
185 Favorite 90s Movies
The latest: It’s Trainspotting’s 30th anniversary! We’re celebrating Danny Boyle‘s landmark film by updating our list of the best 90s movies of all time, adding such gems as Malcolm X, Barton Fink, A Brighter Summer Day, and many more!
Wazzup, home skillet! You must’ve left your pager in your other pair of Zubaz, ‘cuz the 1990s are trying to get in touch: The decade’s back, and it’s brought 140 friends!
Rotten Tomatoes, the Fresh prince of review aggregators, presents our list of the 140 Favorite ’90s Movies, ranging from Certified Fresh to Rotten, all reppin’ 10 years of cinema that upended the biz! Our selections cross the era’s cultural checkpoints, including the American independent golden era (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting), animation renaissance (The Lion King, the Toy Story movies), slasher revival (Scream), and the full maturation of auteurs like Scorsese and Spielberg under the studio system…just as the same studios pumped out big, star-driven crass comedies (Happy Gilmore, There’s Something About Mary) and effects-driven blockbusters (Titanic, Independence Day).
So slap on that bracelet and resurrect your Tamagotchi bestie, because these aren’t just the best ’90s movies, dude — they’re totally essential! And if you’re looking for more blasts from the past, check out our list of 140 Favorite 80s Movies! Schwing! —Alex Vo
100%
Critics Consensus: The rare sequel that arguably improves on its predecessor, Toy Story 2 uses inventive storytelling, gorgeous animation, and a talented cast to deliver another rich moviegoing experience for all ages.
Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks) is stolen from his home by toy dealer Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), leaving Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer
Directed By: Ash Brannon, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich
100%
Critics Consensus: Entertaining as it is innovative, Toy Story reinvigorated animation while heralding the arrival of Pixar as a family-friendly force to be reckoned with.
Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position as Andy's favorite toy jeopardized... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney
Directed By: John Lasseter
100%
Critics Consensus: A complex, stirring, and beautifully realized portrait of interconnected lives, Red is the captivating conclusion to a remarkable trilogy.
Synopsis: Part-time model Valentine (Irène Jacob) meets a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who lives in her neighborhood after she runs over his dog. At first the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Irène Jacob, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jean-Pierre Lorit, Frédérique Feder
Directed By: Krzysztof Kieslowski
100%
Critics Consensus: Thought-provoking and beautifully filmed, Before Sunrise is an intelligent, unabashedly romantic look at modern love, led by marvelously natural performances from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
Synopsis: On his way to Vienna, American Jesse meets Celine, a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Erni Mangold, Hanno Poeschl
Directed By: Richard Linklater
100%
Critics Consensus: An engrossing documentary that's as much about a time and a place as it is about a fight.
Synopsis: On October 30, 1974, perhaps the most famous heavyweight championship boxing match of all time took place in Kinshasa, Zaire: the "Rumble in the Jungle"... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, B.B. King
Directed By: Leon Gast
99%
Critics Consensus: Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.
Synopsis: Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell
Directed By: Curtis Hanson
98%
Critics Consensus: Schindler's List blends the abject horror of the Holocaust with Steven Spielberg's signature tender humanism to create the director's dramatic masterpiece.
Synopsis: Businessman Oskar Schindler arrives in Kraków in 1939, ready to make his fortune from World War II, which has just started. After joining the Nazi... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
98%
Critics Consensus: The rare family-friendly feature with a heart as big as its special effects budget, Babe offers timeless entertainment for viewers of all ages.
Synopsis: Gentle farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) wins a piglet named Babe (Christine Cavanaugh) at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner when... View Full Synopsis
Starring: James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Hugo Weaving, Mary Acres
Directed By: Chris Noonan
98%
Critics Consensus: Almodovar weaves together a magnificent tapestry of femininity with an affectionate wink to classics of theater and cinema in this poignant story of love, loss and compassion.
Synopsis: New friends help a woman (Cecilia Roth) struggling to get her life in order after her son's (Eloy Azorín) death.
Starring: Cecilia Roth, Eloy Azorín, Marisa Paredes, Penélope Cruz
Directed By: Pedro Almodóvar
98%
Critics Consensus: One of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of all time, Hoop Dreams is a rich, complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately deeply rewarding film that uses high school hoops as a jumping-off point to explore issues of race, class, and education in modern America.
Synopsis: Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Steve James, William Gates, Arthur Agee, Sheila Agee
Directed By: Steve James
98%
Critics Consensus: Director Atom Egoyan examines tragedy and its aftermath with intelligence and empathy.
Synopsis: A small mountain community in Canada is devastated when a school bus accident leaves more than a dozen of its children dead. A big-city lawyer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood, Tom McCamus
Directed By: Atom Egoyan
97%
Critics Consensus: Directed with sly refinement by Robert Redford and given pizazz by a slew of superb performances, Quiz Show intelligently interrogates the erosion of public standards without settling on tidy answers.
Synopsis: Queens-born Herbie Stempel (John Turturro) becomes an unlikely hero after winning on America's beloved game show, "Twenty One." When the network decides to bring in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield
Directed By: Robert Redford
97%
Critics Consensus: It follows a predictable narrative arc, but Good Will Hunting adds enough quirks to the journey -- and is loaded with enough powerful performances -- that it remains an entertaining, emotionally rich drama.
Synopsis: Will Hunting (Matt Damon) has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver
Directed By: Gus Van Sant
97%
Critics Consensus: Bitingly cynical without succumbing to bitterness, The Player is one of the all-time great Hollywood satires -- and an ensemble-driven highlight of the Altman oeuvre.
Synopsis: Certain that the anonymous threats he's been receiving are the work of David Kahane (Vincent D'Onofrio), producer Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) tries to fix things... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg
Directed By: Robert Altman
97%
Critics Consensus: A powerful, thought-provoking film that covers different angles of its topic without resorting to preaching, Dead Man Walking will cause the viewer to reflect regardless of their political viewpoint.
Synopsis: As death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) nears his execution date, he calls upon Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) to help him with one... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J. Barry
Directed By: Tim Robbins
96%
Critics Consensus: The endearing Iron Giant tackles ambitious topics and complex human relationships with a steady hand and beautifully animated direction from Brad Bird.
Synopsis: In this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes' Cold War fable, a giant alien robot crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Eli Marienthal, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel
Directed By: Brad Bird
96%
Critics Consensus: Intelligent, compelling, and packed with strong performances, The Insider is a potent corporate thriller.
Synopsis: After seeking the expertise of former "Big Tobacco" executive Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), seasoned TV producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) suspects a story lies behind... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora
Directed By: Michael Mann
96%
Critics Consensus: A highly entertaining entry in Disney's renaissance era," Aladdin is beautifully drawn, with near-classic songs and a cast of scene-stealing characters.
Synopsis: When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. However, he soon finds that the evil has other plans... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman
Directed By: Ron Clements, John Musker
96%
Critics Consensus: As both director and star, Clint Eastwood strips away decades of Hollywood varnish applied to the Wild West, and emerges with a series of harshly eloquent statements about the nature of violence.
Synopsis: When prostitute Delilah Fitzgerald (Anna Thomson) is disfigured by a pair of cowboys in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, her fellow brothel workers post a reward for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
96%
Critics Consensus: Exhilarating and intense, this high-impact chase thriller is a model of taut and efficient formula filmmaking, and it features Harrison Ford at his frantic best.
