The Great Films: 1996, 1997

It's getting to be that time of year again when I begin to compile my list of the 25 best movies of the year. As a prelude I revisit the Top 25 from past years. Click on the titles to learn more about the films.

1996
1. Fargo
2. Hamlet
3. Shine
4. The English Patient
5. Breaking the Waves
6. Secrets and Lies
7. Sling Blade
8. Lone Star
9. Shall We Dance?
10. Jerry Maguire
11. Courage Under Fire
12. Trainspotting
13. Welcome to the Dollhouse
14. A Time to Kill
15. Michael Collins
16. The Crucible
17. The People vs. Larry Flynt
18. Twelfth Night
19. Primal Fear
20. Hard Eight
21. Jude
22. Basquiat
23. The Birdcage
24. Looking for Richard
25. Fly Away Home

1997
1. Titanic
2. Life is Beautiful
3. L.A. Confidential
4. As Good As It Gets
5. Princess Mononoke
6. The Sweet Hereafter
7. Good Will Hunting
8. The Ice Storm
9. The Game
10. Affliction
11. Eve’s Bayou
12. Boogie Nights
13. The Wings of the Dove
14. The Full Monty
15. Donnie Brasco
16. Mrs. Brown
17. The Apostle
18. The Fifth Element
19. Contact
20. The Hanging Garden
21. Men in Black
22. The Boxer
23. Jackie Brown
24. Lost Highway
25. The Devil's Advocate