Welcome to another edition of The Year In Movies, this time around, it’s time to take a look at 1996, now the worst movies of 1996:
10. Twister
Twister is one of the perfect examples of a style over substance movie, yes, the effects look good for the time but the rest of the film is a mess, the characters aren’t memorable, the script is lackluster, the dramatic moments are melodramatic, the science makes no sense, the movie is just a mess of a film. I never liked Twister and I probably never will.
9. Larger Than Life
Larger Than Life was clearly not trying to be funny even though it had Bill Murray, this was back when Bill Murray would take anything given to him.
8. Independence Day
Just like I had said with the sequel, the original movie was really not that good, let’s just be honest folks, we were blown away solely on the special effects and yes, they do still hold up because of the fact that most of them were practical but other than that, there is nothing about this movie that works on any level.
7. Barb Wire
Gee, casting Pamela Anderson when she can’t act to save her life as a superheroine, what possibly could go wrong here? Apparently everything.
6. The Adventures Of Pinocchio
Speaking of movies with special effects that don’t hold up, good lord, the effects in this just are just ass and let’s also be honest, Jonathan Taylor Thomas never had a good acting career in film during the 90s.
5. Bio-Dome
It’s a comedy with Pauly Shore & Stephen Baldwin, would you expect anything else?
4. Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace
More movies with special effects that don’t hold up well with time and also, one of the most pointless sequels ever made as nothing about it has anything to do with the first film and creating plotholes with the original movie as well. Also, Jobe in this is played as a reject Jim Carrey lookalike.
3. Kazaam
It’s Shaq as a genie…and yes, it’s Shaq not Sinbad, I have no idea why we’re trying to start a meme to get Sinbad to play a genie for.
2. All Dogs Go To Heaven 2
Some of the worst animation for a theatrically released movie, you could not convince me that this wasn’t meant to be a direct-to-video sequel blown up for the big screen as a cashgrab.
and the #1 worst movie of 1996 is…
Ed
Matt LeBlanc starring opposite a monkey playing baseball…need I say more.
Those are the worst, now let’s look at the best of 1996:
10. The Nutty Professor
A return to form for Eddie Murphy after starring in several high profile comedy flops in the mid 90s, very funny, very well directed by Tom Shadyac.
9. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
For Disney to actually make an animated kids movie based off of Hunchback Of Notre Dame and to make it work for the majority is like a Christmas miracle, it’s amazing that they actually pulled it off. A lot of it really does work, and to me, it’s the last great movie of the Disney renaissance of the late 80s/early 90s.
8. Beavis & Butt-Head Do America
A great feature length adventure with Beavis & Butt-Head’s equal levels of comedy and great animation.
7. Kingpin
A movie that’s just as funny as Dumb & Dumber and one of the Farrelly Brothers’ really great masterpieces of comedy.
6. James & The Giant Peach
A nice blending of live-action and stop motion animation that may not be quite as good as The Nightmare Before Christmas was but it’s still a really solid and enjoyable kids film.
5. Sling Blade
One of the first movies that put Billy Bob Thornton in the spotlight, a film that was brilliantly written, directed, and acted by Thornton.
4. Ghost In The Shell
Technically came to America in 1996 so that’s why it’s making this list and really, it should because it’s an incredible movie experience with spectacular animation, kickass action sequences and just a gorgeous visual flair to it.
3. The Long Kiss Goodnight
A great underrated Shane Black penned Renny Harlin directed action comedy with Geena Davis & Samuel L. Jackson,
2. Fargo
The Coen Brothers’ greatest film with one of the most memorable characters in film history and some of the best scenes in films. Oh, you betcha, ya.
and the #1 best movie of 1996 is…
That Thing You Do!
There’s a lot of the movie that’s just so perfectly done in the original cut that makes it one of my favorites. The characters are great, the music is catchy, the story works well, and it’s just a lot of fun to watch.
It’s a great movie that definitely deserves a rewatch and a resurgence. Definitely check the original cut out but avoid the director’s cut.
PREVIOUS YEAR IN MOVIES POSTS
Follow The Reviewing Network at our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheReviewingNetwork for continuing updates and debuts for new blog posts and also follow my Twitter feed so you can see new postings right as they are posted.
The Reviewing Network 
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]
[…] 1996 […]