40 Vintage Photos of the Early 1990s That Capture the Era

Last Updated on May 16, 2025 by Colby Droscher

These vintage photos of the early 1990s are caught somewhere between the laid-back charm of the ’80s and the fast-paced digital future ahead. It was an era when flannel shirts and combat boots ruled fashion, music videos were still a daily ritual, and people actually talked on landline phones.

There’s a certain magic in looking back at a time that wasn’t so long ago, yet feels like another world entirely. The grain of the film, the mix of awkwardness and confidence, the sense that people were just beginning to step into something new. It all adds up to a nostalgic trip worth taking. Here are 40 vintage photos of the early ’90s.

1. The adult cast of IT, 1990

Seven adults stand on a wooden staircase, posing seriously, with a menacing clown in a red wig and white makeup looming behind them against wooden paneling. — seraphenigma

Rest in peace, Harry and John.

2. Desert Storm, 1990

A soldier in camouflage carries a sousaphone and a rifle, surrounded by other armed soldiers in a desert military camp with tents and vehicles in the background. — express-steak5950

This soldier of the 1st Armoured Division is carrying his sousaphone and an M-60.

3. Arguably two of the greatest comedians of all time, 1990

Two men stand side by side. The man on the left has a beard and is holding a red jacket and a flower lei. The man on the right has gray hair, a beard, and is wearing a red sweatshirt with a graphic print. — ramblingamblinwillie

Robin Williams and George Carlin were seriously too funny for their own good.

4. Brad Pitt fly fishing in Montana, 1992

A young man stands knee-deep in a river, holding a fishing rod. He wears a wet t-shirt, and trees and mountains are visible in the blurry background. The photo is black and white. — langator

Life seriously doesn’t get much better than this.

5. Axl, Sebastian Bach, and Lars Ulrich, 1990

Three men with long hair sit together indoors. The man on the right is shirtless, wearing black shorts, and displaying multiple tattoos. The background features wood-paneled walls, and all three look toward the camera. — ace-ventura1934

This was taken at RIP magazine’s fourth annual party.

6. Tom Petty, 1990

A man with shoulder-length blonde hair and a beard stands in a grocery store aisle, holding a shopping cart filled with various groceries, including Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs, and cereal boxes. — j3434

All of that processed sugar is for music-writing energy.

7. Chris Farley and his Dad, early 1990s

Two men stand side by side on a wooden deck by the beach, looking at each other. One wears a dark shirt and khaki pants, the other a green jacket and white shirt. The ocean and clear sky are in the background. — drinon

This photo was taken on a beach at Lake Michigan.

8. River Phoenix and Winona Ryder, 1990

A young man in a tuxedo and glasses stands next to a young woman with dark hair in a black dress, both posing for a photo in front of a blue backdrop with partially visible white text. — shadow-spirit01

River Phoenix’s birth name was River Jude Bottom.

9. Chris Rock, early 1990s

A young man in a leather jacket and ripped jeans sits on a park bench, while two elderly women in dresses and hats sit next to him, looking at him with surprised expressions. Trees and greenery are in the background. — userdeleted

Another one of the top comedians of all time.

10. Paul Rudd as a waiter, 1990

Two men pose inside a restaurant. One wears a blue shirt, apron, and baseball cap with his arms crossed, looking sideways. The other, in a light blue shirt, points at the camera while smiling. Tables and diners appear in the background. — _kingpuck_

He worked at a restaurant called Bennigan’s.

11. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr, 1990

Two baseball players stand on a field, one in a black Pittsburgh Pirates uniform holding a bat, and the other in a gray Seattle Mariners uniform with number 24, both smiling and chatting before a game. — oregontriplebeam

This photo was taken at the 1990 MLB All-Star Game.

12. Roger Daltrey and Joan Jett, 1990

A smiling man in a suit with curly hair and a bolo tie is hugged by a smiling woman with long dark hair in a black outfit. They are standing close together indoors, posing for the camera. — adspecialist6598

They look great here for 44 and 32.

