25 1995 Movies that changed the next 25 years

Four of the most well regarded movies from 1995 include (Clockwise from top left) “Toy Story,” Morgan Freedman and Brad Pitt in “Seven,” Justin Walker and Alicia Silverstone in “Clueless,” and Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in “Before Sunrise.”

With the benefit of more than two decades of hindsight, 1995 is a monumental year in film. In the eyes of critics, only a few movies from this year would be placed on a best of decade (or all-time) list, but if you opened the question to movie lovers and enthusiasts, the results would be much more positive. "Before Sunrise," "Friday," "Clueless," "Seven," "Toy Story," and "Heat" are among the movies that reserved places in our hearts and minds, while others began trends that impacted the industry in the years since. 

This is the year that a few of this era's most prominent movie stars earned their first credits above the film's title. This is the year where the most acclaimed filmmakers of the art form directed some of their best work. This is the year where box office successes began trends that continue to this day. And sadly, it's also a year that serves as a stark reminder of the injustices allowed in Hollywood, as the abusive and criminal behavior of several influential artists and producers has been publicized in headlines and courtrooms after 1995. 

Let's look back at 25 1995 movies that changed the film industry as we know it today.

"Before Sunrise"

Released Jan. 27, directed by Richard Linklater

Linklater was already an indie movie darling with films like 1993's "Dazed and Confused. He cast actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in "Before Sunrise," a project that became more collaborative as they continued filming. Little did all three of them realize how much this small, charming movie, about two strangers deciding to hop off a train in Vienna and spend 12 hours wandering around the city together, would impact their careers and cinema. "Before Sunrise" was a modest success at the box office but would become the most romantic movie of the decade. The trio would reunite to continue the story of the main characters, Jesse and Celeste, in 2004's "Before Sunset" and 2013's "Before Midnight," completing one of cinema's most significant (and most honest) depictions of intimate relationships.

Read the Ultimate Movie Year’s retrospective on “Before Sunrise”

"Billy Madison"

Released Feb. 10, directed by Tamra Davis

Even if you liked "Billy Madison," it's unlikely anybody's going to put the movie on a list of the greatest comedies in film history. It has an adolescent sense of humor, and by releasing it early in the year, Universal Pictures likely didn't expect much from it. And yet, an easy hook, memorable jokes, and a breakout performance from a young Adam Sandler have made "Billy Madison" a long-term success. Sandler was months away from being fired on "Saturday Night Live" when the movie was released. Still, his success in "Billy Madison" secured his career in film comedy, becoming one of the few reliably profitable stars over the past 25 years.

"Rumble in the Bronx"

Released Feb. 23, directed by Stanley Tong

As one of film's biggest advocates of movie history and appreciation, Quinten Tarantino opened up the United States to more international genre cinema after the success of 1994's "Pulp Fiction." Tarantino was a passionate advocate for Jackie Chan, the Chinese martial arts star who gained international fame for his revolutionary stunt and fight sequences. Chan had yet to make a massive dent in the North American market, but that changed with "Rumble in the Bronx." Chan's first starring role received a wide release in the North American market and resulted in one of the most profitable movies of the year. The star was introduced to a whole new audience, who could find his previous films through video rentals while supporting him in bigger pictures like the American-based Rush Hour franchise.

"While You Were Sleeping"

Released April 21, directed by John Turteltaub

In the early 90s, Sandra Bullock started to make a name for herself with supporting roles in 1993's "Demolition Man" and 1994's "Speed," but could she open a movie independently? Bullock was cast into the lead role of this romantic comedy about a lonely token collector mistakenly identified as the fiance of her comatose crush (Peter Gallagher). The movie makes excellent work of Bullock's comedic gifts: sweetness with an edge, smart but dorky, beautiful but relatable. "While You Were Sleeping" went on to clean up at the box office, becoming the top-grossing romantic comedy of the year. Bullock would go on to star in dozens of box office hits over the next quarter-century as one of the world's biggest movie stars.

