700TrumanShow

(Photo by Melinda Sue Gordon / ©Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection)

The Truman Show celebrates its 25th anniversary!

Thirty years on, the 1990s has solidified its stature as one of the magical decades in filmmaking, much like how we view the ’30s and the ’70s. Precisely, this Gen X-decade pulled together the Hollywood studio power of the ’30s and the groundbreaking creativity of the ’70s, crocheting commercialism and art into the movie behemoths we speak of in legend as the ’90s blockbuster — which we’ve now ranked all by Tomatometer!

First off, in putting together this list, we didn’t want no scrubs: We defined the ’90s blockbuster as any film that made over $100 million at the box office in the ’90s — movies that had people literally lining up around the block to spend their easy-earned cash. (The economy was booming after all.) This, of course, ushers in all those films synonymous with ’90s blockbusterism, including Jurassic Park, Speed, Twister, Independence Day, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Phantom Menace, Armageddon, Wild wild West, and Batmans with three different guys.

But the ’90s blockbuster was more than just fast buses, exploding White Houses, and bat nipples. Audiences opened up wallets and handbags (they’re European!) on brazen independent films (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The Blair Witch Project), big comedies (Sister Act, The Nutty Professor, The Waterboy, Dumb & Dumber, The Birdcage), and romances both funny and dramatic (Pretty Woman, Shakespeare in Love, Jerry Maguire, Ghost).

It was the era of the Disney renaissance (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King), special-effects breakthroughs (Toy Story, Total Recall, The Matrix), and where the most popular movies of the year could reasonably expect a Best Picture statue come next February (Unforgiven, Titanic, Dances With Wolves). A scintillating ’90s blockbuster can transport us to that moment before cinematic universes, before CGI overload, and before ubiquitous cell phones and Internet; today, Lloyd Christmas can just DM Mary Samsonite and say “Hey, I have your briefcase :)” if he weren’t still illiterate.

Now, relive the rush of the decade without the searing sting of slap bracelets, or shotgunning Fruitopia, with our guide to every ’90s blockbuster ranked by Tomatometer!

#1

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Adjusted Score: 106981%

Critics Consensus: The rare sequel that arguably improves on its predecessor, Toy Story 2 uses inventive storytelling, gorgeous animation, and a talented cast to deliver another rich moviegoing experience for all ages.

Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks) is stolen from his home by toy dealer Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), leaving Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen)… [More]

#2

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Adjusted Score: 105528%

Critics Consensus: Entertaining as it is innovative, Toy Story reinvigorated animation while heralding the arrival of Pixar as a family-friendly force to be reckoned with.

Synopsis: Woody (Tom Hanks), a good-hearted cowboy doll who belongs to a young boy named Andy (John Morris), sees his position… [More]

#3

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Adjusted Score: 101849%

Critics Consensus: It follows a predictable narrative arc, but Good Will Hunting adds enough quirks to the journey — and is loaded with enough powerful performances — that it remains an entertaining, emotionally rich drama.

Synopsis: Will Hunting (Matt Damon) has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves… [More]

#4

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Adjusted Score: 104385%

Critics Consensus: As both director and star, Clint Eastwood strips away decades of Hollywood varnish applied to the Wild West, and emerges with a series of harshly eloquent statements about the nature of violence.

Synopsis: When prostitute Delilah Fitzgerald (Anna Thomson) is disfigured by a pair of cowboys in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, her fellow brothel… [More]

#5

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Adjusted Score: 101528%

Critics Consensus: In recreating the troubled space mission, Apollo 13 pulls no punches: it’s a masterfully told drama from director Ron Howard, bolstered by an ensemble of solid performances.

Synopsis: This Hollywood drama is based on the events of the Apollo 13 lunar mission, astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred… [More]

#6

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Adjusted Score: 102109%

Critics Consensus: Exhilarating and intense, this high-impact chase thriller is a model of taut and efficient formula filmmaking, and it features Harrison Ford at his frantic best.

Synopsis: Wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) escapes from the law in an attempt to find her… [More]

#7

Adjusted Score: 101407%

Critics Consensus: A straightforward thriller of the highest order, In the Line of Fire benefits from Wolfgang Peterson’s taut direction and charismatic performances from Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich.

Synopsis: A Secret Service agent is taunted by calls from a would-be killer who has detailed information about the agent -… [More]

#8

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Adjusted Score: 102645%

Critics Consensus: A funny, tender, and thought-provoking film, The Truman Show is all the more noteworthy for its remarkably prescient vision of runaway celebrity culture and a nation with an insatiable thirst for the private details of ordinary lives.

Synopsis: He doesn’t know it, but everything in Truman Burbank’s (Jim Carrey) life is part of a massive TV set. Executive… [More]

#9

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Adjusted Score: 105599%

Critics Consensus: Director Jonathan Demme’s smart, taut thriller teeters on the edge between psychological study and all-out horror, and benefits greatly from stellar performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.

