Top 86 Ranked

Best 1998 Movies of All Time

Modern Classics and Cinematic Masterpieces

Explore the best films of the late nineties, featuring legendary war dramas, cult comedies, and ground breaking psychological thrillers.

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About Movies in 1998

If you ask a cinephile to name the greatest years in movie history, you will usually hear a lot about 1939 or 1972. But for those of us who grew up in the multiplexes of the nineties, 1998 holds a special, almost sacred place in the hierarchy. It was a year defined by a strange, beautiful tension between the dying gasps of traditional star power and the aggressive birth of the modern digital blockbuster. It was the year cinema learned how to be visceral again.

The summer of 1998 was famously dominated by the battle of the asteroids. We had Deep Impact and Armageddon hitting theaters within months of each other, proving that audiences had an insatiable appetite for global destruction. While Michael Bay gave us Aerosmith and blue collar oil drillers in space, Steven Spielberg was busy changing the visual language of combat forever. Saving Private Ryan arrived in July and immediately rendered every previous war movie obsolete. The opening twenty minutes on Omaha Beach wereso harrowing and technically precise that they set a standard for realism that directors are still chasing today.

Yet 1998 was not just about the loud and the large. It was a peak year for the mid-budget studio film, a genre that feels tragically endangered today. We saw the Coen Brothers release The Big Lebowski, a movie that flopped upon arrival only to become the ultimate cult classic of the decade. We watched Truman Burbank realize his life was a reality show in The Truman Show, a film that felt like a quirky fable at the time but now looks like a terrifyingly accurate prophecy of our social media age.

The independent scene was firing on all cylinders as well. Wes Anderson solidified his quirky, symmetrical aesthetic with Rushmore, introducing the world to the rejuvenated career of Bill Murray. Paul Thomas Anderson followed up Boogie Nights with the ambitious sprawl of Magnolia filming right around this time, while Steven Soderbergh reminded everyone that crime movies could be incredibly sexy and sophisticated with Out of Sight.

International cinema also made a massive dent in the American consciousness. We saw the breathless energy of Run Lola Run and the heartbreak of Central Station. Even the Oscars that year felt like a high-stakes drama, as the underdog Shakespeare in Love snatched the Best Picture trophy away from Spielberg in a move that still sparks heated debates in barrooms across the country.

When we look back at 1998, we remember it as a year when movies felt essential to the cultural conversation. You could go to the theater and see an animated masterpiece like Mulan, a psychological horror like Ringu, or a dark comedy like Happiness. It was a playground of variety. Technology was advancing, but the focus remained firmly on the power of the image and the strength of the script. It was a year that gave us something for every mood, proving that the big screen was still the biggest thing in the world.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

See Top Ten
86
1998 in Waking Ned (1998)
Waking Ned
1998

When a lottery winner dies of shock, his fellow townsfolk attempt to claim the money.

Comedy
1h 31m
Kirk Jones
Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch
85
1998 in Zero Effect (1998)
Zero Effect
1998

Daryl Zero is a private investigator and—along with his assistant, Steve Arlo—he solves impossible crimes and puzzles. Although Daryl's a master investigator, he doesn't know what to do with himself when he's not working; he has no social skills, writes bad music and drives Steve crazy.

Comedy
Crime
1h 56m
Jake Kasdan
Bill Pullman, Ben Stiller, Ryan O'Neal, Kim Dickens
84
1998 in The Opposite of Sex (1998)
The Opposite of Sex
1998

A 16-year-old girl visits her gay half-brother and ends up seducing his boyfriend, thus wreaking havoc on all of their lives.

Comedy
Drama
1h 45m
Don Roos
Christina Ricci, Martin Donovan, Lisa Kudrow, Lyle Lovett

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83
1998 in Very Bad Things (1998)
Very Bad Things
1998

Kyle Fisher has one last night to celebrate life as a single man before marrying Laura, so he sets out to Vegas with four of his best buddies. But a drug and alcohol filled night on the town with a stripper who goes all the way, turns into a cold night in the desert with shovels when the stripper goes all the way into a body bag after dying in their bathroom. And that's just the first of the bodies to pile up before Kyle can walk down the aisle...

