To this day, A League of Their Own is considered one of the best sports movies, and many actors from its cast are icons. This list of people, obviously, includes Geena Davis and Madonna. So, you can imagine the excitement fans felt when the actress joined Instagram, and used one of her very first posts to highlight the fact that she had a reunion with the queen of pop.

One Of Geena Davis’ First Instagram Posts Is Of Her Reunion With Madonna

Now, before we get into this reunion, you need a bit of backstory. This all went down at Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella performance. During weekend one, she brought out Will Ferrell as an eclecticrician, Susan Sarandon as an older version of herself, Sam Elliott and more. Then, during weekend two, Geena Davis took over the part her Thelma & Louise co-star played, while Madonna came on stage to sing a few songs with the “Manchild” singer.

So, all that is what led to this post from Davis:

Along with utilizing the Thelma & Louise heavyweights during her show, Carpenter also helped facilitate a full A League of Their Own reunion. Clearly, Davis was thrilled about it too, as she wrote that she was “so happy to see” Madonna again. However, instead of using the “Like a Prayer” singer’s name, she called her Mae, which was her character’s name in the great baseball movie.

Overall, this photo marked Davis’ third post on Instagram, with her first two also being dedicated to the Coachella performance she took part in with Sabrina Carpenter. Truly, this is iconic – much like some of the best baseball moments in the movie Davis and Madonna starred in together. So, obviously, fans freaked out about this.

A League Of Their Own Fans Are Freaking Out

Whether you saw this great ‘90s movie when it came out or you were shown it later on, it has been a fan-favorite for decades. It’s still quoted to this day (you know, “There’s no crying in baseball!”), and the A League of Their Own cast is made up of so many truly legendary actresses. So yeah, when Dottie and Mae performers took a photo together, it was met with reactions like:

• 😭😭😭 This is the reunion I’m here for ⚾️🧢 -liz.z.pardue
• I know there’s no crying in baseball but I’m literally crying 😭😭😭 -nico_cdc
• DOTTIE AND MAE ♥️ -bennidili
• The gift that keeps on giving! The stars sure aligned beautifully that night! 🤩😍❤️👍🏻 -robster16
• OMG!! Dottie & Mae!! ⚾️ I Love ❤️ this!! 👏 -drownediva
• My life is complete 🥹🥹🥹❤️❤️❤️ -trulycherish
• My heart is overflowing 😍 -craigmoodynovelist

I couldn’t agree more with all these comments. This truly is a reunion that makes me emotional by itself. However, when you add in the context of why it happened in the first place, it becomes even more special.

As a Sabrina Carpenter fan myself, I’ve always adored her performances; however, her Coachella concert was something else. During her headline show, she paid homage to Hollywood and utilized massive sets, costume changes and guest stars in brilliant ways. This included both Davis and Madonna, who were part of her second weekend performance.

Both of them are such legends, and it made perfect sense for Davis to play an older Carpenter, while the queen of pop arrived to perform some of her greatest hits alongside a rising pop princess.

Plus, it was also what allowed this A League of Their Own reunion to happen. And it's how Genna Davis started her Instagram. So, this beautiful post from the movie's stars was the cherry on top!

There’s no doubt that A League of Their Own is a wonderful movie. It ranks on many lists of the best sports movies of all time, and CinemaBlend's own Mack Rawden would tell you it's a 5/5. It’s also a sports movie spearheaded by an excellent group of actresses, and not male-centric, as most sports stories are. It’s a snapshot of the world at war and has a nineties feel to it in one fell swoop, and it’s a movie I’ve turned to again and again throughout my life. However, I’d forgotten how angry I get at Dottie while watching.

If you’ve clicked on this article, doubtless you’ve seen A League of Their Own before (but there will be some spoilers in this article). You probably remember that Dottie (Geena Davis) is reticent to even try out for the All-American League, but her kid sister Kit (Lori Petty) convinces her so she, too, can land a tryout. As such, it should be no real surprise that when her husband returns from war, she’s ready to quit the league and go home to make babies. This, in and of itself, is not a problem. Motherhood is not a footnote; it's a gift in one’s life. But I cannot begin to express how upset I get when Dottie quits before the season is over!

One thing I noticed while rewatching the movie during Women's History Month is that A League of Their Own gets the nuances of being female spot-on. Dottie has conflicting priorities: those to her husband, those to her family on the farm, those to being the poster girl for the league, and those as a leader on her team, the Rockford Peaches. It's just that she treats them in that order, too.

The thing is, her husband could easily have stuck around for a few games after returning home. As a clearly supportive husband, he probably would have done so happily, and this is evidenced in the movie when Bob Hinson (Bill Pullman) comes back with her for the final playoff game. Dottie could have finished out the season as a Peach, and hopefully nabbed the championship, then gone home and set up her home life however it suited her. It didn’t need to be one or the other thing.

She’s making literal sports history, and can’t even be bothered to finish out the obligation she signed up for. It just feels out of keeping with the personality of most athletes, and also not in keeping with the competitive personality Dottie (mostly) has. We see how much she cares about the team when she gets them out of drinking binds, takes over the call signs, and can never seem to agree with Jimmy.

Clearly, there’s some ambiguity in her relationship with Jimmy (Tom Hanks), too, and it represents how we connect with people in different ways, and how life can change on a dime. In fact, I think showing how people can be multifaceted is one of A League of Their Own’s strongest suits. Yet, I feel a deep sense of betrayal every single time Dottie decides to go home.

And her lack of competitive spirit does not end there.

Let’s Talk About The Final Play

One of the major third act footnotes is the fact that Kit is traded to the Racine Belles just in time for the playoffs. When Dottie returns back from her ill-advised jaunt through National Parks on her return trip home, she then has to face off against her sister in the final match.

Kit is not as good at baseball as Dottie is. This is established from the movie’s opening shot and throughout the rest of the movie. Yet, in the final moment, as her sister rounds the corner, Dottie drops the ball, and for 30 years after, A League Of Their Own’s ending has been debated.

The final play between Dottie and Kit is shot in a way that the audience doesn’t know if it was done on accident or on purpose, but given the context of the rest of the movie, I think there’s a clear indication it was done on purpose. Fans love pointing out the moment in the nineties when Dottie goes with her grandkids to the museum event and mentions to her older grandkid that he needs to give his younger brother “a chance to shoot.” It feels like evidence she may have done that for her own sister, even as they hit the big time.

There’s some opposing evidence, from the look on Dottie’s face to the time she told that same grandkid to “kill” his younger brother – as in best him – that would indicate the ball drop is a mistake. However, given everything we know about the sisters leading up to that point, my gut feeling is she threw the play.

To be clear, I get that times were different. Baseball was less important for some of these women than setting up their homesteads was. This is also evidenced when Marla leaves the team after marrying Nelson and getting her happily ever after. I think it’s awesome we get to see this cool moment in history when women could be a part of a one-household income home, but were also able to spread their wings into areas of society that had previously been closed off to them.

Also, the movie’s ambiguity and the ways it asks the audience to read between the lines are its strongest facets. It says a lot about the film that I can be simultaneously so understanding and mad at Dottie at the same time. I just can’t get over her sabotaging her chance to be great at baseball.

Times were different, mentalities were different, and Dottie is certainly a different person than I am. But deep in my soul, I feel like if you sign up for a season, you stick with it, and you give it everything you have. You don’t drop balls, literally or figuratively.

Catch A League of Their Own streaming with a Peacock subscription if you haven't seen the 1992 film in a while.

Sometimes, you watch a sports movie that is just so good you can’t help but go on your phone the moment after and look up how to play the sport. That’s the power of some of the best sports movies out there – and here are a few that exemplify that perfectly.

Challengers (2024)

This was the first movie that came to my mind when I was generating ideas for this list. While it’s undoubtedly one of Zendaya’s best films, Challengers also gave way to a huge movement of people learning to play tennis, as well as a slew of tennis-related outfits that were everywhere for so long. I’m pretty sure I have, like, five tennis dresses in my closet right now.

A League Of Their Own (1992)

I feel like with baseball, there are always plenty of movies out there, but A League of Their Own is special because it’s one of those movies that inspires girls to really get into the sport of baseball. While these types of movies can inspire anyone, since baseball is a relatively male sport and there are few softball movies out there, it’s a great film to encourage young girls to pick up the sport.

The Sandlot (1993)

Of course, I have to put The Sandlot. It’s arguably one of the biggest sports movies of all time and is considered a favorite of many people, not only those of my age but also older generations. We all want to be playing baseball outside as children after watching this film.

The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid movies have been around for several decades and continue to inspire many viewers to learn the art of karate. Mr. Miyagi’s teachings have continued into another generation, time and time again.

And to be honest, The Karate Kid is one of those franchises that I don’t think will ever die. You know that saying from Cobra Kai, “Cobra Kai never dies?” Yeah, that’s going to be this franchise. We will forever be seeing kids who want to learn karate thanks to this film, and honestly, I can’t really be upset about that.

Friday Night Lights (2004)

There are many iconic football movies out there, and I’m pretty positive that Friday Night Lights is one of them. I mean, it inspired a whole television show based on it. The movie is the epitome of high school football and the heart that goes into it.

Rocky (And The Sequels) (1976-Onward)

Do I need to say anymore? It’s the Rocky movies, as well as the Creed films. There is nothing quite like seeing an underdog rise to the top and take down big dogs throughout a film franchise. So many people became boxers because of this film.

Major League (1989)

Okay, so the movie itself is goofy and pretty raunchy, but look, it’s a hilarious baseball movie. Major League is one of those films that you watch and end up loving because of how obscene it is – and then you want to go out and whack a stick and ball around, too.

I, Tonya (2017)

Without all the assault stuff, you feel me? I, Tonya, is one of Margot Robbie’s best films – if not her best, next to Barbie, of course – where she truly shines in the starring role. I have to admit that watching figure skating made me want to get out on the ice, even if I have the same amount of coordination that Bambi had when he first learned to walk.

Either way, it’s still a great movie with some amazingly done skating scenes, and anyone who has any interest in skating will undoubtedly want to head to the rink afterwards.

She’s The Man (2006)

Amanda Bynes was genuinely a national treasure in the early 2000s, creating a slew of incredible teen movies that have defined a generation (mine). One of those was She’s the Man, where she pretends to be a boy to join a boys' soccer team when the girls' team is shut down. It’s inspiring, and it's certainly inspired plenty of young women to pick up the sport, including me.

White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

It's another hysterical sports comedy that will make you want to learn the sport while also laughing a lot. White Men Can’t Jump stars Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, and is a hilarious movie that genuinely makes you want to go out and learn to play basketball – but don’t get into any tussles with those streetballers.

The Fighter (2010)

Arguably one of Mark Wahlberg’s best movies (as well as Christian Bale), The Fighter is another great boxing film based on the real tale of MickyWard and Dicky Eklund and their time in the boxing world. It’s inspiring, dramatic, and hits all the right notes – the perfect recipe to make you want to learn boxing as well.

The Longest Yard (1974)

I literally could not think of any other football movie that fits this list better than The Longest Yard. Starring Burt Reynolds, the film revolves around a football player recruiting prisoners to play a game of football against their guards. It’s a great movie and one that certainly will make you want to play football afterwards, just for fun.

Chariots Of Fire (1981)

While Chariots of Fire inspired one of the most meme-worthy musical scores ever, it’s also an Academy Award-winning movie that amazingly showcases the sport of track and tells a fantastic true story. If you haven’t seen this film, be sure to check it out.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Of course, I had to put The Mighty Ducks on here. This movie was a defining kid classic of the 1990s and inspired many people to take up the sport of hockey. The movie was so popular that it spawned an entire franchise.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Okay, so this movie is silly in a lot of ways, but Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a fun racing movie. When you’re not laughing your butt off, some fantastic race scenes are very well done. I’m sure NASCAR got a lot of fans after this.

Caddyshack (1980)

I’m pretty sure Caddyshack is one of the most famous golf movies of all time, and obviously, for good reason. The movie stars comedy legends like Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and more, and features some great golf sequences that make the sport look that much more entertaining (even if I probably will never play it).

Invincible (2006)

No, I’m not talking about one of the best Amazon Prime TV shows – I’m talking about the sports film that stars Mark Wahlberg, which tells the story of Vince Papale, a real-life football player who played for the Eagles back in the 1970s when he decided to go to a training camp for the Eagles. You’ll be rooting for this team in no time – GO BIRDS!

Hoosiers (1986)

Hoosiers is the type of sports movie that will make you want to shoot baskets the moment the film is done. The movie follows the story of a basketball team in Indiana and their journey to the national championship, but it’s so inspiring you’ll want to learn the game, too.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball," is a classic line from Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. And while there are plenty of inaccuracies about the sport in this film, it’s still a heck of a fun time, and as someone who was in school when this film came out, there was A LOT more dodgeball happening on the courts.

Happy Gilmore (1996)

While we waited years for Happy Gilmore 2, the original is still just as amazing and one that I will always recommend. It’s one of Adam Sandler’s best roles, hilarious, and makes every moment of watching it so funny while also introducing the viewer to the idea of golf.

The Blind Side (2009)

The Blind Side may have generated considerable controversy years later, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the movie itself remains very inspiring and portrays football in a positive light. It is still one of Sandra Bullock’s best roles and makes you want the NFL season to come back around much quicker.

Raging Bull (1980)

Raging Bull might sound like a terrifying movie, but in reality, it’s a great boxing film. Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, the series tells the story of real-life boxing champion Jake LaMotta and his rise and fall as a professional boxer. It’s iconic in many ways and has won several awards.

Ali (2001)

While Will Smith won the Academy Award for his role in King Richard, he was first nominated for his portrayal of legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali in Ali, which depicted his rise to fame in the 1960s and 1970s. Another inspiring tale that could lead anyone to the ring.

Remember The Titans (2000)

The Remember the Titans cast is utterly iconic, and so is the movie itself. It’s all about integrating two different teams from two other schools in Virginia back in the 1970s, and yes…it gets pretty messy regarding racial tensions, prejudices, and more. However, the movie is inspiring, and so is the sport that inspired it.

Race (2016)

Starring Stephan James, Race is based on the true story of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, and how he surpassed all odds to do so despite facing years of racial discrimination within the sport. It’s a race movie like no other.

Field Of Dreams (1989)

There are so many great baseball movies out there, but Field of Dreams is an excellent one. I only watched Field of Dreams a few years ago, but it made me want to create a baseball field outside my apartment building if I were able to communicate with baseball players who have passed on. That’s pretty cool.

Secretariat (2010)

Secretariat is a horse racing movie that tells the true story of Secretariat, one of the best (if not the best) racing horses of all time. As someone who loved this movie as a kid, all I wanted to do was go out there and ride a horse. It’s honestly such a fun time.

42 (2013)

There are the greats of baseball, and then there’s Jackie Robinson, one of the legends. 42 is all about that, starring the late Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and telling the legendary baseball player’s story.

Bring It On (2000)

Yes, of course, I had to include a cheerleading movie here because it is a sport, and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot. The film, about rival cheer teams, inspired so many young girls to get into cheerleading and showed that anyone could be a cheerleader if they put their heart and soul into it.

Rudy (1993)

If you want to talk about a true underdog story, then Rudy is the film that shows that. The film is based on the real-life story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who, despite all odds, managed to play for the Notre Dame football team.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

There were a slew of soccer movies in the early years of the 2000s, and Bend it Like Beckham is a fantastic example of one, all about two young women who look for success in the world of soccer (or football, as they call it across the pond and pretty much everywhere else in the world).

The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000)

The film is a sports fantasy drama that not only teaches you how to play the game but also tells an inspiring story about a former golfer who is coached back to become a legend.

Geez, now I feel like I have to go and sign up for some sports clinics – or maybe rewatch these movies. Where was my popcorn again?

As is the case with the best sports movies, there are so many great on-screen moments in baseball flicks, including some of the most quotable lines of all time. Classics like Bull Durham and The Sandlot, as well as underrated sequels like Major League II, have given us some inspiring (both intentional and unintentional) quotes that would honestly make great motivational posters. Here are 32 of the best examples we could find…

"Clear the Mechanism" (For Love Of The Game)

Kevin Costner’s Billy Chapel in For Love of the Game, one of the most motivational characters in the history of baseball movies, is the source of many great lines in the 2000s romance flick. But let’s be real here… his “Clear the mechanism” line is on a whole other level.

"There's No Crying In Baseball!" (A League Of Their Own)

Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) telling Evelyn Gardner (Bitty Schram), “There’s no crying in baseball,” is probably the scene a lot of us remember the most from A League of Their Own. The harsh tone can be a little much, but the motivation to pull yourself up in bad times is something we can all live by, especially in life.

"Heroes Get Remembered But Legends Never Die. Follow Your Heart Kid, And You'll Never Go Wrong." (The Sandlot)

The Sandlot has withstood the test of time better than its contemporaries, and a lot of that has to do with the seemingly endless line of great quotes. One of the most unforgettable and motivational, comes when the ghost of Babe Ruth (Art LaFleur) visits Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) and gives the iconic “Legends never die” speech, which still holds up decades later.

"I've Tried 'em All, I Really Have, And The Only Church That Truly Feeds The Soul, Day In, Day Out, Is The Church Of Baseball." (Bull Durham)

Susan Sarandon’s Annie Savoy is the core of Bull Durham (Sorry, Crash!) and at the center of some of the 1988 sports comedy’s best moments. One scene that sticks out the most is the one where the hopeless romantic talks about her struggles with religion, and spirituality in general, when talking about her love of baseball.

"But Baseball Has Marked The Time. This Field, This Game: It's A Part Of Our Past, Ray. It Reminds Us Of All That Once Was Good And It Could Be Again." (Field Of Dreams)

The death of James Earl Jones in September 2024 hurt, like a lot. However, the passing of the screen and stage legend did mean we got to hear his iconic “Part of our past” speech from Field of Dreams over and over again. The emotion, the power, the evocative imagery are all the stuff of legend.

"This Quitting Thing, It's A Hard Habit To Break Once You Start." (The Bad News Bears)

Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) probably isn’t the most motivational coach of all time, but this hard-headed and cantankerous leader knew how to get his ragtag group of lovable losers to give it their all on the field. This line, which highlights his own issues, just resonates after all these years.

"How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball?" (Moneyball)

A modern baseball classic, Moneyball captures the heart and soul of baseball while not really focusing on the on-field product. This is especially true in the scene where Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane responds to a minor league player not knowing he had hit a home run.

"People All Say That I've Had A Bad Break. But Today, Today I Consider Myself The Luckiest Man On The Face Of The Earth." (Pride Of The Yankees)

The Pride of the Yankees, a 1942 biopic about the life, career, and legacy of Lou Gehrig (Gary Cooper), has its fair share of emotional moments, like the scene where the former Yankee great addresses his ALS diagnosis and mortality with tens of thousands of New York faithful.

"Go The Distance." (Field Of Dreams)

The best motivational posters are those that are both short and ambiguous enough that they can be referencing a myriad of situations. The voice in the cornfield telling Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) to go the distance doesn’t tell him what to do or how to do it, and that’s kind of the best part.

"Ok, We Won A Game Yesterday. If We Win Today, It's Called 'two In A Row.' And If We Win Again Tomorrow, It's Called A 'winning Streak.' It Has Happened Before!" (Major League II)

Major League II is not really a good movie, but Coach Lou Brown (James Gammon) giving his team of misfits, outcasts, and losers some motivation for the down the stretch is just so good.

"It’s Supposed To Be Hard. If It Wasn’t Hard, Everyone Would Do It. The Hard Is What Makes It Great.” (A League Of Their Own)

Jimmy Dugan’s “It’s supposed to be hard” speech from A League of Their Own perfectly captures the heart and soul of the down-on-his-luck coach when talking to his star player Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis). Despite being past his prime and a deeply-committed commode-hugging drinker, this former batting champ had some words of wisdom.

"Hey Yankees... You Can Take Your Apology And Your Trophy And Shove 'Em..." (The Bad News Bears)

The titular team telling the team that just beat them in The Bad News Bears to pretty much shove their trophy where the sun don’t shine is a scene all underdogs should live by, especially when you fall short of the top prize.

"Man, This Is Baseball. You Gotta Stop Thinking." (The Sandlot)

How many of us grew up hearing coaches tell us to stop overthinking baseball? Though difficult at times, the advice given by Benny Rodriguez in The Sandlot are words that should motivate even the most down-beaten of losers… in baseball and in life.