Synopsis: Jodie Foster stars as Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI’s training academy. Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) wants Clarice… [More]

#10

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Adjusted Score: 100716%

Critics Consensus: A highly entertaining entry in Disney’s renaissance era,” Aladdin is beautifully drawn, with near-classic songs and a cast of scene-stealing characters.

Synopsis: When street rat Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp, he finds his wishes granted. However, he soon finds that… [More]

#11

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Adjusted Score: 98982%

Critics Consensus: A terrific popcorn thriller, Speed is taut, tense, and energetic, with outstanding performances from Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock.

Synopsis: Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) angers retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) by foiling his attempt… [More]

#12

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Adjusted Score: 101250%

Critics Consensus: Anchored by another winning performance from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg’s unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre.

Synopsis: Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have… [More]

#13

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Adjusted Score: 101282%

Critics Consensus: Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, The Lion King is a pride within Disney’s pantheon of classic family films.

Synopsis: This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father,… [More]

#14

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Adjusted Score: 101295%

Critics Consensus: Enchanting, sweepingly romantic, and featuring plenty of wonderful musical numbers, Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s most elegant animated offerings.

Synopsis: An arrogant young prince (Robby Benson) and his castle’s servants fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress, who turns… [More]

#15

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Adjusted Score: 99250%

Critics Consensus: Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.

Synopsis: “Shakespeare in Love” is a romantic comedy for the 1990s set in the 1590s. It imaginatively unfolds the witty, sexy… [More]

#16

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Adjusted Score: 98849%

Critics Consensus: One of the most influential films of the 1990s, Pulp Fiction is a delirious post-modern mix of neo-noir thrills, pitch-black humor, and pop-culture touchstones.

Synopsis: Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are hitmen with a penchant for philosophical discussions. In this… [More]

#17

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Adjusted Score: 97044%

Critics Consensus: John Travolta and Nicolas Cage play cat-and-mouse (and literally play each other) against a beautifully stylized backdrop of typically elegant, over-the-top John Woo violence.

Synopsis: Obsessed with bringing terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) to justice, FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) tracks down Troy, who… [More]

#18

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Adjusted Score: 96085%

Critics Consensus: A Bug’s Life is a rousing adventure that blends animated thrills with witty dialogue and memorable characters – and another smashing early success for Pixar.

Synopsis: Flik (Dave Foley) is an inventive ant who’s always messing things up for his colony. His latest mishap was destroying… [More]

#19

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Adjusted Score: 101937%

Critics Consensus: Jurassic Park is a spectacle of special effects and life-like animatronics, with some of Spielberg’s best sequences of sustained awe and sheer terror since Jaws.

Synopsis: In Steven Spielberg’s massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff… [More]

#20

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Adjusted Score: 96044%

Critics Consensus: Thanks to a smart script, spectacular set pieces, and charismatic performances from its leads, Men in Black is an entirely satisfying summer blockbuster hit.

Synopsis: They are the best-kept secret in the universe. Working for a highly funded yet unofficial government agency, Kay (Tommy Lee… [More]

#21

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Adjusted Score: 96529%

Critics Consensus: T2 features thrilling action sequences and eye-popping visual effects, but what takes this sci-fi/ action landmark to the next level is the depth of the human (and cyborg) characters.

Synopsis: In this sequel set eleven years after “The Terminator,” young John Connor (Edward Furlong), the key to civilization’s victory over… [More]

#22

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Adjusted Score: 92947%

Critics Consensus: Disney’s Tarzan takes the well-known story to a new level with spirited animation, a brisk pace, and some thrilling action set-pieces..

Synopsis: In this Disney animated tale, the orphaned Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn) grows up in the remote African wilderness, raised by the… [More]

#23

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Adjusted Score: 91380%

Critics Consensus: With a supremely talented cast and just enough midlife drama to add weight to its wildly silly overtones, City Slickers uses universal themes to earn big laughs.

Synopsis: Every year, three friends take a vacation away from their wives. This year, henpecked Phil (Daniel Stern), newly married Ed… [More]

#24

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Adjusted Score: 103313%

Critics Consensus: A mostly unqualified triumph for James Cameron, who offers a dizzying blend of spectacular visuals and old-fashioned melodrama.

Synopsis: James Cameron’s “Titanic” is an epic, action-packed romance set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic; the pride… [More]

#25

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Adjusted Score: 94561%

Critics Consensus: Thanks to the Wachowskis’ imaginative vision, The Matrix is a smartly crafted combination of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.

Synopsis: Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can… [More]

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#26

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Adjusted Score: 92757%

Critics Consensus: Perfectly cast and packed with suspense, The Hunt for Red October is an old-fashioned submarine thriller with plenty of firepower to spare.

Synopsis: Based on the popular Tom Clancy novel, this suspenseful movie tracks Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) as he… [More]

#27

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Adjusted Score: 94914%

Critics Consensus: Flawlessly cast and brimming with dark, acid wit, American Beauty is a smart, provocative high point of late ’90s mainstream Hollywood film.

