REWIND & RANK: TOP 10 Movies of 1996

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 1996.

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.

1996 could very well be the beginning of the big budget CGI-fest extravaganzas we see all over the place today, with blockbusters like INDEPENDENCE DAY, the #1 movie at the box office with $817 million worldwide. Rising above the pure fun of popcorn flicks were some incredible indie movies ranking highly in my Top 10.

That said, of course there were some stinky turds at the cinema like the iconic dramatist Pauly Shore in BIO-DOME, Shaq’s Oscar nominated KAZAAM, Oscar Winner Marlon Brando’s ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Academy Award gem JINGLE ALL THE WAY, and Golden Globe’s purple phenom Billy Zane’s THE PHANTOM — What’s sarcasm?

My TOP 10 is followed by HONORABLE MENTIONS and the Best of ART VS POPCORN.

Let’s dig in…

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THE TOP 10

10. SWINGERS

Money. So f*ckin’ money.

THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, Geena Davis, Yvonne Zima, 1996, (c)New Line Cinema

9. THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT

Shane Black. ‘Nuff said.

8. TWISTER

Writer of JURASSIC PARK + SPIELBERG as Producer + Director of SPEED x ILM CGI = Mega Blockbuster.

A TIME TO KILL, Sandra Bullock, 1996

7. A TIME TO KILL

McConaughey bursts onto the scene. John Grisham done right.

6. SLING BLADE

Billy Bob Thornton made it big with this indie gem.

JAMIE KENNEDY, ZAK ORTH, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, DASH MIHOK & HAROLD PERRINEAU Character(s): Sampson, Gregory, Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio Film ‘ROMEO + JULIET ; ROMEO AND JULIET’ (1996) Directed By BAZ LUHRMANN 01 November 1996 CTV84952 Allstar/Cinetext/20 CENTURY FOX **WARNING** This photograph can only be reproduced by publications in conjunction with the promotion of the above film. For Editorial Use Only.

5. ROMEO + JULIET

DiCaprio. Shakespeare. Guns.

4. TRAINSPOTTING

Ewan McGregor makes it big. Drug culture by Danny Boyle.

3. BOUND

The first film from the Wachowskis. Amazing film noir!

2. FARGO

One of the Coen Bros.’ best ever!

SCREAM, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, 1996

1. SCREAM

Wes Craven re-invented horror with Kevin Williamson’s self-aware script. Phenomenal horror. The best of the decade – and the best horror since the 80s.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

DON’T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD, Marlon Wayans, 1996, ©Island Pictures

listed alphabetically

BEAUTIFUL GIRLS / THE CABLE GUY / DON’T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD / THE ENGLISH PATIENT / FROM DUSK TILL DAWN / HAMLET / HAPPY GILMORE / INDEPENDENCE DAY / JERRY MAGUIRE / PRIMAL FEAR

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THE BEST OF ART VS POPCORN

CROW: CITY OF ANGELS, THE, Vincent Perez, 1996

PHENOMENON, John Travolta, 1996

listed alphabetically

2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY / THE ARRIVAL / BARB WIRE / BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD DO AMERICA / THE BIRDCAGE / BLACK SHEEP / BORDELLO OF BLOOD / BOTTLE ROCKET / BROKEN ARROW / BULLETPROOF / CITIZEN RUTH / COURAGE UNDER FIRE / THE CRAFT / CRASH / THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS / THE CRUCIBLE / DIABOLIQUE / DRAGONHEART / EMMA / ESCAPE FROM L.A. / EXECUTIVE DECISION / FEAR / FLIRTING WITH DISASTER / FLY AWAY HOME / FOXFIRE / FREEWAY / THE FRIGHTENERS / GET ON THE BUS / THE GHOST & THE DARKNESS / GIRL 6 / HARD CORE LOGO / HIGH SCHOOL HIGH / THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME / KINGPIN /  LONE STAR / LOOKING FOR RICHARD / MARS ATTACKS! / MARVIN’S ROOM / MICROCOSMOS / MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE / THE NUTTY PROFESSOR / THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT / PHENOMENON / THE PILLOW BOOK / RANSOM / THE ROCK / SET IT OFF / SLEEPERS / SPACE JAM / THE SPITFIRE GRILL / STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT / STEALING BEAUTY / STRIPTEASE / WHEN WE WERE KINGS

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MY MUST-WATCH LIST

notable films i need to see

BASQUIAT / BREAKING THE WAVES / EVITA / KOLYA / MICHAEL COLLINS / THE PREACHER’S WIFE / SECRETS & LIES / SHINE

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What do you think?

Stay tuned for more REWIND & RANK.

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