Synopsis: Wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, Richard Kimble escapes from the law in an attempt to find her killer and clear his name. Pursuing him... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Julianne Moore
Directed By: Andrew Davis
96%
Critics Consensus: Hard-hitting and breathtakingly effective, La Haine takes an uncompromising look at long-festering social and economic divisions affecting 1990s Paris.
Synopsis: When a young Arab is arrested and beaten unconscious by police, a riot erupts in the notoriously violent suburbs outside of Paris. Three of the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Said Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili
Directed By: Mathieu Kassovitz
96%
Critics Consensus: Three Colors: Blue contains some of director/co-writer Krzysztof Kieslowski's most visually arresting, emotionally resonant work -- and boasts an outstanding performance from Juliette Binoche in the bargain.
Synopsis: Julie (Juliette Binoche) is haunted by her grief after living through a tragic auto wreck that claimed the life of her composer husband and young... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Régent, Florence Pernel, Charlotte Véry
Directed By: Krzysztof Kieslowski
96%
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and thematically rich, Boyz N the Hood observes Black America with far more depth and compassion than many of the like-minded films its success inspired.
Synopsis: Tre is sent to live with his father, Furious Styles, in tough South Central Los Angeles. Although his hard-nosed father instills proper values and respect... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nia Long
Directed By: John Singleton
96%
Critics Consensus: You will see what's coming, but the masterful performances, especially Thornton's, will leave you riveted.
Synopsis: Mentally disabled Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) is released from the mental hospital where he has spent most of his life after murdering his mother... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter
Directed By: Billy Bob Thornton
95%
Critics Consensus: Enchanting, sweepingly romantic, and featuring plenty of wonderful musical numbers, Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's most elegant animated offerings.
Synopsis: An arrogant young prince and his castle's servants fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress, who turns him into the hideous Beast until he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach
Directed By: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
95%
Critics Consensus: Director Jonathan Demme's smart, taut thriller teeters on the edge between psychological study and all-out horror, and benefits greatly from stellar performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
Synopsis: Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
95%
Critics Consensus: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.
Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey
Directed By: Henry Selick
95%
Critics Consensus: A terrific popcorn thriller, Speed is taut, tense, and energetic, with outstanding performances from Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock.
Synopsis: Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) angers retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) by foiling his attempt at taking hostages. In revenge,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton
Directed By: Jan de Bont
95%
Critics Consensus: The Crying Game is famous for its shocking twist, but this thoughtful, haunting mystery grips the viewer from start to finish.
Synopsis: Irish Republican Army member Fergus (Stephen Rea) forms an unexpected bond with Jody (Forest Whitaker), a kidnapped British soldier in his custody, despite the warnings... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Forest Whitaker, Jim Broadbent
Directed By: Neil Jordan
95%
Critics Consensus: A stunning feat of modern animation, Ghost in the Shell offers a thoughtful, complex treat for anime fans, as well as a perfect introduction for viewers new to the medium.
Synopsis: In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails "The Puppet Master" (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Richard Epcar, Mimi Woods, William Frederick Knight, Tom Wyner
Directed By: Mamoru Oshii
95%
Critics Consensus: This adaptation of David Mamet's play is every bit as compelling and witty as its source material, thanks in large part to a clever script and a bevy of powerhouse actors.
Synopsis: When an office full of New York City real estate salesmen is given the news that all but the top two will be fired at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris
Directed By: James Foley
95%
Critics Consensus: Robert Altman's ensemble drama deftly integrates its disparate characters and episodes into a funny, poignant, emotionally satisfying whole.
Synopsis: Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin) accidentally runs into a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Andie MacDowell, Bruce Davison, Julianne Moore, Matthew Modine
Directed By: Robert Altman
95%
Critics Consensus: Secrets & Lies delves into social issues with delicate aplomb and across-the-board incredible acting, and stands as one of writer-director Mike Leigh's most powerful works.
Synopsis: After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a successful black eye doctor, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Phyllis Logan, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Directed By: Mike Leigh
94%
Critics Consensus: A funny, tender, and thought-provoking film, The Truman Show is all the more noteworthy for its remarkably prescient vision of runaway celebrity culture and a nation with an insatiable thirst for the private details of ordinary lives.
Synopsis: He doesn't know it, but everything in Truman Burbank's (Jim Carrey) life is part of a massive TV set. Executive producer Christof (Ed Harris) orchestrates... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone
Directed By: Peter Weir
94%
Critics Consensus: In recreating the troubled space mission, Apollo 13 pulls no punches: it's a masterfully told drama from director Ron Howard, bolstered by an ensemble of solid performances.
Synopsis: This Hollywood drama is based on the events of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
Directed By: Ron Howard
94%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by another winning performance from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg's unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre.
Synopsis: Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Surrounded... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
94%
Critics Consensus: Smart, sweet, and inventive, Groundhog Day highlights Murray's dramatic gifts while still leaving plenty of room for laughs.
Synopsis: Phil (Bill Murray), a weatherman, is out to cover the annual emergence of the groundhog from its hole. He gets caught in a blizzard that... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky
Directed By: Harold Ramis
94%
Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and highly original, Being John Malkovich supports its wild premise with skillful direction and a stellar ensemble cast.
Synopsis: In this quirky cult-favorite comedy, unemployed New York City puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) reluctantly takes a temp job as a filing clerk for the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, Orson Bean
Directed By: Spike Jonze
94%
Critics Consensus: Three Kings successfully blends elements of action, drama, and comedy into a thoughtful, exciting movie on the Gulf War.
Synopsis: Just after the end of the Gulf War, four American soldiers decide to steal a cache of Saddam Hussein's hidden gold. Led by Sergeant Major... View Full Synopsis
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze
Directed By: David O. Russell
94%
Critics Consensus: With its epic story and breathtaking visuals, Princess Mononoke is a landmark in the world of animation.
Synopsis: A prince becomes involved in the struggle between a forest princess and the encroachment of mechanization.
Starring: Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup
Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
94%
Critics Consensus: Violent, quirky, and darkly funny, Fargo delivers an original crime story and a wonderful performance by McDormand.
Synopsis: "Fargo" is a reality-based crime drama set in Minnesota in 1987. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is a car salesman in Minneapolis who has gotten... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy, Peter Stormare
Directed By: Joel Coen
94%
Critics Consensus: Steven Soderbergh's intelligently crafted adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel is witty, sexy, thoroughly entertaining, and a star-making turn for George Clooney.
Synopsis: Meet Jack Foley, the most successful bank robber in the country. On the day he busts out of jail, he finds himself stealing something far... View Full Synopsis
Starring: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
94%
Critics Consensus: A superbly-mounted adaptation of E.M. Forster's tale of British class tension, with exceptional performances all round, Howard's End ranks among the best of Merchant-Ivory's work.
Synopsis: Helen Schlegel falls for Paul Wilcox, but is rebuffed. Her sister Margaret becomes friends with his mother, who promises her the family house, Howards End.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter, Vanessa Redgrave
Directed By: James Ivory
94%
Critics Consensus: Featuring an excellent ensemble cast, a precise feel for the 1970s, and a killer soundtrack, Dazed and Confused is a funny, affectionate, and clear-eyed look at high school life.