Synopsis: Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is a gainfully employed suburban husband and father. Fed up with his boring, stagnant existence, he… [More]

#28

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Adjusted Score: 95979%

Critics Consensus: Dances with Wolves suffers from a simplistic view of the culture it attempts to honor, but the end result remains a stirring western whose noble intentions are often matched by its epic grandeur.

Synopsis: A Civil War soldier develops a relationship with a band of Lakota Indians. Attracted by the simplicity of their lifestyle,… [More]

#29

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Adjusted Score: 92934%

Critics Consensus: Full of creepy campfire scares, mock-doc The Blair Witch Project keeps audiences in the dark about its titular villain, proving once more that imagination can be as scary as anything onscreen.

Synopsis: Found video footage tells the tale of three film students (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams) who’ve traveled to… [More]

#30

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Adjusted Score: 92514%

Critics Consensus: M Night Shayamalan’s The Sixth Sense is a twisty ghost story with all the style of a classical Hollywood picture, but all the chills of a modern horror flick.

Synopsis: Young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) is haunted by a dark secret: he is visited by ghosts. Cole is frightened… [More]

#31

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Adjusted Score: 89746%

Critics Consensus: Exploring themes of family duty and honor, Mulan breaks new ground as a Disney film, while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen.

Synopsis: Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot — though,… [More]

#32

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Adjusted Score: 90394%

Critics Consensus: James L. Brooks and Jack Nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the romantic-comedy genre.

Synopsis: Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who’s rude to everyone he meets, including his gay… [More]

#33

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Adjusted Score: 87901%

Critics Consensus: A rom-com with the right ingredients, Notting Hill proves there’s nothing like a love story well told — especially when Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are your leads.

Synopsis: William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when famous American… [More]

#34

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Adjusted Score: 91719%

Critics Consensus: While it’s fueled in part by outdated stereotypes, Driving Miss Daisy takes audiences on a heartwarming journey with a pair of outstanding actors.

Synopsis: Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), an elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta, is determined to maintain her independence. However, when she… [More]

#35

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Adjusted Score: 88761%

Critics Consensus: Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe’s tender direction, Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache.

Synopsis: When slick sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) has a crisis of conscience, he pens a heartfelt company-wide memo that… [More]

#36

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Adjusted Score: 87859%

Critics Consensus: There’s Something About Mary proves that unrelentingly, unabashedly puerile humor doesn’t necessarily come at the expense of a film’s heart.

Synopsis: Ted’s (Ben Stiller) dream prom date with Mary (Cameron Diaz) never happens due to an embarrassing injury at her home…. [More]

#37

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Adjusted Score: 88769%

Critics Consensus: An old-fashioned courtroom drama with a contemporary edge, A Few Good Men succeeds on the strength of its stars, with Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and especially Jack Nicholson delivering powerful performances that more than compensate for the predictable plot.

Synopsis: Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) is a military lawyer defending two U.S. Marines charged with killing a fellow Marine at… [More]

#38

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Adjusted Score: 86095%

Critics Consensus: Despite its thin plot, Liar Liar is elevated by Jim Carrey’s exuberant brand of physical humor, and the result is a laugh riot that helped to broaden the comedian’s appeal.

Synopsis: Conniving attorney Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is an ace in the courtroom, but his dishonesty and devotion to work ruin… [More]

#39

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Adjusted Score: 85713%

Critics Consensus: Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.

Synopsis: In this remake of the classic French farce “La Cage aux Folles,” engaged couple Val Goldman (Dan Futterman) and Barbara… [More]

#40

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Adjusted Score: 86780%

Critics Consensus: A brutal, relentlessly grimy shocker with taut performances, slick gore effects, and a haunting finale.

Synopsis: When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case with the aid of newly transferred David Mills… [More]

#41

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Adjusted Score: 86524%

Critics Consensus: As with the first film, Scream 2 is a gleeful takedown of scary movie conventions that manages to poke fun at terrible horror sequels without falling victim to the same fate.

Synopsis: Sydney (Neve Campbell) and tabloid reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) survived the events of the first “Scream,” but their nightmare… [More]

#42

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Adjusted Score: 86834%

Critics Consensus: Under Paul Verhoeven’s frenetic direction, Total Recall is a fast-paced rush of violence, gore, and humor that never slacks.

Synopsis: Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting the colonized Mars…. [More]

#43

2369 as

Adjusted Score: 87663%

Critics Consensus: Director Tim Burton’s dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton’s work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first.

Synopsis: The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck… [More]

#44

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Adjusted Score: 86802%

Critics Consensus: Sentimental and light, but still thoroughly charming, A League of Their Own is buoyed by solid performances from a wonderful cast.

Synopsis: As America’s stock of athletic young men is depleted during World War II, a professional all-female baseball league springs up… [More]

#45

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Adjusted Score: 84569%

Critics Consensus: Horror icon Wes Craven’s subversive deconstruction of the genre is sly, witty, and surprisingly effective as a slasher film itself, even if it’s a little too cheeky for some.

