Buzz
The 1990s surpassed the extravagant 1980s, becoming an era of even grander scale. From colossal boats to towering dinosaurs, epic battles to interstellar spaceships, the decade delivered larger-than-life experiences. Independent filmmakers transitioned from low-budget projects to mainstream fame almost instantly.
At the start of the decade, $58 million marked the highest film budget (see: Rambo III). By the millennium, this record was shattered repeatedly, peaking at $200 million (see: Titanic). CGI emerged as a groundbreaking tool, with each year pushing the boundaries of on-screen visuals.
What stands out about the 1990s' top-grossing films is their enduring cultural relevance. Decades later, many remain topics of discussion, with half receiving sequels or reboots in recent years. Whether it was the pre-internet era or the timeless appeal of Jurassic Park, these films left an indelible mark. Here are America’s 25 highest-grossing movies of the 1990s.
1. Titanic (1997)
Gross: $2,264,743,305
James Cameron’s sweeping historical drama was initially expected to flop—why would audiences sit through a three-hour film with a foregone conclusion? Yet, Cameron’s passion project resonated globally, especially with teenage girls who flocked to theaters repeatedly. Stunning visuals, breathtaking leads, and the undeniable influence of Celine Dion cemented Cameron’s legacy. Decades later, debates still rage over whether Jack could have fit on that door.
2. Jurassic Park (1993)
Gross: $1,114,429,886
Jurassic Park introduced an entire generation to the concept of DNA, turned the once-obscure velociraptor into a cultural icon, and gifted the world Jeff Goldblum’s uniquely captivating laugh-purr. Its groundbreaking special effects, blending practical puppetry with advanced CGI, left audiences in awe. Though often labeled a children’s film, it’s undeniably intense and graphic, far from being “one big pile of sh*t.”
3. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Gross: $1,027,082,707
More years have now elapsed since The Phantom Menace than between its release and A New Hope. Younger audiences, who grew up with it, hold a far more favorable view compared to the outraged fans who considered it a disgrace. Jar Jar was hilarious! Anakin was endearing! Darth Maul was striking! Samuel L. Jackson wielded a purple lightsaber! It even inspired a fantastic Weird Al song!
4. The Lion King (1994)
Gross: $968,511,805
Ah zabenya! This highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film ever, drawing inspiration from Hamlet, was nearly titled King Of The Jungle. Midway through production, it dawned on everyone that the story primarily unfolded on the savannah. Interestingly, in early drafts, Rafiki was envisioned as a cheetah.
5. Independence Day (1996)
Gross: $817,400,891
Independence Day, penned in just four weeks, drew equally from Henry V and The War of the Worlds. Its 1996 summer release catapulted Will Smith to superstardom and felt like the most colossal film ever created. It also delivered more of Jeff Goldblum’s charm and a delightfully far-fetched hacking scene—who knew alien computers would have a LAN port?
6. Forrest Gump (1994)
Gross: $678,226,465
In 1994, Tom Hanks earned his first Best Actor Oscar for Jonathan Demme's Philadelphia. Just a year later, he claimed the award again for Forrest Gump—a Boomer-era masterpiece that turned park benches into cultural icons and divided critics with its blend of heartfelt charm and a peculiar celebration of simplicity. Mykelti Williamson, despite delivering an unforgettable shrimp monologue, faced challenges finding roles post-Forrest Gump, as casting directors failed to recognize his lip prosthetic.
7. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Gross: $672,806,432
The Sixth Sense, released on writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s 29th birthday, sparked a trend of twist-ending films. Ironically, urging audiences not to spoil the twist inadvertently highlighted its existence, somewhat diminishing the surprise. Yet, unlike many imitators, The Sixth Sense delivered a twist so profound that viewers often rewatched it immediately, eager to relive the revelation.
8. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Gross: $618,638,999
The Lost World, the second installment in the Jurassic Park series and widely regarded as the second-best in the franchise, showcases Jeff Goldblum’s unmatched charm and delivers scenes as gripping as the original. Vince Vaughn’s casting stemmed from Steven Spielberg’s admiration of his performance in Swingers (1996), which Spielberg watched to approve its use of the Jaws theme.
9. Men in Black (1997)
Gross: $589,390,539
Solidifying Will Smith as the undisputed king of summer blockbusters—a title even the flop of Wild Wild West (1999) couldn’t strip away—Men in Black teamed him with Tommy Lee Jones in an effortlessly cool duo, transforming an obscure comic into a box-office sensation. However, screenwriter Ed Solomon revealed that, thanks to Hollywood accounting, Men in Black has yet to show a profit on paper.
10. Armageddon (1998)
Gross: $553,709,788
Released just eight weeks after the similarly-themed Deep Impact, Armageddon faced harsh criticism. Roger Ebert famously quipped, “The movie assaults the eyes, ears, brain, common sense, and the human desire to be entertained. No matter the ticket price, it’s worth more to leave.” Despite this, the Michael Bay film elevated Steve Buscemi from a familiar face to a star, and Aerosmith’s theme song remains iconic and unforgettable.