Comedy
Crime
1h 40m
Peter Berg
82
1998 in Disturbing Behavior (1998)
Disturbing Behavior
1998

Steve Clark is a newcomer in the town of Cradle Bay, and he quickly realizes that there's something odd about his high school classmates. The clique known as the "Blue Ribbons" are the eerie embodiment of academic excellence and clean living. But, like the rest of the town, they're a little too perfect. When Steve's rebellious friend Gavin mysteriously joins their ranks, Steve searches for the truth with fellow misfit Rachel.

Mystery
Horror
1h 24m
David Nutter
James Marsden, Katie Holmes, Nick Stahl, Bruce Greenwood
81
1998 in Twilight (1998)
Twilight
1998

A retired detective accepts a simple task, unaware that it will tear open old, forgotten, but deadly wounds.

Crime
Thriller
1h 34m
Robert Benton
80
1998 in Lost in Space (1998)
Lost in Space
1998

The prospects for continuing life on Earth in the year 2058 are grim. So the Robinsons are launched into space to colonize Alpha Prime, the only other inhabitable planet in the galaxy. But when a stowaway sabotages the mission, the Robinsons find themselves hurtling through uncharted space.

Science Fiction
Adventure
2h 10m
Stephen Hopkins
79
1998 in Great Expectations (1998)
Great Expectations
1998

Loosely based on the Charles Dickens' classic novel, "Great Expectations" is a sensual tale of a young man's unforgettable passage into manhood, and the three individuals who will undeniably change his life forever. Through the surprising interactions of these vivid characters, "Great Expectations" takes a unique and contemporary look at life's great coincidences.

Comedy
Drama
1h 51m
Alfonso Cuarón
78

A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter prison sentence.

77
1998 in Godzilla (1998)
Godzilla
1998

French nuclear tests irradiate an iguana into a giant monster that viciously attacks freighter ships in the Pacific Ocean. A team of experts, including Niko Tatopoulos, conclude that the oversized reptile is the culprit. Before long, the giant lizard is loose in Manhattan as the US military races to destroy the monster before it reproduces and it's spawn takes over the world.

Science Fiction
Action
2h 19m
Roland Emmerich
Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria
76
1998 in Celebrity (1998)
Celebrity
1998

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to another and engages in numerous empty romances, he starts to doubt the worth of his work. Meanwhile, top TV producer Tony falls for Robin and introduces her to the world of celebrity.

Drama
Comedy
Hank Azaria, Kenneth Branagh, Judy Davis, Leonardo DiCaprio
75
1998 in Six Days Seven Nights (1998)
Six Days Seven Nights
1998

In the South Pacific island of Makatea, career-driven magazine editor Robin Monroe is on a week-long vacation getaway with her boyfriend, Frank Martin. An emergency work assignment in neighboring Tahiti requires Robin to hire the cantankerous pilot Quinn Harris who had flown them to Makatea on a small transport plane. While flying, a powerful storm forces Quinn to make an emergency landing on a nearby deserted island. The dissimilar pair avoid each other at first, until they're forced to team up to escape from the island -- and some pirates who want their heads.

Comedy
Action
Anne Heche, Harrison Ford, David Schwimmer, Jacqueline Obradors
74
1998 in Deep Impact (1998)
Deep Impact
1998

A seven-mile-wide space rock is hurtling toward Earth, threatening to obliterate the planet. Now, it's up to the president of the United States to save the world. He appoints a tough-as-nails veteran astronaut to lead a joint American-Russian crew into space to destroy the comet before impact. Meanwhile, an enterprising reporter uses her smarts to uncover the scoop of the century.

Action
Drama
2h 1m
Mimi Leder
73
1998 in BASEketball (1998)
BASEketball
1998

Two losers from Milwaukee, Coop and Remer, invent a new game combining basketball with the rules of baseball. When the game becomes a huge success, they, along with a billionaire's help, form the Professional Baseketball League where everyone gets the same pay and no team can change cities. When a rival owner wants to institute major rule changes, Coop and Remer's team is the only one standing in the way.