Synopsis: This coming-of-age film follows the mayhem of a group of rowdy teenagers in Austin, Texas, celebrating the last day of high school in 1976. The... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Sasha Jenson, Rory Cochrane
Directed By: Richard Linklater
94%
Critics Consensus: An outstanding sophomore feature, Welcome to the Dollhouse sees writer-director Todd Solondz mining suburban teen angst for black, biting comedy.
Synopsis: Middle-school student Dawn Weiner (Heather Matarazzo) faces degradation at school -- where she is teased constantly -- and at home. The middle child between nerdy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Heather Matarazzo, Daria Kalinina, Matthew Faber, Angela Pietropinto
Directed By: Todd Solondz
94%
Critics Consensus: Impassioned and meticulously observed, In the Name of the Father mines rousing drama from a factual miscarriage of justice, aided by scorching performances and director Jim Sheridan's humanist focus.
Synopsis: Unemployed young Irishman Gerry Conlon gets by as a petty thief in the 1970s Belfast. When local IRA leaders get fed up with him, he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, John Lynch
Directed By: Jim Sheridan
93%
Critics Consensus: Hard-hitting and stylish, GoodFellas is a gangster classic -- and arguably the high point of Martin Scorsese's career.
Synopsis: Henry Hill, a poor Irish-Italian growing up in the 1950s New York City, rises through the ranks of his neighborhood's organized crime branch; he ends... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
93%
Critics Consensus: To Sleep with Anger examines cultural tensions with a deft hand and a potent blend of comedy and drama, stirred skillfully to life by a strong cast led by Danny Glover.
Synopsis: Vagabond Harry (Danny Glover) pays an unexpected visit to his old chum Gideon (Paul Butler), who accepts the aimless man into his home, despite the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Danny Glover, Paul Butler, Mary Alice, Richard Brooks
Directed By: Charles Burnett
93%
Critics Consensus: John Travolta and Nicolas Cage play cat-and-mouse (and literally play each other) against a beautifully stylized backdrop of typically elegant, over-the-top John Woo violence.
Synopsis: Obsessed with bringing terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) to justice, FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) tracks down Troy, who has boarded a plane in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola
Directed By: John Woo
93%
Critics Consensus: More fun than a barrel of Jean-Paul Sartre, pic's energy riffs on an engaging love story and really human performances while offering a series of what-ifs and a blood-stirring soundtrack.
Synopsis: In this visually and conceptually impressive film, two-bit Berlin criminal Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu) delivers some smuggled loot for his boss, Ronnie (Heino Ferch), but accidentally... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Armin Rohde
Directed By: Tom Tykwer
93%
Critics Consensus: Though possibly more notable for its distinctive style than an airtight story, this Coen brothers take on the classic gangster flick features sharp dialogue, impressive cinematography, and a typically quirky cast of characters.
Synopsis: When the Italian Mafia threatens to kill a crooked bookie (John Turturro), Irish mob boss Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) refuses to allow it, chiefly because... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito
Directed By: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
93%
Critics Consensus: Fueled by Quentin Tarantino's savvy screenplay and a gallery of oddball performances, Tony Scott's True Romance is a funny and violent action jaunt in the best sense.
Synopsis: A comic-book nerd and Elvis fanatic Clarence (Christian Slater) and a prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette) fall in love. Clarence breaks the news to her... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer
Directed By: Tony Scott
92%
Critics Consensus: Injecting its compendium of crime tales with the patois of everyday conversation, Pulp Fiction is a cinematic shot of adrenaline that cements writer-director Quentin Tarantino as an audacious purveyor of killer kino.
Synopsis: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions. In this ultra-hip, multi-strand crime movie, their... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
92%
Critics Consensus: Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, The Lion King is a pride within Disney's pantheon of classic family films.
Synopsis: This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Madge Sinclair
Directed By: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
92%
Critics Consensus: Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.
Synopsis: "Shakespeare in Love" is a romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s. It imaginatively unfolds the witty, sexy and timeless tale behind the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench
Directed By: John Madden
92%
Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant ably snatches up the bouquet of leading man status with Four Weddings and a Funeral, a sparkling romantic comedy given real charm by its chummy ensemble and Richard Curtis' sharp-witted screenplay.
Synopsis: Lovable Englishman Charles and his group of friends seem to be unlucky in love. When Charles meets a beautiful American named Carrie at a wedding,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow
Directed By: Mike Newell
92%
Critics Consensus: Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.
Synopsis: Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), a well-liked high school government teacher, can't help but notice that successful student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) uses less than ethical... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell
Directed By: Alexander Payne
92%
Critics Consensus: Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington's romantic chemistry lights up the screen in Mississippi Masala, Mira Nair's observant and sexy tale of cultures clashing.
Synopsis: The vibrant cultures of India, Uganda, and the American South are blended and simmered into a rich and fragrant fusion feast in Mira Nair's luminous... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Roshan Seth, Sharmila Tagore
Directed By: Mira Nair
92%
Critics Consensus: Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up to fete the life and work of cult hero Ed Wood, with typically strange and wonderful results.
Synopsis: Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette
Directed By: Tim Burton
92%
Critics Consensus: An auspicious debut for writer-director Cheryl Dunye, The Watermelon Woman tells a fresh story in wittily irreverent style.
Synopsis: An aspiring black lesbian filmmaker researches an obscure 1940s black actress billed as the Watermelon Woman.
Starring: Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson
Directed By: Cheryl Dunye
92%
Critics Consensus: Coolly collected and confidently performed, The Grifters is a stylish caper that puts the artistry in con.
Synopsis: Hard-as-nails Lily Dillon (Anjelica Huston) works as a swindler for dangerous bookie Bobo (Pat Hingle), probably the only man she fears. Arriving in Los Angeles... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, Pat Hingle
Directed By: Stephen Frears
91%
Critics Consensus: Jurassic Park is a spectacle of special effects and life-like animatronics, with some of Spielberg's best sequences of sustained awe and sheer terror since Jaws.
Synopsis: In Steven Spielberg's massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
91%
Critics Consensus: Grounded in strong characters, bold themes, and subtle storytelling, Boogie Nights is a groundbreaking film both for director P.T. Anderson and star Mark Wahlberg.
Synopsis: In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly
Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
91%
Critics Consensus: T2 features thrilling action sequences and eye-popping visual effects, but what takes this sci-fi action landmark to the next level is the depth of the human (and cyborg) characters.
Synopsis: In this sequel set eleven years after "The Terminator," young John Connor (Edward Furlong), the key to civilization's victory over a future robot uprising, is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Directed By: James Cameron
91%
Critics Consensus: Smart and absorbing, Lone Star represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles -- and '90s independent cinema in general.
Synopsis: In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton, Ron Canada
Directed By: John Sayles
91%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a smart script, spectacular set pieces, and charismatic performances from its leads, Men in Black is an entirely satisfying summer blockbuster hit.
Synopsis: Working for a highly funded yet unofficial government agency, Kay and Jay are the Men in Black, providers of immigration services and regulators of all... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld
91%
Critics Consensus: A Simple Plan is a riveting crime thriller full of emotional tension.