Synopsis: The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There’s a killer in their midst who’s seen a few… [More]

#46

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Adjusted Score: 84780%

Critics Consensus: The first and best Pierce Brosnan Bond film, GoldenEye brings the series into a more modern context, and the result is a 007 entry that’s high-tech, action-packed, and urbane.

Synopsis: When a powerful satellite system falls into the hands of Alec Trevelyan, AKA Agent 006 (Sean Bean), a former ally-turned-enemy,… [More]

#47

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Adjusted Score: 82686%

Critics Consensus: It misses perhaps as often as it hits, but Jim Carrey’s manic bombast, Cameron Diaz’ blowsy appeal, and the film’s overall cartoony bombast keep The Mask afloat.

Synopsis: When timid bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) discovers a magical mask containing the spirit of the Norse god Loki,… [More]

#48

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Adjusted Score: 82140%

Critics Consensus: Perfecting the formula established in earlier installments, Clear and Present Danger reunites its predecessor’s creative core to solidly entertaining effect.

Synopsis: Agent Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) becomes acting deputy director of the CIA when Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) is diagnosed… [More]

#49

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Adjusted Score: 84347%

Critics Consensus: Though The Green Mile is long, critics say it’s an absorbing, emotionally powerful experience.

Synopsis: Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) walked the mile with a variety of cons. He had never encountered someone like John Coffey… [More]

#50

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Adjusted Score: 86266%

Critics Consensus: An oddball comedy that revels in its silliness and memorable catch phrases, Wayne’s World is also fondly regarded because of its endearing characters.

Synopsis: A big screen spin-off of the “Saturday Night Live” skit. Rob Lowe plays a producer that wants to take the… [More]

#51

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Adjusted Score: 83198%

Critics Consensus: The Prince of Egypt‘s stunning visuals and first-rate voice cast more than compensate for the fact that it’s better crafted than it is emotionally involving.

Synopsis: In this animated retelling of the Book of Exodus, Egyptian Prince Moses (Val Kilmer), upon discovering his roots as a… [More]

#52

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Adjusted Score: 82290%

Critics Consensus: This late-period Harrison Ford actioner is full of palpable, if not entirely seamless, thrills.

Synopsis: After making a speech in Moscow vowing to never negotiate with terrorists, President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) boards Air Force… [More]

#53

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Adjusted Score: 80178%

Critics Consensus: The Firm is a big studio thriller that amusingly tears apart the last of 1980s boardroom culture and the false securities it represented.

Synopsis: A young lawyer joins a small but prestigious law firm only to find out that most of their clients are… [More]

#54

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Adjusted Score: 80064%

Critics Consensus: Ghost offers viewers a poignant romance while blending elements of comedy, horror, and mystery, all adding up to one of the more enduringly watchable hits of its era.

Synopsis: Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is a banker, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) is an artist, and the two are madly in… [More]

#55

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Adjusted Score: 79266%

Critics Consensus: Sleepless in Seattle is a cute classic with a very light touch and real chemistry between the two leads — even when spending an entire movie apart.

Synopsis: After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Mallinger). When… [More]

#56

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Adjusted Score: 76411%

Critics Consensus: Looking for a sweet musical comedy about a witness to a crime hiding out from killers in a convent? There’s nun better than Sister Act.

Synopsis: When lively lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) sees her mobster beau, Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel), commit murder, she… [More]

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#57

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Adjusted Score: 77737%

Critics Consensus: Directed with propulsive intensity by Ron Howard, Ransom is a fiery thriller packed with hot-blooded performances and jolting twists.

Synopsis: Through a life of hard work, airline owner Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) has amassed a great deal of wealth. When… [More]

#58

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Adjusted Score: 76965%

Critics Consensus: Thanks to a charming performance from Julia Roberts and a subversive spin on the genre, My Best Friend’s Wedding is a refreshingly entertaining romantic comedy.

Synopsis: Childhood friends Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) and Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) had a deal to marry each other if they… [More]

#59

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Adjusted Score: 76027%

Critics Consensus: The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it’s firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.

Synopsis: Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a… [More]

#60

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Adjusted Score: 77303%

Critics Consensus: Forrest Gump may be an overly sentimental film with a somewhat problematic message, but its sweetness and charm are usually enough to approximate true depth and grace.

Synopsis: Slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field),… [More]

#61

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Adjusted Score: 73713%

Critics Consensus: Disney’s take on the Victor Hugo classic is dramatically uneven, but its strong visuals, dark themes, and message of tolerance make for a more-sophisticated-than-average children’s film.

Synopsis: An animated Disney adventure follows disfigured Quasimodo (Tom Hulce), the bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, who bides his time locked… [More]

#62

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Adjusted Score: 74834%

Critics Consensus: It isn’t Tim Burton’s best work, but Sleepy Hollow entertains with its stunning visuals and creepy atmosphere.

Synopsis: Set in 1799, “Sleepy Hollow” is based on Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Faithful to the… [More]

#63

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Adjusted Score: 74029%

Critics Consensus: Great chemistry between the leads made this a warm and charming delight.