Comedy
1h 43m
David Zucker
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Dian Bachar, Yasmine Bleeth
72
1998 in Holy Man (1998)
Holy Man
1998

In a world governed by commerce, Ricky and Kate, dedicated employees, find their lives forever changed when they encounter the enigmatic stranger G. As they navigate the realm of commerce, their paths intertwine in a surreal dance of love, loss, and redemption. G's presence, amplified through the pervasive influence of globalized television, casts a spell that reverberates beyond Ricky and Kate, impacting the lives of those who bear witness to their intertwined destinies.

Drama
Comedy
1h 54m
Stephen Herek
71
1998 in The Replacement Killers (1998)
The Replacement Killers
1998

Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.

Action
Crime
Chow Yun-Fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang
70
1998 in The Newton Boys (1998)
The Newton Boys
1998

The story of the Newton gang, the most successful bank robbers in history, owing to their good planning and minimal violence.

69
1998 in Woo (1998)
Woo
1998

Woo is a woman in control of her world. She is smart, self-confident, sophisticated and snarky. And she doesn't have any trouble attracting members of the opposite sex. But for some reason no one ever sticks around. Woo meets Tim, a paralegal who is her complete opposite. They shouldn't click. However, Woo and Tim begin to bond when a series of weird and stressful calamities hits them while they are on their first date.

Comedy
Romance
1h 24m
Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Jada Pinkett Smith, Tommy Davidson, Duane Martin, Michael Ralph
68
1998 in Hope Floats (1998)
Hope Floats
1998

Birdee Pruitt has been humiliated on live television by her best friend, Connie, who's been sleeping with Birdee's husband, Bill. Birdee tries starting over with her daughter, Bernice, by returning to her small Texas hometown, but she's faced with petty old acquaintances who are thrilled to see Birdee unhappy -- except for her friend Justin. As he helps Birdee get back on her feet, love begins to blossom.

Romance
Drama
Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands, Mae Whitman
67
1998 in Clay Pigeons (1998)
Clay Pigeons
1998

Clay is a young man in a small town who witnesses his friend, Earl, kill himself because of the ongoing affair that Clay was having with the man's wife, Amanda. Feeling guilty, Clay now resists the widow when she presses him to continue with the affair. Clay unknowingly befriends a serial killer named Lester Long who murders the widow in an attempt to "help" his "fishing buddy."

Crime
Comedy
1h 44m
David Dobkin
66
1998 in The Last Days of Disco (1998)
The Last Days of Disco
1998

Two young women and their friends spend spare time at an exclusive nightclub in 1980s New York.

Comedy
Drama
1h 53m
Whit Stillman
Chloë Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale, Chris Eigeman, Mackenzie Astin
65
1998 in Still Crazy (1998)
Still Crazy
1998

In the 1970s, Strange Fruit were it. They lived the rock lifestyle to the max, groupies, drugs, internal tension and an ex front man dead from an overdose. Even their demise was glamorous; when lightning struck the stage during an outdoor festival. Twenty years on, these former rock gods they have now sunk deep into obscurity when the idea of a reunion tour is lodged in the head of Tony, former keyboard player of the Fruits. Tony sets out to find his former bandmates with the help of former manager Karen to see if they can recapture the magic and give themselves a second chance.

Comedy
Music
1h 35m
Brian Gibson
Stephen Rea, Billy Connolly, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall
64
1998 in City of Angels (1998)
City of Angels
1998

When a guardian angel – who invisibly watches over the citizens of Los Angeles – becomes captivated by a strong-willed heart surgeon, he ponders trading in his pure, otherworldly existence for a mortal life with his beloved. The couple embarks on a tender but forbidden romance spanning heaven and Earth.

Romance
Drama
1h 54m
Brad Silberling
Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Andre Braugher, Dennis Franz
63

The lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts which society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection.

Comedy
Drama
2h 20m
Todd Solondz
Jane Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle
62
1998 in The Red Violin (1998)
The Red Violin
1998

300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an appraiser going over its complex history.