Synopsis: While in the woods near their small town, upstanding local Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton), his dim brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton) and their friend Lou... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Brent Briscoe, Bridget Fonda
Directed By: Sam Raimi
91%
Critics Consensus: The first collaboration between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is a magical modern fairy tale with gothic overtones and a sweet center.
Synopsis: A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, though,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
Directed By: Tim Burton
91%
Critics Consensus: It's solidly directed by Robert Benton and stacked with fine performances from an impressive cast, but above all, Nobody's Fool is a showcase for some of Paul Newman's best late-period work.
Synopsis: Donald "Sully" Sullivan (Paul Newman) is an expert at avoiding adult responsibilities. At 60, he divides all his time between a local bar and the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis
Directed By: Robert Benton
91%
Critics Consensus: Taking a lighter tone than the other films of the Three Colors trilogy, White is a witty, bittersweet comedy with heavier themes on its mind than one might at first realize.
Synopsis: Polish immigrant Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski) finds himself out of a marriage, a job and a country when his French wife, Dominique (Julie Delpy), divorces... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delpy, Janusz Gajos, Jerzy Stuhr
Directed By: Krzysztof Kieslowski
90%
Critics Consensus: Intelligent and humorous satire with an excellent cast -- no previous Trekkie knowledge needed to enjoy this one.
Synopsis: The stars of a 1970s sci-fi show -- now scraping a living through re-runs and sci-fi conventions are beamed aboard an alien spacecraft. Believing the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub
Directed By: Dean Parisot
90%
Critics Consensus: This cult favorite is a quirky coming of age story, with fine, off-kilter performances from Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray.
Synopsis: When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max (Jason Schwartzman),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel
Directed By: Wes Anderson
90%
Critics Consensus: A brutal, often times funny, other times terrifying portrayal of drug addiction in Edinburgh. Not for the faint of heart, but well worth viewing as a realistic and entertaining reminder of the horrors of drug use.
Synopsis: Heroin addict Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) stumbles through bad ideas and sobriety attempts with his unreliable friends -- Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd
Directed By: Danny Boyle
90%
Critics Consensus: Harrowing yet stirring, Boys Don't Cry powerfully commemorates the life -- and brutally unjust death -- of transgender teen Brandon Teena.
Synopsis: Young female-to-male transgender Brandon Teena leaves his hometown under threat when his ex-girlfriend's brother discovers that he's biologically female. Resettling in the small town of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hilary Swank, Chloë Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard, Brendan Sexton III
Directed By: Kimberly Peirce
90%
Critics Consensus: Thrumming with intelligence and energy, Reservoir Dogs opens Quentin Tarantino's filmmaking career with hard-hitting style.
Synopsis: A group of thieves assemble to pull of the perfect diamond heist. It turns into a bloody ambush when one of the men turns out... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
90%
Critics Consensus: Powered by Holly Hunter's main performance, The Piano is a truth-seeking romance played in the key of erotic passion.
Synopsis: After a long voyage from Scotland, pianist Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter) and her young daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin), are left with all their belongings, including... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin
Directed By: Jane Campion
90%
Critics Consensus: Twisty and unsettling, the Coen brothers' satirical tale of a 1940s playwright struggling with writer's block is packed with their trademark sense of humor and terrific performances from its cast.
Synopsis: Set in 1941, an intellectual New York playwright Barton Fink (John Turturro) accepts an offer to write movie scripts in L.A. He finds himself with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner
Directed By: Joel Coen
90%
Critics Consensus: With its quirky characters and clever, quotable dialogue, Clerks is the ultimate clarion call for slackers everywhere to unite and, uh, do something we guess?
Synopsis: Dante (Brian O'Halloran) is called in to cover a shift at his New Jersey convenience store on his day off. His friend Randal (Jeff Anderson)... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonauer
Directed By: Kevin Smith
90%
Critics Consensus: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet deftly combines horror, sci-fi, and humor in Delicatessen, a morbid comedy set in a visually ravishing futuristic dystopia.
Synopsis: Clapet (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) is a butcher who owns a run-down apartment building in post-apocalyptic France. The building is in constant need of a handyman, because... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Rufus
Directed By: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro
90%
Critics Consensus: Oscar-awarded Nicolas Cage finds humanity in his character as it bleeds away in this no frills, exhilaratingly dark portrait of destruction.
Synopsis: Adapted from the novel by John O'Brien, this acclaimed drama follows alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage) as he drinks himself into oblivion in Las... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands, Richard Lewis
Directed By: Mike Figgis
90%
Critics Consensus: Chen Kaing's epic is grand in scope and presentation, and, bolstered by solid performances, the result is a film both horrifying and enthralling.
Synopsis: Chen Kaige's much acclaimed, long out of print masterpiece chronicles the rise of two young stars of the Beijing Opera House, their turbulent relationship, and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Gong Li, Qi Lü
Directed By: Chen Kaige
90%
Critics Consensus: It's sentimental and somewhat predictable, but those are small complaints, given the tender atmosphere and moving performances at the heart of What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Synopsis: Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother (Darlene Cates), who is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio
Directed By: Lasse Hallström
89%
Critics Consensus: Steeped in old-fashioned storytelling and given evergreen humanity by Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, The Shawshank Redemption chronicles the hardship of incarceration patiently enough to come by its uplift honestly.
Synopsis: Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and her lover and is sentenced... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler
Directed By: Frank Darabont
89%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, Spike Lee's biopic of legendary civil rights leader Malcolm X brings his autobiography to life with an epic sweep and a nuanced message.
Synopsis: A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr.
Directed By: Spike Lee
89%
Critics Consensus: Even if all it had to offer were writer-director Wong Kar-wai's thrillingly distinctive visuals, Chungking Express would be well worth watching; happily, its thoughtfully drawn characters and naturalistic performances also pack a potent dramatic wallop.
Synopsis: Every day, Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) buys a can of pineapple with an expiration date of May 1, symbolizing the day he'll get over his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Faye Wong
Directed By: Kar-Wai Wong
89%
Critics Consensus: With a perfect cast and a sly twist on the usual Hollywood gangster dynamic, Get Shorty delivers a sharp satire that doubles as an entertaining comedy-thriller in its own right.
Synopsis: Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic Bones Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld
88%
Critics Consensus: A mostly unqualified triumph for James Cameron, who offers a dizzying blend of spectacular visuals and old-fashioned melodrama.
Synopsis: Two young lovers from different backgrounds meet and fall in love on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the unsinkable R.M.S. Titanic.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates
Directed By: James Cameron
88%
Critics Consensus: The Last of the Mohicans is a breathless romantic adventure that plays loose with James Fenimore Cooper's novel -- and comes out with a richer action movie for it.
Synopsis: The last members of a dying Native American tribe, the Mohicans -- Uncas, his father Chingachgook, and his adopted half-white brother Hawkeye -- live in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig
Directed By: Michael Mann
88%
Critics Consensus: Although somewhat lackadaisical in pace, Jackie Brown proves to be an effective star-vehicle for Pam Grier while offering the usual Tarantino wit and charm.
Synopsis: When flight attendant Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) is busted smuggling money for her arms dealer boss, Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), agent Ray Nicolette (Michael... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
88%
Critics Consensus: The plot's a bit of a jumble, but excellent performances and mind-blowing plot twists make 12 Monkeys a kooky, effective experience.
