While people don’t enjoy going to the movies in 2026 like they used to, that just wasn’t the case 30 years ago. While there were many great years for movies in the ‘90s, the year 1996 proved to be a really special one. In a year where the 72-win Chicago Bulls won their 4th NBA Title, the Summer Olympics took place in Atlanta, and legendary rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down in Las Vegas, many of the movies released are what that year is remembered for just as much as those events are. From hood parodies, dramas, and a classic horror film that recently released its 7th installment, there were many reasons to go to the movies in that 12-month period. Let’s not waste any more time as Konscious Kurt breaks down his 10 Favorite Movies of 1996:
10. Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood
Poking fun at the classic hood movies of the early ‘90s, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood was another classic parody from the mind of the Wayans Family. Starring Shawn & Marlon Wayans, the movie centers around Ashtray as he’s forced to move to the hood and in with his father (who’s oddly younger than him). As he proceeds to get into endless trouble with his cousin Loc Dog and instantly falls in love with Dashiki (who has seven kids), he strongly considers leaving the hood with her. Featuring cameos from Keenan Ivory Wayans, Vivica A. Fox, and the late Bernie Mac, there’s no shortage of scenes throughout it that’ll have everyone laughing their asses off. Making over $20 million at the box office, the movie put Shawn & Marlon on the map as a comedic duo and was the catalyst for the Scary Movie franchise that would come years later.
9. From Dusk Til Dawn
Starring Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, and Quentin Tarantino (who also wrote it), From Dusk Til Dawn is about two fugitive brothers who take a family hostage into Mexico. Things begin to take a turn as they get trapped in a Mexican bar and are forced to fight off a horde of vampires. What really makes the movie stand out is how it starts out as a crime thriller in the first half but then turns into a horror movie in the second half. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and also starring Salma Hayek and Juliette Lewis, the movie went on to make $59 million at the box office despite getting mixed reviews. As it’s gained a cult following since then, it could also be credited for setting the groundwork for successful vampire movies that followed such as Blade and Sinners.
8. Ransom
While his reputation and career took a turn in later years, Mel Gibson was a leading man in Hollywood throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. One of the many great films he had throughout that run was 1996’s Ransom. Ransom tells the story of wealthy airline owner Tom Mullen whose son is kidnapped by a caterer who ironically happened to work for him. As the kidnappers demand $2 million in order to have his son returned alive, Tom decides not to pay the ransom and instead has a ransom placed on the kidnappers. Also starring Rene Russo and Gary Sinise as the villain, Ransom was a huge critical and commercial success as it went on to be the fifth highest grossing movie of the entire year.
7. The Nutty Professor
After a few years of hits and misses, Eddie Murphy came back in the strongest way possible with 1996’s The Nutty Professor. Released in June of that year, the movie was a remake that centered around obese Professor Sherman Klump. Insecure about his weight and also trying to gain the affection of his colleague Carla Purty, Sherman drinks a serum that turns him into a slimmer, but arrogant ladies man named Buddy Love. While he loves the feeling of being Buddy at first, the serum proves to be problematic for Sherman as he has a hard time keeping both personalities under control. Featuring Murphy playing multiple characters and also starring Jada Pinkett, the movie proved to be his huge comeback as it made $274 million at the box office and even won an Oscar for Best Makeup.
6. Sleepers
With an ensemble class including Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Jason Patrick, and Dustin Hoffman, Sleepers tells the story of four teenagers from the Hell’s Kitchen section of NYC that get in trouble for stealing a hot dog stand and accidentally dropping it from a staircase onto someone. As a result of the crime, the four of them are sentenced to over a year at a juvenile detention center. While serving their time, the guards at the detention center verbally, physically, and sexually abuse them. Fast forward to years later, the now four grown men look to seek revenge on the guards that put them through hell. Released in October of ’96, the movie’s dark tone and compelling story resonated well with audiences as it made over $150 million during its theatrical run.
5. Set It Off
Released in November of 1996, Set It Off is about four struggling black women that resort to robbing banks to lift themselves out of their financial problems. While they pull off the first few robberies successfully, it leads to much unwanted attention from the police and the money they stole being stolen from them. With the police breathing down their neck for the robberies and for the murder of the man that stole their money, they attempt to pull off one last big robbery before fleeing town. Starring Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise in her film debut, Set It Off marked the first time four black women played the main characters in an action film. That combined with the movie touching on topics such as poverty, sisterhood, and being abused by the system connected with audiences as it was a critical success that earned over $40 million on a $9 million budget.
4. Scream
As interest in horror movies declined after the 1980s, the genre had a huge resurgence following the release of 1996’s Scream. The movie centers around teenager Sidney Prescott (one year after her mother was murdered) as she along with her friends are terrorized by a killer in a mask that goes by the name Ghostface. As simply killing his victims isn’t enough, Ghostface uses horror movie trivia and a handheld voice changer to disguise his voice in order to play mind games with them. Directed by the late Wes Craven, the film in many ways breaks the fourth wall as it plays off like a horror movie inside of a horror movie. With a cast featuring Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette, Scream went on to be one of the highest grossing movies of the year, reignited the horror movie genre, and has since spawned six sequels (with the most recent one being released this year).
3. Fargo
Set in the town of Fargo, North Dakota, Fargo centers around a used car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife in exchange for ransom. However, everything soon takes a turn as the kidnapping leads to other murders that are investigated by a pregnant police chief. While based on real life events that took place in 1987, the names and several parts of the story were changed for the purpose of the movie. Starring William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, and Steve Buscemi, Fargo was highly praised for its direction, plot, and the performances of all its leads. In addition to its critical and financial success, it earned two Oscars including Best Screenplay as well as Best Actress for McDormand.
2. Jerry Maguire
Starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Rene Zellweger, Jerry Maguire centers around a sports agent of the same name who suddenly has a change in conscience. This sudden change of conscience leads to him being fired from his agency and deciding to start his own. With only one client and one employee to start with, starting this new agency leads to Jerry finding redemption, love, and his soul in the process. Hitting theaters in December of ’96, the film was the ninth highest grossing movie of the year, popularized the catchphrase “show me the money,” and is considered one of the defining movies in Cruise’s impressive catalog. As great as Cruise was in the movie, his co-star Cuba Gooding Jr.’s performance was also memorable as it earned him the film’s lone Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
1. A Time to Kill
Directed by Joel Schumacher and based on a novel of the same name, 1996’s A Time to Kill is arguably considered the most racially charged movie of the entire decade. After his 10-year-old daughter is raped by two white men, a black man by the name of Carl Lee Ray takes the law into his own hands and kills them. Facing the death penalty, he hires a young white Mississippi lawyer named Jake Brigance to defend him. As the trial progresses, it leads to a lot of racial tension, divide among the community, and the resurgence of the KKK. Featuring an A-list cast with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, and Sandra Bullock, A Time to Kill went on to make $152 million at the box office and despite receiving mixed reviews at the time, it’s considered an important film that sheds light on how present racism still is in modern times.
Honorable Mentions:
• Primal Fear
• Space Jam
• Up Close and Personal
• Happy Gilmore
• The Craft
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