RANKING THE YEAR’S BEST: FROM OSCAR MOVIES TO BLOCKBUSTERS
Walk down memory lane… And let the movie nerd debate begin.
Let’s REWIND to the year 1993.
These are personal TOP 10s ranking Oscar-nominated movies right alongside popcorn-munching blockbusters, indie films, b-movies, and cult classics. You never know, you might even uncover a hidden gem or two.
1993 was a fantastic blend of big-time blockbusters, indie cult classics, and dramatic heavyweights. The #1 movie at the box office was JURASSIC PARK with $1 billion worldwide. It wasn’t all “groovy” though, as there was a fair share of turds like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career killer LAST ACTION HERO, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s HARD TARGET which marked his decline and gave Hong Kong’s John Woo (THE KILLER) a bad name in Hollywood, and most offensive of all was SUPER MARIO BROS. based on the phenomenal Nintendo game (laying the path for all stinky videogame movies to follow).
My TOP 10 is followed by HONORABLE MENTIONS and the Best of ART VS POPCORN.
Let’s dig in…
THE TOP 10
10. WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
A small little character study hidden gem starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Juliette Lewis. Emotional drama with impressive performances.
9. THE FUGITIVE
Incredibly exciting action flick starring Harrison Ford being hunted by Tommy Lee Jones for a crime he didn’t do.
8. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Tim Burton’s style is all over this stop-motion animation that spins Christmas in an entirely new direction. Great songs and amazing design work. A true spectacle with the holiday feels.
7. PHILADELPHIA
Emotional drama starring Tom Hanks as a lawyer with AIDS. Set in a time when little was known about the lethal disease, Hanks is fired and ostracized. Denzel Washington steps in to defend him on trial.
6. GROUNDHOG DAY
One of Bill Murray’s best comedies sees him stuck in a timeloop. His cynical character slowly gets a heart and falls in love. Incredibly rewatchable and infinitely enjoyable.
5. MENACE II SOCIETY
More hard-hitting than BOYZ N THE HOOD, this Scorsese vibing thriller looks at young men in South Central, LA trying hard to stay on the right path.
4. TRUE ROMANCE
Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott, this hard-boiled crime flick is filled with flavour – from eccentric characters, to delicious dialogue. John Woo meets Martin Scorsese with this amazing hidden gem cult classic. Look for scene-stealing co-starring roles from the likes of Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, and Dennis Hopper. Essentially, this is a love story about a movie nerd falling for a prostitute and freeing her from a dangerous pimp.
3. ARMY OF DARKNESS
The ultimate guy flick. One of the best cult classics ever made. Technically, part 3 in the EVIL DEAD franchise, this horror movie dives into fantasy adventure by jumping through time to the era of knights and castles… and zombies. Tons of fun. Super quotable. Laugh out loud comedy right next to old school imagination-fueled crazy fantasy special effects.
2. SCHINDLER’S LIST
Spielberg takes on the Holocaust, with an unflinching documentary style approach. Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley star in this heart-wrenching drama. Cinematic and shocking, with outstanding storytelling. One of the best ‘war’ movies ever made.
1. JURASSIC PARK
While SCHINDLER’S LIST was incredible, I weigh art right alongside popcorn. For sheer entertainment, nothing beat JURASSIC PARK in 1993. I love movies for all kinds of reasons. This blockbuster absolutely nailed every trope and cliche, milking every ounce of tension, as well as providing pure spectacle. The FX were ground-breaking, but the sense of awe they provoked was infinite. Spielberg stages each scene perfectly, totally delivering on the popcorn munching fun. One of the best sci-fi concepts ever is executed brilliantly by the master of blockbuster entertainment.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
ALIVE / CARLITO’S WAY / DEMOLITION MAN / DRAGON: A BRUCE LEE STORY / FALLING DOWN / FEARLESS / IN THE LINE OF FIRE / IRON MONKEY / KALIFORNIA / MRS. DOUBTFIRE
THE BEST OF ART VS POPCORN
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM / BENNY & JOON / A BRONX TALE / CB4 / CLIFFHANGER / COOL RUNNINGS / DAZED & CONFUSED / FIRE IN THE SKY / THE FIRM / FORTRESS / FREE WILLY / THE GOOD SON / HOT SHOTS! PART DEUX / IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER / THE JOY LUCK CLUB / JUDGMENT NIGHT / LOADED WEAPON 1 / MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO / A PERFECT WORLD / THE PIANO / POETIC JUSTICE / THE PROGRAM / ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS / RUDY / THE SANDLOT / SHORT CUTS / SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION / SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER / THIS BOY’S LIFE / TOMBSTONE / THE VANISHING / WAYNE’S WORLD 2
MY MUST-WATCH LIST
notable films i need to watch
THE AGE OF INNOCENCE / FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE / MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING / THE REMAINS OF THE DAY / SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE / WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
What do you think?
Stay tuned for Rewind & Rank: 1983.
SLIP/THROUGH - Entertainment You Don't Want to SLIP THROUGH the Cracks 
What a year? I got twelve films I’d put in a Top 10. Thank you for putting a Top 10 and showing what a stellar year 1993 was. Can’t wait to see you do 1994. I grew up on Spielberg and was looking forward to him hitting a fastball again but as a 13 year old I came out adamant that Jurassic Park couldn’t stand next to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark or E.T. I’m glad it was the film of the year for you. I just finished Battlefield Earth so believe I can appreciate how good Jurassic Park is. 🙂
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I really loved Jurassic Park. I remember counting down the days to its release on the classroom chalkboard. Me and my buddies had all read the book (like a year before?), and were eagerly anticipating the flick. Even though we thought all the R-rated goodness from the book would make it on screen (it didn’t), we still loved it. I think it may be Spielberg’s best action adventure (rivaling Raiders)… also because I just watched Battlefield Earth heheheh just kidding. As for 1994, let’s say there are some all-time greats that year!
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Oh yeah! Clear and Present Danger, True Lies, The Lion King, Pulp Fiction. Sure The Flintstones sucked but at least you had Halle Berry in leopard print leather.
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Stay tuned… 1994 coming soon 🙂 Leather Berry = Sweet and tasty… at least… um… right? Some big turds in 93 hhehehe
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Yeah and I got to admit the bad ones in 2004 were really bad.
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Good list. Not sure if I would have put Jurassic Park in first place, but I can see how some people love it.
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Understandably… It was a tough year to rank for sure. Schindler’s right there, but I had to go with all-time enjoyment for some of these movies – like Jurassic Park 😉 Thanks for chiming in buddy!
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