Drama
Thriller
2h 10m
François Girard
Samuel L. Jackson, Carlo Cecchi, Irene Grazioli, Anita Laurenzi
61
1998 in Croupier (1998)
Croupier
1998

Jack Manfred is an aspiring writer who to make ends meet, takes a job as a croupier. Jack remains an observer, knowing that everything in life is a gamble and that gamblers are born to lose. Inevitably, he gets sucked into the world of the casino which takes its toll on his relationships and the novel he is writing.

Drama
Thriller
1h 34m
Mike Hodges
Clive Owen, Kate Hardie, Alex Kingston, Gina McKee
60
1998 in The Mighty (1998)
The Mighty
1998

Kevin, an intelligent guy helps out Maxwell to improve his reading skills. In return, Kevin wants Maxwell to take him out places since he is not authorized to go out. Being the social outcasts of the town, Kevin and Maxwell come to realize that they are similar to each other and accept that they are "freaks" and nothing will stop them.

Drama
Comedy
1h 40m
Peter Chelsom
59
1998 in Apt Pupil (1998)
Apt Pupil
1998

One day in 1984, Todd Bowden, a brilliant high school boy fascinated by the history of Nazism, stumbles across an old man whose appearance resembles that of Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal. A month later, Todd decides to knock on his door.

Drama
Thriller
Brad Renfro, Ian McKellen, Bruce Davison, Elias Koteas
58
1998 in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: Insurrection
1998

When an alien race and factions within Starfleet attempt to take over a planet that has "regenerative" properties, it falls upon Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise to defend the planet's people as well as the very ideals upon which the Federation itself was founded.

Science Fiction
Action
1h 43m
Jonathan Frakes
Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes
57

A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

Comedy
Drama
Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Kimberly Deauna Adams, Vinny Argiro
56

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.

Action
Crime
2h 20m
F. Gary Gray
Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin
55
1998 in Mercury Rising (1998)
Mercury Rising
1998

Renegade FBI agent Art Jeffries protects a nine-year-old autistic boy who has cracked the government's new "unbreakable" code.

Action
Crime
1h 51m
Harold Becker
Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Miko Hughes, Chi McBride
54

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

53

Chris Nielsen dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in Hades for the small chance that he will be able to bring her back to heaven.

Drama
Fantasy
1h 53m
Vincent Ward
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Josh Paddock
52
1998 in Sliding Doors (1998)
Sliding Doors
1998

Helen, a London ad executive, is fired from her job and rushes out to catch a train, but, as she runs down, her life suddenly splits off. In one version she catches the train; in the second, she misses it. Her whole life changes in that one second, and the rest of the film depicts what happens in each scenario.

Comedy
Drama
1h 39m
Peter Howitt
Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn
51
1998 in The Making of 'The X Files: Fight the Future' (1998)
The Making of 'The X Files: Fight the Future'
1998

The paranormal investigations of agents Mulder and Scully have gripped millions of fans worldwide for the last four years. The X Files movie is the culmination of the television sensation of the 90s. This documentary goes behind the scenes on the movie set.

Documentary
Science Fiction
27m
Mitch Pileggi, Chris Carter, Rob Bowman, David Duchovny
50
1998 in Jack Frost (1998)
Jack Frost
1998

A father, who can't keep his promises, dies in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman, who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.

Comedy
Family
1h 41m
Troy Miller
Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy, Joseph Cross
49
1998 in Rounders (1998)
Rounders
1998

Poker addict Mike McDermott knows the game inside out, but loses his money one night in a game to Russian-American gangster Teddy KGB. Promising his partner Jo he'll give up, he meets up with best friend Lester 'Worm' Murphy, just out of prison and owing lots of money to the wrong kind of people. McDermott becomes his co-guarantor and now there's only one way to raise the money, the pair have to get back into the game.

Drama
Crime
2h 1m
John Dahl
48
1998 in The Waterboy (1998)
The Waterboy
1998

Bobby Boucher is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach discovers Boucher's hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.

Comedy
1h 30m
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler, Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler, Fairuza Balk
47
1998 in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
1998

Ever since killing the Fisherman one year ago, Julie James is still haunted by images of him after her. When her best friend Karla wins free tickets to the Bahamas, Julie finds this a perfect opportunity to finally relax. But someone is waiting for her. Someone who she thought was dead. Someone who is out again for revenge.