"Do You Know What We Get To Do Today, Brooks? We Get To Play Baseball." (The Rookie)

The Rookie, being an inspirational biopic about a school teacher getting to follow his dream of being an MLB pitcher, is full of motivational moments. One line that should be painted on the walls of every locker room is “we get to play baseball,” like Dennis Quaid’s Jimmy Morris told a teammate.

"If You Don't Feel Like You're Going To Live Forever." (Eight Men Out)

Buck Weaver (John Cusack), one of the “Chicago Black Sox” in Eight Men Out, is one of the most sympathetic characters in the entire movie, and one that provides one of the most touching lines when he talks about the pride, joy, and power playing the sport he loves brings him each and every day.

"Hey Dad, You Wanna Have A Catch?" (Field Of Dreams)

It doesn’t matter if you’re a child, a teenager, or a 36-year-old watching Field of Dreams for the first time this baseball season; this 1989 movie is going to make you cry. The scene where Ray asks his dad if he’d like to play catch is enough to make you want to talk to your dad on the phone. Here’s your motivation to call your dad.

"I Know Who I Am. I've Got Enough Respect For Myself." (42)

The late Chadwick Boseman’s take on Jackie Robinson in the 2013 biopic, 42 is one the best breakout performances of the 21st century, and a motivational portrayal like no other. There’s one scene in particular where the Brooklyn Dodger is talking to his wife about his treatment on the field; despite the abuses (verbally and physically), Robinson never loses respect for himself or forgets who he is.

"We're BEHIND. BIG difference." (Mr. Baseball)

Jack Elliot (Tom Selleck) telling his teammates on the Nagoya Chunichi Dragons in Mr. Baseball that they’re not losing the game is the most “glass is half full” thing in any baseball movie.

"If You Rely Too Much On Your Own Gift... Then... You'll Fail." (The Natural)

Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) hearing his dad give him the baseball equivalent of “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” in the early part of The Natural is one of the most powerful and foretelling moments of this iconic baseball film.

"The Boys Are All Here For Ya, We'll Back You Up, We'll Be There, Cause, Billy, We Don't Stink Right Now." (For Love Of The Game)

Catcher Gus Sinski (John C. Reilly) telling Billy Chapel that all his teammates are standing behind him in his quest for the perfect game is what sports are all about. This incredibly touching moment in For Love of the Game is one of the most motivational and endearing lines from any sports movie.

"Baseball Was Life! And I Was Good At It... Real Good." (The Sandlot)

Mr. Mertle’s (James Earl Jones) talk with the young players at the end of The Sandlot is one of the most charming, eye-opening, and motivational aspects of this 1993 movie. Despite losing his vision and ability to play the game he loves, the former player never loses his sense of humor or pride.

"But I Am Sure You Can't Go Through Life Thinking Everyone You Meet Will One Day Let You Down, Because If You Do, A Very Bad Thing Will Happen." (Angels In The Outfield)

George Knox (Danny Glover) isn’t the most likable baseball coach of all time, but his knack for motivational speeches in Angels in the Outfield is undeniable. The scene where the Angels skipper gives Roger Bomman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) an unusual pep talk still hits 30-plus years later.

"You Know, We Just Don't Recognize The Most Significant Moments Of Our Lives While They're Happening." (Field Of Dreams)

In a movie full of great characters, Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham (Burt Lancaster) is on a higher level. His speech about the most significant moments of our lives during his late-night walk with Ray Kinsella just hits.

"I See Great Things In Baseball. It's Our Game, The American Game. It Will Repair Our Losses And Be A Blessing To Us." (Bull Durham)

America’s pastime has experienced the ups and downs of history; the good times and bad of this great nation. Annie Savoy’s description of the game in Bull Durham perfectly captures the power of the game, and it’s honestly something that should be plastered on walls from sea to shining sea.

"All I Know Is When We Win A Game, It's A Team Win. When We Lose A Game, It's A Team Loss." (The Bad News Bears)

Coach Morris Buttermaker, despite being a bit of a jerk, knows how to get his team behind him in The Bad News Bears. Case in point… this motivational speech about the merits of playing as a team, whether in victory or defeat.

"See, How It Works Is, The Train Moves, Not The Station." (A League Of Their Own)

Sure, AAGPBL scout Ernie Capadino (Jon Lovitz) was being extremely snarky when he convinced Marla Hooch (Megan Cavanagh) to get on the train. However, sometimes we need a good kick in the rear to board the train of life.

"Do Me A Favor, Henry. Don't Take This Game Too Seriously." (Rookie of The Year)

We all need a grouchy, end-of-his-career veteran to help us out in life. Henry Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas) got that in the form of Chet "Rocket" Steadman (Gary Busey) in Rookie of the Year. One of the biggest life lessons the young firearm gets is to HAVE FUN.

"Hey, Anything Worth Doing Is. And We're Going To Teach You." (Moneyball)

There’s a scene in Moneyball where a newly signed player tells Billy Beane that learning a new position is hard, to which the Oakland A’s GM responds by essentially saying that’s the best part of life.

"And Tonight, I Think He Might Be Able To Use That Aching Old Arm One More Time, To Push The Sun Back Up In The Sky And Give Us One More Day Of Summer.” (For Love Of The Game)

Vin Scully was the man. That is all.

"You Throw The Ball, You Hit The Ball, You Catch The Ball. You Got It." (Bull Durham)

When it comes to baseball movie coaches that look like they’re about one missed double-play away from having a heart attack in the dugout, Joe “Skip” Riggins (Trey Wilson) was in a league of his own. The “It’s a simple game” speech from Bull Durham, the one where all the players are scared to death in the showers, is as motivational as it is intense.

"We're Not Athletes... We're Baseball Players." (Mr. Baseball)

Mr. Baseball is a movie about cultural differences, and Jack Elliot experiences that firsthand when he practices with his new Japanese team. Though not your conventional motivational poster, this line would be perfect for one of those ironic t-shirts that were once all the rage.

"God, I Love Baseball." (The Natural)

The Natural is a near-perfect movie and one that makes men turn into boys. There’s one scene where Roy Hobbs proclaims his admiration for the game by invoking the name of the Holy Father himself.

Hollywood has conditioned audiences to expect two central characters of similar romantic preferences and with great chemistry to fall in love by the end of a film or at some point in a TV series’ run. Thus, it is typically more refreshing to see these protagonists remain compatible but without giving in to a forced will-they-won’t-they dynamic. In that spirit, here is a thankful tribute to pop culture’s best platonic couples.

Max And Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)

For the fourth installment of his beloved franchise of post-apocalyptic thrillers, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, writer and director George Miller introduced a female hero to serve as the title character's equal in another road war. Not once is there a hint of any romantic connection between Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), and the modern action movie classic is beloved all the more for it.

Jerry And Elaine (Seinfeld)

One key way Seinfeld established itself early on as a groundbreaking comedy was doing away with any will-they-won't-they gimmick between Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) by starting them off as a couple, breaking them up before the show even started, and seeing them remain friends through the run. While the beloved TV sitcom occasionally dropped hints at rekindling their romance for laughs (such as when they became friends with benefits or Jerry's impromptu marriage proposal), there is no doubt they are stronger as pals.

Marlin And Dory (Finding Nemo)

Finding Nemo could have easily incorporated the typical "widowed father finds love again" trope by seeing Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) fall into a charming interbreed romance during their search for his eponymous son (voiced by Alexander Gould). However, I think most would agree that making the clownfish and Blue Tang nothing but friends is an essential aspect of what makes the Oscar winner one of Pixar's best movies.

Leslie And Ron (Parks And Recreation)

At the Paley Center for Media, Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur shared that Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson were initially conceived as the "mom and dad" of the Pawnee Parks Department office, but without any intention of giving them romantic chemistry. The closest the co-workers have ever come to being more than professional is when Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman pretend to make out for the sitcom's gag reel.

Harry And Hermione (The Harry Potter Movies)

The Harry Potter movies may be named after Daniel Radcliffe's "Boy Who Lived," but the young wizard would not be able to achieve what he does at Hogwarts without the help of his very best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). In any other blockbuster franchise, the title character might end up with the girl in the end, but the thought never seems to cross their minds, and instead, Hermione and Ron come to develop feelings for each other.

Joey And Pheobe (Friends)

There always seemed to be romance in the air for the members of the Friends cast, from Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) rocky, on-again-off-again relationship to Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) marriage, and even Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) attempt at being more than roommates. However, Joey and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) were practically brother and sister, even though they did kiss when he thought she was her twin sister, Ursula, and he did offer to marry her when he thought she was pregnant. That is, thankfully, the closest they ever came.

Hawkeye And Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) share a deeper bond than most characters from the Marvel movies in order can claim, having known each other long before forming the Avengers together. The ultimate sign of their undying, platonic love for one another is in 2019's Avengers: Endgame when neither is willing to let the other sacrifice themselves to retrieve the Soul Stone, only for Clint to fall apart when he is forced to say goodbye to Nat.

Liz And Jack (30 Rock)

They may have gotten off on the wrong foot in the pilot for 30 Rock, but TV writer Liz Lemon (series creator Tina Fey) and her boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), eventually come to form a respectable professional team. I cannot imagine anyone would have ever expected these characters to fall for one another, but it was the mere unlikelihood of their romance that made their bond one of the comedy's strongest elements.

Bob And Charlotte (Lost In Translation)

I honestly feel like I might be cheating by including Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson's characters from the 2000s-era movie classic, Lost in Translation, because the oft-discussed ending of Sofia Coppola's Oscar-winning dramedy suggests their bond evolves into something more. However, up until then, they share a friendship that each desperately needed and anyone would be lucky to have.

Mal And Zoë (Firefly)

One of the many issues that led to the premature cancellation of cult sci-fi series Firefly was creative demands from Fox executives, such as one note requesting that Zoë (Gina Torres) not be married to Wash (Alan Tudyk) to leave room for any romantic potential with Nathan Fillion's Captain Mal Reynolds. Thankfully, creator Joss Whedon stood his ground and adamantly refused, allowing the interplanetary outlaws to remain thick and thieves in the purest sense.

Ripley And Hicks (Aliens)

Writer and director James Cameron's second chapter of the Alien movies franchise introduced one of cinema's most revered platonic couples in the form of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and Cpl. Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn). There are more than enough hints at the Xenomorph survivor and the marine sharing a romantic connection, but the sci-fi movie classic leaves their level of affection ambiguous instead of ending with a big, celebratory smooch like any other filmmaker might have pushed for.

Don And Peggy (Mad Men)

With how many women on the Mad Men cast Don Draper (Jon Hamm) had affairs with, one might have expected something to happen between him and his assistant/protege, Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss). Of course, that was never on the cards for them, as the 1960s ad executive saw her as more of a daughter, sharing with her many winning professional successes and tender personal moments throughout the hit AMC series' run.

Daisy And Hoke (Driving Miss Daisy)

Driving Miss Daisy from 1989 traces the longtime relationship between a grumpy older woman, Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), and her chauffeur, Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Seeing their friendship survive racial and ageist adversaries in the mid-1900s South makes this Best Picture Oscar winner an enduring inspiration.

SpongeBob And Sandy (SpongeBob Squarepants)

As a marine biologist like SpongeBob Squarepants creator Stephen Hillenburg would know, sea sponges do not require mates to reproduce (which does make the inclusion of the title character's parents a bit nonsensical, admittedly). Nonetheless, nothing could have ever happened between SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and his squirrely pal, Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence), anyway, even if some adult viewers of Nickelodeon's beloved animated series have theorized their shared passion for martial arts was a form of foreplay.

Rey And Finn (The Star Wars Movies)

It took some time for the Star Wars movies to embrace the idea of purely platonic relationships between characters of the opposite gender, specifically when the franchise was revived in 2015. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, loner Rey (Daisy Ridley) and reformed Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) become fast friends and remain allies in the fight against the First Order in the last of the sequel trilogy.

Will And Jack (Will & Grace)

During the revival seasons of Will & Grace, there were hints at Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) relationship with his friend, and fellow gay man, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), evolving into something more. However, that would have undermined the entire spirit of the sitcom because, as Will, the duo are meant to be "girlfriends, not boyfriends."

Jimmy And Dottie (A League of Their Own)

According to SlashFilm, director Penny Marshall shot a kissing scene between Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan and Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson for the 1992 sports movie favorite, A League of Their Own. The scene was ultimately cut, maintaining the characters' strong bond as a baseball player and her coach.

Ted And Rebecca (Ted Lasso)

In the hit Apple TV+ original series, Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) initially hires the eponymous American football coach (played by Jason Sudeikis), hoping that he will ruin the football team her ex-husband cherished. Instead, she comes to appreciate the good he does for the team on and off the field, and a trusting, loving friend in and out of the office develops.

Shang-Chi And Katy (Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings)

Succeeding Black Widow and Hawkeye as the definitive platonic couple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably Xu "Shaun" Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina). In 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, when Shaun tells his best friend/co-worker/karaoke partner that he has to leave town to help protect his younger sister, she insists on coming with him without a second's hesitation.

Jake And Rosa (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Having come up at the police academy together, Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) share one of the closest bonds among the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast. Refreshingly, the New York detectives' relationship never evolves into anything beyond strict professionalism and deeply supportive friendship, as Jake eventually marries Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Rosa goes through various relationships with both men and women, having come out as bi-sexual in Season 5.

Drax And Mantis (Guardians Of The Galaxy Movies)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Drax (Dave Bautista) makes it abundantly clear that he has no romantic interest in Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and, in fact, is physically repulsed by the idea of being with her. In turn, the cosmic Marvel heroes prove to have a great brother-sister dynamic, especially when they team up to find Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) the perfect holiday gift in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Jack And Chloe (24)

No one had Jack Bauer's (Kiefer Sutherland) back like Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) on 24. The CTU agent's relationship with the analyst was, essentially, one-sided at first before they became strong allies and even best friends.

Dredd And Anderson (Dredd)

To even describe Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) and Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) from 2012's underrated comic book flick, Dredd, as friends would be far from accurate. However, as law enforcement officials, they could not be a better match as partners, evidenced by their impeccable compatibility while working to bring down the wonderfully over-the-top action villain, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), and her drug operation.

Joan And Sherlock (Elementary)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson make up one of the most iconic and influential partnerships in pop culture history. A modernized, gender-swapped reinterpretation of the characters in CBS's Elementary, starring Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, has also been recognized as a pairing for the ages.

Arthur And Iris (The Holiday)

In the acclaimed rom-com, The Holiday, Iris Simpkins' (Kate Winslet) love interest is Jack Black's L.A. film score composer Miles Dumon. However, the visiting Brit spends most of her time in the States with elderly former screenwriter Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach), which quickly becomes the most charming relationship in Nancy Meyers' 2006 holiday season favorite.

Lexi And Stefan (The Vampire Diaries)

In his many, many years as an ageless creature of the night, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) took many lovers throughout the years, but there was one female The Vampire Diaries character he called one of his best friends. Arielle Kebbel plays fellow bloodsucker Lexi Branson, who, essentially, serves as Stefan's moral compass and bonds with him over the shared passion for the music of Bon Jovi.

Edgin And Holga (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves)

What made 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves such a blast, especially for experienced players of its namesake role-playing game, was the strong sense of unity and teamwork among its cast of heroes. No characters in the fantasy adventure represent those qualities better than Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), who are endlessly loyal to one another from the start.

Veronica And Wallace (Veronica Mars)

Kristen Bell's title hero from the teen mystery drama Veronica Mars first met Wallace Fennel (Percy Daggs III) when she saw him duct-taped to a flagpole and came to his rescue. This marked the beginning of a friendship that few high schoolers can claim.

Charly And Mitch (The Long Kiss Goodnight)

In The Long Kiss Goodnight, amnesiac mother Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) discovers, with help from private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), her past as a deadly top agent. From then on, the 1996 thriller from director Renny Harlin becomes a fun buddy action flick as "Samantha" embraces her true identity as Charly Baltimore.

Maddie And Simon (School Spirits)

The acclaimed Paramount+ original series School Spirits is a ghost story from the perspective of a ghost, namely 17-year-old Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who is unable to interact with the living... except for one person. Her unbreakable bond with her best friend, Simon Elroy (Kristian Ventura), allows him to see her, making him the only one who can help solve the mystery of her death, which she has no memory of.

Preston And Denise (Can't Hardly Wait)

Any other fun party movie would have the nerdy teen protagonist pining for the popular girl end up with his female best friend instead. However, in Can't Hardly Wait, Preston (Ethan Embry) does end up with his dream girl, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), while his best friend, Denise (Lauren Ambrose), forms an unexpected connection with Kenny (Seth Green) after getting locked in a bathroom together.

Meredith And Alex (Grey's Anatomy)

On a medical drama in which most people seemed to be getting into bed with each other, it was refreshing to see two characters from the Grey's Anatomy cast, namely Justin Chambers' Alex Karev and Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey, sharing a relationship that was purely friendly.

When I was a teenage boy, nothing excited me more than what was known as a good ‘ol "catfight." You know, mud wrestling, women pulling each other by the hair... If I saw that, I was in adolescent heaven.

However, as an adult, I can’t think of anything that would turn my stomach faster. Yes, The Jerry Springer Show is my favorite talk show of all time. That said, thinking back, there were way too many episodes where women fought each other over some man. Nowadays, I think women should fight The Man! Not fight over a man.

My colleague, Sarah El-Mahmoud, wrote an excellent article about 20 great movies to watch for Women’s History Month, and some of those movies will end up on this list. However, my focus is purely on movies that highlight women supporting women, since we don’t have nearly enough of them. I have a daughter, and these are the kinds of relationships that I want her to establish. So, without further ado, 10 movies about women supporting one another.

Wicked (2024)

Based on the Broadway show of the same name (though, I much prefer the movie to the show), Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, who would later go on to be known as the Wicked Witch, and Glinda, who would later be called the Good Witch.

If you were to re-watch The Wizard of Oz, you might think that Glinda and Elphaba were enemies. However, Wicked is a re-imagining, in which Glinda and Elphaba went to school together and grew to be friends.

What I love about the story though is that they don’t start out as friends. In fact, they hate each other. Glinda only seems to care about being popular (I’m sorry, pop-Uuuu-lar), and Elphaba is more concerned with learning. However, through events that bring them together, they become the closest of friends.

I love how their friendship blossoms, as it creates a good message that even enemies can become partners.

The Marvels (2023)

Even though The Marvels didn’t kill it at the box office, it still perseveres as one of the better post-Endgame MCU films.

Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel and the MCU shows WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, The Marvels sees Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan banding together after their powers make them switch places every time they use them.

They need to figure out how to work together and defeat a Kree Leader who is out for revenge after Captain Marvel destabilized her home.

What I love about The Marvels is that Kamala’s hero worship of Captain Marvel disconfirms the idea that you should never meet your heroes. Yes, she learns that Danvers isn't perfect, but she also learns that she can contribute just as much as her hero whenever the time arises. Couple this with Monica Rambeau’s ability to keep them altogether, and you have a match made in grrl power heaven.

Frozen (2013)

Undoubtedly the biggest Disney animated movie in the past 20 years (though I prefer Tangled), Frozen is a film that is essentially about two sisters with wildly different ambitions.

Queen Elsa—at first, anyway—simply doesn't want to let her people down. That is, until she decides to just “let it go” and not worry about her little snow-controlling secret. Princess Anna, on the other hand, wants to get married to a man she just met.

Through a series of misadventures, Anna and Elsa grow closer than ever, and Anna comes to realize that she doesn't need a man (though, she ends up with a nice one) to feel fulfilled. She only needs the love of her sister.

Frozen is a great film about the importance of sisterhood, and I love that message for young girls and grown-up women alike.

Hidden Figures (2016)

The story of three brilliant women who work at NASA and change history, Hidden Figures doubles as both a movie about females working together, and also as one of the quintessential Black-led movies.

Based on the actual historical figures Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, Hidden Figures is a period piece that showcases the kinds of racist nonsense that these women had to go through just to do their jobs.

Still and all, they made it work through tenacity and intelligence, and proved their worth many times over by getting the fly boys into space at a crucial time in American history.

The film is phenomenal, because it’s a testament to the idea that women who stick together are stronger than women who work apart. Even though they all worked in separate areas of NASA, they still always came together at the end of the day, which is most important.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

The feminist buddy crime drama of the ‘90s (honestly, one of the best movies of the ‘90s, period), Thelma & Louise is the story of two friends who truly will ride or die together.

Thelma is a housewife with an abusive husband, and Louise is dating a nice (though mostly absent) musician. But, after an incident that results in murder (The bastard had it coming), the two friends go on the lam.

Along the way, they both have good times and bad, but in the end, they ultimately go out on their own terms in one of the most famous endings in cinema history.