Synopsis: Struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) hates Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a corporate Foxbooks chain store… [More]

#64

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Adjusted Score: 73746%

Critics Consensus: An entertaining, topical thriller that finds director Tony Scott on solid form and Will Smith confirming his action headliner status.

Synopsis: Corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) has a congressman assassinated to assure the passage of expansive new… [More]

#65

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Adjusted Score: 74066%

Critics Consensus: It lacks the fresh thrills of its predecessor, but Die Hard 2 still works as an over-the-top — and reasonably taut — big-budget sequel, with plenty of set pieces to paper over the plot deficiencies.

Synopsis: A year after his heroics in L.A, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is mixed up in another terrorist plot, this… [More]

#66

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Adjusted Score: 73740%

Critics Consensus: On paper, Mrs. Doubtfire might seem excessively broad or sentimental, but Robin Williams shines so brightly in the title role that the end result is difficult to resist.

Synopsis: Troubled that he has little access to his children, divorced Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) hatches an elaborate plan. With help… [More]

#67

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Adjusted Score: 72686%

Critics Consensus: If it doesn’t reach the heights of director James Cameron’s and star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous collaborations, True Lies still packs enough action and humor into its sometimes absurd plot to entertain.

Synopsis: Secretly a spy but thought by his family to be a dull salesman, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tracking down… [More]

#68

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Adjusted Score: 72947%

Critics Consensus: Analyze This is a satisfying comedy with great performances by De Niro and Crystal.

Synopsis: When doctors tell a mob boss (Robert De Niro) that he is suffering from anxiety attacks, he seeks the help… [More]

#69

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Adjusted Score: 72121%

Critics Consensus: The plot is thin and so is character development, but as a thrilling, spectacle-filled summer movie, Independence Day delivers.

Synopsis: In the epic adventure film “Independence Day,” strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the… [More]

#70

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Adjusted Score: 71420%

Critics Consensus: Contact elucidates stirring scientific concepts and theological inquiry at the expense of satisfying storytelling, making for a brainy blockbuster that engages with its ideas, if not its characters.

Synopsis: In this Zemeckis-directed adaptation of the Carl Sagan novel, Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) races to interpret a possible message… [More]

#71

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Adjusted Score: 70835%

Critics Consensus: Overlong and superficial, A Time to Kill nonetheless succeeds on the strength of its skillful craftsmanship and top-notch performances.

Synopsis: Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is a heartbroken black father who avenges his daughter’s brutal rape by shooting the… [More]

#72

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Adjusted Score: 70822%

Critics Consensus: It isn’t terribly deep, but it’s witty and undeniably charming, and the cast is obviously having fun.

Synopsis: This film update of the “Maverick” TV series finds the title cardsharp (Mel Gibson) hoping to join a poker contest… [More]

#73

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Adjusted Score: 70617%

Critics Consensus: A relentlessly stupid comedy elevated by its main actors: Jim Carrey goes bonkers and Jeff Daniels carries himself admirably in an against-type performance.

Synopsis: Imbecilic best friends Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) stumble across a suitcase full of money left… [More]

#74

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Adjusted Score: 70481%

Critics Consensus: Critics say Stuart Little is charming with kids and adults for its humor and visual effects.

Synopsis: When the Littles go to an orphanage to adopt a new family member, a charming young mouse named Stuart is… [More]

#75

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Adjusted Score: 70609%

Critics Consensus: For visceral thrills, it can’t be beat. Just don’t expect The Rock to engage your brain.

Synopsis: FBI chemical warfare expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) is sent on an urgent mission with a former British spy, John… [More]

#76

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Adjusted Score: 69994%

Critics Consensus: The movie is peppered with amusing sight gags and one-liners, but the disjointed script doesn’t cohere into a successful whole.

Synopsis: When a man (Christopher Lloyd) claiming to be Fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams (Raul Julia), arrives at the… [More]

#77

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Adjusted Score: 69161%

Critics Consensus: Full of special effects, Brian DePalma’s update of Mission: Impossible has a lot of sweeping spectacle, but the plot is sometimes convoluted.

Synopsis: When U.S. government operative Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), go on a covert assignment… [More]

#78

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Adjusted Score: 69759%

Critics Consensus: Home Alone‘s uneven but frequently funny premise stretched unreasonably thin is buoyed by Macaulay Culkin’s cute performance and strong supporting stars.

Synopsis: When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine… [More]

#79

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Adjusted Score: 68834%

Critics Consensus: Pretty Woman may be a yuppie fantasy, but the film’s slick comedy, soundtrack, and casting can overcome misgivings.

Synopsis: In this modern update on Cinderella, a prostitute and a wealthy businessman fall hard for one another, forming an unlikely… [More]

#80

ems

Adjusted Score: 66585%

Critics Consensus: The Nutty Professor falls back on juvenile humor eagerly and often, but Eddie Murphy’s consistently funny work in dual roles means more for audiences to love.