"Friday"

Released April 26, directed by F. Gary Gray

In the early 90s, there were several dramas focused on the Black experience in Los Angeles. Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, both multi-hyphenate artists, decided to write a comedy that portrayed that specific experience in a more positive light. The result was "Friday," a word-of-mouth hit at the box office that enjoyed a long life after its original theatrical release. Not only did "Friday" produce several comedic moments and quotes that are frequently used as online and social media shorthand today (hello "Bye Felicia"), but Cube's co-star, Chris Tucker, had a breakthrough performance that led to his own starring roles.

"Crimson Tide"

Released May 12, directed by Tony Scott

Remember when studios would support original screenplays with a hook, hand them to a reliable director, cast valuable movie stars in the lead roles, and we all enjoyed going to see the result at the movies? That was awesome. That happened a lot back in the 90s when star-driven pictures with a great elevator pitch proved to be reliable moneymakers. Military and courtroom dramas were incredibly lucrative (and watch out if you combined both, like in 1992's "A Few Good Men"). In "Crimson Tide," trapping Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman in a submarine to clash over leadership and personalities was enough to talk us into the theaters, and everybody involved held up their end of the bargain as we shoveled popcorn and candy into our faces. "Crimson Tide" remains one of the best examples of this era. While these types of movies have generally fallen out of style in favor of franchise-style domination, it's a wonderful reminder that the old school style of studio filmmaking can still work with talent and support.

"Party Girl"

Released June 9, directed by Daisey von Scherler Mayer

Parker Posey stars as a young woman deeply into the New York City nightclub scene but is forced to adapt her lifestyle after taking a library job. It's the first starring role for Posey, who quickly became the "It Girl" of indy film and would go on to have a long, recognized career as a character actor. "Party Girl" was also the first movie to premiere on the Internet a few days before its theatrical release. This small trivia piece would enormously impact the film industry, as online streaming services have dominated the marketplace.

"Batman Forever"

Released June 16, directed by Joel Schumacher

Decades before the MCU dominated the box office, the lone superhero who found cinematic success in the early 90s was Batman. Tim Burton helped steer the character (then played by Michael Keaton) into a worldwide juggernaut franchise, but Burton and Keaton bailed on the third movie. Enter Schumacher, who transformed Burton's Gotham's gothic aesthetic into a sexy neon reinvention of the Adam West television series. Audiences flocked to see Batman (now with Val Kilmer behind the mask) in 1995. Still, when Schumacher and company returned for 1997's "Batman and Robin" (with George Clooney recast as the hero), the party was over and put the breaks on superhero movies for a few years. Schumacher's work on the franchise was a reminder that respect for the fantasy will yield rewards. Various Marvel producers certainly noticed, as the early Blade, X-Men, and Spider-Man films made the genre viable again and paved the way for the MCU. And as for Batman, director Christopher Nolan solidified his industry status with his grounded Dark Knight trilogy.

"Apollo 13"

Released June 30, directed by Ron Howard

Like the real-life perilous space mission the film is based on, many things had to come together for "Apollo 13" to succeed. With a decade of movies he directed behind him, Howard gained experience to mix a perfect blend of populism and critical acclaim to helm a film that scored an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Meanwhile, Tom Hanks was fresh off two straight Best Actor wins at the Academy Awards. With one more iconic film role to come later in the year, 1995 marked the moment Hanks solidified his status as Hollywood's humble everyman movie star, the likes of which we haven't seen since James Stewart. Hanks was supported by a murderer's row of character actors like Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon. The result was the most thrilling space exploration movie in a decade. The success of "Apollo 13" led to Hanks and Howard's Imagine Entertainment producing the HBO miniseries, "From Earth to the Moon." It also showed audiences love the thrills and adventure of rocketing into space, as they kept packing it in for movies like 1998's "Armaggedon," 2013's "Gravity," and 2015's "The Martian."

"Clueless"

Released July 19, directed by Amy Heckerling

It seems like every generation has their era-defining high school movie. Heckerling managed to provide two: 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and 1995's "Clueless." With the latter, Heckerling also wrote the screenplay as a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma" with the sweet, proactive, and naive Cher at the center of 90s high school culture. She cast rising star Alicia Silverstone as Cher and turned her into a cinematic icon. Heckerling rounded out the ensemble with promising young actors, including Paul Rudd. It remains the peak of their careers for some filmmakers and cast, but what a peak it is. A crackerjack script that moves the story and is filled with top-notch jokes and quotes made "Clueless" one of the decade's best comedies. "As if" there was a doubt.