Thelma & Louise is a masterpiece, and a story that proves that a woman’s closest ally will always be another woman.

Set It Off (1996)

Since I’m on the topic of crime dramas, Set It Off is another story of women sticking it to the man; this time as bank robbers.

Four friends band together and rob banks because society has done them dirty. They hatch elaborate robberies, getting away with them when they can.

Of course, since this is a film from the ‘90s, it all catches up to them, as four Black women couldn’t possibly get away scot-free and all drive off happily into the sunset.

That said, even with all of their inner squabbling, Set It Off is still a wonderful film about women bucking the norms and taking what they want, together, arm-in-arm.

The Woman King (2022)

Basically Black Panther's Dora Milaje, the movie, The Woman King is about women warriors who actually existed in West Africa during the 17th-19th centuries.

The story of a female general who leads other women into combat, this movie is all about what it takes to fight oppressors, especially those who align with your enemies.

The women train, kill, and survive, all in the name of protecting the kingdom.

The story, which is based on the actual Agojie, is a testament that women can do anything that men can do, and often better. Especially when they work together.

A League Of Their Own (1992)

One of my favorite films as a kid, A League of Their Own is about an all-female baseball team during World War II.

All of the players come from different walks of life, but they come together whenever they can to play a good game of baseball (while doing a split, no less!).

The men in their lives play a part, but in the end, the team is what brings them all together as a unit.

A League of Their Own is a fan-favorite because it’s funny, and the cast is great, but the theme of female teamwork making the dream work is this film’s longest-lasting legacy.

Booksmart (2019)

I envy the young women in Booksmart, who are Ivy-league bound, but also viewed as boring.

What I envy is that they are both reluctant to come out of their shells, but will do so whenever they call a “Malala,” which is their code word for following each other, no matter what trouble they may get into.

It leads them to party after party, and also to trip on hallucinogenic strawberries, because YOLO, right?

Booksmart is a story about two friends who can both be brilliant, but also bawdy and “bad.” What woman doesn’t need a good friend to “Malala” with?

Barbie (2023)

Lastly, I want to talk about Barbie, which surprised a lot of people when it debuted.

The story of the famous doll having an existential crisis and entering into the real world, Barbie’s whole society is a matriarchy, and the men (Ken dolls) basically feel worthless without the women in their lives.

When Ken learns of the patriarchy, though, the women make the men see the errors of their ways, as the matriarchy is superior (as it should be).

This is a story about identity, and womanhood, but it’s also about the positives of a female society. Long live the matriarchy!

Those are just 10 movies about women supporting women. What’s your favorite?

Coaches inspire so many of us, even fictional coaches (or fictionalized versions of real coaches like Herb Brooks in Miracle). The coaches on this list make us want to believe, like Ted Lasso, or fight for every inch on the field like Tony D'Amato. We want to do our best because we want us to be the best. So without wasting any more time on this, let's get into the most inspiring coaches we can think of from movies and television.

Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." What else really needs to be said about Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) from Friday Night Lights? He's the kind of guy that doesn't need to get you to run through a wall with intimidation, he just wants everyone to work their hardest together, as a team. He's what every high school coach should be, when far too many aren't.

Gordon Bombay (The Mighty Ducks)

Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) might not have wanted to be on the bench at first, but like any great coach, he's as inspired by his players and they by him. You don't always need to be the best to get the best out of your team, and when you are as excited as they are, the world is your oyster, just like Coach Bombay in The Mighty Ducks.

Hayden Fox (Coach)

Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) on Coach didn't have a knack for hiring brilliant assistant coaches, but he must have been able to inspire his players because he moved from a struggling college team to a successful one, and then onto the pros.

Herman Boone (Remember The Titans)

Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington in Remember The Titans, but based on a real person, was put into an impossible position as the first Black coach of a high school football team in a school's history. On top of that, he was replacing a popular white coach. But he made it work. He won with his players and he won his way.

Mr. Miagi (The Karate Kid)

You might not think of Mr. Miagi (Pat Morita) when it comes to coaches, as most people think of coaches of teams. Mr. Miagi is so much more than simply a sports coach to Daniel (Ralph Macchio). He not only makes him a great fighter, he makes him a great person. Daniel's entire life is informed by what he learned from Mr. Miagi.

Herb Brooks (Miracle)

Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell in Miracle) was the kind of coach who inspired his team by making himself the villain. When he took the job as the coach of the US Hockey Team before the 1980 Olympics, he knew that the disparate groups of players needed to come together. He succeeded by getting them to bond in their collective hatred of him. It's a hard line to walk, Brooks did it brilliantly.

Tony D'Amato (Any Given Sunday)

If for no other reason, Tony D'Amato in Any Given Sunday is on this list for that amazing speech he gives: "On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch, because we know when we add up all those inches that’s gonna make the fuckin' difference between winning and losing! Between livin' and dyin'!"

Richard Williams (King Richard)

While Will Smith's Oscar-winning performance in as Richard Williams in King Richard was overshadowed by his infamous slap during the ceremony, it's still an amazing bit of acting. Williams went against the grain in every way to raise two champion daughters with Venus and Serena and it's all up on the screen.

Lou Brown (Major League)

The manager of the Indians in Major League is Lou Brown, a washed-up tire salesman who is coaxed into coaching the team. Once he gets to the club though, he knows exactly what buttons to push for each player. It's not about rah-rah speeches, it's about connecting with every player in a different way.

Mickey Goldmill (Rocky)

Without Mickey (Burgess Meredith), Rocky never makes it to the end of the fight in Rocky. From his training to his tough love to his inspiration during the fight, Mick is everything to Rocky. One of the best boxing trainers in film history, if not the best.

Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso)

Is there any doubt that Ted Lasso would be on this list? He may be out of his depth with the Xs and Os of football (or soccer), but he is so good at inspiring his players that it doesn't really matter. He can rely on his assistants for the nitty gritty, he'll take the high road and get everyone to play as hard for him as any coach ever.

Morris Buttermaker (The Bad News Bears)

Things don't start all that great for Morris Buttermaker (Walter Matthau) in The Bad News Bears, but by the end of the movie, he's not only coached up his team of misfits, but he gets them to do things the right way. He may be a drunk, but he's our drunk.

Norman Dale (Hoosiers)

It's really hard to believe that the late Gene Hackman didn't win an Oscar for Hoosiers where he played Coach Norman Dale. There are so many moments that stick with you from his coaching style, but it's really summed up when he measures the height of the net and the free throw line in the giant arena, and shows it's the same as their little gym back home. Such a unique way to calm down his team.

Molly McGrath (Wildcats)

Girl Power! Wildcats is a movie that flies under the radar, even when discussing Goldie Hawn's amazing career. It's far from a perfect movie, but as a coach, she is spectacular. How often do you see a female coach succeed, especially in a sport like football? It's not common, that's for sure.

Johnny Lawrence (Cobra Kai)

At the beginning of Cobra Kai, no one would have guessed that Johnny Lawrence would turn into an inspiring coach. There is literally nothing inspiring about him. In the end he turned into an amazing coach.

Reggie Dunlop (Slap Shot)

There is only one player-coach on this list: Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman) in Slap Shot. On the surface, he's not the most inspiring character, but like other coaches on this list, he knows exactly how to read each player and what he needs to do to get them to put forward their best foot - or skate, as the case may be.

Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Cheers)

We don't know how good Coach from Cheers was because we only know him as a bartender. But he must have been inspiring because he inspired Sam Malone (Ted Danson) to hire him at the bar.

Annie Savoy (Bull Durham)

At first, you might think of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) as a coach, but that's exactly what she is. She does a better job inspiring the Bulls than their manager does, that's for sure. She works with the two most important players on the team and gets them both to exceed their own expectations.

Jimmy Dugan (A League Of Their Own)

Some other coaches on this list were just as inspired by the players as the players were by them. Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) is more inspired by his team than they are by him, but in the end, it's the combination of both that puts the Peaches over the top and gets them to that last out.

George Knox (Angels In The Outfield)

As a coach, you have to know when to pick your moments, and George Knox (Danny Glover) is great at Angels In The Outfield. He has a lot to deal with on the team and he knows just when to unload and inspire.

Patches O'Houlihan (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story)

Just when they needed him most, Patches O'Houlihan was there for the Average Joes. At least, in spirit he was there. Dying may not be the best way to inspire a team, but it worked, so for that he's on the list.

Gary Gaines (Friday Night Lights)

Before Coach Taylor took over in the TV show Friday Night Lights, Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) was the coach in the movie that inspired the show. He's a different kind of motivator, but he feels the pain in all his players and empathizes in a way that completely inspired everyone who played for him.

Jack Lengyel (We Are Marshall)

We Are Marshall is one of the most inspiring movies in a long time because the story it is based on is just so tragic. The movie isn't perfect, but Matthew McConaughey nails it as Coach Jack Lengyel, a man with the impossible task of completely rebuilding a football program after it is destroyed by a plane crash.

Ken Carter (Coach Carter)

Samuel L. Jackson inspires people in almost every role he plays. Playing a coach based on the real Ken Carter in Coach Carter, he is as inspiring as ever. The real Carter (as shown in the movie) made the impossible decision to suspend his all-star basketball team for their poor academic performance. Sometimes it's about inspiring kids to be better people, not just better players.

Stanley Sugerman (Hustle)

Adam Sandler takes a lot of heat for a lot of his movies for being silly and juvenile, but then every once in a while he puts in a performance like he does as a basketball scout and coach in Hustle. He is inspiring because he never gives up, no matter what is thrown at him, and his players (or player in this case) respond the same way.

Irv Blitzer (Cool Runnings)

Like the other movies on this list, Cool Runnings is based on a true story. However, it's a lot looser than the others, as much of the movie isn't historically accurate. Irv Blitzer (John Candy) deserves to be on this list because he was so inspiring in the movie, no matter his motives. He believed in the team.

Pop Fisher (The Natural)

Pop Fisher isn't always about being the loudest or the most gregarious coach, but all you really need from Wilford Brimley in The Natural is his knowing look and his infectiousness. He's a great manager and the kind of manager the Knights needed in the moment. That's all you can really ask for when you are as good as the players on that team.

Jimmy McGinty (The Replacements)

Gene Hackman played so many amazing roles over his incredible career, it's hard to remember each one, and one that often gets overlooked is as Coach Jimmy McGinty in The Replacements. Few coaches on this list had a harder job than McGinty, trying to coach up a bunch of washed-out players, and yet he knew exactly what he needed to do to make it all work

Chester Lee (Ladybugs)

Ladybugs isn't Rodney Dangerfield's best movie and it doesn't have any of his funniest one-liners, but still, Chester was an inspiring coach. Sure, he cheated to get there at first, but he redeems himself by the end.

Bud Kilmer (Varsity Blues)

Before Friday Night Lights, there was Varsity Blues. Okay, that they aren't the same, they aren't on the same level, and Coach Bud Kilmer is such a nut that he inspires all his high school players, just all in the wrong way. He's actually embarrassing, but it works and they win.

Ken Reeves (The White Shadow)

It's fair to criticize White Shadow as being the quintessential example of a "white savior" story, but coach Ken Reeves is still incredibly inspiring.

Jock Delaney (The Fish Saved Pittsburgh)

Jock Delaney isn't the reason that the team wins in The Fish Saved Pittsburgh, that would be Moses Guthrie, but Jock is still important and let's Moses be Moses.

One of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Tom Hanks is also one of those Hollywood stars who has made us laugh, cry, and feel just about every other emotion in the book over the past 40-plus years. In that time, the Academy Award-winning actor has played emotionally charged roles in movies like Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, The Green Mile, and a couple of the best romantic comedies of all time.

That said, let’s break down 32 times a Tom Hanks character ripped our hearts out in a movie. Grab the tissues…

Turner Crying Over Hooch’s Body (Turner & Hooch)

You won’t find Turner & Hooch on the list of movies where the dog lives, but you will find it among Tom Hanks’ most emotional movies. This all-time great buddy cop movie features one of the saddest scenes in the actor’s career, specifically where Turner cries over Hooch’s body after his canine partner crosses the rainbow bridge in the final act.

Sam Baldwin Talks About His Late Wife (Sleepless In Seattle)

There’s a pivotal scene early in Sleepless in Seattle in which Tom Hanks’ Sam Baldwin opens his heart to millions of listeners around the country when telling Dr. Marcia Fieldstone about his late wife. The beautiful moment made Meg Ryan’s Annie Reed fall in love with him, and so did we.

Forrest Visits Jenny’s Grave (Forrest Gump)

Forrest Gump visiting Jenny’s grave in the final moments of the eponymous 1994 movie will never not be heartbreaking. It’s one of the few scenes where Tom Hanks’ iconic character lets it all out and opens up to the woman who meant more to him than anything else on the planet.

Joe’s Moonrise Monologue (Joe Versus The Volcano)

Joe Versus the Volcano might not be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of emotional Tom Hanks moments, but there’s a scene in this 1990 comedy where the character, floating aimlessly in the ocean, gives a touching monologue to a rising moon.

Captain Miller’s ‘That’s My Mission’ Speech (Saving Private Ryan)

One of the best World War II movies ever made, Saving Private Ryan has one iconic moment after another. One that strikes a chord better than most is the scene in which Tom Hanks’ Captain Miller gives his “That’s my mission” speech when talking about why his detachment of soldiers is risking life and limb to bring a then-unknown soldier back home.

Andrew Passes Away (Philadelphia)

With his portrayal of Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, Tom Hanks entered the next, and most successful stage of his career. One of the scenes that showed the world that Hanks had “it” was the one where his character succumbs to AIDS in the final moments of this landmark movie. The peace, the acceptance, and that final smile bring the waterworks.

Walt Disney Talks About Forgiveness (Saving Mr. Banks)

Saving Mr. Banks is a triumphant film anchored by outstanding performances from Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers. And no scene best represents their relationship, and Hanks’ commitment to the role is no better than the sequence in which Disney touches on the importance of forgiveness in the form of a story about him and his father back home.

Paul Edgecomb Executes John Coffey (The Green Mile)

One of the best Stephen King adaptations, The Green Mile provided for a number of powerful and emotional scenes, but the sequence involving Tom Hanks’ Paul Edgecomb that is particularly charged is the one in which John Coffey (Micahel Clarke Duncan) is executed. Just keep your eyes on Paul’s face the next time you watch it.

‘I’m Sorry, Betty’ (A League Of Their Own)

Jimmy Dugan is one of the most interesting of Tom Hanks’ great characters, mostly because he’s such a complex individual. One minute he’s yelling about there being no crying in baseball and the next he’s giving one of his players a letter stating that her husband has died in World War II.

Michael Sullivan’s Death (Road To Perdition)

Road to Perdition is a Tom Hanks movie that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, which is a shame because it features some of his best work. One scene that will never be forgotten is the one in which his character, Michael Sullivan, is shot and killed watching his son play on the beach.

Josh Barricading Himself In A Hotel Room (Big)

Is there anything more heartbreaking than watching Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) barricading himself in a run-down New York hotel room during his first night as an adult? In that moment, you remember that this isn’t a man, but a child trapped in a man’s body.

Woody And Buzz Say Goodbye (Toy Story 4)

Though they had plenty of ups and downs throughout their various journeys together, Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) were the best of friends. This is what makes the final moments of Toy Story 4, where they take separate paths, so upsetting. It’s impossible to watch this with dry eyes.

Otto Tells Sonya’s Story (A Man Called Otto)

Definitely Tom Hanks’ crankiest character, Otto Anderson is also one of the actor’s most tragic roles. Partway through A Man Called Otto, you find out why Otto is such a grump when he tells the tragic story of losing his unborn child in a wreck that left his wife a paraplegic for the rest of her life.

‘Bubba Was My Best Good Friend…’ (Forrest Gump)

The words “Bubba was my best good friend” don’t just rip out your heart, they smash it into a million little pieces. Forrest Gump talking about the death of his best friend in Vietnam is incredibly heartbreaking and one of the most devastating scenes of the ‘90s.

Wilson Goes Missing (Castaway)

Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) spends the better part of four years stranded on an island with nothing besides a volleyball named Wilson (after the sports equipment brand) for company. But that friendship comes to a sudden and tragic end when Chuck attempts to escape in Cast Away, a daring mission that results in his best friend floating away in the Pacific.

The Opera Scene (Philadelphia)

Andrew Beckett's introduction of Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to “La Mamma Morta” in Philadelphia has to be one of the most intense, emotional, and beautiful sequences in the entire movie, and it is iconic for all kinds of reasons. The drama, rawness, and beauty of it all is incredibly powerful, to say the least.

Captain Miller’s Death (Saving Private Ryan)

There have been a great number of movie deaths that have broken our hearts, and Captain Miller’s from Saving Private Ryan is right up there. The way Tom Hanks’ character tells Matt Damon to “earn this” while taking in his final breath is astounding all these years later.

Jim Lovell Talking About Going To The Moon (Apollo 13)

Though the scene seems hopeful and innocent enough, watching Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) talk about going to the moon knowing what’s going to happen later on in Apollo 13 is straight-up heartbreaking. He has no idea that his dream will never come true.

‘I Don’t Think You Were Broken’ (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

Near the end of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, there is a touching interaction between Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) and Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) in which the TV presenter tells the reporter that he never thought he was “broken.” It feels like Mr. Rogers is telling the troubled writer that we’re okay just the way we are in the most reassuring of ways.

The Incinerator Scene (Toy Story 3)

Holy moly, the garbage incinerator scene in Toy Story 3 is a tour de force and one of the most emotional sequences in any Pixar movie. The way the toys, led by Woody, come together and accept their fate when staring death in the eyes is remarkable but also incredibly emotional.

Josh Calls His Mom (Big)

The bond shared by Josh Baskin and his mom, played by Mercedes Ruehl, is the heart and soul of Big. One of the examples of this connection takes place when Josh calls his mom from his phone at work just to hear her voice and say that he’s okay. The raw emotion in their voices is touching, to say the least.

‘I’m Glad It’s You’ (Road To Perdition)

Michael Sullivan reluctantly killing his boss and mentor, John Rooney (Paul Newman) is one of the most unforgettable scenes in Road to Perdition. Neither wanted things to end like this, but the soon-to-be-dead mob boss takes some solace in knowing that the man he treated like a son was the one to do the job.

‘The Hard Is What Makes It Great’ (A League Of Their Own)

The bond shared by Jimmy Dugan and Dottie Hinson is honestly one of the best things about A League of Their Own, and it’s made all the better thanks to the on-screen chemistry shared by Tom Hanks and Geena Davis. One of the best scenes featuring the two comes when Jimmy tries to convince Dottie to stay with the team, stating, “The hard is what makes it great.”

Singing On The Subway (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

One of the best scenes in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood mostly sees Tom Hanks’ character as a bystander, but it was too great to leave off. Basically, when Mr. Rogers and Lloyd Vogel are having a conversation on the subway, they are interrupted by a group of teenagers who start singing the TV presenter’s signature song. It’s so emotional, so mesmerizing, and so unforgettable.

Finch Teaches Jeff How To Play Fetch (Finch)

Throughout Finch, Tom Hanks’ titular character knows that his time on the planet is limited at best, but things really take a turn in the final act of the film. That’s when Finch teaches Jeff, his trusty robot, Jeff (Caleb Landry Jones) to take care of his dog, Goodyear. It’s a simple yet effective scene, which makes it all the more triumphant.

Forrest Gump Meets His Son (Forrest Gump)

It will never get hold watching Tom Hanks’ character meet his young song (played by Haley Joel Osment) in the final act of Forrest Gump. In that moment, his life changes forever and he’s given a new purpose in life, even if it does lead to Jenny’s tragic death shortly after.

Chuck And Kelly’s Reunion (Cast Away)

Chuck Noland and Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt) were meant to spend the rest of their lives together, but fate had other plans when the former crash-landed on a planet deep in the Pacific Ocean, and that latter, like everyone else, thought he was dead. This is what makes their reunion so heartbreaking. Though they love one another after all these years, life has moved on.

The Library Scene (Philadelphia)

Andrew and Joe’s heartfelt and informative conversation in the library is one of the most remarkable scenes in all of Philadelphia and does a great job of setting up the rest of the movie. The dying former attorney sewing his former partners for discrimination is heartbreaking, but the bond forged by the two legal minds in this moment is outstanding.

Woody Writes Andy A Note (Toy Story 3)

Woody writing down Bonnie’s address so that Andy would take the toys to a new home in Toy Story 3 is enough to make you cry big, ugly tears. Accepting the fact that Andy is about to go off to college and that things will never be the same again is a great choice by the trusty sheriff, but still a tear-jerker.

