From ‘The Matrix’ to ‘Fight Club’, from ‘Dogma’ to ‘Virgin Suicides’, a ranking of the 99 best films that turn 25 years old in 2024
THE Rolling Stone selected the 99 best films released in 1999. The selection included the releases that invaded the American market in that distant period, 25 years ago, a year that “was becoming, genuinely, great for cinema”.
“In fact, after the height of the Golden Age in 1939 and the prominence of New Hollywood in 1974, the last gasp of the ’90s is now considered one of the best 12-month periods in American film history. Considering the number of international films that finally hit our screens during these 12 months, the year proved to be excellent for American audiences as well. Not to mention that the Cannes and Venice schedules would stand out this year as a differentiator for the festival circuit as well. A perfect storm of talent, timing and taste, 1999 would quickly come to be seen as a major milestone for the medium. And a quarter of a century later, it only feels even more like a pinnacle.”
Brazil, which that year celebrated the nomination of Fernanda Montenegro to the Oscar for Best Actress for the also nominated for Best Foreign Film, Central Brazilappears below in the realization of the (excellent) Buena Vista Social Club. But if we were asked, we would still list others – Santo Fortefrom Eduardo Coutinho or A Cup of Wrathfrom Aluizio Abranchesto give two examples.
Below, however, the list reinforces the best of the best, the box office highlights, the big-name blockbusters, the brilliant independent films and the audacious documentaries, as well as some niche cult films that helped define a truly remarkable year for the movie lovers.
99. Dogma
(Dogma)
98. Punisher Saints
(The Boondock Saints)
97. Closed Marking
(Varsity Blues)
96. Big Daddy
(Big Daddy)
95. Music of the Heart
(Music of the Heart)
94. Angela’s Ashes
(Angela’s Ashes)
93. 007: The World Is Not Enough
(The World Is Not Enough)
92. Austin Powers: Agent Bond Cama
(Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me)
91. Black and White
90. The Red Violin
The Red Violin
89. A Crime Between Friends
(Jawbreaker)
88. Living on the Edge
(Bringing Out the Dead)
87. American Beauty
(American Beauty)
86. Crazy Heroes
(Mystery Men)
85. Nobody is Perfect
(Flawless)
84. Summer of Sam
(Summer of Sam)
83. The Winslow Affair
(The Winslow Boy)
82. Rules of Life
(The Cider House Rules)
81. Following
80. The Muse
(The Muse)
79. Double Jeopardy
(Double Jeopardy)
78. Tarzan
77. She’s Awesome
(She’s All That)
76. Andy’s World
(Man on the Moon)
75. For Love
(For the Love of the Game)
74. Titus
73. Miss Julia
(Miss Julie)
72. Few and Good
(Sweet and Lowdown)
71. An Ideal Husband
(An Ideal Husband)
70. Limbo
69. Little Stuart Little
(Stuart Little)
68. The World of the Show
(Cradle Will Rock)
67. From the Bottom of the Sea
(Deep Blue Sea)
66. The Legend of the Headless Horseman
(Sleepy Hollow)
65. October Sky
(October Sky)
64. Judy Berlin
63. End of Affair
(The End of the Affair)
62. Ride with the Devil
(Ride with the Devil)
61. POLA
60. The Son of Jesus
(Jesus’ Son)
59. Mafia on the Divan
(Analyze This)
58. Princess Mononoke
(Princess Mononoke)
57. The Pickaxes
(Bowfinger)
56. Thomas Crown: The Murder
(The Thomas Crown Affair)
55. He went crazy at the White House
(Dick)
54. Instrument
53. Felicia’s Journey
(Felicia’s Journey)
52. Holy Fire
(Holy Smoke)
51. Starving
(Ravenous)
50. Hurricane – The Hurricane
(Hurricane)
49. The Price of a Choice
(Cookie’s Fortune)
48. Rosetta
(Rosetta)
47. I’ve Never Been a Saint
(But I’m a Cheerleader)
46. Between Friends
(The Wood)
45. Ulterior Intentions
(Cruel Intentions)
44. Girl, Interrupted
(Girl, Interrupted)
43. Any Given Sunday
(Any Given Sunday)
42. The Mummy
(The Mummy)
41. eXistenZ
(Existenz)
40. American Pie: The First Time Is Unforgettable
(American Pie)
39. The Mouse Catcher
(Ratcatcher)
38. Buena Vista Social Club
(Buena Vista Social Club)
37. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
(Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace)
36. 10 Things I Hate About You
(10 Things I Hate About You)
35. Let’s Go
(Go)
34. The Best Man
(The Best Man)
33. Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter Jr.
(Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.)
32. Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai
(Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai)
31. Heroes Out of Orbit
(GalaxyQuest)
30. All About My Mom
(All About My Mother)
29. The Wind Will Carry Us
(The Wind Will Carry Us)
28. A Place Called Notting Hill
(Notting Hill)
27. Games, Cheats and Two Smoking Barrels
(Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels)
26. Hearing
(Audition)
25. The Talented Ripley
(The Talented Mr. Ripley)
24. The Iron Giant
(The Iron Giant)
23. Run, Lola, Run
(Run Lola Run)
22. Toy Story 2
(Toy Story 2)
21. How to Drive Your Boss Crazy
(Office Space)
20. Boys Don’t Cry
(Boys Don’t Cry)
19. The Last Night
(Last Night)
18. Blair Witch
(The Blair Witch Project)
17. South Park: Bigger, Better and Uncut
(South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut)
16. Topsy-Turvy: The Show
(Topsy-Turvy)
15. Eyes Wide Shut
(Eyes Wide Shut)
14. American Movie
(American Movie)
13. Three Kings
(Three Kings)
12. The Sixth Sense
(The Sixth Sense)
11. The Stranger
(The Limey)
10. Three Is Too Many
(Rushmore)
9. Fight Club
(Fight Club)
8. True Story
(The Straight Story)
7. Election
(Election)
6. Beau Travail
(Beau Travail)
5. The Virgin Suicides
(The Virgin Suicides)
4. The Informant
(The Insider)
3. I Want to Be John Malkovich
(Being John Malkovich)
2. Matrix
(The Matrix)
1. Magnolia
(Magnolia)
Source: Rollingstone
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
