15 Movies Turning 25 In 2024, Ranked By Staying Power

Release Date: December 10, 1999

Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's tale about a miracle man on death row, a magical mouse, and the dark side of humanity continues to test the bounds of human emotion as The Green Mile turns 25. Starring Tom Hanks, Sam Rockwell, David Morse, and Michael Clarke Duncan in a beautiful, touching performance as John Coffey, the story of a man with the ability to heal who is falsely accused of murder can be both destructive and healing to the soul. 

A renowned tearjerker, it isn't about happy endings or retribution, but the dark spots of the human experience. We sympathize with Hanks's Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard supervisor forced to condemn a man who may or may not be sent from above.  

The Green Mile is a powerful movie that touches the hearts of all who see it, making it required viewing of the 1990s - its multiple Academy Award nominations attest to that!

Release Date: March 31, 1999 

The Wachowski siblings' The Matrix hit 1990s audiences like a Mack truck when it was released. It not only had a distinct look and feel that was unique to mainstream audiences; it also featured feats of filmmaking never before seen by casual moviegoers. 

The dystopian story of Neo and his fight for the future grabbed global attention almost overnight. Phrases from the film and its production worked their way into the lexicon until Matrix verbiage became part of everyday conversation. The concept of being “red pilled,” the filmmaking process of “bullet time,” and “There is no spoon” were quickly put into daily use.

The influence of Hong Kong action pics combined with 1980s anime and the cyberpunk movement helped the Wachowskis open a new cinema landscape, both visually and in terms of plot. For many, The Matrix was a cultural reset of the sci-fi genre. It was the right time and the right place for such a film, and it made a significant dent in pop culture.

Release Date: August 6, 1999

“I see dead people."

Thanks to an advertising campaign that revealed a bit too much in its trailers, M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense will forever be remembered for this line, uttered by a frightened young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) to his psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis). What makes The Sixth Sense a modern classic from the ‘90s isn’t just the shocking twist ending - which still stuns modern audiences in the final few moments - but the build of its overall storytelling.

How did Shyamalan manage to fool you?

Once audiences know the ending, The Sixth Sense demands a repeat viewing. Then small details come to light, while minute particulars involving color, costume, and set design reveal so much more. It is then that the true genius of the film can be appreciated. Its longevity can be accredited to solid storytelling and craftsmanship, most of which are only detected upon several viewings. But the solid performances from Willis, Osment, and Toni Collette as Cole's mother help sell the ghost story all the more.

Release Date: November 24, 1999

Before Encanto and Turning Red used generational trauma as villains, 1990s audiences got a glimpse at the future of animation as trauma, panic attacks, and PTSD destroyed an animated cowgirl in the brilliant Toy Story 2.

Stolen by a toy collector to be sold to a museum in Japan, Woody discovers he's part of a legacy of merchandise based on a Western TV show from the 1950s, including Jessie (a yodeling cowgirl) and Stinky Pete the Prospector. Aside from Woody’s learning his own backstory, the audience is heartbroken to discover Jessie's own sad history. Her flashbacks of her original owner Emily, and eventually being discarded, resonate with viewers who have ever loved and forgotten a favorite toy and now must wonder, “Hey, what did happen to Mr. Whiskers?” 

Toy Story 2 wasn't just the normal toys-in-peril adventure movie. The heart of the story was the heartbreak the gang must face when their owners grow up and their own futures become uncertain. The dark wonderings, melancholy montage of Jessie's backstory, and sinister overtones by the betrayal of Stinky Pete make the film possibly even better than Pixar's first Toy Story outing, solidifying Toy Story 2 as a modern-day classic. 

Release Date: October 15, 1999

It's difficult to measure the exact impact that Fight Club had on pop culture when it came out. The effect wasn't immediate, but the film slowly became an important part of pop culture. The story of two men setting aside polite society to create something wholly original (albeit dangerous) in an effort to maintain individuality is a strange tale with many bizarre twists, but an enduring story that left a lasting impression.

The rules of Fight Club, the twist ending, Marla's too-cool-for-school attitude, Tyler's physique and unique perspective, and the Narrator's rejection of societal norms all became tropes over time. The movie also pulled off an ending that would no longer even be considered in today's climate. Twenty-five years later, David Fincher's Fight Club created a cinematic legacy filled with nuanced violence, shocking reveals galore, and split-second shots of male anatomy that changed moviegoers' expectations of film forever.

Release Date: July 31, 1999

It was the year many mainstream movie audiences discovered they could become emotionally devastated by a cartoon. Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), The Iron Giant is the story of a weapon who learns he can become more than his design. 

After a large, dangerous robot with amnesia befriends a young boy named Hogarth Hughes, he discovers he doesn't want to destroy; instead, he wants to evolve. In the end, the robot sacrifices himself when he and his friends are faced with mortal danger, placing himself in the way of a bomb. As he flies out to martyrdom, he finally becomes what he admires most, whispering his final word: “Superman.”

The Iron Giant hit audiences like an emotional gut punch in the best of ways. His sacrifice made people realize that great animation can carry the burden of a great message, and to not relegate the genre as mere kiddie fare. While impressive adult animated features have come out before The Iron Giant and since, the film continues to resonate with viewers because of its message and the emotional impact of the ending, which fuels the film's staying power.