The Sixth Sense
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense was a thrilling supernatural movie about a little boy who could see and communicate with dead people. This film launched M. Night Shyamalan’s career and was notable for its shocking twist ending. It earned six Oscar nominations and is one of the highest grossing horror movies ever made, earning over $670 million at the box office.
The Iron Giant
The first film ever directed by Brad Bird, The Iron Giant was a fantastic animated sci-fi movie based on the book of the same name by Ted Hughes. It featured the voices of Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, Harry Conick Jr., and others and told the tale of a little boy who befriends a big iron robot from space. The film wasn’t a big box office success but won nine Annie Awards and is regarded as one of the best-animated classics ever made.
Fight Club
Starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter, Fight Club is based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel and tells the tale of a disenchanted worker looking for a little excitement in his life. He befriends a daring, reckless man named Tyler Durden and forms the titular ‘fight club.’ Directed by David Fincher, Fight Club only got one Oscar nomination but has since featured on many all-time greatest movie lists by critics and casual film fans alike.
The Mummy
Directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah, The Mummy was a remake of classic horror from the 1930s. It tells the tale of an explorer named Rick O’Connell who goes in search of lost treasure and awakens an evil mummy. It was a smash success and led to several sequels and a spin-off. The movie was nominated for an Oscar as well and even got its rollercoaster at the Universal Studios theme park.
Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace
Directed by George Lucas himself and starring the likes of Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson, and Ewan McGregor, Star Wars: Episode 1 was Lucas’ first foray into expanding his original trilogy of Star Wars films into a more extensive series. It was the highest grossing movie of 1999 and earned three Oscar nominations but received a mixed response from hardcore Star Wars fans. Jake Lloyd, the boy who played Anakin, was severely bullied for his role in the film and quit acting altogether.
Toy Story 2
Generally regarded as one of the best Pixar movies of all time, Toy Story 2 was directed by John Lasseter and featured the classic cast of voices like Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, with a few new names added in like Kelsey Grammar and Joan Cusack. The film continued the adventures of Buzz and Woody and was a mega-hit, winning many awards and making big money at the box office. Interestingly, Toy Story 2 was initially planned as a direct-to-video film.
The Matrix
An undisputed classic, The Matrix was directed by the Wachowskis and starred Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving in the lead roles. It tells a sci-fi tale of a terrible future in which humans live in a virtual reality space called the Matrix. The movie won four Oscars and many other awards is highly praised for its stylish, slow-motion action scenes and gripping story. Alice in Wonderland was a big inspiration for the film’s writers.
American Pie
Directed by Paul and Chris Weitz and starring Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Mena Suvari, and many others, American Pie was the first in a series of teen sex comedy classics. The film focuses on a bunch of buddies trying to lose their virginity before they leave high school and is named after the Don McLean song of the same name. There were three direct sequels to American Pie, as well as a few spin-offs, and the film won a lot of awards.
Green Mile
Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan in leading roles, The Green Mile is based on a Stephen King story and tells the tale of a death row prisoner who has supernatural powers and the correctional officers who keep an eye on him during his final days. The film was a big hit and won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Stephen King was particularly pleased with the casting of Tom Hanks and said he would fit the part perfectly.
10 Things I Hate About You
A classic rom-com starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, 10 Things I Hate About You was directed by Gil Junger. It was laid out as a modern-day version of the classic Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew and focusing on the romantic lives and difficulties of a group of high school teens. This film helped to launch the careers of Stiles, Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, with most of the main cast receiving individual awards for their performances.