Captain Phillips’ Rescue (Captain Phillips)

Near the end of Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks’ titular character is rescued in one of the most daring scenes of the past decade-and-a-half, only to break down into an emotional wreck moments later. Watching the adrenaline and shock fade away into the realization that he was so close to death is remarkable.

‘I’m Going Home’ (The Terminal)

Throughout The Terminal, Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) wants nothing more than to get out of JFK International Airport in New York City, and he finally gets that wish in the final moments of this 2004 Steven Spielberg film. All that build-up leads to a fulfilling and emotional scene.

‘Don’t Cry, Shopgirl’ (You’ve Got Mail)

One of the best Tom Hanks rom-com quotes, “Don’t cry, shopgirl” is one of those lines that will probably never be forgotten. Even though it’s the start of Joe Fox’s relationship with Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan), it’s hard to not get emotional about the iconic remark.

Some movies you can just watch over and over, like the ones on this list. There are a lot of great movies out there, some films you can only watch once, like Schindler's List, but others, like the ones on this list, never get old. Here's our list of the most rewatchable movies we know. 

The Big Lebowski

One of the things that makes the Coen Brothers' masterpiece The Big Lebowski is how The Dude and other characters learn things along the way and use those new facts and lines later in the movie. It's something you might never notice if you didn't watch the movie over and over and that kind of thing will not stand. Not to mention it has some really classic lines that are endlessly quotable. 

Clueless

As if we'd ever get bored of watching Clueless. There are so many great characters, from Cher (Alicia Silverstone) to Tai (Brittany Murphy) to Mr. Hall (Wallace Shawn), that we could watch over and over just to watch one character each time. 

The Dark Knight

Of all the comic movies that have been released in the 21st Century, there is one performance that will always stand above all the others. Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight ranks among the best roles ever seen on film, superhero movies or otherwise. It's so good that it literally never gets old or stale. There is something to behold every time you watch the movie. 

Die Hard

Watching Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman face off in Die Hard is the main reason the movie will always be rewatchable. Both put in some of the best performances of their careers and even though there have been many Die Hard sequels, none of them quite have the charm and magic that the original has. 

Dirty Dancing

For decades now people have been having the time of their lives watching Dirty Dance on repeat. The music, the dancing, the love story... it brings audiences along for a realistic, yet fantastical story all in one. It's been beloved for years for a reason. 

Dazed And Confused

Dazed And Confused is among the best movies about high school ever made. It's also one of the best movies of the 1990s, though it's set in the '70s. Those aren't the qualities that make it so rewatchable. It's simply the amazing cast and the endless amounts of quotable lines those actors deliver. It's always pleasurable to watch actors like Paker Posey, Ben Affleck, Cole Hauser, and Matthew McConaughey so early in their careers. 

Back To The Future

There is a level of rewatchability to all three Back To The Future movies, but the first still stands way above the sequels. It's a movie so fun and so well-paced that you never get bored, even if it's the 150th time you've watched it. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once has a lot going on. It's a movie worth watching again and again if for no other reason than it's easy to miss stuff the first, or even fifth time you watch it. The concept is so cool and so well executed, and the acting performances are so good, that it's impossible to get bored with the film. 

The Godfather

Though the entry just says The Godfather, this could really count for either Part I or Part II, as both are among the most rewatchable movies ever. There is a reason they both consistently rank among the best movies ever made. The acting performances are amazing, the dialog is incredible, and Francis Ford Coppola's directing is as good as it gets on film. 

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1

Let's be honest, there are quite a few movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that you can watch over and over. There is one that stands above the rest though. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 1 has great music and great quotes, which are two things that really make movies forever rewatchable. It's just a really fun movie with some of the most fun characters in the whole universe. 

Legally Blonde

If you want to know how valuable Elle Woods can be, just try to stop watching Legally Blonde when you randomly come across it. It can't be done. It's filled with quotable lines and one of the most charming performances of Reese Witherspoon's stellar career. 

The Princess Bride

From Gen Xers to Zoomers, The Princess Bride has become part of millions of people's childhood. It's a movie that kids and adults can watch over and over, finding different wonderful things about it, depending on your maturity level. No matter how many times you watch, you can always find something new to observe and love about The Princess Bride. 

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Who doesn't love Indiana Jones? The character, played of course by the great Harrison Ford, has become one of the most enduring movie heroes of all time. Well into the 21st Century, Hollywood is coming up with new adventures for the old archeologist. In the end, it all goes back to the beginning though, with the O.G. movie, Raider of the Lost Ark. 

Clue

If you were to ask around the staff of Cinemablend what off-beat comedy is their favorite, there is a decent chance Clue would be the answer you get. If for no other reason, the movie can be - and should be - watched over and over just for Tim Curry's amazing, manic, hilarious performance as The Butler...who butles and creates absolute mayhem. 

The Shawshank Redemption

It's hard for people to believe that The Shawshank Redemption wasn't a big hit in theaters. For whatever reason, it failed to find an audience. That all changed when the movie hit cable TV and became one of the most-watched movies in movie history. It was on TV all the time because people watched it all the time, over and over. 

Jurassic Park

The moment in Jurassic Park when Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Sattler (Laura Dern) see the dinosaurs for the first time, with John Williams' amazing score swelling in the background is such a great movie moment, that you can watch it over and over and a tear will still come to your eye. Now throw in all the other great parts and you have a seriously rewatchable movie. 

The Lion King

Disney sure knows how to make movies that kids and adults alike can watch over and over. We could really pick almost any of their classic cartoons here, but The Lion King is so good it's been remade into a live-action hit and one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time. All three are eminently rewatchable. 

Mean Girls

You know if a movie gets a remake less than 20 years after it was originally made, especially when that remake is based on a Broadway musical adaptation, it must be a movie you can watch over and over. Fans of Means Girls just can't get enough of the comedy, both on stage and screen. 

The Wolf Of Wall Street

If you're a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, or bad language, The Wolf Of Wall Street is likely a movie you've watched numerous times, right? And why wouldn't you? It's an almost perfect movie. Much of the story is tragic, but the ride to get there is wild. 

9 To 5

Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda are three national treasures. Put them in a movie where they torture their horrible boss played by the late great Dabney Coleman and you've got the recipe for a movie that people will never get bored of, just like 9 to 5.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars fans can watch any of the many movies over and over. All movie fans can watch Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back over and over, however. You don't have to be obsessed with every bit of Star Wars lore to absolutely love Empire. It's the best of the movies and one of the best movies ever made. It's got some of the craziest action scenes, the coolest characters, and the best plot twist of all time, at least according to many. It's simply the best. 

10 Things I Hate About You

When a movie is a hit with teenagers, especially one as popular as 10 Things I Hate About You, you can bet it'll be a rewatchable movie. Throw in some breakout performances by Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Julia Stiles, a plot based on a Shakespeare play, and you've got all the ingredients you need for a massive hit that people will watch again and again. 

Fight Club

The first rule of Fight Club might be don't talk about Fight Club, but no one really follows that rule, and the second rule might as well be, "watch Fight Club over and over and quote it endlessly" because that's what Fight Club really is. Like many of director David Fincher's movies, Fight Club is so well done that you see something new in it every time you watch, just like many of the great movies on this list. 

Titanic

To paraphrase the late, great Jerry Garcia, Titanic is like black licorice. Not everyone likes it, but the people that do like it, really like it. The James Cameron mega-hit isn't for everyone, in fact, it might have as many haters as it does lovers, but those who do love it never get bored with watching the wonderful sets and spectacular effects that the movie is best known for. 

The Matrix

While it's true that the Matrix trilogy had diminishing returns, there is no denying how amazing and groundbreaking the first one was. It still has a hold on popular culture, decades after its initial release. While some fans may not go back to the three sequels, the original is still a favorite for everyone that was red-pilled from the beginning. 

Pretty Woman

As rom-coms go, you can't get more perfect than Pretty Woman. Sure, the plot is a little dated and in some ways problematic, but the performances from the leads, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and the side characters, like Jason Alexander and Hector Elizondo are so good, it allows us to overlook the aging flaws of the movie and watch it again and again with nothing but joy. 

Gladiator

It really doesn't matter how many times you seen Gladiator, you are still going to jump up out of your seat when Maximus (Russell Crowe) reveals himself to Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). it's a moment in cinema history that will stand the test of time and still be a classic centuries from now. 

Jaws

It's no accident that Jaws is on this list. It's considered the first "summer blockbuster" but it's so much more. The characters are so well-developed that you can't help but root for all of them, except the mayor, of course. Sure the shark looks a little dated, but director Steven Spielberg did such an amazing job building the suspense by not seeing the shark, that it's easy to look past the 1970s movie magic.

The Great Escape

On Christmas in the United States, we watch things like A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life every year. In the UK, they watch The Great Escape. We'll admit, that's a pretty amazing tradition because despite its nearly three-hour runtime, there is never a dull moment and it proves that longer is often better. The all-star cast and sharp direction keep the movie humming along from the time they are all locked up until they all get locked up again after the escape. 

The Incredibles

The Incredibles was an incredible hit for Pixar in 2004. Just like many Pixar and Disney movies before and after it, it became an indelible part of millions of kids' childhoods and even as they've aged, they still love the Parr family. While it took 16 years, when a sequel was finally made in 2018, it took in a cool $1.2 billion, attesting to just how loved (and watched) the original was and is. 

A League of Their Own

We all know that there is no crying in baseball because we've all seen Tom Hanks say it a million times as we've watched A League of Their Own over and over. All the characters are so unique and memorable that it's like watching an old friend every time it's on. 

Caddyshack

Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Ted Knight are four of the most quotable actors of all time. When you put them all in the same movie, and give them some of the best lines ever written, it's no surprise that Caddyshack is the kind of movie that people watch so often they end up memorizing it. Dangerfield, a king of the one-liner, is especially great in this one. 

Film fans often flock to see the locations where their favorite movies were made, like the ones on this list. Whether it's a place crucial to the plot of a movie, like the prison in The Shawshank Redemption, or a seemingly minor spot like the burger place in Dazed & Confused, these 32 locations have become iconic for their use on film. 

Hook & Ladder Company 8 - Ghostbusters

The coolest thing about Hook & Ladder Company 8, located on North Moore Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City is that the firehouse, which is still an active station, has incorporated the Ghostbuster's logo into its crest. The building is not run down at all, as seen in the movie, and at almost any time of day, you'll see fans of the movie taking selfies. 

Quick Stop Groceries - Clerks

Kevin Smith famously made Clerks on a minuscule budget. One way he cut costs was to film overnight in his actual place of employment, the Quick Stop Groceries convenience store in Leonardo, NJ. The store is still in business, all these years later and you can be sure they play up the fact that the movie was filmed there. 

King's Cross Station - The Harry Potter Series

King's Cross Station is one of a few train stations in London, and while it's always been a well-known station, its fame leaped to another level with the Harry Potter series. You see, it's there, on platform 9 3/4, that Harry and the rest of the Hogwarts students catch their train to school. Of course, there isn't really a platform 9 3/4, but there is a photo op for fans at the real station now.  

West 167th Street Stairs - Joker

In the Highbridge neighborhood of The Bronx is an unassuming staircase connecting Shakespeare Ave. and Anderson Ave. There are similar stairs in New York City, but none are as famous as the West 167th Street Stairs, where Joaquin Phoenix famously danced as the titular character in Joker. 

Haystack Rock - The Goonies

The Haystack Rock formation off the coast of Cannon Beach in Oregon has been a famous geological spot for decades. For movie fans, it's immediately recognizable from The Goonies as the beach where the kids emerge after finding One-Eyed Willie's pirate ship. It's been used in other movies as well, like Twilight and Point Break. 

Top Notch Burgers - Dazed & Confused

Dazed & Confused does such an incredible job putting the audience right in the middle of the '70s, it's become one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. One major reason it just oozes 1970s teen car culture is the Top Notch Burgers that the characters cruise through. It's a real restaurant in Austin, Texas, where the movie was set and filmed. 

Fox Plaza - Die Hard

2121 Avenue of the Stars, which is most well known by its former name, Fox Plaza, is most famous for being the building where Hans Gruber and his band of merry men commit their robbery in Die Hard. The building, in Los Angeles, was brand new when it was used for the movie in 1988. Eagle-eyed viewers might also recognize it as one of the collapsing buildings at the end of Fight Club. 

South Seas Apartment Complex - The Karate Kid

The South Seas Apartment Complex in The Karate Kid is a pretty typical apartment building in the LA area. It is a real place, with that name, just like in the movie. It's located in Reseda, but it's actually pretty nice, nothing like it looks in the classic '80s movie.

The Philadelphia Museum Of Art - Rocky

There are a lot of really famous sites to see in Philadelphia. Constitution Hall, The Liberty Bell, Pat's and Geno's cheesesteak stands, and, of course, the steps that lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They were made most famous by Sylvester Stallone in Rocky when the titular character runs up them and celebrates at the top as "Gonna Fly Now" plays triumphantly. 

Georgetown Stairs - The Exorcist

The Exorcist is one of the scariest movies ever made and one of the eeriest things about it are the steep steps just outside the MacNeil household. They are used a few times in the movie, and it's good when they appear. The real stairs are located in the same neighborhood of Washington DC, Georgetown, where the movie is set, at Prospect St and 36th St NW. 

Seaside, FL - The Truman Show

The fictional town where The Truman Show takes place is both fictional for the movie, and fictional in the movie, as it's really just a soundstage where the TV show is filmed, unbeknownst to Truman (Jim Carrey). It was filmed in a real town, however. Seaside, FL looks pretty much exactly as it does in the movie and the house where Truman lives in the movie is where Congressman Matt Gaetz grew up. How's that for an odd coincidence? 

Katz's Deli - When Harry Met Sally

Katz's Deli, on Houston St. in Manhattan, has long been one of the most famous delis in New York City, but it reached new heights of fame after the legendary scene in When Harry Met Sally after Sally (Meg Ryan) does her famous performance of her faking it in bed. 

Chippewa Square Bus Stop - Forrest Gump

The Baby Boomer fever-dream hit movie Forrest Gump takes place over decades, but it's all told by Forrest (Tom Hanks) from one location, a bench at the Chippewa Square bus stop in Savannah, Georgia. It's where the character sits chatting with different people as he tells them his life story, which for some reason is like a box of chocolates. 

Fox Theatre, St. Louis - Escape From New York

If you ever wondered what city could stand in for a dystopian New York City that has been turned into an island prison, it was late '70s St. Louis, MO. The movie was filmed all over the city, including the Fox Theater, located on Grand Ave. The theater at the time was in disrepair and in desperate need of a renovation. Thankfully it got one and today is in much better shape than it was in the movie. 

Timberline Lodge - The Shining

It may be one of the most famous locations on this list - Timberline Lodge, which is the hotel that stands in for The Overlook Hotel in The Shining. The lodge, Mt. Hood, WA, is still open today and draws not only skiers and outdoor enthusiasts, but fans of the horror classic. 

Hôtel Sidi Driss - Star Wars

The Hôtel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Tunisia is one of the most unique hotels in the world, and so it's fitting it would serve as a home on a planet way out of this world. Movie audiences will immediately recognize it as the home of Luke Skywalker and his aunt and uncle at the beginning of the first Star Wars movie. If you're a fan, and you're in the neighborhood, the hotel is still open and taking reservations. 

7B Horseshoe Bar- The Godfather Part II

It goes by many different names. 7B and Horseshoe Bar are the two most people call it. It's still open, right at the corner of 7th Street and Ave. B in Manhattan. It's been there for years and has been used in a few film productions, but none more famous than in The Godfather Part II. It's where the botched assassination of Frank Pentangeli took place. 

Ohio State Reformatory - The Shawshank Redemption

One of the best movies of the '90s has to be The Shawshank Redemption. While the film is set in Maine, the home state of the book's author Stephen King, it was filmed in the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. It had closed as a prison just a few years before they filmed it, so that certainly helps bring some authenticity to the movie. 

Bosse Field - A League Of Their Own

With some of the best moments in a baseball movie ever, A League Of Their Own has endured for years. So has the minor league baseball field where it was filmed, Bosse Field in Evansville, IN. Though it's a minor league park, it's still the third oldest baseball stadium in the country, behind Wrigley Field and Fenway Park and it retains all the charm it has in the movie. 

Mountain Lake Lodge - Dirty Dancing

In the 1960s, when Dirty Dancing was set, inclusive vacation spots like the Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia dotted the American countryside. Most have long closed, but the Mountain Lake Lodge has survived and you can still visit and stay there, just like Baby and her family did in the movie. The actual cabin where the Housemans stayed is even available for rent. 

1 Wall Street Court - John Wick

Most of New York City - Manhattan at least - is a grid. But there are a few spots where the grid breaks down and creates odd-shaped blocks, leading to oddly shaped buildings. 1 Wall Street Court is one of those buildings, which makes it the perfect exterior for the mysterious Continental Hotel in the John Wick series where hitmen and criminals can enjoy a drink and a good night's sleep without one eye open looking for enemies. 

The Best Little Chapel - The Hangover

Las Vegas is famous for a lot of reasons, including all the tiny wedding chapels all over town. One famous chapel isn't actually a chapel, though. There are a lot of famous locations in The Hangover, most notably Caesar's Palace (Caesar didn't actually live there). One place you'll have a hard time finding unless you know where to look is The Best Wedding Chapel, as it's really just a youth hostel on Las Vegas Blvd. that was dressed up to look like a wedding chapel. Still, you can see the parking lot and all the hilarious signs behind the location as you quote all your favorite lines from The Hangover.

Matamata, New Zealand - Lord Of The Rings

This is a unique entry on this list as it's now famous for what the Lord of the Rings series did for the town. It's where The Shire was built and much of the set remains today as a tourist attraction for the millions of fans of the movies. It really does feel like you're stepping into the movies. 

Christmas Story House - A Christmas Story

"Ah, there it is. My house, and good old Cleveland Street," is how A Christmas Story begins. The house is almost a character all itself, with the sketchy furnace and the leg lamp, etc... The real house is in the City of Cleveland, but it's at 3159 W 11th St, not on Cleveland St. It's also worth noting that while most of it was filmed in Cleveland, it's set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana.

The Dakota Building - Rosemary's Baby

The Dakota, at 72nd and Central Park West in New York, is one of the most famous apartment buildings in the world, and one reason for that is that it's the setting for the terrifying Roman Polanski film, Rosemary's Baby. It's the perfect building to set the film, with his is dark neo-gothic architecture and large, lavish apartments. The Dakota is also infamous for being where John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980, while he lived there. 

Forks, WA - Twilight

For fans of the Twilight series, the town of Forks, Washington is the homeland. Both the books and the movies are set in a small town in a remote part of the state west of Seattle. It's now a tourist hot spot, though most of the movie was filmed in locations other than Forks. 

El Coyote - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

El Coyote is a legendary Mexican restaurant in LA that dates back to the 1930s. It's also where Sharon Tate and her friends ate their final meal on August 9th, 1969 before they were murdered by the Manson Family. For his movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino filmed the scene of the friends eating not only in the same restaurant but in the very same booth where they sat all those decades ago. 

Lighthouse Café - La La Land

The Lighthouse Café is a great jazz spot that sits in Hermosa Beach, California near LA. It was the location for one of the most famous scenes that movie critics often call a "love letter to Los Angeles," La La Land. 

Drayton House - Saltburn

The English countryside is filled with amazing, ornate homes that are often used for filming, sometimes they are the location for TV shows, like Downton Abbey, and other times it's for movies like Saltburn. For the latter, the makers of the film used the stately Drayton House in Lowick, Northamptonshire.

Kualoa Ranch - Jurassic Park

Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. It makes sense it would be the setting for quite a few TV shows and movies, including Lost,  Magnum P.I., Pearl Harbor, and maybe the most famous movie filmed there, 1993's Jurassic Park. 

The Tasty - Good Will Hunting

Sadly, this is a location you can no longer visit, as it closed a few years ago. For decades, however, The Tasty Diner in Harvard Square was a late-night favorite for drunk college students from all over Boston. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck made sure it found its way into their movie about Boston, Good Will Hunting. 

Görlitz Department Store - Grand Budapest Hotel

The exterior of the titular Grand Budapest Hotel might have been a model, but the interior and lobby were actually a beautiful - and vacant - department store in Görlitz, Germany. Sadly, while the building is still standing, it is still unused. 

There’s just something about the start of the baseball season that takes us back to those childhood memories of watching the sport’s heroes pull off seemingly impossible feats and fight for a chance at the pennant or even the World Series title. The same goes for the great baseball movies released over the years. Classics like Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and The Natural gave us some incredible moments over the years, both on and off the field.