Horror
Mystery
1h 40m
Danny Cannon
Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Matthew Settle, Brandy Norwood
46
1998 in Practical Magic (1998)
Practical Magic
1998

Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.

Romance
Comedy
1h 44m
Griffin Dunne
Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest
45
1998 in Can't Hardly Wait (1998)
Can't Hardly Wait
1998

It's graduation day at Huntington Hills High, and you know what that means - time to party. And not just any party, either. This one will be a night to remember, as the nerds become studs, the jocks are humiliated, and freshman crushes blossom into grown-up romance.

Comedy
Romance
1h 40m
Harry Elfont
Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose
44
1998 in Meet Joe Black (1998)
Meet Joe Black
1998

Bill Parrish has it all - success, wealth and power. Days before his 65th birthday, he receives a visit from a mysterious stranger, Joe Black, who soon reveals himself as Death. In exchange for extra time, Bill agrees to serve as Joe's earthly guide. But will he regret his choice when Joe unexpectedly falls in love with Bill's beautiful daughter Susan?

Fantasy
Drama
2h 58m
Martin Brest
Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber
43
1998 in Simon Birch (1998)
Simon Birch
1998

Simon Birch and Joe Wenteworth are boys who have a reputation for being oddballs. Joe never knew his father, and his mother, Rebecca, is keeping her lips sealed no matter how much he protests. Simon, meanwhile, is an 11-year-old dwarf whose outsize personality belies his small stature. Indeed, he often assails the local reverend with thorny theological questions and joins Joe on his quest to find his biological father.

Comedy
Drama
1h 54m
Mark Steven Johnson
Ashley Judd, Ian Michael Smith, Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt
42
1998 in Ronin (1998)
1998

A briefcase with undisclosed contents – sought by Irish terrorists and the Russian mob – makes its way into criminals' hands. An Irish liaison assembles a squad of mercenaries, or 'ronin', and gives them the thorny task of recovering the case.

Action
Thriller
Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård
41
1998 in Little Voice (1998)
Little Voice
1998

After the death of her father, Little Voice or LV becomes a virtual recluse, never going out and hardly ever saying a word. She just sits in her bedroom listening to her father's collection of old records of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and various other famous female singers. But at night time, LV sings, imitating these great singers with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother's boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special and arranges for her to perform at the local night club, but several problems arise.

Comedy
Drama
1h 37m
Mark Herman
Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor, Jane Horrocks
40
1998 in Wild Things (1998)
Wild Things
1998

When teen-socialite Kelly Van Ryan and troubled bad girl Suzie Toller accuse guidance counselor Sam Lombardo of rape, he's suspended by the school, rejected by the town, and fighting to get his life back. One cop suspects conspiracy, but nothing is what it seems...

Mystery
Thriller
1h 48m
John McNaughton
39
1998 in Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
Slums of Beverly Hills
1998

In 1976, a lower-middle-class teenager struggles to cope living with her neurotic family of nomads on the outskirts of Beverly Hills.

Comedy
Drama
1h 31m
Tamara Jenkins
Natasha Lyonne, Alan Arkin, Marisa Tomei, Eli Marienthal
38
1998 in Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Doctor Dolittle
1998

A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distance wants the good doctor's advice, unleashing an outrageous chain of events that turns his world upside down!

Comedy
Family
1h 25m
Betty Thomas
Eddie Murphy, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Peter Boyle
37

It has been twenty years since Don Diego de la Vega fought Spanish oppression in Alta California as the legendary romantic hero, Zorro. Having escaped from prison he transforms troubled bandit Alejandro into his successor, in order to foil the plans of the tyrannical Don Rafael Montero who robbed him of his freedom, his wife and his precious daughter.

Action
Adventure
2h 16m
Martin Campbell
36
1998 in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
The Man in the Iron Mask
1998

Years have passed since the Three Musketeers, Aramis, Athos and Porthos, have fought together with their friend, D'Artagnan. But with the tyrannical King Louis using his power to wreak havoc in the kingdom while his twin brother, Philippe, remains imprisoned, the Musketeers reunite to abduct Louis and replace him with Philippe.

