A few months back, Entertaintment Weekly did a story on the best years for movies. I can’t find it, but I swear they did. I’m not sure if one of the years they talked about was 1994, but if we’re talking about my life, that was certainly a year in film for the books. I’m not sure why, but the other day, I pulled up the Wikipedia page for that year and was shocked by how many movies came out that year which I love (and own). Some are legit great movies, while most are movies my 11-year-old self loves.

There was so much family fare and kids movies that came out that year. At eleven, I was the prime demographic for most of them. This was the first year I saw a movie more than once in the theater — D2: The Mighty Ducks, to be exact. I saw it twice, and I own it on DVD. I then proceeded to see The Lion King four times in the theater. Ah, to be young again with so much disposable income.

Forget about all the quality movies that came out that year. I mean, I love Forrest Gump, Little Women, and Pulp Fiction as much as the next guy, but what it’s really about for me are the basic cable/Disney Channel staples that came out in 1994 and that I will stop to watch whenever they come on. Here’s my Year in Review for the films of 1994 that I love:

3 Ninjas Kick Back — For me, the best of the 3 Ninjas movies. Yes, I have a favorite 3 Ninjas movie.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective — Obvi, this movie is bananas.

The Air Up There — Kevin Bacon goes to Africa to find the new star of his college basketball team. He’s so short and white, and they’re so tall and black!

Andre — Who doesn’t love a raspberry-blowing seal?!

Angels in the Outfield — Baby Joseph Gordon-Levitt!

Blank Check — Kid gets a blank check and buys himself a lot of stuff before learning a lesson about material things not being everything in life. Brills.

Camp Nowhere — Own it on DVD. Kids run their own summer camp, tricking their parents. Jonathan Jackson, Andrew Keegan, Christopher Lloyd.

D2: The Mighty Ducks — See above. The quack attack is back, Jack!

Iron Will — Dog sled racing and Mackenzie Astin!

It Could Happen to You — Nic Cage wins the lotto and gives half of it to his waitress as a tip. Amazing.

Junior — Pregnant Schwartzeneggar. Danny DeVito, reminding us of when they were in Twins. And Emma Thompson? What’s she doing in this movie?!

The Lion King — See above. Let’s not kid ourselves, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was the main draw here.

Little Big League — I saw this movie with my parents in the theater. Kid’s grandfather leaves him the Minnesota Twins in his will. Kid appoints himself the manager. Life lessons about kids being kids are learned.

Little Giants — Rick Moranis coaches a group of misfits in football to show his brother, Ed O’Neill, that he’s special too. Devon Sawa’s film debut!

The Little Rascals — Derek from Full House is in it!

The Mask — This is such a weird movie, but we got some more sweet Jim Carrey quotes! And introducing Cameron Diaz!

Maverick — I saw this movie in the theater with my daddy. I still love it even though Mel Gibson is a terrible human being.

Milk Money — Boys hire Melanie Griffith, a hooker to teach them about sex. She ends up in trouble with her pimp and poses as a tutor for one of the kids. Ed Harris, the kid’s dad, falls in love with her.

My Girl 2 — A terrible excuse for a sequel, and I love every second of it.

Nell — Na, kah, Chickapea! I saw this in the theater too.

The Next Karate Kid — Starring future Oscar winner Hilary Swank!

North — Elijah Wood hates his parents and looks for new ones.

Only You — Robert Downey, Jr. pretends to be Marissa Tomei’s fated lover, the one a psychic told her about when she was a teenager. She stops her wedding to follow him to Italy.

Richie Rich — The second movie on this list featuring Tony winner Christine Ebersole. Love this ridiculous movie. He’s too rich to make friends!

The Santa Clause — My sister took me to see this. Love it. The sequels? Not so much.

A Simple Twist of Fate — Steve Martin wrote the screenplay for this about a cranky man who takes in a stray…child.

Next time you’re flipping through the channels on a rainy weekend such as this one, and one of these movies in on the Hallmark Channel, I suggest you watch. Maybe you’ll love them as much as I do. (You probably won’t.)