"Babe"

Released Aug. 4, directed by Chris Noonan

The story of a young pig who wants to be a sheep-dog, this excellent family film became one of 1995's most unexpected hit movies. Outside of Disney, many other movies marketed to that audience were filled with sarcasm and cynicism in a desperate attempt to seem cool to kids, but that approach instantly dated the film. "Babe" replaced cynicism with sincerity, and its respect for all of the characters has made it timeless. "Babe" was so well received that it earned a Best Picture nomination at the 1996 Academy Awards. Producer George Miller (of "Mad Max" fame) took over the director's chair for the 1998 sequel, "Babe: Pig in the City," a fascinating movie that accurately captures the dark overtones of classic fairy tales. Along with "Toy Story," released later that same year, "Babe" proved that family films made with intelligence and heart will have longer lives after theaters and can stand up with the greatest movies ever made.

"The Usual Suspects" 

Released Aug. 16, directed by Bryan Singer

On its own, "The Usual Suspects" is a creative, pulpy crime film that dazzled audiences as a fun and memorable watch. There are plot points from the movie that seeped into the public consciousness and remains there to this day. But sadly, now the movie's most significant takeaway is the alleged crimes of the people who made the movie. Both director Singer and co-star Kevin Spacey have been implicated in several sexual assault cases stretching back throughout their careers that have only more recently been given a larger spotlight. Considering that "The Usual Suspects" was the breakout movie for both Singer and Spacey, the film now has an incredibly complicated legacy that makes it difficult to review it on its own merits. Regardless of its quality, "The Usual Suspects" reminds us about Hollywood's dark history behind the cameras.

"Desperado"

Released Aug. 25, directed by Robert Rodriguez

"Pulp Fiction" created a massive wake after its surprise success that spawned many imitators, but it would be dishonest to call "Desperado" one of them. Like Tarantino, Rodriguez aimed for a broader audience for his sophomore film after 1992's "El Mariachi." Much of the director's style and tone was already present before "Pulp Fiction" arrived in theaters. So was the story, as "Desperado" hits many of the same beats as "El Mariachi." Now, Rodriguez had a bigger budget, the endorsement and marketability of star Antonio Banderas, and the American debut of an instantly memorable Salma Hayak to create visceral, kinetic, and sexy action film. And oddly enough, Tarantino makes an appearance in one of his best roles. What was considered a "Pulp Fiction" imitator is now viewed on its own merits as a fun Saturday night flick that gave many Latinos mainstream exposure. 

"Seven"

Released Sept. 22, directed by David Fincher

A veteran detective helps a younger cop learn the ropes in a dangerous city suddenly plagued by a gruesome serial killer. Drawn in by stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freedman, audiences had little idea how deep into darkness the movie would take them. But Fincher, motivated by the failure of 1992's "Alien 3," was determined to show the full scope of his talents that he was unable to with his debut feature. From the beginning credits to the shocking final scene, Fincher wholly owns our attention as he unravels our nerves in the depths of depravity. Fincher would go on to become one of his generation's best filmmakers, with works like 1999's "Fight Club," 2007's "Zodiac," and 2010's "The Social Network." The final piece of the puzzle in "Seven" was Kevin Spacey, weeks after the successful rollout of "The Usual Suspects," completing the one-two punch of cinematic surprise supervillain that solidified his place in Hollywood for decades. The side-effect of Spacey's recent history makes John Doe even more detestable. 

"Showgirls"

Released Sept. 22, directed by Paul Verhoeven

I'm confident that at least some of the people involved with "Showgirls" thought they were making something valuable. After all, creatives don't set out to deliberately fail, but sometimes you end up with a turkey. By the mid-90s, Verhoeven was building up his status as a reliably good filmmaker, uniquely suited to the VHS rental era, with 1987's "Robocop," 1990's "Total Recall," and 1992's "Basic Instinct." He was reteaming with "Basic Instinct" screenwriter Joe Eszterhas for "Showgirls," and he cast Elizabeth Berkely, former teen star of TV's "Saved By the Bell," in a provocative adult role. All the pieces were there for a hit movie that worked before, but the filmmakers chose poorly at almost moment of decision. "Showgirls" became one of the most notorious bombs of the decade, but it's also a camp classic that has maintained a fanbase over the years.