Adventure
Action
2h 12m
Randall Wallace
35
1998 in The Siege (1998)
The Siege
1998

The secret US abduction of a suspected terrorist from his Middle East homeland leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York. An FBI senior agent and his team attempt to locate and decommission the enemy cells, but must also deal with an Army General gone rogue and a female CIA agent of uncertain loyalties.

34
1998 in EverAfter (1998)
EverAfter
1998

Danielle, a vibrant young woman, was forced into servitude after the death of her father when she was a young girl. Danielle's stepmother, Rodmilla, is a heartless woman who forces Danielle to do the cooking and cleaning, while she tries to marry off the eldest of her two daughters to the prince. But Danielle's life takes a wonderful turn when, under the guise of a visiting royal, she meets the charming Prince Henry.

Drama
Romance
2h 1m
Andy Tennant
Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey
33
1998 in Patch Adams (1998)
Patch Adams
1998

The true story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, who in the 1970s found that humor is the best medicine, and was willing to do just anything to make his patients laugh—even if it meant risking his own career.

Comedy
Drama
1h 55m
Tom Shadyac
Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Daniel London
32

When some very creepy things start happening around school, the kids at Herrington High make the chilling discovery that confirms their worst suspicions: their teachers really are from another planet!

Horror
Science Fiction
31
1998 in The Parent Trap (1998)
The Parent Trap
1998

Hallie Parker and Annie James are identical twins who were separated at a young age due to their parents' divorce. Unbeknownst to their parents, the girls are sent to the same summer camp, where they meet, discover the truth about their relationship, and come up with a plan to switch places in an effort to reunite their mother and father.

Comedy
Family
2h 8m
Nancy Meyers
Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Elaine Hendrix
30
1998 in You've Got Mail (1998)
You've Got Mail
1998

Book superstore magnate Joe Fox and independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet—both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business.

Comedy
Romance
1h 59m
Nora Ephron
29

Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.

Crime
Drama
28

The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.

Drama
History
2h 3m
Shekhar Kapur
Cate Blanchett, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston
27

When the videotape of the murder of a congressman unknowingly ends up in the hands of labor lawyer and dedicated family man Robert Clayton Dean, he is framed for the murder. With the help of the mysterious Brill, Dean attempts to throw the NSA off his trail and prove his innocence.

Action
Drama
26
1998 in Central Station (1998)
Central Station
1998

An emotional journey of a former school teacher, who writes letters for illiterate people, and a young boy, whose mother has just died, as they search for the father he never knew.

Drama
1h 51m
Walter Salles
Fernanda Montenegro, Vinícius de Oliveira, Marília Pêra, Othon Bastos
25
1998 in Antz (1998)
Antz
1998

A neurotic worker ant in love with a rebellious princess rises to unlikely stardom when he switches places with a soldier. Signing up to march in a parade, he ends up under the command of a bloodthirsty general. But he's actually been enlisted to fight against a termite army.

Animation
Comedy
1h 23m
Eric Darnell
24

On behalf of "oppressed bugs everywhere," an inventive ant named Flik hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his bustling colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil-minded Hopper.

Family
Animation
1h 35m
John Lasseter
Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere
23

The strong bond between two Royal Egyptian brothers is challenged when their chosen responsibilities set them at odds, with extraordinary consequences.

Adventure
Animation
1h 39m
Steve Hickner
22

It's 1957, and James Whale's heyday as the director of "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" is long behind him. Retired and a semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied only by images from his past. When his dour housekeeper, Hannah, hires a handsome young gardener, the flamboyant director and simple yard man develop an unlikely friendship, which will change them forever.

Drama
1h 45m
Bill Condon
Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich
21

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

Fantasy
Comedy
2h 4m
Gary Ross
20
1998 in Buffalo '66 (1998)
Buffalo '66
1998

Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry.

Drama
Romance
1h 50m
Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Ben Gazzara, Anjelica Huston
19

Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo drive a red convertible across the Mojave desert to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to cover a motorcycle race. As their consumption of drugs increases at an alarming rate, the stoned duo trash their hotel room and fear legal repercussions. Duke begins to drive back to L.A., but after an odd run-in with a cop, he returns to Sin City and continues his wild drug binge.

