The Best Years of Movies
If you’re a movie lover like I am, you might wonder at some point what year could be characterized as “the year of Hollywood’s best movies.” That’s not a very easy decision to make, because there are several choices. It really just depends on what kind of movies you’re into. I thought that in this piece I would share with you a few examples of Hollywood’s most memorable years – even if they aren’t really the best, it’s my take on it.
1939
The Wizard of Oz
Gone With the Wind
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Stagecoach
Of Mice and Men (with Lon Chaney Jr.)
Dark Victory
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Love Affair
Ninotchka
Wuthering Heights
1939 was a truly phenomenal year for movies because of these 10 films, most beloved by many, and all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
1962
Lawrence of Arabia
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Music Man
The Miracle Worker (with Angela Lansbury)
The Manchurian Candidate
Mutiny on the Bounty (with Marlon Brando)
One could say that 1962 was a year for “heroes who did not possess superpowers,” but were heroic in their own unique way. From the adventurous T.E. Lawrence, to the simple, yet sophisticated Atticus Finch, to the ground-breaking Helen Keller.
1984
Amadeus
Ghostbusters
Places in the Heart
The Natural
Beverly Hills Cop
Footloose
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The Karate Kid
Romancing the Stone
Sixteen Candles
1984 was the year many actors “burst onto the scene” in in their first major roles. Each of whom went on to gain popularity in their own unique way, such as Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid, Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, and Kevin Bacon in Footloose. Although Amadeus would win the Best Picture Oscar that year, one might also primarily remember ’84 as the year of Ghostbusters, since it became one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time. ’84 would also be the year of Sally Field’s famous “You like me!” speech at the Oscars when she won Best Actress for Places in the Heart.
1987
The Last Emperor
Broadcast News
Moonstruck
Fatal Attraction
The Untouchables
Throw Momma From the Train
Stakeout
Dirty Dancing
The Princess Bride
Overboard
Each of these films were financial, critical, and public successes, except for The Princess Bride and Overboard. Both were box-office flops, but The Princess Bride has gone on to gain cult status today. That being the case, film audiences may remember ’87 because most likely it included some of their all-time favorites.
1989
Driving Miss Daisy
Field of Dreams
Glory
Batman
The Little Mermaid
Steel Magnolias
My Left Foot
When Harry Met Sally
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Lethal Weapon 2
Back to the Future part 2
Fletch Lives
1989 is a very interesting year for movies because, in addition to Driving Miss Daisy winning the Best Picture Oscar, and Julia Roberts being cast in her first major role in Steel Magnolias, ’89 was the “foundation” year of many of the most popular film franchises ever. Tim Burton’s Batman led to the creation of Batman: The Animated Series, as well as 3 sequels to the movies, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lethal Weapon 2, and Back to the Future part 2 didn’t do quite as well as any of their predecessors, though they did well enough for the creative teams of each film go on with additional sequels. It was also the year for the “Disney Renaissance,” because The Little Mermaid paved the way for the creations of Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and many others.
1994
Forrest Gump
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Pulp Fiction
Quiz Show
The Shawshank Redemption
Dumb and Dumber
Ed Wood
Maverick
The Lion King
Speed
Miracle on 34th Street (with Richard Attenborough)
’94 can initially be remembered as the year of Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, or The Lion King. The Lion King would be the highest-grossing film for the next 9 years, until Finding Nemo and it currently is the 4th highest-grossing animated film of all time, underneath Minions at 3rd Place, Toy Story 3 at 2nd, and Frozen at 1st. Pulp Fiction did extremely well with finances, audiences, and critics when it was first released, but it has continued to gain popularity today in the 21 years it has been since it was released. Forrest Gump won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks), beating The Shawshank Redemption in both categories (Best Actor in a Leading Role-Morgan Freeman), though both did equally well with audiences. What’s unique about this year is, as in 1962, it included a variety of sophisticated characters which are now part of culture at large.
1995
Braveheart
Apollo 13
Babe
Sense and Sensibility
The Usual Suspects
Toy Story
Pocahontas
The Bridges of Madison County
The American President
Sabrina (with Julia Ormond)
Tommy Boy
Grumpier Old Men
While You Were Sleeping
Grumpier Old Men
While You Were Sleeping
1995 could be remembered as the year Mel Gibson’s epic Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar, or as the year Chris Farley made his feature film debut in the cult classic Tommy Boy, or also as the year Pixar Animation Studios forever changed the way we looked at animated movies by creating Toy Story. No doubt 1995 truly was a year of creativity for the movies.
So there’s my list. What other “movie years” would be on yours?
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