Movies shouldn't be longer than 90 minutes. And these are the best ones right now.

If you want to support independent women's media, become a Mamamia subscriber. Get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE.

Remember when movies didn't require a bathroom break halfway through?

Those glorious 90-minute gems that told a complete story without testing your bladder's endurance are making a comeback. And honestly, it's about time.

While Hollywood has been obsessed with three-hour epics that make you question your life choices, a new wave of filmmakers is proving that sometimes less really is more. And, honestly, thank god for that. Here's to movies that are tight, punchy and that respect both your time and attention span.

From sharp comedies that land every joke to thrillers that don't overstay their welcome, the 90-minute movie is having its moment.

And we're here for it.

So grab your popcorn (you won't need a refill), settle in, and prepare to fall in love with cinema that knows exactly what it wants to say — and says it efficiently. 

The Woman in Cabin 10.

Image: Netflix.

Keira Knightley brings her A-game to this psychological thriller that adapts Ruth Ware's bestselling novel with surgical precision. When travel journalist Lo Blacklock witnesses what she believes to be a woman being thrown overboard from a luxury cruise ship, nobody believes her — specially since all passengers are accounted for. 

As Lo becomes increasingly desperate to prove what she saw, the claustrophobic setting becomes increasingly menacing and her own sanity comes into question.

At just under 90 minutes, it maintains the book's tension without any of the padding that often plagues literary adaptations.

Black Bag.

Image: Netflix.

This spy thriller, starring Cate Blanchett, follows intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse, whose world implodes when she's suspected of betraying her country. Her husband — himself a legendary operative — is thrust into an impossible position: remain loyal to the woman he loves, or serve the nation he's sworn to protect. As evidence mounts against Kathryn, the couple must navigate a deadly game of espionage where trust becomes the most dangerous weapon of all. 

The film wastes no time on unnecessary backstory, instead throwing you straight into this moral minefield and never letting up. At 90 minutes, it's lean, mean, and showcases exactly why Blanchett remains one of our finest actors in a role that demands both vulnerability and steel.

The Naked Gun.

Image: Paramount Pictures.

Liam Neeson steps into comedy gold as Frank Drebin Jr., son of the original bumbling detective, in this legacy sequel. When a terrorist plot threatens to disrupt a major awards ceremony, Drebin Jr. must follow in his father's footsteps — complete with the same talent for accidentally solving crimes through spectacular incompetence.

The film brings back the franchise's signature absurdist humour with banana peels and physical comedy, but updates it for modern audiences with plenty of female-centric pop culture references.

And the best part? It doesn't overstay its welcome. A short and sweet comedy that knows exactly when to wrap up. 

K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Image: Netflix.

Don't let the placeholder-sounding title fool you — this animated phenomenon follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey who aren't just topping the Billboard charts and selling out stadiums. When they're not performing, the trio moonlight as demon hunters, protecting their devoted fans from ever-present supernatural danger lurking in the shadows of their glittering world.

It's Netflix's most-watched movie ever and its emotionally intelligent storytelling wrapped in catchy tunes and stunning animation has captured both kids and adults worldwide.

Steve.

Image: Netflix.

Cillian Murphy delivers a powerhouse performance as Steve, a head teacher at a reform school who's fighting battles on multiple fronts. While struggling to keep his troubled students in line and give them the guidance they desperately need, Steve is simultaneously wrestling with his own deteriorating mental health. 

Written by Max Porter and based on his 2023 novella Shy, Murphy brings his trademark intensity to this deeply human story about a man trying to save others while barely holding himself together. 

It's a tightly focused character study that doesn't waste a single moment, exploring themes of responsibility, compassion, and the fine line between helping others and helping yourself.

Honey Don't!

Image: Focus Features.

A dark comedy that follows Honey O'Donahue, a private investigator as she investigates a series of strange deaths which all point back to a mysterious local church. Pretty soon, Honey finds herself digging into secrets that some very powerful people would prefer to stay buried. What starts as routine detective work quickly spirals into something far more sinister, with Honey racing to connect the dots before she becomes the next victim. 

With only an 89-minute runtime, it's a taut thriller that balances dark mystery with moments of dry humour, proving that the best small-town stories often hide the biggest secrets.

One More Shot.

Image: Stan.

On New Year's Eve 1999, Minnie discovers a bottle of tequila with an extraordinary power — each shot transports her back to the start of the night, giving her endless chances to rewrite her millennium. What begins as a fun party trick quickly becomes a race against time as Minnie realises she can alter not just her own fate, but the course of history itself. With Y2K looming and the weight of the future in her hands, she must figure out how to use her supernatural second chances wisely. 

Like all films should, in my opinion, the movie goes for 91 minutes and is a clever time-loop thriller that blends nostalgia, supernatural elements, and high stakes into one intoxicating mix.

Together.

Image: Neon.

A relationship drama that takes a dark supernatural turn as couple Tim and Millie relocate to the countryside, leaving behind everything familiar except each other. Years into their relationship and already at a crossroads, the move was supposed to be a fresh start — but tensions are flaring and cracks are showing.

When they encounter a mysterious, unnatural force in their new rural home, it threatens to corrupt not just their lives and their love, but their very flesh. 

It's an intimate horror that uses the isolation of both location and relationship to create genuine dread, exploring how external threats can expose the fractures that were already there.

Feature Image: Netflix.