Adventure
Drama
18

The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.

Drama
History
2h 51m
Terrence Malick
Jim Caviezel, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Ben Chaplin
17
1998 in Blade (1998)
1998

The Daywalker known as "Blade" - a half-vampire, half-mortal man - becomes the protector of humanity against an underground army of vampires.

Horror
Action
2h 1m
Stephen Norrington
Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N'Bushe Wright
16
1998 in Rush Hour (1998)
Rush Hour
1998

When Hong Kong Inspector Lee is summoned to Los Angeles to investigate a kidnapping, the FBI doesn't want any outside help and assigns cocky LAPD Detective James Carter to distract Lee from the case. Not content to watch the action from the sidelines, Lee and Carter form an unlikely partnership and investigate the case themselves.

Action
Comedy
1h 37m
Brett Ratner
Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Tom Wilkinson, Philip Baker Hall
15

A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.

Mystery
Science Fiction
1h 41m
Alex Proyas
Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly
14
1998 in Ring (1998)
Ring
1998

A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.

Horror
Thriller
1h 36m
Hideo Nakata
Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Ôtaka, Miki Nakatani
Why it ranks

Hideo Nakata revitalizes the ghost story by weaponizing modern technology against the viewer, turning a simple hum of static into a harbinger of doom. This film marks the definitive arrival of J-Horror on the global stage, relying on lingering dread rather than cheap jumps.

13

Robbie, a local rock star turned wedding singer, is dumped on the day of his wedding. Meanwhile, waitress Julia finally sets a wedding date with her fiancée Glenn. When Julia and Robbie meet and hit it off, they find that things are more complicated than anybody thought.

Romance
Comedy
1h 37m
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert
12
1998 in Pi (1998)
1998

A mathematical genius discovers a link between numbers and reality, and thus believes he can predict the future.

Mystery
Drama
1h 24m
Darren Aronofsky
Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart
Why it ranks

Darren Aronofsky’s lo-fi, black-and-white fever dream captures the claustrophobia of obsession with a haunting, industrial score. It is a paranoid mathematical thriller that feels less like a movie and more like a high-speed descent into a crumbling mind.

11

Meet Jack Foley, a smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist. Karen Sisco is a federal marshal who chooses all the right moves … and all the wrong guys. Now they're willing to risk it all to find out if there's more between them than just the law.

10
1998 in Mulan (1998)
Mulan
1998

When Imperial China calls one man from every family to defend the empire from invading Huns, a young woman disguises herself as a soldier to take her ailing father’s place. Facing ruthless invaders, brutal training, and the risk of execution if discovered, she must decide who she truly is— and what she’s willing to fight for.

Animation
Family
1h 28m
Tony Bancroft
Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer
Why it ranks

Breaking away from the traditional princess mold, Disney delivers a breathtakingly animated epic that favors martial honor and ancestral duty over romance. The film’s striking use of negative space and watercolor palettes brings a sophisticated, high-art sensibility to the studio's renaissance era.

9

Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manni. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. She has 20 minutes to raise this amount and meet Manni. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run.

Action
Drama
1h 20m
Tom Tykwer
Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Nina Petri
Why it ranks

Tom Tykwer’s pulse-pounding experiment in causality functions like a cinematic techno-remix of life’s sliding door moments. Its relentless energy and fragmented structure represent the peak of 1990s music-video aesthetics merged with philosophical depth.

8

Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.

Romance
History
2h 4m
John Madden
Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson
Why it ranks

Tom Stoppard's witty, literate screenplay transforms historical speculation into a vibrant celebration of the creative impulse. It is a rare period piece that feels immediate and lived-in, capturing the frantic alchemy of the theater with infectious joy.

7

A card shark and his unwillingly-enlisted friends need to make a lot of cash quick after losing a sketchy poker match. To do this they decide to pull a heist on a small-time gang who happen to be operating out of the flat next door.

Comedy
Crime
Vinnie Jones, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
Why it ranks

Guy Ritchie's kinetic debut injects a shot of adrenaline into the British gangster genre through frantic editing and a symphony of Cockney grit. This film established a new visual shorthand for the decade, proving that style, when executed with this much bravado, is a substance all its own.