Synopsis: Brilliant and obese scientist Sherman Klump (Eddie Murphy) invents a miraculous weight-loss solution. After a date with chemistry student Carla… [More]

#81

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Adjusted Score: 66545%

Critics Consensus: A high-concept blockbuster that emphasizes special effects over three-dimensional characters, Twister‘s visceral thrills are often offset by the film’s generic plot.

Synopsis: During the approach of the most powerful storm in decades, university professor Dr. Jo Harding (Helen Hunt) and an underfunded… [More]

#82

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Adjusted Score: 66095%

Critics Consensus: Despite lacking some of the book’s subtler shadings, and suffering from some clumsy casting, Interview with a Vampire benefits from Neil Jordan’s atmospheric direction and a surfeit of gothic thrills.

Synopsis: Born as an 18th-century lord, Louis is now a bicentennial vampire, telling his story to an eager biographer. Suicidal after… [More]

#83

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Adjusted Score: 65294%

Critics Consensus: While it won’t win any awards for originality, the combustible chemistry between its stars means Rush Hour hits just as hard on either side of the action-comedy divide.

Synopsis: When a Chinese diplomat’s daughter is kidnapped in Los Angeles, he calls in Hong Kong Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan)… [More]

#84

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Adjusted Score: 65974%

Critics Consensus: So embarrassing it’s believable, American Pie succeeds in bringing back the teen movie genre.

Synopsis: A riotous and raunchy exploration of the most eagerly anticipated — and most humiliating — rite of adulthood, known as… [More]

#85

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Adjusted Score: 64375%

Critics Consensus: Dick Tracy is stylish, unique, and an undeniable technical triumph, but it ultimately struggles to rise above its two-dimensional artificiality.

Synopsis: Hard-boiled detective Dick Tracy (Warren Beatty) is searching for evidence that proves Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice is the city’s most… [More]

#86

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Adjusted Score: 63714%

Critics Consensus: It’s difficult to make a persuasive argument for The Mummy as any kind of meaningful cinematic achievement, but it’s undeniably fun to watch.

Synopsis: The Mummy is a rousing, suspenseful and horrifying epic about an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Desert in… [More]

#87

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Adjusted Score: 60882%

Critics Consensus: Charming characters; loads of fun for kids and adults.

Synopsis: This animated comedy finds Tommy Pickles (E.G. Daily) trying to return his baby brother to the hospital after being warned… [More]

#88

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Adjusted Score: 62236%

Critics Consensus: Die Hard with a Vengeance benefits from Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson’s barbed interplay, but clatters to a bombastic finish in a vain effort to cover for an overall lack of fresh ideas.

Synopsis: Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is now divorced, alcoholic and jobless after getting fired for his reckless behavior and bad… [More]

#89

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Adjusted Score: 61615%

Critics Consensus: Con Air won’t win any awards for believability – and all involved seem cheerfully aware of it, making some of this blockbuster action outing’s biggest flaws fairly easy to forgive.

Synopsis: Just-paroled army ranger Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is headed back to his wife (Monica Potter), but must fly home aboard… [More]

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#90

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Adjusted Score: 61133%

Critics Consensus: Murtaugh and Riggs remain an appealing partnership, but Lethal Weapon 3 struggles to give them a worthy new adventure as it cranks up the camp along with the mean-spiritedness.

Synopsis: Veteran police detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is only days away from retiring when he and his tough partner, Martin… [More]

#91

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Adjusted Score: 62044%

Critics Consensus: A competent, if sometimes by-the-numbers entry to the 007 franchise, Tomorrow Never Dies may not boast the most original plot but its action sequences are genuinely thrilling.

Synopsis: Media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) wants his news empire to reach every country on the globe, but the Chinese… [More]

#92

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Adjusted Score: 61630%

Critics Consensus: Unevenly echoing the work of Alfred Hitchcock, Basic Instinct contains a star-making performance from Sharon Stone but is ultimately undone by its problematic, overly lurid plot.

Synopsis: The mysterious Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a beautiful crime novelist, becomes a suspect when she is linked to the brutal… [More]

#93

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Adjusted Score: 56097%

Critics Consensus: George of the Jungle is faithful to its source material — which, unfortunately, makes it a less-than-compelling feature film.

Synopsis: George (Brendan Fraser) has raised himself since since he was a baby and a plane crash stranded him in an… [More]

#94

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Adjusted Score: 58394%

Critics Consensus: The Lost World demonstrates how far CG effects have come in the four years since Jurassic Park; unfortunately, it also proves how difficult it can be to put together a truly compelling sequel.

Synopsis: John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) summons chaos theorist Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to his home with some startling information — while… [More]

#95

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Adjusted Score: 56876%

Critics Consensus: Pocahontas means well, and has moments of startling beauty, but it’s largely a bland, uninspired effort, with uneven plotting and an unfortunate lack of fun.

Synopsis: This is the Disney animated tale of the romance between a young American Indian woman named Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) and… [More]

#96

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Adjusted Score: 57740%

Critics Consensus: Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington are a compelling team in the overlong Pelican Brief, a pulpy thriller that doesn’t quite justify the intellectual remove of Alan J. Pakula’s direction.