"Kicking and Screaming"

Released Oct. 6, directed by Noah Baumbach

Many branches of artistic cinema spawned from this acclaimed 1995 film. A dramedy about the inability of young twenty-somethings to mature beyond their college years, "Kicking and Screaming" was listed on several best-of-the-year lists by various media and noted critics. It's also the directorial debut of Baumbach, who became one of his generation's most distinct filmmaking voices. Baumbach would later go on to write and direct acclaimed films like 2005's "The Squid and the Whale," 2014's "Francis Ha," and 2019's "Marriage Story." Greta Gerwig, the actress who is one of Baumbach's frequent collaborators and now romantic partner, became an influential filmmaker as well, writing and directing 2017's "Lady Bird" and 2019's "Little Women." 

"To Die For"

Released Oct. 6, directed by Gus Van Sant

One of the most buzzed-about pictures of the year, "To Die For" stars Nicole Kidman as a local television personality so intensely focused on her career, she manipulates a trio of high school students into murdering her husband (Matt Dillon). The ease in which Kidman's Suzanne Stone uses her minor celebrity status and platform to draw others into her bidding defines her character as a sociopath. Co-starring Joaquin Phoenix, "To Die For" focuses on our obsession with reality television and news as entertainment. We still grapple with the themes of "To Die For" today, while Kidman and Phoenix used the career boost to become two of the most respected actors of their generation.

"Get Shorty"

Released Oct. 20, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Debuting a year after "Pulp Fiction" changed film culture, "Get Shorty" was one of the first major studio releases that blended Tarantino's signature mix of crime, Hollywood, and attitude. "Pulp Fiction" star John Travolta was hitting his stride during his career comeback as Chili Palmer, a loan shark who finds his way to Los Angeles and decides to make his movie-watching hobby into a profession. The movie has a stacked cast of stars, including Rene Russo, Danny Devito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, and the magnificent Gene Hackman, but "Get Shorty's" most significant impact came later. The screenplay was adapted from a novel by Elmore Leonard, a devilishly funny and cool crime novelist who grabbed Hollywood's attention. "Get Shorty" was the first in a string of acclaimed Leonard adaptations, including 1997's "Jackie Brown," 1998's "Out of Sight," and the FX television series, "Justified."

"The American President"

Released Nov. 17, directed by Rob Reiner

The conclusion of a run of films that produced classic after classic, including "This Is Spinal Tap," "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally …," and "A Few Good Men," Reiner reunited with the latter film's screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, for this charming romantic comedy set in the Oval Office. Michael Douglas and Annette Bening are effortlessly intelligent and engaging in their lead roles, and "The American President" remains an easy comfort watch 25 years after its release. The movie serves as a dry run for Sorkin's acclaimed television series, "The West Wing," which premiered in 1999 and bumps Martin Sheen, who plays Douglas' chief of staff in "The American President," to the commander-in-chief. Reiner's filmography struggles after this movie, but for Sorkin, his success was only the beginning.

"GoldenEye"

Released Nov. 17, directed by Martin Campbell

By the end of the 1980s, the James Bond franchise was on the wane. Roger Moore concluded his run with the character with films that trended toward camp, then the series turned more trendy when Timothy Dalton took over for two movies that received mixed reviews. The third Dalton movie fell into development limbo after legal disputes, and by the time it was settled, the star's original contract expired. Enter Pierce Bronson, a previous contender to assume the Bond role. Between Bronson's performance and Campbell's direction, "GoldenEye" marked a return to form for the franchise and renewed it for a new generation. While Bronson would suit up as Bond for three more movies, the "GoldenEye" brand proved more immense than the film. The video game adaptation of the movie for the Nintendo GameCube was a massive critical and financial success for the system and remains one of the most beloved first-person shooters to date.