Synopsis: Traveling back in time isn't simple, as James Cole (Bruce Willis) learns the hard way. Imprisoned in the 2030s, James is recruited for a mission... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
88%
Critics Consensus: Filled with style and dark, lurid energy, The Crow is an action-packed visual feast that also has a soul in the performance of the late Brandon Lee.
Synopsis: The night before his wedding, musician Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) and his fiancée are brutally murdered by members of a violent inner-city gang. On the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, David Patrick Kelly
Directed By: Alex Proyas
88%
Critics Consensus: Dramatically gripping and frighteningly smart, this Lynchian thriller does wonders with its unlikely subject and shoestring budget.
Synopsis: A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature. Pushed to his limits, he spirals between brilliance... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
88%
Critics Consensus: A stark, nuanced portrait of life in organized crime, bolstered by strong performances from Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.
Synopsis: Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) is an FBI agent who has infiltrated one of the major New York Mafia families and is living under the name... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby
Directed By: Mike Newell
88%
Critics Consensus: Dark and bleak, the "kick-ass" performances, especially Nolte's "effective" portrayal of an abused soul, is the reason to see this film.
Synopsis: In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Paul Schrader
87%
Critics Consensus: Flawlessly cast and brimming with dark, acid wit, American Beauty is a smart, provocative high point of late '90s mainstream Hollywood film.
Synopsis: Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is a gainfully employed suburban husband and father. Fed up with his boring, stagnant existence, he quits his job and decides... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley
Directed By: Sam Mendes
87%
Critics Consensus: Driven by ride-or-die chemistry between Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon while director Ridley Scott provides scorching visuals fit for a postcard, Thelma & Louise is a feminist adventure that's equal parts provocative and rollicking.
Synopsis: Meek housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon), an independent waitress, on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen
Directed By: Ridley Scott
87%
Critics Consensus: Expertly shot and edited, The Usual Suspects gives the audience a simple plot and then piles on layers of deceit, twists, and violence before pulling out the rug from underneath.
Synopsis: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," says con man Kint, drawing a comparison to the most enigmatic... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak
Directed By: Bryan Singer
87%
Critics Consensus: Bound's more titillating elements attracted attention, but it's the stylish direction, solid performances, and entertaining neo-noir caper plot that make it worth a watch.
Synopsis: Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Kivel
Directed By: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
87%
Critics Consensus: Funny, heartfelt, and effortlessly cool, Swingers made stars out of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, established Doug Liman as a director to watch.
Synopsis: A transplanted New Yorker attempting to acclimate to Los Angeles, Mike Peters (Jon Favreau), is struggling to both boost his comedy career and get over... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Patrick Van Horn
Directed By: Doug Liman
86%
Critics Consensus: Full of creepy campfire scares, mock-doc The Blair Witch Project keeps audiences in the dark about its titular villain, proving once more that imagination can be as scary as anything onscreen.
Synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams) who've traveled to a small town to collect... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard, Bob Griffith
Directed By: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
86%
Critics Consensus: M Night Shayamalan's The Sixth Sense is a twisty ghost story with all the style of a classical Hollywood picture, but all the chills of a modern horror flick.
Synopsis: Young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. Cole is frightened by visitations from those with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams
Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
86%
Critics Consensus: Though it suffers from excessive length and ambition, director Minghella's adaptation of the Michael Ondaatje novel is complex, powerful, and moving.
Synopsis: The sweeping expanses of the Sahara are the setting for a passionate love affair in this adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel. A badly burned man,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas
Directed By: Anthony Minghella
86%
Critics Consensus: Although Chasing Amy's depiction of queer sexuality is frustratingly clumsy, it handles an array of thorny themes with a mixture of sensitivity, raw honesty, and writer-director Kevin Smith's signature raunchy humor.
Synopsis: Holden and Banky are best friends and authors of a popular comic book. Holden falls in love with Alyssa, who happens to be a lesbian.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell
Directed By: Kevin Smith
86%
Critics Consensus: James L. Brooks and Jack Nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the romantic-comedy genre.
Synopsis: Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who's rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), but... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Directed By: James L. Brooks
86%
Critics Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and uncomfortably prescient political satire from director Barry Levinson and and all-star cast.
Synopsis: Two weeks prior to reelection, the United States president lands in the middle of a sex scandal. In need of outside help to quell the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Woody Harrelson
Directed By: Barry Levinson
86%
Critics Consensus: Bottle Rocket is Reservoir Dogs meets Breathless with a West Texas sensibility.
Synopsis: In Wes Anderson's first feature film, Anthony has just been released from a mental hospital, only to find his wacky friend Dignan determined to begin... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Andrew Wilson
Directed By: Wes Anderson
85%
Critics Consensus: With Matt Damon's unsettling performance offering a darkly twisted counterpoint to Anthony Minghella's glossy direction, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a suspense thriller that lingers.
Synopsis: To be young and carefree amid the blue waters and idyllic landscape of sun-drenched Italy in the late 1950s; that's la dolce vita Tom Ripley... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett
Directed By: Anthony Minghella
85%
Critics Consensus: The deft comic interplay between Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei helps to elevate My Cousin Vinny's predictable script, and the result is a sharp, hilarious courtroom comedy.
Synopsis: New York lawyer Vinny has never won a case. When his teenage cousin Bill and his friend Stan are accused of murder in a backwater... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield
Directed By: Jonathan Lynn
84%
Critics Consensus: A brutal, relentlessly grimy shocker with taut performances, slick gore effects, and a haunting finale.
Synopsis: When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case with the aid of newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), they discover a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey
Directed By: David Fincher
84%
Critics Consensus: Though Al Pacino and Robert De Niro share but a handful of screen minutes together, Heat is an engrossing crime drama that draws compelling performances from its stars -- and confirms Michael Mann's mastery of the genre.
Synopsis: Master criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is trying to control the rogue actions of one of his men, while also planning one last big... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight
Directed By: Michael Mann
84%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe's tender direction, Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache.
Synopsis: When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that promptly gets him fired. Desperate... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston
Directed By: Cameron Crowe
84%
Critics Consensus: American History X doesn't contend with its subject matter as fully as it could, but Edward Norton's performance gives this hard-hitting drama crucial weight.
Synopsis: Living a life marked by violence and racism, neo-Nazi Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) finally goes to prison after killing two black youths who tried to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Beverly D'Angelo
Directed By: Tony Kaye
84%
Critics Consensus: There's Something About Mary proves that unrelentingly, unabashedly puerile humor doesn't necessarily come at the expense of a film's heart.
Synopsis: Ted's dream prom date with Mary never happens due to an embarrassing injury at her home. Years later, Ted hires Pat Healy to track down... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Lee Evans
Directed By: Robert Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
84%
Critics Consensus: An odd but affecting mixture of drama, comedy and fantasy, The Fisher King manages to balance moving performances from Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges with director Terry Gilliam's typically askew universe.
Synopsis: After shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) inadvertently provokes a caller into murdering a group of innocent people in a Manhattan bar, he grows depressed... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, Mercedes Ruehl
Directed By: Terry Gilliam
84%
Critics Consensus: Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.
Synopsis: In Miami Beach, a gay couple pretend to be man and wife when a son's future father-in-law and family visit.