Synopsis: Taut thriller about a young law student whose legal brief about the assassination of two Supreme Court justices causes her… [More]

#97

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Adjusted Score: 56247%

Critics Consensus: Provides lots of laughs with Myers at the healm; as funny or funnier than the original.

Synopsis: In his second screen adventure, British super spy Austin Powers must return to 1969, as arch-nemesis Dr. Evil has ventured… [More]

#98

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Adjusted Score: 54786%

Critics Consensus: Jet Li’s arrival breathes fresh life into a tired franchise formula — but not enough to put Lethal Weapon 4 on equal footing with its predecessors.

Synopsis: Detective Riggs (Mel Gibson) tries to settle down with his pregnant girlfriend, Lorna (Rene Russo), while his partner, Murtaugh (Danny… [More]

#99

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Adjusted Score: 54128%

Critics Consensus: A feast for the eyes with a somewhat malnourished plot, Jumanji is an underachieving adventure that still offers a decent amount of fun for the whole family.

Synopsis: A magical board game unleashes a world of adventure on siblings Peter (Bradley Pierce) and Judy Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst). While… [More]

#100

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Adjusted Score: 61061%

Critics Consensus: Burdened by exposition and populated with stock characters, The Phantom Menace gets the Star Wars prequels off to a bumpy — albeit visually dazzling — start.

Synopsis: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is a young apprentice Jedi knight under the tutelage of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) ; Anakin… [More]

#101

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Adjusted Score: 56861%

Critics Consensus: Plagued by mediocre writing, uneven acting, and a fairly by-the-numbers plot, The World Is Not Enough is partially saved by some entertaining and truly Bond-worthy action sequences.

Synopsis: Bond (Pierce Brosnan) must race to defuse an international power struggle with the world’s oil supply hanging in the balance…. [More]

#102

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Adjusted Score: 54379%

Critics Consensus: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves brings a wonderfully villainous Alan Rickman to this oft-adapted tale, but he’s robbed by big-budget bombast and a muddled screenplay.

Synopsis: Nobleman crusader Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) breaks out of a Jerusalem prison with the help of Moorish fellow prisoner… [More]

#103

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Adjusted Score: 52788%

Critics Consensus: A meandering, mindless family movie that frequently resorts to special effects and transparent sappiness.

Synopsis: Casper (voiced by Malachi Pearson) is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James… [More]

#104

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Adjusted Score: 53865%

Critics Consensus: First Wives Club is headlined by a trio of comedic dynamos, but the script lets them down with tepid plotting and a fatal lack of satirical bite.

Synopsis: Despondent over the marriage of her ex-husband to a younger woman, a middle-aged divorcée plunges to her death from her… [More]

#105

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Adjusted Score: 50369%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: On his birthday, mechanic George Malley (John Travolta) sees a flash of light and proceeds to exhibit extraordinary mental abilities…. [More]

#106

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Adjusted Score: 49060%

Critics Consensus: Cliche story with lack of chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.

Synopsis: Having already left three grooms at the altar, Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) is branded “the runaway bride” by jaded city… [More]

#107

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Adjusted Score: 49368%

Critics Consensus: A tidal wave of melodrama sinks Deep Impact‘s chance at being the memorable disaster flick it aspires to be.

Synopsis: A comet is hurtling toward Earth and could mean the end of all human life. The U.S. government keeps the… [More]

#108

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Adjusted Score: 44393%

Critics Consensus: Eraser‘s shoot-’em-up action might show off some cutting edge weaponry, but its rote story is embarrassingly obsolete.

Synopsis: John “The Eraser” Kruger is the top gun in the US Marshall Witness Protection scheme; he erases their past and… [More]

#109

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Adjusted Score: 44145%

Critics Consensus: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is exactly as advertised: one-liners, brawls, and general silliness. Good for the young at heart, irritating for everyone else.

Synopsis: In New York, mysterious radioactive ooze has mutated four sewer turtles into talking, upright-walking, crime-fighting ninjas. The intrepid heroes –… [More]

#110

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Adjusted Score: 42882%

Critics Consensus: Doctor Dolittle finds some mirth in the novelty of wisecracking critters, but this family feature’s treacly tone is made queasy by a reliance on scatological gags that undercut the intended warmth.

Synopsis: After a fender bender, Dr. John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) gets back his childhood ability to converse with animals. But the… [More]

#111

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Adjusted Score: 42369%

Critics Consensus: Neat performance from Glenn Close aside, 101 Dalmatians is a bland, pointless remake.

Synopsis: Fashion designer Anita and computer-game writer Roger meet, fall in love and marry along with their dalmatians Perdita and Pongo…. [More]

#112

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Adjusted Score: 42387%

Critics Consensus: Adam Sandler acquits himself admirably, but his charm isn’t enough to make up for Big Daddy‘s jarring shifts between crude humor and mawkish sentimentality.