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Gross: $520,881,154
Upon its release, T2 held the record for the most expensive film ever produced. Initially reluctant to create a sequel to The Terminator, James Cameron found it hard to refuse after being offered $6 million. The result was a film packed with unforgettable scenes, groundbreaking special effects, thrilling chases, grand sci-fi concepts, and a flawless performance by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
12. Ghost (1990)
Gross: $505,703,557
Pottery reached unprecedented levels of allure in Ghost. Director Jerry Zucker initially opposed casting Patrick Swayze, viewing him solely as the Road House star. Once Swayze joined, he championed Whoopi Goldberg, who later earned an Oscar for her performance. Demi Moore initially deemed the film “a recipe for disaster,” but it catapulted her to becoming the world’s highest-paid actress.
13. Aladdin (1992)
Gross: $504,050,219
The creators of Aladdin won over Robin Williams by animating a segment from his stand-up routine—a schizophrenic gag enhanced by the Genie growing an extra head. Though his improvised voice sessions were wildly entertaining and paved the way for celebrities in animation, Williams clashed with Disney after they broke their promise by using his voice in advertisements.
14. Toy Story 2 (1999)
Gross: $497,375,381
Initially planned as a straight-to-video release, Toy Story 2 was elevated to a theatrical debut after producers recognized its exceptional quality and high production value. Remarkably, the film almost didn’t see the light of day; most of its data was accidentally erased from Pixar’s systems. Fortunately, supervising technical director Galyn Susman, who often worked remotely due to her young child, had a backup on her home computer—a compelling case for remote work.
15. Twister (1996)
Gross: $494,580,615
With a sequel, Twisters, set for 2024, Twister was a perilous production for its stars. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt required hepatitis vaccinations after filming in a swamp, suffered temporary blindness from special effects lighting, and Hunt narrowly avoided multiple concussions. The film’s influence extended beyond the box office: when Paxton passed in 2017, storm chasers honored him with a GPS tribute, showcasing a uniquely geeky homage.
16. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Gross: $482,349,603
Saving Private Ryan offers a deeply unsettling viewing experience. Its scenes were so graphic and lifelike that a support hotline was established for veterans traumatized by its realism. Widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, the film delivers an unflinching portrayal of war’s horrors and the suffering endured by countless individuals, heightened by groundbreaking special effects and chaotic, immersive battle scenes.
17. Home Alone (1990)
Gross: $476,684,675
One of the most quotable films in history, Home Alone combines timeless slapstick comedy with Joe Pesci’s hilarious attempts to swear without actually cursing. The film’s extended theatrical run frustrated other 1990s filmmakers, who claimed their movies were “Home Aloned.” It also launched 10-year-old Macaulay Culkin to global fame and forever etched one Chicago street into pop culture.
18. The Matrix (1999)
Gross: $467,222,728
Originally envisioned as a comic book by sibling directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, The Matrix became one of the biggest hits of the 1990s and spawned a massive franchise. It also solidified Keanu Reeves’s status as a box office powerhouse, despite his struggle to explain the plot to a group of teenagers: “There’s this guy in a virtual world who discovers the real world and grapples with what’s real and what’s not. He’s desperate to uncover the truth.”
19. Pretty Woman (1990)
Gross: $463,406,268
A film centered on a “hooker with a heart of gold” might not seem like the ideal rom-com premise, but Julia Roberts made it iconic. Interestingly, the original script for Pretty Woman was far darker, focusing on two deeply troubled individuals whose week together only deepened their issues. This likely prompted studio executives to shift the tone and overhaul much of the story to ensure broader appeal.
20. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Gross: $457,696,391
In 1996, few could have predicted that Mission: Impossible would evolve into a franchise spanning nearly three decades and seven sequels—with Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames appearing in every film. The movie stirred controversy by turning Jim Phelps, the beloved lead of the 1960s TV series, into a traitor. Apple invested $15 million to feature their computers in the film, a hefty sum that ultimately paid off for the tech giant.
21. Tarzan (1999)
Gross: $448,191,819
Disney’s Tarzan may not stand out as prominently as other 1990s hits like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast, but it was a commercial juggernaut. Though rooted in a well-known tale, it inspired a Broadway musical, a TV series, and two direct-to-DVD follow-ups. Even after nearly 25 years, its box office success remains unmatched by many films.
22. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Gross: $441,286,195
Countless hours of unused footage from Mrs. Doubtfire feature Robin Williams improvising in character. Director Chris Columbus revealed that he could have edited the film into PG, PG-13, R, or even NC-17 versions based on the material. #ReleaseTheNC-17Cut
23. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Gross: $424,967,620
If Walt Disney had his way, Beauty and the Beast would have debuted nearly 60 years earlier. Disney first considered adapting the tale in the 1930s, but after Jean Cocteau’s live-action version, he postponed his animated vision for over five decades.
24. Dances with Wolves (1990)
Gross: $424,208,848
Kevin Costner defied conventions with Dances With Wolves. He crafted a three-hour epic in an unfashionable genre, featuring extensive subtitled dialogue delivered by lesser-known Native American actors. One scene alone required 3500 buffalo. Despite these challenges, the film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and briefly made Costner the world’s biggest star.
25. The Mummy (1999)
Gross: $415,933,406
Long before his Oscar win, Brendan Fraser was celebrated as an action star. Though critics were initially harsh on The Mummy, the 1999 adventure film—featuring Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah—became a box office sensation. Over the years, the movie has gained newfound appreciation from audiences, much to the delight of its longtime fans.