6

When a beautiful first-grade teacher arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max, who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max's new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.

Comedy
Drama
Why it ranks

Jason Schwartzman delivers a masterclass in deadpan arrogance, imbuing Max Fischer with a precocious rigidity that masks a desperate need for belonging. This debut performance didn’t just launch his career; it established the blueprint for the hyper-articulate, melancholic underdog that would define the Wes Anderson aesthetic for decades. He navigates the character’s delusional confidence with a sharp, comedic precision that remains the gold standard for cinematic adolescence.

5

An insurance salesman begins to suspect that his whole life is actually some sort of reality TV show.

Comedy
Drama
Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone
Why it ranks

Peter Weir delivers a prescient, razor-sharp satire that dissects our burgeoning obsession with voyeurism and manufactured reality. Jim Carrey shed his rubber-faced persona to anchor this existential nightmare with heartbreaking sincerity and quiet desperation.

4

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.

Drama
1h 59m
Tony Kaye
Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien
Why it ranks

Fueled by Edward Norton's transformative and frighteningly magnetic performance, this gritty drama examines the cyclical nature of hate with surgical precision. Its stark aesthetic and uncompromising narrative force audiences to confront the uncomfortable fragility of the American psyche.

3

For Ted, prom night went about as bad as it’s possible for any night to go. Thirteen years later, he finally gets another chance with his old prom date, only to run up against other suitors including the sleazy detective he hired to find her.

Romance
Comedy
2h 0m
Bobby Farrelly
Why it ranks

Cameron Diaz radiates a rare, unforced charm as the titular Mary, weaponizing her luminous screen presence to bridge the gap between slapstick muse and relatable girl next door. This was the definitive star turn that proved she could carry a blockbuster comedy on sheer charisma alone. Her performance anchor centers the film’s chaotic gross out energy with a sincerity that makes the central obsession feel entirely earned.

2

Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money.

Why it ranks

The Coen brothers trade the snowy noir of Fargo for a sun-drenched, stoner odyssey that has already achieved the status of a counter-culture gospel. Jeff Bridges breathes life into an accidental icon, anchoring a narrative labyrinth that prioritizes mood and vernacular over traditional structure.

1

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

Why it ranks

Steven Spielberg redefines the visceral syntax of the war epic with an opening sequence so harrowing it renders previous combat cinema obsolete. This masterwork balances technical ferocity with a profound meditation on the moral arithmetic of sacrifice.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

The best movies of 1998 showcase a rich variety of genres including war drama, comedy, romance, thriller, and animation. Films like 'Saving Private Ryan' highlight intense war drama, while 'The Big Lebowski' and 'There's Something About Mary' emphasize cult comedy and romance.

Steven Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' is widely acclaimed for revolutionizing the war drama genre with its intense, realistic depiction of World War II combat. Its visceral opening D-Day sequence set a new standard for realism in war films.

Yes, the list features cult classic comedies such as 'The Big Lebowski' by the Coen brothers and 'There's Something About Mary' by Bobby Farrelly. These films are celebrated for their unique humor, memorable characters, and lasting influence on comedy.

1998's psychological thrillers such as 'Pi' by Darren Aronofsky and 'Dark City' by Alex Proyas demonstrate innovative storytelling and complex themes. These films contributed to the genre by blending mystery, drama, and science fiction elements with psychological depth.

'Saving Private Ryan' profoundly impacted war film narratives and inspired many subsequent films and media. Additionally, 'Shakespeare in Love' merged historical context with romance and comedy, winning critical acclaim and Academy Awards that cemented its legacy.

Yes, Disney's 'Mulan' is featured as a standout animated film from 1998. It is praised for its strong female protagonist and cultural representation, marking a significant contribution to family and adventure animation in the late nineties.

The films from 1998 capture a unique transitional moment where classic storytelling met emerging digital technology. For example, 'The Truman Show' used innovative filming techniques to explore media and reality themes, while 'Saving Private Ryan' combined traditional epic storytelling with advanced visual effects to heighten immersion.
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