The old adage, ‘They don’t manufacture them as they once did,’ seems to ring true for many. Recognizing this applies to the film industry of the 1990s becomes inevitable – a period characterized by original narratives with star-studded casts, a phenomenon visibly declining amidst today’s landscape of recurring franchises and reboots dangling the lure of nostalgia.
The 90s saw major Hollywood studios enjoying influential presence concurrently with the burgeoning independent film scene, a harmony which was feasible due to their substantial finances. However, their present-day counterparts confront glaring challenges posed by Netflix and similar streaming platforms, making it considerably tougher to maintain their stronghold.
Whilst moviegoers of the era did incline toward action-filled spectacles, diverting from the melodramatic arches often affiliated with award season, they still hadn’t entirely forsaken the latter. This eclectic mix offered a multitude of reasons for colossal box office yields these films achieved, irrespective of whether they genuinely merited their commercial success.
Sometimes, intriguingly, the reasons behind the mega-success of these movies are the very factors that contributed to their eventual fading from public memory. The list of these forgotten blockbusters from the 90s reads like a rolodex of unique themes and arresting narrations, each carrying its own appeal at the time.
Take ‘Air Force One’ that grossed $172 million in 1997, ‘Double Jeopardy’, which raked in $116 million in 1999, or ‘Free Willy’ that pulled $77.7 million in 1993. Each of these films capitalized on the diverse tastes of the audiences of that period.
Subsequent releases continued this trend. ‘Deep Impact’ (1998) managed to amass $140 million, ‘Clear and Present Danger’ (1994) bagged $122 million, while ‘Entrapment’ (1999) took in a cool $87 million. These films’ financial successes are representative of both the nature of 90s cinema and audiences’ preferences.
‘Con Air’ (1997) registered $101 million at the box offices, ‘Indecent Proposal’ another $106 million in 1993, and ‘Ransom’ collected a staggering $136 million in 1996. Each film, despite their diverse exciting narratives, seems to be largely forgotten in today’s discussion of blockbusters.
The movie-goers of the 90s also flocked to see ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’ (1991), which collected $101 million, ‘Maverick’ (1994), also with $101 million, and ‘Eraser’ (1996) with, again, $101 million. This taste for a range of cinema textures allowed for diverse narratives to flourish during this time.
Financial success was also evident in movies such as ‘Waterworld’ (1995) that made $88 million, ‘Runaway Bride’ (1999), which raked in $152 million, ‘Kindergarten Cop’ (1990), which earned $91.4 million, and ‘Backdraft’ (1991), that pulled $77.8 million. Yet again, these films that were once box office darlings are now seldom remembered.
The latter part of the 90s saw ‘Big Daddy’ fetch $163 million in 1999, ‘Dangerous Minds’ claim $84.9 million in 1995, ‘The Haunting’ generate $91 million in 1999, and the unforgettable ‘There’s Something About Mary’ dominate with $176 million in 1998. Despite the modern classic status of some, they are no longer at the forefront of popular cultural conversation.
‘The Flintstones’ was another hit of 90s, raking in $130 million in 1994. This was a period watching a plethora of concepts taking shape, effectively finding the balance between capturing viewers’ attention and commercial success.
The 90s also witnessed the popularity of legal thrillers, especially those adapted from John Grisham’s work. ‘The Firm’ garnered a whopping $158 million, ‘A Time to Kill’ drew $108 million, ‘The Pelican Brief’ cashed in $100 million, and ‘The Client’ cranked in a solid $92 million from 1993-1996.
Unfortunately, change is the only constant in the entertainment industry. As times changed, so did the trend of legal thrillers, diminishing their spark in the film sphere. Consequently, this led to a dip in the longevity of these successful but now largely lost-in-time 90s blockbusters.
In retrospect, these films, each contributing uniquely to the overall blockbusters landscape, are now overshadowed by contemporary tastes and trends. However, they remain etched in the annals of cinematic history, standing as testament to an era of diverse story-telling and revenue-generating prowess in Hollywood.