A list of the best movies of 1996, from classics like Romeo & Juliet to dramas like Jerry Maguire. The '90s were a decade where Hollywood thrived. In were new stars and big blockbusters and 1996 was no exception. Some the best movies of this year are some of the best teen, coming of age, adventure, comedies and dramas in history. The films on here are very memorable and had audiences on the edges of their seats, and still pack a punch so many years after they were first released. You shouldn't be too surprised by the movies listed on here.
As stated before, some of the best movies of the decade were released in 1996. Who could forget Fargo, Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise, and of course, Scream starring Neve Campbell and David Arquette. And let's not forget about The Rock with Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris.
The best movies of 1996 featured some of the biggest stars in the movie business. Whether it was the aforementioned stars continuing their success or the breakout performances featured in Swingers, or established stars like Mel Gibson in Ransom.
Some of the best movies of all time were released in 1996. This is the ultimate list of the best movies of 1996, which shouldn't feature the best movies of 1995. Vote and re-rank this list according to how you think the best movies of that year should be reflected. If you notice that there's a movie from this year that should be on this list but is missing, feel free to add it.1
16175The Rock
Nicolas Cage, Sean ConneryReleased: 1996
Directed by: Michael Bay
The Rock is a 1996 action film that primarily takes place on Alcatraz Island and in the San... more2
221123Scream
Drew Barrymore, Rose McGowanReleased: 1996
Directed by: Wes Craven
Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven.... more3
223132Independence Day
Will Smith, Jeff GoldblumReleased: 1996
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Independence Day is a 1996 American science fiction disaster film co-written and directed by... more4
17184Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise, Jon VoightReleased: 1996
Directed by: Brian De Palma
Mission: Impossible is a 1996 American action spy film directed by Brian De Palma, based on... more5
194114Happy Gilmore
Adam Sandler, Ben StillerReleased: 1996
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert... more6
17696Twister
Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour HoffmanReleased: 1996
Directed by: Jan de Bont
Twister is a 1996 American disaster drama film starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt as storm... more7
202133Fargo
Steve Buscemi, William H. MacyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Fargo is a 1996 American neo-noir dark comedy crime film written, produced, edited, and... more8
13774From Dusk till Dawn
Salma Hayek, George ClooneyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez, Sarah Kelly
From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 American horror-crime thriller film directed by Robert Rodriguez... more9
10874Sling Blade
Robert Duvall, Billy Bob ThorntonReleased: 1996
Directed by: Billy Bob Thornton
Sling Blade is a 1996 American drama film set in rural Arkansas, written and directed by Billy... more10
167134Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise, Lucy LiuReleased: 1996
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Jerry Maguire is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama sports film written, produced and... more11
10471A Time to Kill
Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaugheyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
This film is a 1996 drama film adaptation of John Grisham's 1989 novel of the same name,... more12
8552Sleepers
Brad Pitt, Robert De NiroReleased: 1996
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Sleepers is a 1996 American legal drama film written, produced, and directed by Barry... more13
10776Kingpin
Bill Murray, Woody HarrelsonReleased: 1996
Directed by: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Kingpin is a 1996 American sport comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring... more14
11170The Craft
Neve Campbell, Robin TunneyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Andrew Fleming
The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural thriller film directed by Andrew Fleming. A group of... more15
150128Trainspotting
Ewan McGregor, Robert CarlyleReleased: 1996
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Trainspotting is a 1996 British comedy drama film directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Ewan... more16
9766Black Sheep
Julie Benz, Gary BuseyReleased: 1996
Directed by: Penelope Spheeris
Black Sheep is a 1996 comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris, written by Fred Wolf and... more17
12492The Nutty Professor
Eddie Murphy, Jada Pinkett SmithReleased: 1996
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
The Nutty Professor is a 1996 American slapstick science-fiction comedy film directed by Tom... more18
10881Ransom
Mel Gibson, Liev SchreiberReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ron Howard
Ransom is a 1996 American thriller film written by Richard Price & Alexander Ignon and... more19
11889Mars Attacks!
Natalie Portman, Jack NicholsonReleased: 1996
Directed by: Tim Burton
Mars Attacks! is a 1996 American comic science fiction film directed by Tim Burton. Earth is... more20
11089The Cable Guy
Jim Carrey, Ben StillerReleased: 1996
Directed by: Ben Stiller
The Cable Guy is a 1996 American thriller dark comedy film directed by Ben Stiller, who also... more21
10670101 Dalmatians
Hugh Laurie, Glenn CloseReleased: 1996
101 Dalmatians is a 1996 family comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed... more22
9268Jingle All the Way
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Big ShowReleased: 1996
Directed by: Brian Levant
Jingle All the Way is a 1996 American Christmas family comedy film directed by Brian Levant... more23
9067Fear
Reese Witherspoon, Alyssa MilanoReleased: 1996
Directed by: James Foley
Fear is a 1996 American thriller drama film directed by James Foley. It was written by... more24
116107Primal Fear
Edward Norton, Richard GereReleased: 1996
Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
Primal Fear is a 1996 American neo-noir thriller film, based on William Diehl's 1993 novel of... more25
11298Romeo + Juliet
Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul RuddReleased: 1996
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Romeo + Juliet is a 1996 American romantic drama film adaptation of William Shakespeare's... more
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