13. Who remembers LAN parties?

Five people sit around tables with large CRT monitors and headsets, playing a computer game together in a cluttered room filled with snacks, drinks, cables, and shelves of books and games. — userdeleted

Lugging an entire computer to your friend’s house was just part of the fun.

14. Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, 1990

A bearded man in a suit passionately speaks into a microphone at a formal hearing, gesturing with his hand. A woman with long hair sits beside him, and other people are seated in the background. — str33twise84

They are testifying before a Senate committee hearing on the Homelessness Prevention and Revitalization Act.

15. A true artist, Bob Ross, 1990

Two men sit closely together on a couch with a crocheted blanket, one with glasses and a beard, the other older with curly hair and wearing a striped shirt. Both are smiling, with an arm around each other. — adspecialist6598

Hands down, the most relaxing human being ever to touch the TV screen.

16. Shakira, 1990

A young woman with long dark hair sits on a brown patterned couch, wearing a black top and a gold necklace, holding her hands up as if in conversation or surprise. — jason544770

This photo was taken a few years before her rise to fame.

17. Painting the Twin Towers, 1990

A person stands by a riverside railing, painting on an easel with the Twin Towers and New York City skyline visible across the water in the background. — silver964

This was taken in Liberty State Park, and Lady Liberty is directly to the right.

18. DeNiro and Scorsese, 1990

A shirtless, muscular man with tattoos stands in the foreground, while a shorter man in a button-down shirt looks up at him inside a room with tiled walls. Both appear serious and focused. — marsupialize

This photo was taken on the set of Cape Fear.

19. A first-place face and a second-place face

Regattas were the pinnacle of Boy Scouts.

20. “Playing dinosaurs with my Grandpa.”

A group of five people, including three adults and two children, gather around a table on a sunny patio. The table holds drinks, flowers, a pumpkin, and toy dinosaurs. Trees and greenery are visible in the background. — bntendo64

In case you couldn’t tell, that’s Orville Redenbacher.

21. Matthew Perry, 1990

A young man with short brown hair stands outdoors, smiling slightly. He wears a white T-shirt with a large Union Jack and "Reebok" text. People and a white building appear in the background. — jellyculture

This photo was taken 4 years before the start of Friends.

22. Sam Kinison, Charlie Sheen, and Rodney Dangerfield, 1990

Three men pose together in a black-and-white photo. The man on the left has long hair and wears a beret, the man in the middle has short dark hair and a leather jacket, and the man on the right has light hair and a surprised expression. — mikeyv683

Just having an innocent, wholesome night out.

23. The Goodfellas premiere, 1990

A group of six men dressed in suits and jackets are smiling and standing together at an indoor event. The photo is black and white, and the men appear to be enjoying themselves. — rosseepoo

Little Henry is bigger than all of them.

24. The biker gang, 1990

A large group of children ride bicycles and perform wheelies on a tree-lined street on a sunny day, with green trees and buildings visible in the background. — scooooobs1

Every kid 14 and under was in a biker gang in the early ’90s.

25. Green Day 1991

A black-and-white photo of a three-member punk band performing. The guitarist and bassist play intensely while the drummer, shirtless, plays in the background. A wall with skull and web artwork is visible behind them. — zoonooz

This photo was taken just 3 years before the band hit big.

26. Eminem and his crew, 1991

Four young men pose in front of an industrial building. One stands elevated with arms outstretched, while the others stand and crouch below him, gesturing toward the camera. A "No Parking Any Time" sign is visible behind them. — userdeleted

The real Slim Shady is standing up.

27. Guns N’ Roses with Arnold, 1991

Six men pose together, most wearing black leather jackets and sunglasses. One man in the center wears a white T-shirt and has curly hair; another on the right wears a white jacket and ripped jeans. The background is a dark indoor setting. — _maximum

This is one of the most masculine photos taken in the ’90s.