"Casino"

Released Nov. 22, directed by Martin Scorsese

By this point, anytime Scorsese calls up his longtime acting collaborators Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, everybody knew exactly what kind of movie they were going to get. The trio worked on 1980's "Raging Bull" and 1990's "Goodfellas," both of which would be a strong argument for the best movie of their respective decades. While "Casino" doesn't quite live up to the highest of standards set by those previous movies, it's still a viscerally-entertaining look at the seedy underbelly of society. This time, Scorsese and crew head to Las Vegas to look at what it may take to be successful in the gambling business. Considered on its own merits, "Casino" is one of 1995's best films and ranks high for rewatchability. Scorsese, De Niro, and Pesci would not work together again until 2019's "The Irishman." Still, taking all four of their movies together, you would be hard-pressed to find a better cinematic examination of American violence and crime.

"Toy Story"

Released Nov. 22, directed by John Lasseter

After the release of 1989's "The Little Mermaid," Disney Animation Studios began a resurgent run of dominance in the market that lasted well into the 90s. During this period, Disney started a business relationship with Pixar, a computer animation company at the early forefront of technology that advanced filmmaking. Disney and Pixar reached a deal for Pixar to begin producing feature-length computer-animated films that Disney would produce. The first was "Toy Story," a charming, well-told fantasy movie that starred Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as rival playthings competing for a young boy's affection. The film was a massive hit with a $363 worldwide gross and established computer animation's advancement and viability. Pixar's dedication to story craft helped them churn out a string of hits that compelled audiences, including several "Toy Story" sequels. Disney purchased Pixar entirely in 2005, and the division is now a core channel in their overall business strategy. The lone misfire in the movie's legacy is director Lasseter, who led Pixar's journey to become a dominant film brand but left the company in 2017 after his abusive workplace habits came to public light.

Read the Ultimate Movie Year’s retrospective on “Toy Story”

"Sense and Sensibility"

Released Dec. 13, directed by Ang Lee

As much of our cultural history tends to elevate male-dominated films (including several on this list) in the discourse, this period-piece adaptation of a literary classic has become underrated. We won't be doing that here, as "Sense and Sensibility" remains one of the decade's finest films. It boasts a respected star-ensemble, including career-best work from Emma Thompson (who also earned a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar) and Alan Rickman, along with a young Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant. It's one of Ang Lee's seminal works from a very diverse filmography. And along with "Clueless" and the BBC television miniseries adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice," "Sense and Sensibility" led to a widespread revival of the work of English novelist Jane Austen. Her books and influence remain a strong presence throughout our modern culture.

"Heat"

Released Dec. 15, directed by Michael Mann

One of the best ways to create anticipation for a movie is to put two or more marketable movie stars together for the first time ever. There's an electricity to seeing two stars you're familiar with face-off with their unique charisma and personalities because both the actors and audience are in the same position: We're not sure how this will go. "Heat" remains the best example of this in 1995, as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro meet on screen for the first time (they had previously appeared in "The Godfather Part II," but in different timelines). By this time, in their remarkable careers, there was a familiar persona associated with the actors. It was here where those personas reached their peak effectiveness before they descended into lazy parody. Combined with Mann's thrilling, epic depiction of a cops and robbers story filled with a star-studded ensemble cast, "Heat" remains one of 1995's most popular movies a quarter-century later.

Read the Ultimate Movie Year’s retrospective on “Heat”

"Jumanji"

Released Dec. 15, directed by Joe Johnston

What would happen if the board game you were playing started manifesting itself into real-world peril? That's the gimmick of this family adventure movie starring Robin Williams that became one of the year's biggest hits. Director Johnston has quietly put together a filmography of quality family films, including 1989's "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," 1991's "The Rocketeer," and 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger," that will bode well for his career retrospective. Meanwhile, Williams offers a fun and engaging leading performance that ranks amongst the best of his work in this genre. "Jumanji" only recently became a franchise, as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart starred in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," a 2017 sequel that brought the story into the video game era and spawned another follow-up movie in 2019.