Starring: Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest
Directed By: Mike Nichols
84%
Critics Consensus: Breaking the Waves offers a remarkable testament to writer-director Lars von Trier's insight and filmmaking skill -- and announces Emily Watson as a startling talent.
Synopsis: In a small and religious coastal town, a simple, devoutly religious Scottish woman, Bess McNeill (Emily Watson), finds a partner in an oil rig worker... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr
Directed By: Lars von Trier
84%
Critics Consensus: Told with grit and verve by the Hughes brothers in their feature debut, Menace II Society is a gangland epic that breathes with authenticity while steeped in style.
Synopsis: After growing up in the gang lifestyle of the Los Angeles projects, 18-year-old Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) wants a way out. Everyone around him, including... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tyrin Turner, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vonte Sweet, Larenz Tate
Directed By: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
83%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to the Wachowskis' imaginative vision, The Matrix is a smartly crafted combination of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.
Synopsis: Neo believes that Morpheus, an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving
Directed By: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
83%
Critics Consensus: Philadelphia indulges in some unfortunate clichés in its quest to impart a meaningful message, but its stellar cast and sensitive direction are more than enough to compensate.
Synopsis: Fearing it would compromise his career, lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) hides his homosexuality and HIV status at a powerful Philadelphia law firm. But his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
83%
Critics Consensus: Taste of Cherry's somewhat simple aesthetic belies a richly ambiguous character study with an impressively ambitious thematic scale.
Synopsis: A middle-aged Tehranian man, Mr. Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) is intent on killing himself and seeks someone to bury him after his demise. Driving around the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Homayoun Ershadi, Abdolrahman Bagheri, Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari, Safar Ali Moradi
Directed By: Abbas Kiarostami
82%
Critics Consensus: An eruption of feeling that's as overwhelming as it is overwrought, Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia reaches a feverish crescendo and sustains it thanks to its fearlessly committed ensemble.
Synopsis: On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson
82%
Critics Consensus: A funny and clever reshaping of Emma, Clueless offers a soft satire that pokes as much fun at teen films as it does at the Beverly Hills glitterati.
Synopsis: Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school's pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
Directed By: Amy Heckerling
82%
Critics Consensus: Thanks in large part to one of Denzel Washington's most powerful on-screen performances, The Hurricane is a moving, inspirational sports drama, even if it takes few risks in telling its story.
Synopsis: Denzel Washington is Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a man whose dreams of winning the middleweight boxing title were destroyed when he was arrested along with another... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber
Directed By: Norman Jewison
82%
Critics Consensus: Mike Judge lampoons the office grind with its inspired mix of sharp dialogue and witty one-liners.
Synopsis: Corporate drone Peter Gibbons hates his soul-killing job at software company Initech. While undergoing hypnotherapy, Peter is left in a blissful state when his therapist... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu
Directed By: Mike Judge
82%
Critics Consensus: Intelligent and scientifically provocative, Gattaca is an absorbing sci fi drama that poses important interesting ethical questions about the nature of science.
Synopsis: Vincent Freeman has always fantasized about traveling into outer space, but is grounded by his status as a genetically inferior in-valid. He decides to fight... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law, Gore Vidal
Directed By: Andrew Niccol
82%
Critics Consensus: Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.
Synopsis: Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson
Directed By: Spike Lee
82%
Critics Consensus: It might soar on Al Pacino's performance more than the drama itself, but what a performance it is -- big, bold, occasionally over-the-top, and finally giving the Academy pause to award the star his first Oscar.
Synopsis: Frank is a retired Lt. Col. in the US army. He's blind and impossible to get along with. Charlie is at school and is looking... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar
Directed By: Martin Brest
82%
Critics Consensus: Heartfelt and quirky, though at times broad, Muriel's Wedding mixes awkward comedy, oddball Australian characters, and a nostalgia-heavy soundtrack.
Synopsis: Socially awkward Muriel Heslop (Toni Collette) wants nothing more than to get married. Unfortunately, due to her oppressive politician father (Bill Hunter), Muriel has never... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, Jeanie Drynan
Directed By: P.J. Hogan
80%
Critics Consensus: Solid acting, amazing direction, and elaborate production design make Fight Club a wild ride.
Synopsis: A depressed man suffering from insomnia meets a strange soap salesman named Tyler Durden and soon finds himself living in his squalid house after his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf
Directed By: David Fincher
81%
Critics Consensus: Its jokes are profoundly bold and rude but incredibly funny at the same time.
Synopsis: In this feature film based on the hit animated series, the third-graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, Isaac Hayes
Directed By: Trey Parker
81%
Critics Consensus: Under Paul Verhoeven's frenetic direction, Total Recall is a fast-paced rush of violence, gore, and humor that never slacks.
Synopsis: Douglas Quaid is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting colonized Mars. He visits "Rekall," a company that plants false... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox
Directed By: Paul Verhoeven
81%
Critics Consensus: A tantalizing glimpse of a talented director and his stars all at the top of their respective games, Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV is smart, sad and audacious.
Synopsis: In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, William Richert
Directed By: Gus Van Sant
81%
Critics Consensus: It misses perhaps as often as it hits, but Jim Carrey's manic bombast, Cameron Diaz' blowsy appeal, and the film's overall cartoony bombast keep The Mask afloat.
Synopsis: When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki, his entire life changes. While... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene
Directed By: Chuck Russell
81%
Critics Consensus: An audacious, unsettling Japanese horror film from director Takashi Miike, Audition entertains as both a grisly shocker and a psychological drama.
Synopsis: This disturbing Japanese thriller follows Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a widower who decides to start dating again. Aided by a film-producer friend (Miyuki Matsuda), Aoyama uses... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Jun Kunimura, Miyuki Matsuda
Directed By: Takashi Miike
81%
Critics Consensus: An entertaining Jackie Chan stunt-fest in which the impressive action sequences overcome the low production value and by-the-numbers plot.
Synopsis: Hong Kong policeman Keung (Jackie Chan) arrives in New York for the wedding of his uncle Bill (Bill Tung), a grocer who recently sold his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Bill Tung, Françoise Yip
Directed By: Stanley Tong
80%
Critics Consensus: The Thin Red Line is a daringly philosophical World War II film with an enormous cast of eager stars.
Synopsis: In 1942, Private Witt (Jim Caviezel) is a U.S. Army absconder living peacefully with the locals of a small South Pacific island. Discovered by his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, Ben Chaplin
Directed By: Terrence Malick
80%
Critics Consensus: Benigni's earnest charm, when not overstepping its bounds into the unnecessarily treacly, offers the possibility of hope in the face of unflinching horror.
Synopsis: A gentle Jewish-Italian waiter, Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), meets Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a pretty schoolteacher, and wins her over with his charm and humor. Eventually... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano
Directed By: Roberto Benigni
80%
Critics Consensus: Not all of its many intriguing ideas are developed, but The City of Lost Children is an engrossing, disturbing, profoundly memorable experience.
Synopsis: Old and decrepit Krank has lost his capacity for dreaming and is attempting to fight death by stealing the dreams of children. Krank's cadre of... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet, Dominique Pinon
Directed By: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
79%
Critics Consensus: The Big Lebowski's shaggy dog story won't satisfy everybody, but those who abide will be treated to a rambling succession of comic delights, with Jeff Bridges' laconic performance really tying the movie together.