The Cleveland Indians Win The Division (Major League)

 Major League has a lot of heart, soul, and wonder. This is best seen in the final game when the Cleveland Indians complete one of the best sports underdog stories when they beat the fearsome New York Yankees to clinch the division. Jake Taylor’s bunt, Willie Mays Hayes scoring from second, and the ecstasy of victory make this a scene to remember.

Terence Mann's 'People Will Come' Speech (Field Of Dreams)

Few movies fill the heart with wonder as well as Field of Dreams, and a moment that best illustrates this is Terence Mann’s powerful speech reassuring Ray Kinsella that his plan will work and “people will come” to Iowa to experience the phenomenon. It’s in pretty much every sports movie montage, and for good reason.

Roy Hobbs' Game-Winning Home Run (The Natural)

Whenever a Texas Ranger would hit a home run at the Ballpark in Arlington back when I was a kid, the main theme from The Natural would play over the public address system. Whenever I watch Roy Hobbs hit the game-winning home run in this 1984 epic, I’m taken back to those sweltering summer nights deep in the heart of Texas and flooded with memories.

'Wait 'Til Next Year!' (The Bad News Bears)

There are plenty of sports movies in which the main characters lose, and The Bad News Bears is one of the best examples. After losing the championship game, the ragtag pack of misfits doesn’t want to hear any of the praise from their rival Yankees. Instead, they throw their second-place trophies in their face and tell them “Wait ‘til next year” before celebrating their own achievements. 

Jackie Robinson Wins The Pennant (42)

Before becoming one of the MCU’s most decorated superheroes, the late Chadwick Boseman played real-life hero Jackie Robinson in 42. There are a dozen or more great scenes in this triumphant sports biopic, including the film’s final moments in which the trailblazing sports icon secures the National League pennant for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sure, it’s not entirely factually accurate, but it's incredible nonetheless.

'There's No Crying In Baseball' (A League Of Their Own

A League of Their Own gave baseball and movie fans some incredible and unforgettable moments upon its release more than 30 years ago, with one of the most legendary being the “There’s no crying in baseball” line. The way Tom Hanks’ Jimmy Dugan delivers the line to Evelyn Gardner should earn the actor an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Billy Chapel Clears The Mechanism (For Love Of The Game)

For Love of the Game isn’t the best Kevin Costner baseball movie (that’s still up for debate), but this 1999 Sam Raimi film does feature one of the actor’s best line deliveries with his “Clear the mechanism” moment at the start of Billy Chapel’s perfect game bid at Yankee Stadium. The way he shuts out the heckling New Yorkers, his off-the-field issues, and the ticking clock on his career never ceases to amaze.

The 'Night Game' (The Sandlot)

The Sandlot has withstood the test of time for a myriad of reasons, including how well it captures the spirit and wonder of childhood. The scene that best illustrates this is the Fourth of July game in which the gang plays under the glow of a fireworks display. It’s pure, it's full of wonder, and it’s iconic.

Crash Davis Calls His Shot (Bull Durham)

Kevin Costner’s Crash Davis could very well be the best fictional baseball player of all time (especially if we’re talking about guys who spent 21 days in the show). He looks great throughout all of Bull Durham, but the scene that takes the cake (at least at the plate) comes when he starts trash-talking the opposing pitcher, telling him to “Come on, Meat” before cranking a dinger over the left-field wall.

Scott Hatteberg's Walk-Off Home Run (Moneyball)

Most of what makes Moneyball an all-timer takes place off the field, but the scene where Chris Pratt Scott Hatteberg comes off the bench to hit a walk-off homer that extends the Oakland A’s winning streak to 20 games is without a doubt the film’s crowning moment. The cinematography, the music, and the way time slows down as the ball bounces off his bat and into the stands, all work together to create an unforgettable moment. 

'Hey, Dad, Wanna Have A Catch?' (Field Of Dreams)

It’s impossible to watch Field of Dreams and not a) fall more in love with baseball and b) cry until you run out of tears. Seriously, whenever Ray Kinsella’s father is revealed to be the “He” in the “If you build it, he will come” message and they finally “have a catch,” it’s pure waterworks.

Ricky Vaughn's Wild Thing Entrance (Major League)

Closers are pretty much the rockstars of professional baseball, especially when they have a great entrance song. Need proof? Look no further than Ricky Vaughn in Major League when he comes out of the bullpen to tens of thousands of fans yelling “Wild Thing.” It’s cinema, baby!

Conor Takes The Team To Their First MLB Game (Hardball)

There’s a scene in Hardball in which Conor O’Neill takes his ragtag team to their first major league game and it’s just delightful. The way it captures the feeling of exiting the concourse to see the bright lights and green grass of the field as well as the sensation of seeing your favorite player in person (Sammy Sosa in this case) is just perfect.

'Maybe Tomorrow We'll All Wear 42' (42)

It’s a little cheesy and heavy-handed, but the scene in 42 where Pee Wee Reese puts his arm around Jackie Robinson and says “Maybe tomorrow we’ll all wear 42” as the Cincinnati fans yell racial epithets from the stands is very impactful. And decades after that scene took place, that very thing happens every April 15th. 

Collision At The Plate (A League Of Their Own)

There’s always been a debate surrounding the ending of A League of Their Own. But no matter where you stand on the “Dottie dropped the ball / Dottie didn’t drop the ball” argument, there’s no denying the epicness and emotion of the collision at the plate that sees one sister become a champion and the other a name in the record books.

Crash Davis' 'I Believe' Speech (Bull Durham)

Crash Davis’ “I believe” speech in Bull Durham is not only a great baseball movie moment (one of the best, really), but also a great philosophy for life. Whether it’s the comment about astroturf and the designated hitter, the proper way to handle Christmas presents, or his thoughts on romance, you get to know the character and what he stands for in about two minutes.

 'Let Them Play!' - The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training may not be as beloved as its predecessor, but this 1977 baseball movie is still a lot of fun. Several high-profile stars from the first film aren’t around, but this sequel is just as raucous, especially when Tanner Boyle (Chris Barnes) refuses to leave the field at the Astrodome after the team’s game was called before completion. What follows is pretty much a riot.

Henry Runs The Basses (Rookie Of The Year)

It’s probably the nostalgia speaking, but I love Rookie of the Year. Yeah, it’s cheesy, has a lot of holes, and kind of stinks, but it’s a lot of fun to watch. The moment that’s the most fun (well, besides the “Funky butt-loving” scene) is when Henry Rowengartner has to run the bases. The “Pitcher’s got a big butt” theatrics never get old.

Babe Ruth's Ghost Visits Benny (The Sandlot)

Is it possible to count how many punk and hardcore demos started with the iconic “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die” line from The Sandlot? Probably not, but let’s not let that distract us from the fact that this scene where the ghost of Babe Ruth visits Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez and gives him some much-needed advice is one of the best of all time.

'Billy, We Don't Stink Right Now' (For Love Of The Game) 

The on-screen parking of John C. Reilly and Kevin Costner, along with the rollercoaster their characters endure, makes For Love of the Game so much fun to watch. This incredible moment in the eighth inning of Billy Chapel’s perfect game bid is so honest and so humbling.

Roy Hobbs Stirkes Out The Whammer (The Natural)

Joe Don Baker’s The Whammer, who is pretty much Babe Ruth with a different name, being struck out by Roy Hobbs in the early part of The Natural is one of those incredible cinematic moments that make this movie just so grand. What really sells it is Robert Duvall’s reaction after the one, two, three.

Lou Gehrig's Fourth Of July Farewell (The Pride Of The Yankees)

Lou Gehrig’s iconic and emotional “I consider myself the luckiest man” farewell speech is one of those unforgettable baseball moments, and Gary Cooper’s recreation of it in the 1942 film, The Pride of the Yankees, is just as powerful.

'Say It Ain't So, Joe' (Eight Men Out)

An ‘80s movie that doesn’t get enough love, Eight Men Out chronicles the notorious “Black Sox” scandal in which the 1919 Chicago White Sox threw the World Series. There are some great moments throughout, but the scene that will forever be remembered is the one where the young boy cries out “Say it ain’t so, Joe” after D.B. Sweeney’s “Shoeless Joe” Jackson after the scandal blew up.

'How Can You Not Be Romantic About Baseball?' (Moneyball)

Billy Beane saying “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” after hearing a story about a player who unknowingly hit a home run in Moneyball is one of those great movie quotes some will never forget. And it pretty much sums up the 2011 movie and every other about “America’s Pastime.”

Jack Elliot Bunts To Preserve Uchiyama's Home Run Record (Mr. Baseball)

Though not one of the most popular fish-out-of-water movies, Mr. Baseball is a great addition to the collection. This movie, about an American baseball player (played by Tom Selleck) adjusting the vastly different culture and approach to baseball in Japan, is full of great moments, but the best comes at the end when Jack Elliot bunts instead of trying for a home run to keep his manager’s long-standing record intact.

Mel Gets Help From The Crowd (Angels In The Outfield)

Right after we find out that Mel Clark, Tony Danza’s character, doesn’t have long to live, Angels in the Outfield gives us a powerful scene in which the entire crowd and California Angels roster get out of their sits and cheer him on in his bid to clinch the division.

Jim Morris Enters The Game (The Rookie)

A great, and uplifting, example of a movie based on a true story, The Rookie sees Dennis Quaid play Jim Morris, a high school science teacher whose dreams of making the big leagues come true at an age where most players are settling down. The whole movie is great, but Morris’ MLB debut at the Ballpark in Arlington is triumphant and a wonder to watch again and again.

Roger Maris Breaks The Record (61*)

Directed by Billy Crystal, the 2001 HBO film, 61* follows Roger Maris (Barry Pepper) and Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) as they try to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. It’s hard not to get emotional when Maris finally breaks the record during the last game of the 1961 season and celebrates with thousands of fans at old Yankee Stadium.

Meeting On The Mound (Bull Durham)

Mound visits are a part of the game and can serve multiple purposes from getting a team on the same page to giving a relife pitcher more time to warm up. But in Bull Durham, the Bulls use the in-game meeting to settle some differences and discuss gift ideas for an upcoming wedding, creating a hilarious moment in the process.

The Gang Gets The Ball (The Sandlot)

A scene from The Sandlot that never gets old comes at the end when the gang finally go to Mr. Mertle’s house and tell him about the Babe Ruth ball and his dog, Hercules. Instead of getting mad at the kids, James Earl Jones’ character simply laughs and tosses them a baseball signed by the “Murderer’s Row.” 

Vaughn Vs. Parkman (Major League II)

Though Major League II is nowhere as great as its predecessor, the showdown between Ricky Vaughn and Jack Parkman, former battering mates and now bitter rivals, is so much fun to watch. The final strikeout that sends the Indians to the World Series is a nice touch and a great way to end this toned-down 1994 sequel.

Ken Griffey Jr. Smashes A Dinger (Little Big League)

Was there anything cooler in Little Big League than Ken Griffey Jr., who was like the hottest player in the world in 1994, showing up in the final game to dash the Twins’ hopes of reaching the playoffs? That dinger, that trot, and that wink as he rounds third base is so cool, even if we weren’t supposed to root for “The Kid.”

While this seems like a lot of incredible moments, it's only scratching the surface of the great scenes baseball movies have given us over the years. Until next time...

Tom Hanks has been America's Dad for a long time now, and like many fathers, he was pretty wild in his early years. Hanks is known for playing a lot of wholesome characters, but it hasn't always been that way, as many of his early roles were definitely not that, but they did provide some hilarious quotes, so here are our favorites. 

"I Could Be A Totally Changed Person By The Time We Finish Lunch!" - Bachelor Party

Rick Gassko, Hanks' character in Batchelor Party, is a hero to the slacker generation also known as Gen X. He's the ultimate cool slacker and nothing highlights that better than when he eats lunch with his rich, soon-to-be father-in-law who is critical of Rick's life choices. After being given a list of things he needs to change, Rick thinks it could all happen by the afternoon. 

"She's Really Hungry" - Splash

Splash is a classic fish-out-of-water tale, literally. While John Candy may be a scene-stealer in the movie, Hanks still has some great moments. As Madison (Daryl Hannah) learns the ways of the surface world, she brings some of her old habits with her, like eating a whole lobster, shell and all. People at the nearby tables look on, shocked, so Allen (Hanks) explains that she's just hungry. 

"It May Not Be Miller Time, But It Is Vanilla Time." - Family Ties

Tom Hanks did a lot of TV work in the early days, including a fantastic guest run on Family Ties as the kids' Uncle Ned. Ned, it seems, is a drinker and the Hanks portrayal is over-the-top and hilarious. One night, the house is out of everything to drink, so Ned settles on raiding the pantry and finds some vanilla. 

"OK, But I Get To Be On Top." - Big

It's a good idea not to think too deeply about what's really happening in Big when Josh (Hanks) is on his date with Susan (Elizabeth Perkins), especially after the date, when they are back at Josh's apartment. Josh is talking about his bunk bed, while Susan is thinking of something else completely. 

"All My Life I've Been Waiting For Someone And When I Find Her, She's A Fish." - Splash

All Allen in Splash wants is a regular relationship with a regular woman. When he thinks he's found that, it all comes undone when he discovers Madison's secret. It's something we can all relate to, right? Okay, maybe not. 

"WE'RE THE LUNATICS. US. IT'S NOT THEM. IT'S US!" - The 'Burbs

Hanks' character, Ray Peterson, in The 'Burbs tries his best to stay calm when he's around his crazy neighbors, but it turns out, he's just as crazy. After he blows up the suspicious neighbor's house, covered in burns, Ray loses it and sees himself and his neighbors for just what they are, the lunatics in the suburbs. Or were they?

"Here Lies Walter Fielding. He Bought A House And It Killed Him." - The Money Pit

Tom Hanks is great at playing a guy who holds everything in until he finally just snaps. Walter Fielding in The Money Pit is the perfect example. The house that he and his girlfriend buy as a fixer-upper is slowly killing him and their relationship, something Walter doesn't fail to notice in this quote. 

"There’s A Ton Of Chicks Who Would Rather Go Out With The The Roadies Than With The Band." - Saturday Night Live

The star is a member of the prestigious Five-TImers Club, as someone who has hosted Saturday Night Live at least five times. Hanks actually ranks fourth all-time in total number of hosting appearances on the show, with 10. In one of those stints, he played Barry The Roadie in a Wayne's World sketch, explaining how great life can be on the road with Aerosmith, 

"I Thought The Christian Science Reading Room Closed At 10." - Dragnet

Dragnet is an odd movie, but it has some legitimately laugh-out-loud moments between Hanks and his on-partner, Dan Aykroyd. It's a pretty standard buddy cop movie, with Hanks playing the role of the cutup, while Aykroyd plays the straight man. That means Hanks is busting Aykroyd's chops for most of it, including wondering what his partner does at night.

"There's No Crying In Baseball!" - A League Of Their Own

Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own is one of Tom Hanks' best roles and it produced one of his most iconic lines. While Dugan is full of smart-aleck remarks, it's this one, about crying, that has transcended the movie and become part of the American vernacular. 

"I'm Gonna Go Do Something Productive. I'm Gonna Go Watch TV." - The 'Burbs

It's safe to say that at the beginning of The 'Burbs Ray Peterson (Hanks) is not as enthusiastic about spying on the odd neighbors as his other friends in the neighborhood. It fact, he finds it pretty boring and says something we all think to ourselves when we're bored: let's go watch some TV. 

"I AM NOT A FISH!" - Splash

One of the more poignant moments in Splash comes when Madison and Allen are together in a big water tank after she is captured. Right before Madison is lowered in, though, the image of Hanks alone in the tank, yelling at whomever is listening (no one seems to be), that he is not, in fact, a fish, is hilarious. 

"Look Out For That Bump! Don't You Remember Those Films They Showed Us In High School? Red Asphalt! Blood On The Highway!" - Dragnet

Dragnet may be based on a Baby Boomer TV show from the 1950s, but its humor is aimed squarely at Generation X. Nothing is more Gen X than reminding everyone of the weird public safety film kids were forced to endure in school in the '70s and '80s. Steebeck begs Friday to slow down with just such a reminder. 

"Lord, I'd Just Like To Thank You For That Waitress In South Bend, You Know Who She Is, She Kept Calling Your Name." - A League Of Their Own

Tom Hanks' role in A League of Their Own is crass and disparaging and that is never more evident than this part of a prayer he recites before a game. He's a drinker and, as they would have said at the time, a carouser. He's also, it turns out, a misogynist and a boor. 

"Sort Of Like Your Aftershave" - Dragnet

Dragnet might not be one of the Hanks movies we've all seen, but it's got some great lines. When Streebeck and Friday investigate the theft of chemicals that, when mixed, create a deadly gas, the chemical expert explains how the gas would burn a person's eyes, throat, and everything else. Streebeck turns to Friday and tells him it's just like his choice of aftershave. 

"It's 'Bonanza.'" - Splash

In Splash, Madison has a hard time understanding not only humans' ways but their emotions. At one point, Allen finds her crying in front of the television, as she is overcome with her emotions. Much to Allen's dismay, Madison isn't watching anything you'd expect to cause such a response. 

"Hear About That Guy Up In The Bronx? Just Went Crazy, Thought He Was A Pigeon. They Found Him In The Park Throwing Breadcrumbs At Himself." - The Money Pit

This is a great joke on a couple of levels. One, Walter in The Money Pit is going pretty crazy himself, but it's also just a great little Vaudeville-type joke with a setup and a punchline. It just works. 

"Why Don't You Get An Organ Grinder, I Could Do A Little Dance" - A League Of Their Own

One reason Jimmy Duggan was hired as manager of the Peaches was as a publicity stunt. While Jimmy doesn't want to be there at all, he really doesn't want to be a dancing monkey, which owner Walter Harvey wants. This is Jimmy's response to Walter asking him to wave to the crowd. It's a little extreme. 

"I've Been Blown Up, Take Me To The Hospital." - The 'Burbs

After he blows up his neighbors' house, Ray continues his freak out, begging to be taken to the hospital and taking it upon himself to first lay on an ambulance gurney, then get and put the gurney in the back of the ambulance himself. It's an A+ freak out in a movie filled with great ones. 

"I'm Up At The Caesar Mansion And I'm Surrounded By Pagans! You Need To Send In Reinforcements! They Have A Small Army Up Here!" - Dragnet

Any line that includes the words "I'm Surrounded By Pagans" deserves to be said out of context over and over again. It's such a brilliant non-sequitur! That it comes from a textbook freakout by Hanks only makes it funnier. 

"You've Never Passed A Bar In Your Life." - The Money Pit

Walter and his wife Anna, played by Shelley Long, get nastier and nastier to each other as the The Money Pit goes on. In one particular dark moment in the middle of an argument, Walter hits below the belt with this shot at Anna's supposed drinking problem. It's a real scorcher. 

"Well, At Least Your Wrist Will Be Smooth And Kissable" - Bachelor Party

Sure, making fun of an electric razor's advertising line might be a little dated, but what a hilarious observation to make when Rick finds a party-goer threatening to slit his wrists with the electric razor. Straight out of a Madison Avenue think tank. 

"I Was In The Toilet Reading My Contract..." - A League Of Their Own

It turns out Jimmy was so desperate for a job that he didn't realize that he gets a bonus if the Peaches win the World Series. Luckily, he had some down time to finally read it and now he's motivated to win. He may not have cared before, and he still doesn't like what he's doing, but at least he wants to win and that has to count for something! 

"You Will, Once He Sees Your Haircut." - Dragnet

Joe Friday's haircut is the victim of a few jokes in Dragnet and Hanks' Streebeck is one of the people that appreciates the high 'n tight coif the least. When Friday evokes God in a conversation and mentions he doesn't hear Him laughing, Streebeck retorts quickly with this gem of an insult. 

"This Is What You Can Do If You've Got Thumbs!" - Turner & Hooch

Turner & Hooch isn't Tom Hanks' best movie, but it does deliver some pretty funny moments as his Detective Scott Turner argues with a dog for pretty much the entire movie. At one point, he has to rub it in that without thumbs, the dog will always be limited in his abilities. 

"What's So Fun About Playing With A Building? That's Not Any Fun" - Big

This one is both funny and true. Sometimes, you need to see things through the eyes of a child, like Hanks' character Josh in Big. While the adult execs in the room think the idea of a Transformer-type robot turning into a building is a slam dunk, 12-year-old Josh breaks down how silly the idea really is. No one wants to play with a building. 

