what broadened Murphy's work to a larger audience and propelled his popularity into the stratosphere. While Murphy had been known in the 80s for his hilarious yet mature roles, his run in the 1990s saw more family-friendly performances. The Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle, and Mulan opened up his work to a wider audience.

5 Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt in Se7en
New Line Cinema

Kicking off the '90s as heartthrob J.D. in Thelma & Louise, Brad Pitt hit the ground running and hasn't stopped. Whether he was a blood-sucking pretty boy in Interview with a Vampire, a hard-nosed cop hunting down a serial killer in Se7en, or the bruised face alter ego Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Pitt enjoyed popularity as an actor in the '90s due to his unique roles and a penchant for knocking them out of the park.

4 Arnold Schwarzenegger

Jingle All the Way 1996
20th Century Studios

Another actor on this list who rose to fame in the '80s, but boosted his popularity in the '90s, is Arnold Schwarzenegger. This decade saw him star in arguably the best sequel ever made, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and the action thriller True Lies. Much like Eddie Murphy, Schwarzenegger gained popularity among families and kids with roles in Kindergarten Cop and the classic Christmas movie Jingle All the Way.

Related: The 16 Most Essential Arnold Schwarzenegger Moments in Movies, Ranked

3 Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
Universal Pictures

Adam Sandler was one of the few actors who owned the '90s comedy scene. Not only was he delighting audiences on Saturday Night Live, but on the big screen as well. Although his comedy began to grow stale throughout the mid to late 2000s, some of his best and most popular work in film was done throughout the '90s. Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and The Wedding Singer, were some of the biggest comedy hits of the decade and helped Sandler become one of the most popular actors.

2 Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump
Paramount Pictures

Tom Hanks enjoyed more success throughout the '90s than most actors achieved in their entire career. Not only did he stand out in lesser-known films like, That Thing You Do and Joe Versus the Volcano. He also earned three Oscar nominations throughout the decade, two of which he won. Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Apollo 13, and the greatest war film of the '90s, Saving Private Ryan. With his popularity at an all-time high halfway through the decade, he helped to bring us Woody in the classic animated film Toy Story.

1 Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey
Paramount Pictures

1994 saw Jim Carrey's mainstream film debut, and it very well could go down as one of the best freshman years of any actor's career. In a year span, Carrey starred in Ace Venture: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. Before the turn of a new millennium, Carrey had put Hollywood on notice that he was a force. In 1994 his feet hit the ground, and he was off and running, changing comedy forever.