Synopsis: Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski who insists on being called "the Dude," a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi
Directed By: Joel Coen
79%
Critics Consensus: An oddball comedy that revels in its silliness and memorable catch phrases, Wayne's World is also fondly regarded because of its endearing characters.
Synopsis: A big screen spin-off of the "Saturday Night Live" skit. Rob Lowe plays a producer that wants to take the public access "Wayne's World" to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Rob Lowe, Tia Carrere
Directed By: Penelope Spheeris
79%
Critics Consensus: Impressive ambition and bravura performances from an outstanding cast help Casino pay off in spite of a familiar narrative that may strike some viewers as a safe bet for director Martin Scorsese.
Synopsis: In early-1970s Las Vegas, low-level mobster Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) gets tapped by his bosses to head the Tangiers Casino. At first, he's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
79%
Critics Consensus: Smart, funny, and engagingly scruffy, Singles is a clear-eyed look at modern romance that doubles as a credible grunge-era time capsule.
Synopsis: In Seattle during the era of grunge music, the lives and relationships of a group of young people, all living in the same apartment building,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bridget Fonda, Matt Dillon, Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick
Directed By: Cameron Crowe
78%
Critics Consensus: Though The Green Mile is long, critics say it's an absorbing, emotionally powerful experience.
Synopsis: Paul Edgecomb walked the mile with a variety of cons. He had never encountered someone like John Coffey, a massive black man convicted of brutally... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bonnie Hunt
Directed By: Frank Darabont
78%
Critics Consensus: Horror icon Wes Craven's subversive deconstruction of the genre is sly, witty, and surprisingly effective as a slasher film itself, even if it's a little too cheeky for some.
Synopsis: The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard
Directed By: Wes Craven
77%
Critics Consensus: Smart and stylish, Cape Fear is a gleefully mainstream shocker from Martin Scorsese, with a terrifying Robert De Niro performance.
Synopsis: When attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) knowingly withholds evidence that would acquit violent sex offender Max Cady (Robert De Niro) of rape charges, Max spends... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
76%
Critics Consensus: Distractingly violent and historically dodgy, Mel Gibson's Braveheart justifies its epic length by delivering enough sweeping action, drama, and romance to match its ambition.
Synopsis: Tells the story of the legendary thirteenth century Scottish hero named William Wallace (Mel Gibson). Wallace rallies the Scottish against the English monarch and Edward... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack
Directed By: Mel Gibson
76%
Critics Consensus: Pivoting on the unusual relationship between seasoned hitman and his 12-year-old apprentice -- a breakout turn by young Natalie Portman -- Luc Besson's Léon is a stylish and oddly affecting thriller.
Synopsis: Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello
Directed By: Luc Besson
76%
Critics Consensus: Self-indulgent yet intriguing, Buffalo '66 marks an auspicious feature debut for writer-director-star Vincent Gallo while showcasing a terrific performance from Christina Ricci.
Synopsis: Convict Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo) dreads going home so much upon his release from prison that he tries to get back inside. In desperation, Billy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara
Directed By: Vincent Gallo
76%
Critics Consensus: If you're seeking a stylish modern western with a solid story and a well-chosen ensemble cast, Tombstone is your huckleberry.
Synopsis: Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, have left their gunslinger ways behind them to settle down and start a business in the town... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe
Directed By: George P. Cosmatos
75%
Critics Consensus: Tom Hanks' rigorously earnest performance keeps Forrest Gump sincere even when it gets glib with American history, making for a whimsical odyssey of debatable wisdom but undeniable heart.
Synopsis: Slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
75%
Critics Consensus: Sleepless in Seattle is a cute classic with a very light touch and real chemistry between the two leads -- even when spending an entire movie apart.
Synopsis: After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). When Jonah calls in to a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman, Ross Malinger
Directed By: Nora Ephron
75%
Critics Consensus: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a grimy, twisted, and funny twist on the Tarantino hip gangster formula.
Synopsis: Eddy (Nick Moran) convinces three friends to pool funds for a high-stakes poker game against local crime boss Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty). Harry cheats and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham
Directed By: Guy Ritchie
75%
Critics Consensus: Falling Down's popcorn-friendly take on its complex themes proves disquieting -- and ultimately fitting for a bleakly entertaining picture of one man's angry break with reality.
Synopsis: A middle-aged man dealing with both unemployment and divorce, William Foster (Michael Douglas) is having a bad day. When his car breaks down on a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin
Directed By: Joel Schumacher
100%
Critics Consensus: A fantastic cinematic and artistic achievement, Edward Yang's A Brighter Summer Day depicts youth, ideals, violence and politics in a melancholic, tender light, culminating in a complex portrait of Taiwanese identity.
Synopsis: A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in the 1960s Taiwan.
Starring: Kuo-Chu Chang, Elaine Jin, Chang Chen, Han Chang
Directed By: Edward Yang
100%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In Bela Tarr's seven-hour episodic film, inhabitants of a small village in Hungary deal with the effects of the fall of Communism. The town's source... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mihály Vig, Putyi Horvath, János Derzsi, Miklós B. Székely
Directed By: Béla Tarr
97%
Critics Consensus: The Wind Will Carry Us slowly casts its transporting spell as writer-director Abbas Kiarostami explores ineffable themes with patience and grace.
Synopsis: A group of people from the city arrive in a little village with a different kind of mission. They pretend to be communications engineers, but... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Behzad Dourani
Directed By: Abbas Kiarostami
97%
Critics Consensus: Visually thrilling and rich with emotion, Raise the Red Lantern offers an engrossing period drama anchored by an outstanding performance from Gong Li.
Synopsis: Teenage Songlian (Gong Li), whose family has been devastated by the recent death of her father, becomes the third concubine of wealthy Master Chen (Ma... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Gong Li, Jingwu Ma, Saifei He, Cao Cuifeng
Directed By: Yimou Zhang
96%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In this entrancing tale by renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, World War I flying ace Marco Pagot mysteriously turns from a man into a pig... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Keaton, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, Cary Elwes
Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki
94%
Critics Consensus: House Party is a light, entertaining teen comedy with an infectious energy.
Synopsis: Play's parents are out of town, and he's planning the house party to end all house parties. His best friend, Kid, wants to go more... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robin Harris, Christopher Reid, Christopher Martin, Martin Lawrence
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
94%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The working-class malaise of suburban London is captured in this comedic drama, which focuses on twin sisters Natalie (Claire Skinner) and Nicola (Jane Horrocks) and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall, Claire Skinner
Directed By: Mike Leigh
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: While reading a novel by Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf on the bus, Ali Sabzian strikes up a conversation with a pretty girl, Mahrokh Ahankhah. When... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hossain Sabzian, Hassan Frazmand, Abolfazi Ahankhah, Mehrdad Ahankhah
Directed By: Abbas Kiarostami
80%
Critics Consensus: Pump Up the Volume can be a bit overbearing, but this is one teen drama with the courage of its convictions -- and a killer soundtrack.
Synopsis: In Arizona, an introverted and insightful teenager, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater), finds an outlet for his viewpoints through a shortwave radio. Broadcasting as Hard Harry,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Ellen Greene, Scott Paulin
Directed By: Allan Moyle
77%
Critics Consensus: What Friday might lack in taut construction or directorial flair, it more than makes up with its vibrant (albeit consistently crass) humor and the charming, energetic performances of its leads.