"You Stink, You're Lousy, You're Only The Best Player In The League!" - A League Of Their Own

It's hard to tell when Jimmy is being sincere and when he's not (he's usually not), but in this moment, as he talks to Dottie (Geena Davis), he seems to be his usual insulting self, but adding on that despite all her supposed shortcomings in his eyes, she's still the best player in the league. 

"A Few Minutes Ago The Care Bears Were Here." - The Money Pit

Walter is definitely losing his mind when Anna comes home after days away to find him stuck in a hole in the money pit of a house they bought together. He's been there so long, he's starting to hallucinate, seeing the Care Bears and who knows what else. 

"This Is The Food Prison Riots Are Made Out Of." - Bachelor Party

Rick in Bachelor Party doesn't do much right, and that includes cooking, and even he can admit it. In fact, it's so bad, that even prisoners would hate it. 

"So, How 'Bout Those Knicks?" - Splash

When Allen finally gets Madison to say her name in her native language, he gets way more than he bargins for, in public no less. The only way to respond to the shocked on-lookers after Madison screams was to ask about the local NBA team.

"These Are Simple Rules. No Barking, No Growling, You Will NOT Lift Your Leg To Anything In This House." - Turner & Hooch

Turner (Hanks), like all new dog owners, has a few rules for Hooch. Rules he soon learns Hooch doesn't care about, but you can't blame a guy for trying. 

"You've Got A Lot Of Repressed Feelings, Don't You, Friday? Must Be What Keeps Your Hair Up." - Dragnet

Streebeck's insults about Friday's hair never get old, and this one is a doozy, not only taking a shot at his hair but Friday's psyche as well. 

"My Best Sport Is Video Hockey." - Big

Just like a lot of kids in his era, Josh's best sport isn't a sport at all, as is pointed out to him. It does take hand-eye coordination, though, so that has to count for something! 

Yes, it's true, Tom Hanks is a national treasure, and it's nice to know that all Americans can at least agree on that one thing, when we disagree over everything else. Even very early in his career, he was making us laugh.

Before the best movies from the 2000s were allowed to run, the cinematic classics from the 1990s had to walk. (Well, except for Forrest Gump.) The 20th century closed out with a decade of cinematic spectacles as Hollywood embraced bigger budgets, the early days of CGI, and a new breed of superstars like Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Keanu Reeves.

From great ‘90s sci-fi movies like Jurassic Park to beloved ‘90s family films like Toy Story to chilling thrillers and hilarious comedies, just about any genre fan can feel represented by the era's best. Can the same be said for music, TV and literature? (I'll be too busy watching Speed again to research that.) So grab your long-dead Tamagotchis and scented markers and join us in celebrating the best of the best that the ‘90s had to offer.

• This list was compiled by the bulk of CinemaBlend's editors and writers, who gave 0-5 scores to an overall list of around 300 movies, with all of the final scores averaged out to determine the final ranking of 100.

How We Put This List Together

• Around 300 entries from a vast variety of 1990s films , which fit the bill of being culturally relevant and critically respected, were gathered using a combination of staff recommendations, movie guides and further research. The entries were tracked in a spreadsheet, where the majority of our staff then went through a multi-level voting process, with scores assigned based on personal opinions. A base number of viewers was also required for entries to make the cut, and lowest scores were then eliminated, in the style of scoring figure skating. The movies were then ordered from 1-100 based on the final average scores, with a variety of staff members writing the movie-celebrating entries. 

100. The Fifth Element (1997)

Luc Besson's The Fifth Element is a seriously wild movie. The sci-fi adventure has become a bona fide genre classic. Even though parts of the film were frustrating to make, those efforts clearly paid off, leaving us with one of the most fun space rides to date with an A-level cast including Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker in arguably his spaciest performance. Anyone who may have forgotten how fun and bonkers it is should grab a multi-pass and return immediately. 

99. Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Jim Carrey may have enjoyed the most successful year for any comedian in 1994, and Dumb and Dumber is a major part of that unprecedented run. After the wildly successful Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask, the Saturday Night Live reject gave an iconic performance as Lloyd Christmas in the Farrelly Brothers’ breakout comedy alongside Jeff Daniels’ Harry Dunne. Everything about the movie simply works in spite of itself. The chemistry between its stars, the balance of over-the-top humor and more subtle jokes, and the most annoying sound in the world work together to create an unparalleled and game-changing experience. 

98. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project may not have been the first to bring a cinéma vérité approach to the horror genre, but through extremely savvy marketing and lore-building, the no-budget flick became one of the most profitable films of all time, spawning a franchise of film sequels, comics, a video game, and beyond. And all without an actual “witch” to tease in the trailers. One of the ‘90s most polarizing efforts, BWP’s “something from nothing” approach makes it as influential as anything else from the decade.

97. Mulan (1998)

What can be said about Mulan that has yet to be talked about? Released at the tail end of the famed Disney Renaissance through the ‘90s, Mulan was the animated film that defined a generation of young women, inspiring many to always fight for their honor and never back down, even when everyone in the world says otherwise. The music is excellent as the voice-acting takes you to another world, and the animation easily pulls viewers in, but it’s the themes that stay with audiences forever.

96. The Wedding Singer (1998)

More than just a wonderful romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer is a standout title in Adam Sandler’s early career. In the 1990s, Sandler was known for his goofy characters on Saturday Night Live and in goofy movies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Airheads, but The Wedding Singer was an opportunity for him to show he could do work with a bit more gravity. There’s an argument to be made it paved the way for him excelling in films like Punch Drunk Love and Uncut Gems. And the power of Sandler + Drew Barrymore can never be denied.

95. Death Becomes Her (1992)

There’s a scene in Death Becomes Her that pretty much sums up the Robert Zemeckis film’s greatness – as Goldie Hawn’s Helen sits and leans back, the handle of a shovel slips perfectly through the hole in her torso. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep’s Madeline gracefully takes a seat while clutching her hair atop her head, in order to keep it from flopping forward against her broken neck. It’s dark, it’s twisted, it’s hilarious, and for 1992, the special effects are impressive. Bruce Willis’ Ernest being dragged along for the ride caps off the excellent trio of characters, in this eternally underrated comedy.

94. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Four years after already penning one of the all-time great romantic comedies (Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally), the late Nora Ephron directed a landmark rom-com of her own with Sleepless in Seattle. The second of three movies co-starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, this genre staple features an incredible story about a woman who goes to great lengths to be with the man she loves, a man whom she’s never met and only knows from a call-in radio show. It’s charming, witty, earnest, and the best kind of enchanted realism. 

93. Jackie Brown (1997)

Quentin Tarantino’s third directorial effort, Jackie Brown kicks off with Pam Grier’s money-smuggling flight attendant trekking to work to the tune of Bobby Womack’s “Across 110th Street,” helping it stand apart from the testosterone-enhanced violence of his first two features. And while the star-studded flick does dip into the filmmaker’s favored crime genre tropes, Jackie Brown hinges more on character study than sheer plot machination, and provides career-high performances from Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster, and Grier herself. And in that way, it’s arguably the most empathy-worthy project from Tarantino’s career.

92. Happy Gilmore (1996)

Depending on who you talk to, Adam Sandler’s '90s comedies are either near the peak of the genre or near the pits of low-brow comedy. We know where Shooter McGavin's opinions would lie, but we lean toward raising our clubs and pucks to Sandler’s story about a failed hockey player taking the world of professional golf by storm, all for his grandma. I’ll always laugh at Happy Gilmore’s titular hero going toe-to-toe with the late game show host Bob Barker, and the wild story of how he got involved is as great as the on-screen fisticuffs.

91. Casino (1995)

It’s hard to pick a favorite when talking about the best mob characters that Robert De Niro has played, though I’d argue Sam "Ace" Rothstein is as good as it gets. Unlike many other gangster movies tethered to dark alleys, Casino zeroes in on the mafia’s stranglehold of the glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas in the 1970s. It’s further bolstered by excellent directing from master craftsman Martin Scorsese and a supporting cast with legends like Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. A fantastic movie that doesn't shy away from deeply upsetting moments. 

90. Forrest Gump (1994)

Despite all the cringey and parody-fueling moments in Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump --- never forget the Weird Al classic "Gump" --- Tom Hanks' history-making and country-crossing simpleton remains one of the 1990s most enduring movie heroes. With a stacked cast of pros, from Sally Field to Gary Sinise, Forrest Gump's popularity was evident from both its boffo box office, its huge success at the Oscars and beyond, and just how many quotes from this movie have permanently nestled themselves into pop culture. 

89. A Few Good Men (1992)

Courtrooms are a natural fit for high drama, and A Few Good Men has some of the best courtroom scenes in cinema history. Aaron Sorkin’s first screenplay, based on his own stage play, is missing many of the elements that would later define his writing, but that’s not a bad thing here. The battle between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson has become iconic, but even outside of that near-perfect scene, A Few Good Men is full of incredible characters, smart dialogue, and memorable moments. It’s perhaps one of Cruise’s most criminally overlooked performances.

88. Pretty Woman (1990)

Pretty Woman is definitely one of Julia Roberts's best movies in a wildly impressive career, but it's also one of the best ‘90s rom-coms. The film's sleazy-on-paper tale, which follows a rich businessman hiring a Hollywood escort to be his date to several social events, is a charmer thanks to its stellar leads. The film vaulted Roberts into an even bigger star, while making romantics everywhere swoon at the idea of a wealthy millionaire like Richard Gere coming out of nowhere to sweep them off their feet – if only, amirite?

87. As Good As It Gets (1997)

I miss Jack Nicholson. I miss James L. Brooks. I miss emotional, character-driven comedies that excelled thanks to outstanding performances from A-list talent. Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear weave magic in this sweet story about strangers forming friendships over low-stakes but relatable dramas. Studios craving IP don’t back movies like this anymore. But when they did, and when actors could sink their teeth into the material, this one was as good as they got. 

86. The Sandlot (1993)

There are ‘90s sports movies that are kid-pleasers, and then there is The Sandlot, the 1993 coming-of-age story about a ragtag group of kids living what could be the best summer of their lives. There's so much to love about this small-stakes baseball tale, from its timelessness to its life lessons to incredible characters like Scotty Smalls, Benny Rodriguez, Ham Porter, and so many others, there’s just so much to love about this classic sports film. To quote the Great Bambino, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” In this case, we're calling our shot: The Sandlot is one of those legends. 

85. Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

Can’t Hardly Wait combines an "everybody's recognizable" ensemble cast with the classic house party setting and a killer soundtrack to give us one of the most epic teen movies of all time. The plot centers around Ethan Embry’s Preston, who needs to profess his love for Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) at the graduation party, now that she is finally single after being dumped by Mike (Peter Facinelli). But plots are for dorks, and the 1998 comedy epitomizes the teen angst of the late 20th century in an honest and hilarious way.

84. You've Got Mail (1998)

You’ve Got Mail arrived in 1998 when just about everybody would have recognized the title as the AOL greeting message. This was the third movie to pair Tom Hanks with Meg Ryan, with writer/director Nora Ephron bringing her magic romantic comedy touch to the story of two business rivals who unwittingly fall in love via online chat. Hanks and Ryan channel the same chemistry that was a hit years earlier with Sleepless in Seattle, and it doesn't require having lived through the AOL era to appreciate the level of classic rom-com energy that makes this a winner. 

83. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

In a decade filled with all-time great Robin Williams movies, there’s something particularly tender and very much unforgettable about Chris Columbus’ Ms. Doubtfire. Underpinned by the heartbreak of having less time than ever with his three kids as his divorce looms, voiceover actor Daniel Hillard hatches a plan to form a new character in an elderly housekeeper named Mrs. Doubtfire to get more time with them. Not only does his new secret identity make for some hilarious moments that very much play to Williams’ strengths as a comedy actor, Mrs. Doubtfire is also a touching film that takes a grounded approach to parent separation. 

82. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The most Tim Burton movie ever to Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is, on one bladed hand, a weirdly heartwarming horror movie, but on the other bladed hand, an endlessly frightening family film. The suburban Frankenstein homage is bolstered by stellar performances from Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and Dianne Weist, with each bringing grounded authenticity to this wildly fantastical fable. (Yes, even the pity-provoking Depp.) The cherries on top of this macabre cake are Vincent Price, in his final major film role, and Burton-familiar composer Danny Elfman. And the eye-popping hedge art and ice sculptures don’t hurt.

81. American History X (1998)

Long before debates about The Snyder Cut, star Edward Norton, director Tony Kaye, and New Line Cinema engaged in a very loud and sometimes public squabble over American History X. The final cut we got, which Kaye publicly disavowed, is a brutal, almost two-hour look at modern white supremacy that’s shot partially in black and white. It netted Norton an Oscar nomination and has individual moments as strong as anything on this list, but it also occasionally loses pace and has always left fans wanting to see Kaye’s original 95-minute cut, which remains unreleased following the film’s disastrous production

80. Aladdin (1992)

It’s easy to look at Aladdin and celebrate the work of the great Robin Williams, and justifiably so. Only animation could truly uncork the man’s absolutely manic comedy style. But focusing only on Williams overlooks the work of amazing animators who created the Genie and everything else, since it's a testament to their skill that the animation is able to keep up with Williams and the high-flying scenes. Musical sequences like “A Friend Like Me” and “A Whole New World” show another form of animated beauty and have become just as iconic on their own as the Genie himself.

79. That Thing You Do! (1996)

By the time he wrote, directed, and co-starred in 1996’s That Thing You Do, Tom Hanks was already an acting powerhouse. So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Academy Award-winning actor delivering a tale about the wild ride that so many one-hit wonders of the ‘60s endured. Initially, the story of The Wonders (Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, Steve Zahn, and Tom Everett Scott) and their roller-coaster journey wasn’t a smash success, but decades later, That Thing You Do is a well-regarded mini-cult classic that can still leave audiences with songs in their hearts.

78. Trainspotting (1996)

While it wasn’t his directorial debut, Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was the flick that put the man on the map. Following the lives of a group of Scottish drug addicts and friends, a cast including Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly MacDonald landed their start as the stars of tomorrow. Through a narrative that’s both darkly comic and frightfully serious, Trainspotting ushers its heroin addicts through life's struggles in grounded and trippy ways. Establishing Boyle’s skills in telling a conventional story through unconventional means, it’s a powerful statement for its director and the message he’s trying to convey.

77. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

The Die Hard formula survived the transition to the “buddy cop” genre (at least initially) with Bruce Willis’ iconic John McClane being forced to team up with a good samaritan (Samuel L. Jackson) and solve a bunch of riddles around Manhattan to prevent bombs from going off. Many consider With a Vengeance to be the best in the Die Hard series, though it’s blasphemy to put ANY of them ahead of John McTiernan’s original. Still, this one moves like a freight train, Willis and Jackson have remarkable chemistry, and Jeremy Irons is a sinister villain with a satisfying twist of a motivation to take McClane down. 

76. Titanic (1997)

Titanic was an event in itself when it arrived in theaters, with James Cameron’s film ambitiously bringing to screen the story of the ill-fated ship, depicting the journey across the Atlantic with incredible visuals that give us a sense of what it might have been like aboard the ship during that terrible night. At the center of it all is the love story of Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), who manage to find each other, despite their differing social classes, and never let go. Considering how many millions of dollars it earned from repeat audience viewings, its "classic" status is unsinkable.

75. Men in Black (1997)

One of the biggest sci-fi hits of the decade, Men In Black holds a special place in the hearts and minds of both space and comedy nerds. Even though it initially took some convincing to land Will Smith for the role of Agent J., Steven Spielberg (as producer) managed to re-catch lightning in a bottle with the actor coming off of Independence Day. And as unpredictable as it seemed at the time Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made for an extremely fun and combative pairing in the rest of the Men in Black film franchise.

74. The Fugitive (1993)

When it comes to movies based on old TV shows, it doesn’t get much better than The Fugitive. There’s no way around it, this 1993-defining film straight-up rocks and is still just as great more than 30 years after its release. Watching one of Harrison Ford’s most iconic characters go to great lengths to clear his name after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife never gets hold, and the same can be said about Tommy Lee Jones’ Academy Award-winning performance as the U.S. Marshal tasked with capturing the elusive fugitive.

73. Run Lola Run (1998)

Outside of sci-fi adventures, time loops aren’t often used as storytelling devices, and 1998’s thriller Run Lola Run absolutely proves why this is a shame. While the story isn’t explicitly a looping band of time, we do get three different versions of writer/director Tom Twyver’s story. Centered around lovers Lola (Franke Potente) and Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), each variation has one thing in common: they have 20 minutes to score 100,000 Deutschmarks, or Manni is dead. New twists and pitfalls arrive, keeping that premise fresh each time, right up until the end. 

72. Swingers (1996)

Long before he directed major projects like Iron Man and The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau wrote and starred in the Doug Liman-directed Swingers. This comedy follows Favreau’s Mike Peters, a comedian who’s getting over a bad breakup and moves to Hollywood to find success in the midst of the ‘90s swing revival. The witty back-and-forth dialogue between Favreau and his co-stars, including Vince Vaughn and Heather Graham, and the simple, yet effective story of moving on to better horizons make Swingers one of the most underrated comedies of this decade. It's just so money, baby. 

71. Malcolm X (1992)

For his 1992 “Spike Lee Joint,” the legendary Do The Right Thing filmmaker made his dream come true to make a biopic about one American Civil Rights Movement figure, Malcolm X. It not only remains among the best works of Lee’s incredible filmography, but it’s flat-out one of the best biography movies ever made. That’s all without mentioning a particularly powerful performance by Denzel Washington, who disappears into the figure and brings great intrigue and nuisance to Malcolm X across decades of his life. Spike Lee’s biopic stands tall as an enduring portrait of an important man in a pivotal moment in U.S. history.

70. Friday (1995)

Franchise lead and rap legend Ice Cube teamed up with Chris Tucker to create one of the best "sit back and kick it" movies in movie history. Spawning a line of sequels, the O.G. Friday boasts an awesome cast that also includes the late John Witherspoon, and understandably caught on with a certain kind of stoner comedy-loving crowd, but has become an all-encompassing cult classic. Even beyond its on-screen greatness, Friday also turned "Bye, Felicia" into everyday jargon. 

69. Miller's Crossing (1990)

Joel and Ethan Coen didn’t waste time demonstrating their eclecticism in their careers, breaking out with the phenomenal neo-noir Blood Simple in 1984 ahead of a 180-degree tonal pivot with 1987's gonzo comedy Raising Arizona. Then they kicked off the 1990s with one of the great modern gangster movies in Miller's Crossing. Gabriel Byrne’s Tom Reagan leading John Turturro’s Bernie Bernbaum into the woods to be murdered is the movie’s iconic moment, but it’s the brilliant chaos that spins out from Tom’s decision at the end of the sequence that cements this tense slice of art's place on this list.

68. Rushmore (1998)

Rushmore is often referenced for a lot of things. It was the first Wes Anderson movie to find more mainstream success. The critical acclaim Bill Murray received for his performance helped push him toward the more independent, critically acclaimed movies that defined his later career. It was the debut of Jason Schwartzman. All of those are reasons to celebrate the movie, but none are reasons why it’s on this list. It’s here because it’s an endlessly watchable slice of weirdness that holds up decades later. It’s some of the best career work of everyone referenced, and in its own offbeat way, it’s downright hysterical. 

67. South Park: Bigger, Longer, And Uncut (1999)

In 1999, with South Park at the height of its cultural powers, Matt Stone and Trey Parker took one of the biggest gambles anyone could have ever imagined. Producing the R-rated, animated musical that was South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, the pair doubled down on their uniquely dirty humor. Everything from parenting culture to Les Miserables got sent up, thanks to songs that were catchy but also not safe for work. Not every TV show survives a feature-length expansion, but South Park thrived in theaters, especially when it called the very parental uproar its release would inspire to a tee.

66. Misery (1990)

What does a creative owe to their fans? It’s a complex question that author Stephen King horrifyingly examined with his remarkable 1987 novel Misery, and three years later, director Rob Reiner adapted the work into a remarkable and unsettling film. The Oscars don’t typically support the horror genre, but Kathy Bates’ turn as Annie Wilkes was unignorable – as she remains one of the meanest villains of the ‘90s.. Though in Bates’ shadow, James Caan delivers an equally excellent turn as captive author Paul Sheldon, and the weaving of tension as he keeps his mind on options for escape is perfection.