28. Chris Cornell with Eddie Vedder, 1991

Two men smiling and posing together in what appears to be a backstage area. One man has long curly hair, an open shirt, and a lanyard; the other has short hair, wears a cap, and a brown jacket. — firegold763

Two of the most iconic rock and roll singers to ever live.

29. On the set of Silence of the Lambs, 1991

Two people pose indoors. The person on the left has long curly hair and wears a colorful patterned top. The person on the right wears a blue cap, a light jacket, and a blue shirt. The background appears industrial or rustic. — ace-ventura1934

Brooke Smith and Ted Levine.

30. How practical effects were done in the early ’90s

Two people adjust vehicles on a detailed miniature set of a freeway with overpasses, palm trees, and model cars, simulating a city scene for a film or special effects production. — ancient-age9577

This photo was taken on the set of Terminator 2.

31. Nirvana, 1991

Three young men with long hair stand indoors, smiling and making silly faces. The man in front has blond hair and a light beard, while the two behind have darker hair and casual clothing. The setting appears relaxed and informal. — beardlesshipster

Kurt couldn’t look happier.

32. John Daly, 1991

A blond male golfer mid-swing, wearing a white polo shirt with teal and pink stripes and gray pants, holds a cigarette in his mouth. A blurred crowd watches in the background. — jonesce

He became a PGA champion this year.

33. Marines driving through burning oil fields

Five U.S. soldiers ride on a dusty military vehicle with gear, driving along a barren road. Behind them, oil wells burn, sending thick black smoke into the sky, creating a dramatic and tense war scene. — deahakissaway

This photo was taken in Kuwait, 1991.

34. Cindy Crawford, 1991

A woman with long, wavy brown hair and a bright smile wears a black sleeveless top and a chunky necklace, standing outdoors in natural light with people and greenery blurred in the background. — complexwrangler1346

Did you know she studied chemical engineering?

35. A multi-band quartet

Four men stand together indoors, posing for a photo. Three wear jackets, one wearing a cap. They appear to be at an event or gathering, with shelves and industrial items visible in the background. — nailldude3

Fred Schneider of the B-52’s, Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, and Morrissey and Michael Stipe of R.E.M., 1991.

36. Bob Ross with his pet squirrels, 1991

A man with a serious expression, large curly hair, and a beard, has two squirrels on his shoulder. One squirrel's tail is positioned over his upper lip, creating the illusion of a mustache. — eatsleeprepeat101_

A squirrel is a peculiar pet, but Bob Ross loved them.

37. At the North Pole, 1992

A person in an orange suit stands on ice next to the sail of a submarine protruding from the frozen surface, with several people and icy terrain in the background. — kilowilson

I wonder how tough it is for a sub to break through the ice like that.

38. A young Bruno Mars

Two people pose together at night. An adult with long curly hair and a thoughtful expression rests their chin on their hand, next to a child in a striped shirt with clasped hands, looking at the camera. Out-of-focus lights are in the background. — rusty-crowe

He was being interviewed by Pauly Shore on his MTV show in 1992.

39. The premiere for Batman Returns, 1992

Three people stand together smiling; a man in a suit with a red patterned tie, a shorter man in a black shirt with white circles, and a woman in a brown dress with one arm around the shorter man. The background is dark. — userdeleted

Left to right: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

40. First day of first grade, 1990

A young boy stands indoors, smiling slightly. He wears a light green t-shirt and high-waisted blue patterned pants. The background features light blue wallpaper with white dots and a framed painting above him. — steveracer24

I’ll pay any price for a pair of pants like that.

Want to see more content from the 1990s?

Check out 25 Photos That Show What High School Looked Like in the 1990s, or take a look at 20 Vintage Photos of the ’90s Mall Culture. Finally, if you want to take a look at the vehicles of the ’90s, check out 20 Vintage Photos of People’s Cars and Bikes in the ’90s.

Tags: 1990s

40 Vintage Photos of the Early 1990s