Synopsis: Thirty-two-year-old Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) has spent his whole life avoiding responsibility. But when his girlfriend dumps him for an… [More]

#113

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Adjusted Score: 42692%

Critics Consensus: Loud, excessively busy, and often boring, Batman Forever nonetheless has the charisma of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones to offer mild relief.

Synopsis: Batman (Val Kilmer) faces off against two foes: the schizophrenic, horribly scarred former District Attorney Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face (Tommy… [More]

#114

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Adjusted Score: 44063%

Critics Consensus: Lovely to look at but about as intelligent as the asteroid that serves as the movie’s antagonist, Armageddon slickly sums up the cinematic legacies of producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay.

Synopsis: When an asteroid threatens to collide with Earth, NASA honcho Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) determines the only way to… [More]

#115

Adjusted Score: 41305%

Critics Consensus: The Bodyguard is a cheesy, melodramatic potboiler with occasional moments of electricity from Whitney Houston.

Synopsis: Best-selling pop diva Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) has a stalker whose obsession has risen to the level of disturbing threats…. [More]

#116

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Adjusted Score: 38908%

Critics Consensus: A change of venue — and more sentimentality and violence — can’t obscure the fact that Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a less inspired facsimile of its predecessor.

Synopsis: After snarky youth Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) loses track of his father at the airport, he mistakenly gets on a… [More]

#117

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Adjusted Score: 37125%

Critics Consensus: Lurid but acted with gusto, Indecent Proposal has difficulty keeping it up beyond its initial titillating premise.

Synopsis: David (Woody Harrelson) and Diana Murphy (Demi Moore) are a loving couple with a bright future. David is a talented… [More]

#118

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Adjusted Score: 36238%

Critics Consensus: This is an insult to its genre with low humor and cheap gags.

Synopsis: Raised by his overprotective mother, Helen (Kathy Bates), Bobby Boucher Jr. (Adam Sandler) is the water boy for a successful… [More]

#119

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Adjusted Score: 32993%

Critics Consensus: The look of Hook is lively indeed but Steven Spielberg directs on autopilot here, giving in too quickly to his sentimental, syrupy qualities.

Synopsis: When his young children are abducted by his old nemesis, Capt. Hook (Dustin Hoffman), middle-aged lawyer Peter Banning (Robin Williams)… [More]

#120

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Adjusted Score: 31060%

Critics Consensus: A talented cast fails to save this unremarkable thriller.

Synopsis: Framed for the murder of her husband, Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) survives the long years in prison with two burning… [More]

#121

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Adjusted Score: 25276%

Critics Consensus: The Flintstones wastes beloved source material and imaginative production design on a tepid script that plunks Bedrock’s favorite family into a cynical story awash with lame puns.

Synopsis: Big-hearted, dim-witted factory worker Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) lends money to his friend Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) so that he… [More]

#122

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Adjusted Score: 23842%

Critics Consensus: A game Julia Roberts gives it her all, but Sleeping with the Enemy is one stalker thriller that’s unlikely to inspire many obsessions of its own.

Synopsis: After faking her death in order to flee from her violent husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin), Laura Burney (Julia Roberts) leaves… [More]

#123

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Adjusted Score: 24200%

Critics Consensus: Contrived performances and over-the-top sequences offer little real drama.

Synopsis: When the body of Army Capt. Elizabeth Campbell (Leslie Stefanson) is found on a Georgia military base, two investigators, Warrant… [More]

#124

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Adjusted Score: 24012%

Critics Consensus: Syrupy performances and directing make this dramedy all too obvious.

Synopsis: After struggling with depression in a mental hospital, Hunter “Patch” Adams (Robin Williams) decides he wants to become a doctor…. [More]

#125

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Adjusted Score: 21904%

Critics Consensus: Nature Calls in this Ace Ventura sequel, and it’s answered by the law of diminishing returns.

Synopsis: Legendary pet detective Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) returns for another adventure when he’s coerced out of retirement while on a… [More]

#126

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Adjusted Score: 26306%

Critics Consensus: Without compelling characters or heart, Godzilla stomps on everything that made the original (or any monster movie worth its salt) a classic.

Synopsis: During a nuclear test, the French government inadvertently mutates a lizard nest; years later, a giant lizard makes its way… [More]

#127

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Adjusted Score: 21114%

Critics Consensus: Bombastic, manic, and largely laugh-free, Wild Wild West is a bizarre misfire in which greater care was lavished upon the special effects than on the script.

Synopsis: When President Ulysses S. Grant (Kevin Kline) learns that diabolical inventor Dr. Arliss Loveless (Kenneth Branagh) is planning to assassinate… [More]

#128

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Adjusted Score: 17174%

Critics Consensus: Joel Schumacher’s tongue-in-cheek attitude hits an unbearable limit in Batman & Robin resulting in a frantic and mindless movie that’s too jokey to care much for.

Synopsis: This superhero adventure finds Batman (George Clooney) and his partner, Robin (Chris O’Donnell), attempting to the foil the sinister schemes… [More]

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