65. Clerks (1994)

Kevin Smith famously maxed out credit cards and stretched a production budget of just $27,000 to make his first movie, 1994’s Clerks. Sure, the acting is hit or miss, and the editing isn’t perfect, but that only adds to the charm of the movie. It’s also really, really funny. It’s got some of the most quotable lines of any movie from the era, and they all shine through, despite the limitations of the budget. Clerks has become the stuff of legend in Hollywood, sparking dreams of would-be filmmakers everywhere and with good reason. 

64. Galaxy Quest (1999)

What if you found out that the fantastic adventures in your favorite sci-fi TV weren't so fake after all, such as in Galaxy Quest? Tim Allen plays a washed-up actor who, along with his former co-stars (played by Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, and more), experience their cancelled, cult favorite series for real, thanks to an alien race that believes their televised adventures are "historical documents" and are desperate for their help. The concept makes for a clever, hilarious commentary on Trekkie culture, but also manages to be just as exciting as any Star Trek episode or movie spin-off could ever be.

63. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis have made dozens of memorable movies, but even if they had just made Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, they’d have a space carved out for them in cinema history. It’s regarded as a keystone title in the history of feminism in film, and it makes you fall in love with the titular leads as they go on the run from the law. And it should go without saying that the final moments will forever be remembered as an indomitable moment of 1990s pop culture.

62. Primal Fear (1996)

Courtroom dramas were big in the ‘90s, and Primal Fear in 1996 is a prime example of why. Richard Gere plays the pompous attorney Martin Vail, who volunteers to represent a young Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton in his first screen role) after he is accused of brutally murdering a beloved archbishop. The movie takes an unexpected turn when Aaron is discovered to have a split personality named Roy, and the dark twist that comes to light after an explosive courtroom scene remains one of the wildest movie endings ever.

61. Home Alone (1990)

I'm pretty sure Home Alone has hit classic Christmas movie territory because you always know it's the holiday season when this movie is causing a clatter on your TV screen. Following a child accidentally left home alone during Christmas and who has to defend his home from burglars, Home Alone captures the happiness of the season while adding a bit of chaos – especially with all those serious injuries that probably would have killed Marv and Harry in the real world. It'd be a fun time even without Catherine O'Hara and John Candy's SCTV reunion, but is all the better for it.

60. Leon (The Professional) (1994)

Luc Besson seems to be motivated by big sci-fi ideas in films such as The Fifth Element, Lucy, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. On the flip side of Besson’s coin, though, are these stripped-down crime thrillers (Nikita, The Family), and none were more effective than Leon. The film heralded the arrival of young Natalie Portman, who proved she could appear convincingly as basically anything on screen. But also, Gary Oldman walks away with the picture, playing an unhinged and drug-addicted DEA agent looking to kill Portman’s character, much to the chagrin of professional hitman Jean Reno.  

59. Office Space (1999)

There’s a scene in Office Space where all the workers are assembled for an all-hands meeting. Above the boss’ head, there’s a banner printed that says Is This Good for the COMPANY? The question is underlined and COMPANY is in weird light blue font for unclear reasons. It’s somehow both utterly ridiculous and one of the most relatable things I’ve ever seen. In a way, it’s a perfect explanation for why some people, myself included, love Office Space so much. It’s one long series of hysterical if-you-know-you-know-moments, and watching other people live through and comment on that same misery feels so cathartic. 

58. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

There are few filmmakers in cinematic history who made as an audacious splash with their first feature as Quentin Tarantino, who was immediately recognized as a tremendous upstart talent following the premiere of Reservoir Dogs at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. With its spellbinding non-linear storytelling, sharp-as-knives dialogue, and violent shocks, it is recognized as a perfect archetype of Tarantino’s strengths as a writer/director, and it is remembered for inspiring a whole generation of filmmakers and its lasting impact on genre cinema.

57. Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13 may be best remembered in pop culture for the iconic line “Houston, we have a problem," but the 1995 film accumulated nine Academy Award nominations for a reason. Boasting a stacked cast that includes Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan, the movie dramatizes the true story of the failed 1970 lunar mission, and the ending sequence is no less suspenseful nearly thirty years later than it was in the ‘90s. The effects mostly stand up to this day; but even where they don’t, the performances sell the story entirely.

56. The American President (1995) 

Before Aaron Sorkin created The West Wing, he wrote The American President, which saw one of the most respected movie presidents, Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), fall for feisty environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). Could a widowed president ever court a girlfriend in an election year? Sorkin’s snappy dialogue shows why it wouldn’t be easy, as the two become tabloid fodder, and even bigger trouble awaits when their political agendas don’t align. Both lead actors give absolutely charming performances in this 1995 political rom-com directed by Rob Reiner.

55. True Romance (1993) 

The first screenplay Quentin Tarantino ever sold in Hollywood was 1993’s True Romance, and it became an offbeat cult classic when combined with Tony Scott’s slick direction. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are perfect as the flawed lovers and the rest of the cast, which includes Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Michael Rappaport, Val Kilmer, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Sizemore, James Gandolfini, just to name a few, are all brilliant. It’s one scene, however, between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, that steals the whole show and deserves its own placement in cinema history.

54. Unforgiven (1992)

This might be the quintessential Clint Eastwood Western – which says a lot when you realize that the man helped to define the genre, dating all the way back to his days on television (in Gunsmoke). With Unforgiven, an older Eastwood figured out how to comment on the evolution of the Western, and reflect on the moral quandaries several cowboys faced over the course of their lawless lives. This marked the beginning of a contemplative stage of Eastwood’s career, and redefined the boundaries of the Western for storytellers that followed. 

53. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Not only is The Nightmare Before Christmas one of the best stop-motion movies of all time, but it was also a game-changer within the animation industry. The movie -- following the story of Jack Skellington turning Halloween Town into Christmas Town and trying to take over the role of Santa Claus -- has become a cultural icon. Not only is the movie celebrated during the Halloween season, but it's also become one of the best animated Christmas movies and has a wildly popular fan base – go to Disney World during Halloween and Christmas and see how popular this movie is. 

52. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Few movies in the last decade of the 20th century caused a stir quite like the big screen adventure of Mickey and Mallory Knox in Oliver Stone’s demented crime saga Natural Born Killers. Fans of the TV show Cheers got to witness a whole new side to Woody Harrelson, and he makes for one-half of an absolutely ferocious on-screen pair partnered with Juliette Lewis. Though it was only released in 1994, it is a title to point to when aiming to epitomize a certain spirit in 1990s pop culture.

51. The Rock (1994)

It is still totally bonkers to think that the mid-’90s gave us a Michael Bay action movie in which Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage got to mesh their wildly different talents. A movie that helped pencil in the blueprint for what we know as modern Bayhem, The Rock is a solid cocktail of action, comedy, and drama tied together with a surprisingly poignant message. None of that gets lost in the shuffle, either, even as the shuffle keeps viewers glued to their seats until the very last scene. You can bet this quotable, adrenaline-charged classic is still friendly with the prom queen.

50. Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Relatively few directors made great movies on their first try, and the late John Singleton did just that with 1991’s Boyz n the Hood. Set in South Central Los Angeles, the film centers on three young men, whose paths begin to diverge as they steadily approach adulthood. Singleton, who also wrote the Oscar-nominated drama, provided a nuanced look at life in a low-income neighborhood. 

In doing so, he shed light on gang violence, systemic racism, and other elements that still negatively impact many communities today. For better or worse, this well-acted and directed film is as timeless and relevant as they come.

49. The Sixth Sense (1999)

While the ending twist may have helped put the film and its director, M. Night Shyamalan, on the map near the close of the decade, The Sixth Sense is so much more than those final, incredible moments where all of the pieces fall into place (in a scene that comes after we think the story has been mostly resolved). 

What elevates The Sixth Sense to ‘90s movie greatness is the combined efforts of the stellar performances of Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, and Olivia Williams; of the music combined with the fantastic shots; of the use of the Philadelphia backdrop. Every scene taps into something dark, scary, heartbreaking or humorous, and the best go for a little bit of all of those things at once. 

48. Get Shorty (1995)

What is the best Elmore Leonard adaptation? There are many candidates that qualify for consideration, including Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Steven Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight and the TV series Justified, but Barry Sonnenfeld’s Get Shorty is my uncontested contender for the title. 

It’s a dark, cynical, and hilarious take on the film industry where a shylock finds himself right at home in Los Angeles, and it brims with exceptional characters – from John Travolta’s Chili Palmer to Gene Hackman's skeezy producer Harry Zimm, to James Gandolfini's stuntman-turned-heavy Bear. The sequel that came out a decade later, 2005’s Be Cool, is dreadful, but that has thankfully not tainted its predecessor’s stellar legacy as one of the great “Hollywood on Hollywood” movies. 

47. The Rocketeer (1991) 

Believe it or not, The Rocketeer is a comic book movie. In the wake of the blockbuster success that was Batman, studios scrambled to get their own piece of that four-paneled pie; leading a pre-Marvel Disney to adapt Dave Stevens’ pulpy ‘30s throwback. Hoping this movie would be the studio’s answer to Bat-mania, director Joe Johnston’s picture suffered in the obscenely crowded summer of 1991. 

Over time, fate has been kinder to the Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connolly adventure, as it developed into a cult classic much like the original Tron. Even if audiences didn’t flock to it at first, the message was never lost, because the quality was always there. Best experienced with a heart full of nostalgia and courage, The Rocketeer's mere existence is worth celebrating. 

46. Audition (1999)

Few movies start off as unassuming as the psycho-horror Audition, whose first half sits among the legendarily prolific Takashi Miike’s most restrained directorial efforts. The story begins with Ryo Ishibashi’s widower Shigeharu Aoyama re-entering the dating world in the least natural way possible: via auditions with women who believe they’re vying for an acting role. 

Things progress in an almost mundane manner as Shigeharu becomes more attracted to the quiet and seemingly reserved Asami (Eihi Shiina), but with enough peeks into her home life to send red flags waving. What makes Audition a unique ‘90s treasure is when the wheels fall off for its dread-flooded final act, in which Asami teaches Shigeharu a torturous lesson in stringing women along. Don't try this at home.

45. Point Break (1991)

Comically manly, but in the best ways possible, Point Break is the 1990s encapsulated. Clean-cut FBI agent Johnny Utah (tremendous character name) loses himself undercover when he tries to infiltrate a gang of surfers (tremendous plot twist) who may be posing as former presidents of the United States and robbing banks. What an awesome plot. And what an awesome movie. 

Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze are the Yin and the Yang of Southern California cool, tapping directly into the “Brah” of it all while also delivering unforgettable action set pieces – notably, a skydiving chase without parachutes. Credit most of this to director Kathyrn Bigelow, who eventually won her Best Director Oscar for 2010’s The Hurt Locker. 

44. Clueless (1995)

We’ve seen movies put a new spin on old classics before, but rarely has the result been as entertaining as Clueless, Amy Heckerling’s take on Jane Austen’s Emma. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a beautiful and rich Beverly Hills high school fashionista who decides she wants to use her popularity for the betterment of humanity. 

The 1995 coming-of-age comedy — which also stars Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd and more — still stands up today with its iconic looks and quotable dialogue (not to mention Cher’s inspiring speech comparing refugees to guests at her father’s garden party). And has there ever been a movie takedown more savage than Tai calling Cher “a virgin who can’t drive”? As if! 

43. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Once upon a time, the noir detective story was a staple of film, but fewer and fewer examples have emerged with each decade that passes. So when a movie like Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential comes around, you really begin to wonder why we don’t see more of these. 

It’s an absolutely incredible film that likely would probably be better remembered if it hadn’t come out the same year as Titanic. On top of everything else, the film introduced Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce to U.S. film audiences, and for that alone, it should be recognized, but it also won Kim Basinger an Oscar for a reason.

42. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

While The Hunt for Red October was a huge success when it hit theaters in 1990, it took years for people to see it as a classic. It’s not a flawless movie. Sean Connery, as amazing as he is, plays what appears to be a Scottish Russian, not changing his accent at all. The underwater scenes of the special effects submarines, while praised at the time, have not aged well, either. Accents aside, the actors are all superb here. 

Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, Tim Curry, Sam Neill, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, Stellan Skarsgård, Fred Thompson, Courtney B. Vance, and everyone else are all amazing, and John McTiernan’s direction is snappy and perfectly paced. This is THE submarine movie. 

41. The Green Mile (1999)

Considered one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time, The Green Mile is a fantasy drama directed by Frank Darabont, telling the story of a wrongly convicted man and his time at a prison in the 1930s and the strange supernatural events that follow his arrival. 

I feel like The Green Mile is just one movie everyone should watch at least once. It's a classic for a reason, featuring all-time career performances from Tom Hanks, Sam Rockwell, and Michael Clarke Duncan. The Green Mile will capture your heart and crush it into a million pieces by the end – and might just make one admire the horror-driven Stephen King all the more for writing such an emotional story. If you're not ugly sobbing by the end of this, you may not be watching it right. 

40. The Truman Show (1998)

Easily considered one of Jim Carrey’s best movies, The Truman Show – which is about a man who realizes his reality isn’t real – uses its star’s signature over-the-top sense of humor and physicality to make you laugh. Then his dramatic skills come to the forefront as you take this journey with Truman, and you feel all the emotions as it becomes clear that this comedy is more of a searing satire.

Overall, this film is about Truman coming to terms with the fact that the world’s been watching him live in a simulated reality, and it gives us all an example of how exploitative social media can be. That’s why The Truman Show is not only one of the best movies of the ‘90s, but it’s also one of the more relevant films when it comes to the present. 

39. Waiting for Guffman (1996)

Waiting for Guffman is mockumentary gold. Christopher Guest and his group of comedic geniuses — Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, etc. — bring the sleepy berg of Blane, Missouri to life, with the audience watching as a motley crew of community theater actors put on a musical about their town. 

The stakes get higher when Guest's Corky St. Clair tells everyone a Broadway production house is coming, and "we may be going to Broadway." The songs are insane, the cast is unhinged, and this movie is heaven; even more so for those who are personally familiar with the madcap process of staging plays. 

38. Dazed and Confused (1993)

It’s really hard to make a comedy that stands the test of time, yet as we get older, Dazed and Confused stays the same age, er, quality. Director Richard Linklater’s love letter to his teen years in Texas transcends generations and keeps fans coming back again and again. Sure, it’s the 1970s, but teenagers (and adults) of any generation can relate. 

Of course, it also helps that so many huge stars got their first big break in the movie, including Matthew McConaughey in his first role. Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Cole Hauser, Anthony Rapp, Rory Cochrane, Nicky Katt, and the rest of the cast are amazing. Everyone can point to one character and say “I knew someone just like that in high school!”

37. The Matrix (1999)

It’s hard to put into words just how mindblowing The Matrix was when it first came out. Of course, the successive sequels somewhat diminished the franchise’s legacy as a whole, though make no mistake, the first movie is just as much of a thrill in the modern era as it was back in 1999. 

Keanu Reeves is the ultimate leading entity in the Wachowskis' game-changing mega-blockbuster, making every move look as cool as can be. Because of the filmmakers' work on this neo-classic (no pun), people will forever be cursed with the idea that everything we’re doing in life is a simulation, and that we’re all slowly and secretly being harvested in pods for energy by robotic overlords. Great movie, though.

36. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Two years after Jim Henson’s death, son Brian Henson directed arguably the only truly great Muppets release of the entire 1990s: The Muppet Christmas Carol. (Excluding the final two years of Muppet Babies.) Based on the Charles Dickens novel that has spawned countless numbers of adaptations, the holiday film is anchored on the human side by Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge, and on the felt-covered side by Kermit and Miss Piggy’s Bob and Emily Cratchit, with Gonzo as Dickens himself. 

Though it doesn’t offer any huge adjustments to the source material, the Muppets make everything twenty-fold more charming, and Statler and Waldorf’s ghostly jam “Marley and Marley” is among the best of any original Muppet tunes. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without this movie.

35. City Slickers (1991)

There are plenty of laughs to be had in Ron Underwood’s Western comedy City Slickers, and while that’s a safe bet for any of Billy Crystal’s best movies, what sets this one apart is its enormous heart. 

Crystal’s Mitch Robbins, along with pals Phil and Ed (Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, respectively) are all suffering midlife crises of sorts when they embark on a cattle drive across the Southwest. It was refreshing to see the men open up to each other about their childhoods, relationships, and what matters most in life. Jack Palance gives an Oscar-winning performance as Curly, and the $124 million it earned at the domestic box office made it one of the top 5 movies of 1991.

34. The Birdcage (1996)

Robin Williams was a brilliant comedian, a supernova of personality that could command our attention with his hysterical stream-of-conscious thoughts. But Williams, to me, truly shined bright when he downplayed his natural comedic energy to either try serious drama (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society), or to support an equally brilliant comedic performance – as he did with Nathan Lane in The Birdcage.

While broad and flamboyant at times, The Birdcage captures the heart of a family rallying behind their beautiful son (Dan Futterman) who is getting engaged to a Conservative girl (Calista Flockhart). Williams and Lane, as an on-screen couple, are tender, touching, funny, sweet, and perfectly paired in this special gem of a film.

33. Princess Mononoke (1997)

As someone who has watched every single Hayao Miyazaki movie, there's something about Prince Mononoke that speaks deeply to my soul. While I possibly think Spirited Away is Miyazaki's best film, and I have a love for Howl's Moving Castle, this is a movie that has changed the way I view the world. 

Princess Mononoke follows the story of a young prince who discovers that the gods of the forest are upset at the humans for consuming their precious resources. While the anime film itself has breathtaking animation and a story that pulls you in; both are equally sating while leaving a desire for more. Truthfully, this is the one movie that speaks on human consumption in simple ways that everyone should be required to watch.  

32. Groundhog Day (1993)

By all accounts, the creative process behind Groundhog Day was not easy. The film was originally conceived as a darker, more philosophical movie with independent sensibilities. That’s what Bill Murray liked. Director Harold Ramis saw it as more of a good-natured and broad comedy. So they fought about it, plaguing the shoot with delays, rewrites and enough acrimony to sever their friendship for decades. 

Amidst that disharmony, or perhaps even because of that disharmony, the two comedy masters compromised and created a perfect blend of the two: a broad and funny romantic comedy that’s weird enough and dark enough to feel totally original. 

31. Scream (1996)

With A Nightmare on Elm Street and its two best sequels already under his belt (among many other frightfests), Wes Craven made horror franchise lightning strike twice with the post-modern whodunit slasher Scream, and it kept striking across two eras of sequels. Led by one of the ‘90s greatest scream queens in Neve Campbell, the 1996 classic became such a blueprint for Hollywood horror that the inciting film doesn’t feel anywhere near as novel as it did when audiences first sat down thinking they were about to watch “a Drew Barrymore movie.” 

But that opening remains chilling AF, David Arquette’s Deputy Dewey remains a loveable dork alongside Courteney Cox’s hardcore bitch Gail Weathers, and Ghostface’s pop culture-tinged massacre has only become more relevant in an ever-connected world.

30. Cape Fear (1991)

I was way too young when I watched Cape Fear for the first time. I was experienced with plenty of slasher or jump scare style horror movies and figured I’d be fine. Wrong. Cape Fear is an entirely different type of scary than what I was used to. 

With a prime Martin Scorsese at the helm and a fantastic all-in performance from Robert De Niro, it’s a relentlessly creepy and unnerving take on slow-burn vengeance. It haunted my sleep for weeks as a kid, and during an adult rewatch decades later, its themes of religion, underage sexuality, criminal justice and moral relativism were every bit as disturbing. 

29. Being John Malkovich (1999)

Being John Malkovich may not be the very best ‘90s movie, but it may very well be the strangest that still qualifies as a great time. The premise itself — that a door exists allowing others to enter the mind of another person — is odd enough, but for the person whose brain is invaded to be celebrated actor John Malkovich? 

That brilliant choice somehow gives the otherwise impossible story a slight jolt of realism, and it all comprises a cinematic experience that should not be missed. It’s also a movie full of incredible performances, as Malkovich plays a fantastic version of himself, while John Cusack and Cameron Diaz play against type about as much as possible.

28. Dave (1993)

Probably the funniest movie that uses the presidential line of succession as a plot device, Ivan Reitman’s Dave is a hilarious, charming, and oddly sentimental exploration of politics in the early 1990s. There’s just something about Kevin Kline’s portrayal of Dave Kovic that makes this movie about a presidential impersonator becoming the Commander-in-Chief so innocent and pure, especially when compared to the political climate we live in 30-plus years later. 

Whenever I revisit Dave every couple of years, it feels like opening a time capsule to the final decade of the 20th century with its optimism and promise of a better future. 

