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The Best Movies of 1997

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated September 4, 2020 15.1k votes 1.0k voters 23.6k views141 items

List RulesOnly movies released in theaters in 1997.

A list of the best movies of 1997, from blockbusters like Men in Black to film noirs like L.A. Confidential. The '90s were a decade where Hollywood thrived. In were new stars and big blockbusters and 1997 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 1997. Who could forget Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon and Robin Williams, Face/Off with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, and of course, Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. And let's not forget about Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery with Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley.

The best movies of 1997 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 Chasing Amy, or established stars like Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco.

Some of the best movies of all time were released in 1997. This is the ultimate list of the best movies of 1997, which shouldn't feature the best movies of 1996. 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.

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Titanic
Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
Released: 1997
Directed by: James Cameron
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed by James Cameron. A... more on Wikipedia
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Good Will Hunting
Ben Affleck, Robin Williams
Released: 1997
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and starring Matt... more on Wikipedia
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123
Men in Black
Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone
Released: 1997
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Men in Black is a 1997 American science fiction action comedy film directed by Barry... more on Wikipedia
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122
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Elizabeth Hurley, Will Ferrell
Released: 1997
Directed by: Jay Roach
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a 1997 American action comedy film and the... more on Wikipedia
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The Fifth Element
Milla Jovovich, Bruce Willis
Released: 1997
Directed by: Luc Besson
The Fifth Element is a 1997 English-language French science fiction action film directed and... more on Wikipedia
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Liar Liar
Jim Carrey, Jennifer Tilly
Released: 1997
Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Liar Liar is a 1997 American comedy film written by Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, directed by... more on Wikipedia
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174
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As Good as It Gets
Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt
Released: 1997
Directed by: James L. Brooks
As Good as It Gets is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by James L. Brooks and... more on Wikipedia
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Face/Off
John Travolta, Nicolas Cage
Released: 1997
Directed by: John Woo
Face/Off is a 1997 American science fiction action thriller film directed by John Woo and... more on Wikipedia
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Starship Troopers
Neil Patrick Harris, Denise Richards
Released: 1997
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starship Troopers is a 1997 American military science fiction action film directed by Paul... more on Wikipedia
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The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Julianne Moore, Steven Spielberg
Released: 1997
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a 1997 American science fiction adventure directed by Steven... more on Wikipedia
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The Devil's Advocate
Charlize Theron, Al Pacino
Released: 1997
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American mystery thriller film based on Andrew Neiderman's... more on Wikipedia
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Jackie Brown
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson
Released: 1997
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
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The Game
Sean Penn, Michael Douglas
Released: 1997
Directed by: David Fincher, Pedro Coutinho
The Game is a 1997 American mystery thriller film directed by David Fincher, starring Michael... more on Wikipedia
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L.A. Confidential
Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe
Released: 1997
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential is a 1997 neo-noir film based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same... more on Wikipedia
15
140
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Donnie Brasco
Johnny Depp, Al Pacino
Released: 1997
Directed by: Mike Newell
Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American film directed by Mike Newell and starring Al Pacino and... more on Wikipedia
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Con Air
Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich
Released: 1997
Directed by: Simon West
Con Air is a 1997 American action film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry... more on Wikipedia
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161
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Boogie Nights
Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg
Released: 1997
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
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Gattaca
Uma Thurman, Jude Law
Released: 1997
Directed by: Andrew Niccol
Gattaca is a 1997 American science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol. It... more on Wikipedia
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Contact
Matthew McConaughey, Jodie Foster
Released: 1997
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Contact is a 1997 American science fiction drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It is a... more on Wikipedia
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Air Force One
Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman
Released: 1997
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Air Force One is a 1997 American political action thriller film written by Andrew W. Marlowe... more on Wikipedia
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Scream 2
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Courteney Cox
Released: 1997
Directed by: Wes Craven
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed... more on Wikipedia
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Selena
Jennifer Lopez, Constance Marie
Released: 1997
Directed by: Gregory Nava
Selena is a 1997 American biographical musical drama film about the life and career of the... more on Wikipedia
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Hercules
Danny DeVito, James Woods
Released: 1997
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature... more on Wikipedia
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Grosse Pointe Blank
Dan Aykroyd, John Cusack
Released: 1997
Directed by: George Armitage
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87
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Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo
Released: 1997
Directed by: David Mirkin
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