Comedy

Sliding Doors is a romantic drama with a unique twist of magical realism, directed and written by Peter Howitt. Released in 1998, the film has become a cult favorite for its clever premise, exploration of fate versus chance, and the charismatic performance of Gwyneth Paltrow in a dual narrative role.

Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire, released in 1996, is a rare film that successfully blends romantic comedy, sports drama, and character study into a compelling story of personal and professional redemption. Anchored by Tom Cruise’s charismatic and multifaceted performance, the film explores themes of integrity, love, loyalty, and the true meaning of success in a world often driven by money and superficiality.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) is a romantic period comedy-drama directed by John Madden and written by Marc Norman and acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard. It is a film that blends historical fiction, romance, and meta-theatrical wit, resulting in a work that not only entertains but also pays homage to the timeless power of storytelling and the stage.

Garry Marshall’s Pretty Woman is one of the most enduring romantic comedies in Hollywood history, a modern-day Cinderella story that combines charm, humour, and heart. Released in 1990, the film became a cultural phenomenon, launching Julia Roberts to superstardom and re-establishing Richard Gere as a romantic leading man. More than three decades later, Pretty Woman continues to captivate audiences with its winning combination of fairytale romance and 1990s Los Angeles glamou

Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich, released in 1999, is one of the most original, inventive, and surreal films to emerge from American cinema in the 1990s. A bizarre blend of absurdist comedy, philosophical science fiction, and psychological drama, the film marked the feature debut of both Jonze (director) and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.

Nicholas Hytner’s The Madness of King George (1994) is a captivating historical drama laced with biting wit, political intrigue, and profound humanity. Adapted by Alan Bennett from his own acclaimed stage play The Madness of George III, the film dramatizes the mental decline of King George III with equal measures of humor and pathos, delivering a sharply observed portrait of monarchy, madness, and the fragile structures of power.

Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a joyous, sun-drenched celebration of language, wit, and romance. Bursting with energy, humor, and visual splendor, the film manages to remain faithful to the Bard’s text while also making it accessible to modern audiences. It is one of the finest Shakespearean adaptations committed to film—brimming with verve, intelligently cast, and masterfully directed.

Barton Fink, the surreal and haunting 1991 film by Joel and Ethan Coen, is a genre-defying work that blends dark comedy, psychological horror, satire, and metaphysical drama into one of the brothers’ most enigmatic and compelling creations.

Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis and released in 1993, is more than just a quirky time-loop comedy—it’s a deeply philosophical and emotionally resonant film that has only grown in stature and relevance over the years. Blending romantic comedy, metaphysical inquiry, and character study, the film is a triumph of smart writing, impeccable direction, and one of Bill Murray’s finest performances.

Crude, outrageous, and defiantly hilarious, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is everything its title suggests and more. Released in 1999, this feature-length adaptation of the infamous animated TV series pushes boundaries with gleeful abandon.

Toy Story 2 is a rare sequel that not only lives up to the original—it arguably surpasses it. Released in 1999, four years after Pixar's groundbreaking Toy Story, this follow-up expands the universe with emotional depth, character development, and dazzling animation that reflects the studio's rapidly evolving capabilities. Directed once again by John Lasseter, the film proves that animated storytelling can be as poignant, witty, and sophisticated as any live-action film.

True Lies (1994) is a gleefully over-the-top action-comedy that combines the explosive spectacle of James Cameron’s blockbuster sensibilities with a playful domestic farce. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a James Bond-style super-spy with a suburban alter ego, the film is equal parts high-octane thriller and screwball comedy.

Reuniting director John McTiernan with star Bruce Willis, this third entry in the franchise reinvents the formula as a gritty, high-octane urban action-thriller set across the sprawling chaos of New York City. With razor-sharp pacing, explosive set-pieces, and the electric chemistry between Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, Die Hard with a Vengeance is not just a worthy sequel—it’s arguably the most ambitious film in the series.

Tim Burton’s Ed Wood is a beautifully strange and unexpectedly poignant black-and-white biopic that tells the story of Edward D. Wood Jr., the eccentric filmmaker often labelled “the worst director of all time.” Far from mocking its subject, Burton’s film is a tender, lovingly crafted tribute to artistic passion, no matter how misdirected it might be.

Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting is a visceral, electrifying plunge into the lives of heroin addicts in 1980s Edinburgh—a cinematic bullet train fueled by nihilism, dark comedy, and manic energy. Adapted from Irvine Welsh’s cult novel, the 1996 film is not merely about drug use; it’s about escape, identity, friendship, and the painful search for purpose in a world stripped of opportunity.

Released in 1997, Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog is a razor-sharp political satire that remains as relevant today as it was nearly three decades ago. With an astute script and performances from Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman, the film dissects the absurd lengths to which political elites will go to control public perception.

As Good as It Gets (1997) is a romantic dramedy with a sharp edge and a tender heart. Written and directed by James L. Brooks—known for his deft blend of comedy and emotional authenticity (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News)—the film explores themes of love, mental illness, loneliness, and redemption.

Few films have so masterfully combined grim violence, biting humor, and poignant humanity as Fargo (1996), a black comedy crime drama that represents the Coen brothers at the peak of their creative powers. Loosely inspired by real events (a claim the Coens cheekily open the film with, though it's fictional), Fargo is a uniquely American story of desperation, crime, and morality set against the icy, snow-covered backdrop of the Upper Midwest.

Few films have travelled the cultural arc from cult curiosity to revered classic quite like The Big Lebowski. Released in 1998 to mixed reviews and modest box office returns, this offbeat neo-noir comedy by Joel and Ethan Coen has since become a beloved touchstone of late 20th-century American cinema.

Ivan Reitman’s 1988 comedy Twins is a quintessential odd-couple film that draws its humour and heart from the wildly mismatched pairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. As a high-concept comedy with an unlikely emotional core, Twins is both a product of its time and a charming example of late-80s Hollywood’s experimental side, when studios were more willing to gamble on quirky premises — especially when bankable stars were attached.