27. A League of Their Own (1992)

A League Of Their Own is too busy with meaningful character development and telling an awesome baseball story to go for jokes all the time, but on a per-attempt basis, I would put it up against almost any comedy ever made. Director Penny Marshall has a wonderful tonal sense of when her actors should play it straight, when they should add in a little humor, and when they should drunkenly pee for thirty seconds. 

The result is one of the best sports movies of all time, one that delivers all those laughs but also plays it straight enough to give viewers fantastic and relatable plots about friendship, sisterhood, and what it means to thrive and find your own space.

26. The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant is Brad Bird's heartstrings-pulling story about a young boy who befriends a massive alien robot in 1957, and it proves that a movie bombing at the box office doesn’t mean it can’t still become a cinematic classic. Though its theatrical run didn’t even make back the initial budget, thanks to its home video rollout and stellar word-of-mouth buzz, it’s now considered one of the best animated movies of all time. Rightly so, because this is one of those movies that remains timeless no matter when it’s being viewed. 

Watching Hogarth teach the Giant about life on Earth and urge him to overcome his original purpose of being a weapon never gets old. The Iron Giant remains arguably Vin Diesel’s best movie from before the Fast & Furious franchise's launch, and co-stars like Eli Marienthal, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald also shine.

25. Toy Story 2 (1999)

I remember that Toy Story 2 was the first film that made me uncontrollably sob – like fat tears rolling down my face and having a stuffy nose for hours afterward, and I'm sure I'm not alone there. A sequel to Toy Story, which took the world by anthropomorphic storm with its industry-revolutionizing animation, the follow-up adventure was released in 1999, and follows Woody after he is accidentally sold to a toy collector. There, he meets companions from a former TV show that he had no idea about – a show all about him. (And Joan Cusack's Jessie, of course.)

The Toy Story 2 voice cast is stellar, and the animation was a huge step forward in CGI films, but the heart-wrenching story of love, friendship, and so much more is what made Toy Story 2 one of the best Pixar films out there – and yes, I still cry during, "When Somebody Loved Me."

24. Election (1999)

How did Reese Witherspoon not win an Oscar for her performance as Type-A goodie two-shoes Tracy Flick, the textbook overachiever who bites off more than she can chew by running for student government president? It’s possible that we have come to realize that Witherspoon might just BE Tracy Flick in real life. 

But at the time, she was a tornado of talent matching Matthew Broderick beat for beat, bringing to life the sharp school-set satire in director Alexander Payne’s screenplay. Election has as much to say about the greed and immaturity powering politics many years after its release – at every level – as it did back in 1999, which is yet another reason why it remains special.

23. Magnolia (1999)

While not the highest-ranked Paul Thomas Anderson film on this list, Magnolia is a film to be marveled at for its phenomenal ambition. The Los Angeles-based epic juggles the stories of nearly a dozen protagonists who are not only dealing with a wide variety of personal conflicts and demons but are all linked to one another in the stunning cinematic tapestry. 

As the hyper-misogynist motivational speaker Frank T.J. Mackey, Tom Cruise delivers one of his most brilliant turns, and Julianne Moore’s pharmacy monologue is flooring, but the reality is that every member of the ensemble – including Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, and many more – deliver some of the best work of their respective careers. Further considering the frogs and the stunning performance of Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up,” it’s indelible cinema.

22. Tombstone (1993)

I don’t think you could ask for a more star-studded cast for any genre of film, much less a Western. 1993’s Tombstone is blessed by a top-notch cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, the late Bill Paxton, Michael Biehn, Stephen Lang, the late Powers Boothe, Thomas Haden Church, Michael Rooker, Charlton Heston, and many more, making it an instant classic in the Western genre. 

The story behind how this film came to be, along with many behind-the-scenes facts, is bizarre enough, but the struggles resulted in one of the best cowboy films of all time. And one that has stood the test of time against a similar movie released around the same time, Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp.  

21. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and decades later, it’s still clear that was the right call. The movie is beautiful, with early computer animation enhancing some of the most visually stunning hand-drawn shots in the medium’s history. It also has one of the best soundtracks of any Disney musical, if not any musical, full stop. This is Howard Ashman’s greatest achievement as a songwriter. 

But beyond even that, the two title characters are about as three-dimensional as any animated characters ever were. It may be a tale as old as time, but Beauty and the Beast is one the audience gets wrapped up in from the first notes to the last. It’s the definition of Disney magic.

20. The Usual Suspects (1995)

No one saw the twist ending coming. Trust me. No one. It caught audiences off guard completely, exactly the way it crashed down like a ton of bricks on Chazz Palminteri's cop. He finally understood who Keyser Soze was, and we all rushed right back into theaters to watch the puzzle snap into place all over again. 

But The Usual Suspects is more than just its “dropped shoe,” miraculous as that reveal is. The cast of colorful criminals assembled by director Bryan Singer played off of each other wonderfully, with many of them defaulting to the natural leader in Gabriel Byrne, but still finding ways to steal the spotlight every now and then. (Benicio Del Toro mumbling under his breath in the jail lineup belongs in the conversation of funniest five-minute performances, ever). As twisty crime thrillers go, few are tighter and more entertaining than this.

19. Boogie Nights (1997)

Introductions can make or break anything in this world. Careers, reputations, even the flow of a movie can be bungled if you don’t know how to open. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson must have known that when he made Boogie Nights, because when he introduced that picture to the world, he gave himself one hell of a calling card. 

Following young Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) in his journey through the underground of porn films, we see a man still growing up in an industry that feels as young as he is. An ensemble drama boasting the likes of Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Boogie Nights is a cautionary tale with style and tension to burn. Good luck ever listening to “Sister Christian” without having flashbacks to this big, bright, shining star that still manages to break hearts and crack jokes with everyone it meets.

18. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Good Will Hunting is one of those films that changes you forever once you watch it. Starring Matt Damon and Robin Williams, the drama follows a young janitor at MIT who's discovered to be a secret math genius. The premise itself isn't as catchy as some of the other big-time blockbusters of the 1990s, without aliens, robots or crazy action fights, but Good Will Hunting is a film that leaves its message imprinted on audiences long after the credits roll. 

A story of perseverance, hope, and so much more, this movie gave movie fans one of Robin Williams's best roles and catapulted the careers of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (You gotta like them apples.) This kind of film teaches you that sometimes, the people you meet turn you into your best self, so we just have to be fearless enough to go out there and find them. 

17. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Anthony Hopkins is fantastic in The Silence Of The Lambs, and every positive thing you’ve ever heard about his performance is deserved and probably an understatement. He’s that engrossing, but with all due respect, The Silence Of The Lambs isn’t his movie. It’s Jodie Foster’s movie, hingeing on her career-best performance here as Clarice Starling, which just gets better with every rewatch. 

Foster finds the perfect balance between uncertain and determined. She lets her FBI trainee lead character feel the weight of every obstacle, whether it be sexism, personal loss or physical danger, and then she pushes forward. With relentless determination, she just keeps going and that one step at a time, careful momentum gives the film its narrative structure and allows director Ted Demme to create one of the 90s best and most memorable movies.

16. Fargo (1996)

Joel and Ethan Coen have crafted films both stoically grounded and ludicrously fantastical in their long and storied careers, with Fargo possibly the one straddling both of those lines with the greatest of ease. The faux-kidnapping-gone-wrong and the ensuing investigation are smart story beats, and were enough to win the Coens the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, if fairly rote for the genre in general. But it’s the cast, the Minnesota location, and the singular nature of being a snow-white noir that make Fargo one of the greatest films of the decade. 

The always affable William H. Macy is aces as a man being eaten alive by guilt, opposite the gosh-darn excellent police skills of Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson, with Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare as the pair of amoral criminals making everyone’s lives (and deaths) worse. Fargo is a chilling masterpiece, and it’s got nothing to do with the weather. 

15. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Even though one of my colleagues claims her testimony was incorrect in the film, I will still stand before the court and argue that Marisa Tomei, Joe Pesci, and their cast of supporting characters make My Cousin Vinny guilty as hell of being one of the best comedies of all time.

The film is widely used in an educational capacity to showcase one of the few times that a court case is mostly portrayed accurately through a film, and to be honest, the wordplay coupled with the main character/judge dynamic is something to write home about.

14. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

For years, veterans would be the first to say that cinema's depiction of combat — especially that of World War II — is a cakewalk compared to the real thing. Because few films offered a truly accurate portrayal of the hellish, soul-crushing conditions soldiers faced, at least before the release of Saving Private Ryan.

This story of a U.S. military captain (played by Tom Hanks) tasked with leading his crew on a mission to bring a family's last living son home is easily one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies (the second to earn him a Best Director Oscar) and is widely considered to have been unjustly robbed of the Best Picture honor (which went to Shakespeare in Love that year). From the landmark D-Day sequence to the heartbreaking final act and every unforgettable moment in between, it is one of the harshest films you could ever experience, but the passion and craftsmanship put into makes for a grand reward. 

13. The Big Lebowski (1998)

I’m a Lebowski, you’re a Lebowski, we’re all Lebowskis who love the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski, even if its massive fandom wasn’t automatic. It was only a moderate success in the spring of 1998 when it sauntered into theaters on the heels of the Coen’s winning their first writing Oscar for Fargo a year earlier. Reviews at the time were middling, as was the audience reaction. 

Then, over the next couple of years, The Big Lebowski turned into a bonafide cult craze. Pages have been written about its status as such, but too often overlooked is what makes the movie so lovable. It’s quotable, it’s silly, and the plot is the ultimate shaggy dog story with a ridiculous McGuffin — the Dude’s rug — but as it goes for the Dude’s living room, the whole movie ties together just brilliantly. It’s world-class storytelling and the performances from Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and the rest of the cast are perfect.  

12. Schindler's List (1993)

Sometimes what makes a movie from a particular era great is how it represents its time, but some movies would be considered an important work of art in any decade. Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is one of those that transcends eras. The film is great in all the traditional ways: Liam Neeson gives a career-making performance as Oskar Schindler, an Industrialist who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II. The supporting performances are equally strong. It’s beautifully filmed. 

But beyond that, Schindler’s List is an important movie, offering audiences a sobering look at the tragic events of World War II through a character based on a real-life survivor that many were not even aware of before the movie's release. Schindler’s List is one of those movies that you don’t forget after having seen it, and it may be Steven Spielberg’s greatest achievement.

11. Toy Story (1995)

More than 25 years after moviegoers were first introduced to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and the rest of Andy’s collection, it can be easy to forget just how big the impact John Lasseter’s Toy Story had when it hit theaters in 1995. It’s the film that put Pixar on the map, and while it sadly helped kickstart the downfall of hand-drawn animation in lieu of CGI, it also paved the way for three of the greatest Hollywood sequels to ever be produced. Tom Hanks’ Woody and Tim Allen’s Buzz are an all-time great animated duo, sharing hallowed space with Bugs & Daffy and Tom & Jerry, though obviously with a lot more heart than what short-form characters are allowed.

The Toy Story franchise hinges a lot on childhood memories, nostalgia, and maintaining a sense of fun in life as one gets older, and this first film delivers the most distilled take on that idea, with Andy still attached in some way to his inner child. Life, as it were, gets way more depressing for the toys as he gets older, which perhaps is why Toy Story rewatches are all the more enjoyable in comparison.

10. Philadelphia (1993)

 Philadelphia is not only a well-made movie, but is first and foremost an important movie. LQBTQ+ rights were non-existent at the time, as the movie highlights and one cannot discount the role this movie, directed by Jonathan Demme, had in awakening the general public not only to the plight gay people faced at the time but the discrimination people with HIV/AIDS faced as well when it was released in 1993. Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a gay man with AIDS who is fired from his job won the actor his first Oscar and for good reason, he’s amazing. Equally amazing is Denzel Washington, who plays Hanks’ character’s (Andrew Beckett) lawyer, Joe Miller. 

Miller, like most people in 1993 when Philadelphia was released, is scared of Beckett and AIDS, because he, like many, didn’t understand it. It’s Miller’s reaction that resonates with audiences. After watching Beckett get asked to move to a “private room” at a library, Miller realizes the discrimination is similar to that faced by African-Americans in the United States, and by the end of the film, he touches Beckett’s lesion-covered face, after learning the truth about AIDS. It’s a powerful moment that still reverberates today. 

9. Fight Club (1999)

So many “futuristic” sci-fi movies from years past have failed to successfully depict modern society and behavior, but David Fincher’s Fight Club now feels it was adapted from some of Nostradamus’ naughtier quatrains, instead of Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel. Seemingly both a love letter to, and a cautionary tale about, nihilistic anti-consumerism and anarchy, Fight Club features one of cinema’s most convoluted love triangles in Edward Norton’s spine-lacking unnamed narrator, Brad Pitt’s ultra-male Tyler Durden, and Helena Bonham Carter’s impulsively erratic Marla Singer. A demented character study in part, the movie oozes testosterone both before and after the titular underground brawls come together, and maybe even oozes a bit of estrogen when Meat Loaf’s Bob is around. 

For all of the smart and discussion-worthy topics that are tackled with face-pounding glee, Fight Club is, unfortunately, the kind of movie whose natural sheen has been somewhat tarnished by a fanbase who lost the point of the satire, but still holds so many visual and verbal treasures for those outside such bubbles. Especially for any new viewers who manage to go into it without knowing what kicks off the final act. It’s hard to think of a ‘90s movie with a more story-heightening ending, and The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” remains an inarguably perfect needle drop.  

8. Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction changed the rules of Hollywood moviemaking. That’s no exaggeration. Before Quentin Tarantino fired a shotgun blast through the screen with his nonlinear gangster picture, there was a chasm separating big-budgeted studio films and independent cinema that usually thrived on the film festival circuit before making its way to art house theaters. In the years following Pulp Fiction, studios, actors and audiences chased talent and inspiration, wherever it could be found. 

The irony of Pulp Fiction blazing so many trails is that the movie itself is a pastiche of well-worn genres that Tarantino pored over while working the counter of a video shop. He’s paying homage to countless, gratuitous stories that had come before it. Only, Pulp Fiction built on the buzz created with Reservoir Dogs to attract a constellation of stars: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Ving Rhames, and Bruce Willis. Pulp Fiction remains one of the best scripts you will ever read, crisscrossing itself at various intersections and packing repeated surprises (usually of the violent nature). But it was Tarantino’s powerful voice, and his use of soundtrack, that had clones copying his style for decades… and still, to this day.  

7. Jurassic Park (1993)

Anticipation for Jurassic Park began years before its release in the summer of 1993. Michael Crighton sold the rights to the film before he finished the book and because Steven Spielberg was the director who acquired it, the hype started early. Then, in June 1993, it finally hit theaters and was an absolute cultural sensation. Critics loved it, praising the unbelievable special effects and realism of the dinosaurs. Speilberg and the team at ILM broke so much new ground in creating the creatures that it changed how movies were made. Audiences loved it even more and showed up at theaters in hordes. Jurassic Park broke every box record there was to break. It had the biggest opening day, the biggest opening weekend, and finally, it became the highest-grossing movie of all time.

Jurassic Park also earned a slew of awards, mostly for its technical achievements, but that doesn’t mean the acting performances were bad, they were fantastic. Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Sir Richard Attenborough are all perfect in their roles. Finally, there’s the score by John Williams, which remains one of the most iconic of all time. 

6. Se7en (1995)

The film that rescued David Fincher’s career from the stench of Alien 3, and proved that the versatile music director could apply his grungy, moody, techno-acid style to a feature-length nightmare. It’s easy to say now that Fincher was destined to be a contemporary, visionary genius of a filmmaker. But prior to The Social Network, Zodiac, and Fight Club, we needed to see some evidence. Consider this disturbing plunge into the moral sewers to be Exhibit A in the case for Fincher’s mastery. 

Se7en is routine in many ways. It’s set in a rainy and nondescript city, which feels like San Francisco but could be anywhere. It follows odd-couple cops (Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt) tracking a mysterious serial killer who cunningly stays one step ahead of them. But the performances are remarkable, including Gwyneth Paltrow as Pitt’s loving and innocent newlywed, plucked and moved to the grimy city so her husband can do his job. The film’s riveting conclusion – which benefits from the icy calm delivery of Kevin Spacey as John Doe – elevated Se7en above most others in the genre. Now, when someone asks, “What’s in the box?” you don’t have to say, “Gwyneth’s head.” Just tell them the box contains an unforgettable masterpiece. 

5. Heat (1995)

Look at just about every list breaking down the best heist films ever made and the movie you’re probably going to see the most is Michael Mann’s 1995 crime epic, Heat. With some of the most iconic (and loudest) robbery and shoot-out sequences, the first on-screen pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro (both were in The Godfather Part II but appeared in different timelines), and an incredible cat-and-mouse story that uses Los Angeles as a backdrop better than any other film, there’s so much to love about this legendary film.

On top of all of that, Heat has become one of the most influential films of all time in the nearly 30 years since its theatrical release. Watch movies like The Town, Widows, and even The Dark Knight, and you’ll see how Mann’s thriller was so influential. Hell, even the Grand Theft Auto franchise has taken aspects of the movie to create some of the most action-packed video game moments of all time.  

4. The Lion King (1994)

1994’s The Lion King is perhaps the most effective entry in the Disney Renaissance era when it comes to combining gorgeous animation, original songs, and a story that continues to pack a punch decades later. As the coming-of-age story for cub-turned-king Simba, the film delivers arguably the most famous Disney death with the demise of Mufasa, and Scar’s villain song is both incredibly catchy and incredibly chilling. Aladdin lyricist Tim Rice joined forces with Elton John for the songs, while Hans Zimmer composed the score, earning The Lion King an Academy Award for Best Original Score, while “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won for Best Original Song.

The Lion King was a massive commercial hit, becoming the highest-grossing traditionally animated film and holding that record to this day. The original movie also has a legacy that has extended to two TV shows, two direct-to-video sequels, and the 2019 CGI remake that was massively successful for Disney, although divisive among fans of the original animated version. Plus, there’s a generation of adults who learned about coups and succession crises thanks to Mufasa, Scar, and Simba back in the ‘90s. What’s not to roar with love about? 

3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Taking what he learned from making The Terminator and the two movies that followed (Aliens and The Abyss), James Cameron gave audiences not just a sequel in July 1991, but a game-changer of a film that completely rewrote the summer blockbuster and the action genre as we know it. While The Terminator was a small-scale sci-fi thriller about a futuristic cyborg sent back in time to kill a waitress before she could give birth to humanity’s last hope against extinction, T2 was a massive epic with numerous iconic action sequences and CGI that still holds up decades later.

The movie also gave us one of the best on-screen heroes with Arnold Schwarnegger’s T-800, a reprogrammed Terminator sent back not to kill John Connor but to protect him from the more advanced and more lethal T-1000, a character that remains an all-time villain. It is hard to imagine a timeline where Terminator 2: Judgment Day doesn’t exist, but luckily that’s a reality we don’t have to experience. 

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Of everything that Goodfellas is in part — a mobster saga, a crime drama, an ensemble biopic, etc. — it can’t properly be boxed into such a limited description, though it’s certainly safer to use fewer words when the Gambino crime family’s around, lest Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito lose his temper. Based on reporter (and eventual co-screenwriter) Nicholas Pileggi’s 1985 Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, the film rides on the back of Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill, whose idea of the American Dream is to be living it up as a made man, but realizes over and over again how hard such a goal is to attain when everyone else around is just as hungry and ruthless. 

In many ways, it’s a perfect counterbalance to The Godfather saga, sharing similarities such as memorable food scenes and a stacked cast (with some mutual actors like Robert De Niro and Frank Sivero). But unlike Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpieces, Goodfellas was far less successful at the Oscars, with only Pesci taking home the gold, despite plenty of accolades earned elsewhere. Like much of Scorsese’s work, it’s only become more appreciated with time, and easily stands out as one of the best movies not just of the ‘90s, but of any era. 

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

“Get busy living, or get busy dying” may be the better remembered quote from Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption, but it’s the line that Red (Morgan Freeman) says in the final moments of the film that sums up the heart and soul of this story. Not only is The Shawshank Redemption our #1 pick for the best ‘90s movies, but it’s also easily one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story – in this case, the novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

The movie follows Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a banker who’s wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and sent to prison. For a movie that doesn’t shy away from the brutality this character experiences throughout his years behind bars – both at the hands of some of his fellow inmates, and the warden and guards – The Shawshank Redemption never loses sight of that ultimate message of hope – the thing that Andy clings to every step of the way. It’s there in the friendships he makes, and in the moments of happiness Andy manages to find. And it’s there in the final words Red says in the closing narration: “I hope.”