Synopsis: It's Friday and Craig Jones has just gotten fired for stealing cardboard boxes. To make matters worse, rent is due, he hates his overbearing girlfriend,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Tommy Tiny Lister
Directed By: F. Gary Gray
74%
Critics Consensus: Baz Luhrmann's visual aesthetic is as divisive as it is fresh and inventive.
Synopsis: Baz Luhrmann helped adapt this classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy for the screen, updating the setting to a post-modern city named Verona Beach. In this version,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo
Directed By: Baz Luhrmann
73%
Critics Consensus: A light and goofy comedy which provides laughs, largely due to performances and screenwriting by Myers.
Synopsis: A world-class playboy and part-time special agent, Powers is defrosted after 30 years in a cryogenic freeze to match wits with his nemesis, Dr. Evil... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Mimi Rogers
Directed By: Jay Roach
73%
Critics Consensus: Violent images and blunt audience provocation make up this nihilistic experiment from one of cinema's more difficult filmmakers.
Synopsis: An idyllic lakeside vacation home is terrorized by Paul (Arno Frisch) and Peter (Frank Giering), a pair of deeply disturbed young men. When the fearful... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Frank Giering, Arno Frisch
Directed By: Michael Haneke
73%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Novelist Harry Block (Woody Allen) has become a success by turning his family and friends' lives into fodder for his books. Due to his novels'... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Caroline Aaron, Woody Allen, Kirstie Alley, Bob Balaban
Directed By: Woody Allen
73%
Critics Consensus: Looking for a sweet musical comedy about a witness to a crime hiding out from killers in a convent? There's nun better than Sister Act.
Synopsis: When lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she is relocated for her protection.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena
Directed By: Emile Ardolino
72%
Critics Consensus: Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger add strong performances to an unexpectedly clever script, elevating 10 Things (slightly) above typical teen fare.
Synopsis: Kat Stratford is beautiful, smart and quite abrasive to most of her fellow teens, meaning that she doesn't attract many boys. Unfortunately for her younger... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik
Directed By: Gil Junger
71%
Critics Consensus: Visually inventive and gleefully over the top, Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a fantastic piece of pop sci-fi that never takes itself too seriously.
Synopsis: The Earth is about to be destroyed by a huge ball of fire racing toward the planet. Cornelius, an old monk, knows how to stop... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich
Directed By: Luc Besson
70%
Critics Consensus: On paper, Mrs. Doubtfire might seem excessively broad or sentimental, but Robin Williams shines so brightly in the title role that the end result is difficult to resist.
Synopsis: An unemployed actor disguises himself as an elderly nanny in order to spend more time with his estranged family.
Starring: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein
Directed By: Chris Columbus
70%
Critics Consensus: A relentlessly stupid comedy elevated by its main actors: Jim Carrey goes bonkers and Jeff Daniels carries himself admirably in an against-type performance.
Synopsis: Imbecilic best friends Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) stumble across a suitcase full of money left behind in Harry's car by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, Teri Garr
Directed By: Peter Farrelly, Robert Farrelly
69%
Critics Consensus: The plot is thin and so is character development, but as a thrilling, spectacle-filled summer movie, Independence Day delivers.
Synopsis: In the epic adventure film "Independence Day," strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world's major cities. As these... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell
Directed By: Roland Emmerich
69%
Critics Consensus: While decidedly not for all tastes, Dead Man marks an alluring change of pace for writer-director Jim Jarmusch that demonstrates an assured command of challenging material.
Synopsis: Circumstances transform a mild-mannered accountant (Johnny Depp) into a notorious Old West gunslinger.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Lance Henriksen, Michael Wincott
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
68%
Critics Consensus: Some of the evil magic is gone as this trilogy capper dispenses with most of the scares, but Bruce Campbell's hammy charm and Sam Raimi's homage to classic visual effects make for a fun enough adventure.
Synopsis: 3rd Evil Dead movie. Ash finds himself trapped in medieval times. He must quest for the Necronomicon, a book of evil which can return him... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert, Ian Abercrombie
Directed By: Sam Raimi
68%
Critics Consensus: Absurd, over-the-top, and often wildly entertaining, Point Break is here to show you that the human spirit is still alive.
Synopsis: After a string of bizarre bank robberies in Southern California, with the crooks donning masks of various former presidents, a federal agent, Johnny Utah (Keanu... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty
Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
68%
Critics Consensus: For visceral thrills, it can't be beat. Just don't expect The Rock to engage your brain.
Synopsis: FBI chemical warfare expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) is sent on an urgent mission with a former British spy, John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery), to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn
Directed By: Michael Bay
68%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The activities of rampaging, indiscriminate serial killer Ben (Benoît Poelvoorde) are recorded by a willingly complicit documentary team, who eventually become his accomplices and active... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Benoît Poelvoorde, Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Jean-Marc Chenut
Directed By: Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel
67%
Critics Consensus: This late-career anthology by Akira Kurosawa often confirms that Dreams are more interesting to the dreamer than their audience, but the directorial master still delivers opulent visions with a generous dose of heart.
Synopsis: This imaginative Japanese production presents a series of short films by lauded director Akira Kurosawa. In one chapter, a young boy spies on foxes that... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Akira Terao, Mitsunori Isaki, Martin Scorsese, Mitsuko Baishô
Directed By: Akira Kurosawa, Ishirô Honda
66%
Critics Consensus: Home Alone's uneven but frequently funny premise, stretched unreasonably thin, is buoyed by Macaulay Culkin's cute performance and strong supporting stars.
Synopsis: When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. After the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O'Hara
Directed By: Chris Columbus
66%
Critics Consensus: It may be shamelessly derivative and overly nostalgic, but The Sandlot is nevertheless a genuinely sweet and funny coming-of-age adventure.
Synopsis: When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi
Directed By: David M. Evans
66%
Critics Consensus: Those who enjoy Adam Sandler's schtick will find plenty to love in this gleefully juvenile take on professional golf; those who don't, however, will find it unfunny and forgettable.
Synopsis: All Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) has ever wanted is to be a professional hockey player. But he soon discovers he may actually have a talent... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Frances Bay
Directed By: Dennis Dugan
66%
Critics Consensus: A pulpy crime drama/vampire film hybrid, From Dusk Till Dawn is an uneven but often deliriously enjoyable B-movie.
Synopsis: On the run from a bank robbery that left several police officers dead, Seth Gecko (George Clooney) and his paranoid, loose-cannon brother, Richard (Quentin Tarantino),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Juliette Lewis
Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
66%
Critics Consensus: A better-than-average sci-fi shoot-em-up with a satirical undercurrent, Demolition Man is bolstered by strong performances by Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock.
Synopsis: With innocent victims caught in the crossfire in Los Angeles' intensifying war on crime, both cop John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) and violent thug Simon Phoenix... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne
Directed By: Marco Brambilla
64%
Critics Consensus: Pretty Woman may be a yuppie fantasy, but the film's slick comedy, soundtrack, and casting can overcome misgivings.
Synopsis: A prostitute and a wealthy businessman fall for one another, forming an unlikely pair; while on a business trip in Los Angeles, Edward, who makes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander
Directed By: Garry Marshall


