It’s no secret that some of the best ‘90s movies came out and dominated the box office. Though Jurassic Park, Titanic, and Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace were the biggest movies of their respective years, there are others that also made a ton of money upon release.
Well, since we are fans of digging through box office totals and geeking out when we find movies that made way more than we remembered, we have put together a list of more than 30 ‘90s movies that made way more at the box office than you’d guess.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
On the heels of Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner starred in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a 1991 action-adventure film about one of the most iconic characters of all time. Released during the middle of a busy summer blockbuster season, this star-studded epic brought in a staggering $390.5 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
While it’s no secret that Prince of Thieves was one of the most successful films of the year, second only to Terminator 2: Judgment Day and its $521 million worldwide gross, it’s crazy to think it made THAT much money, simply because it hasn’t stood the test of time 30-plus years later. Well, except for Alan Rickman’s scene-stealing performance.
The Flintstones (1994)
There were a ton of massive box office hits in 1994, with The Lion King, Forrest Gump, True Lies, The Mask, and Speed, all bringing in excess of $300 million worldwide. But you know what was just outside the top five that year? Yep, The Flintstones, the live-action adaptation of the beloved cartoon series. According to Box Office Mojo, the John Goodman-led prehistoric comedy brought in $341.6 million during its theatrical run, which is wild!
Looking back, The Flintstones is one of those nostalgic ‘90s movies that actually sucks, which makes its massive box office draw so peculiar. It wasn’t like we were starved for good movies at the time, as there were iconic 1994 movies in theaters at the same time.
The Full Monty (1997)
The Full Monty was one of the biggest Cinderella stories of the ‘90s when it comes to small movies finding massive success in theaters, but did you know that it made its budget back nearly 100 times over? According to Box Office Mojo, the British comedy about a group of unemployed men who formed a male striptease group to make some money brought in $257.9 million on a $3.5 million budget.
Though The Full Monty is still considered one of the best indie films of the ‘90s, it’s still wild to think how much money it made nearly 30 years ago. Adjusted for inflation, that’s nearly $500 million.
Godzilla (1998)
Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla is considered by most to be the low point in the iconic monster movie franchise, and there are plenty of reasons to back up those claims. However, this doesn’t mean the 1998 action film was a failure by any means. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie made $379 million worldwide
Only two movies performed better than Godzilla – Saving Private Ryan and Armageddon – which is pretty surprising considering all the backlash the film has received over the years.
Notting Hill (1999)
The 1999 box office was dominated by the likes of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, and Toy Story 2, but did you know that a romantic comedy about a travel book store owner and an A-list actress falling in love in a busy London neighborhood made more than a James Bond movie that year? Well, that was the case for Notting Hill, Roger Michell’s rom-com starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.
Yeah, Notting Hill is considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time and had heavy hitters on both sides of the camera, but according to Box Office Mojo, it made $363.8 million worldwide. Maybe it was because of all those quotes and scenes that made us laugh, cry, and swoon 25 years ago.
American Beauty (1999)
A classic ‘90s movie that hasn’t aged well, American Beauty took home five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Mendes), and Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), so it’s no surprise that it made some cash. But did you know this black comedy about a man going through a midlife crisis and its impact on his family was one of the highest-grossing films of 1999?
According to Box Office Mojo, American Beauty brought in $356.3 million worldwide, making it the ninth most successful release of the final year of the 20th century.
Ghost (1990)
There is no denying Ghost is one of the most iconic ‘90s movies, but the 1990 romantic fantasy starring Patrick Swayze as a banker who is brutally murdered, turns into a spirit, and tries to reconnect with his girlfriend, played by Demi Moore, was also the second most successful release of the year. According to Box Office Mojo, the eventual Academy Award winner brought in $505.7 million worldwide.
Problem Child (1990)
Released just a few months before another movie about a mischievous kid dominated at the box office at the end of 1990, Problem Child came into theaters and made a respectable $72.3 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Although that may not seem like all that much money, this little dark comedy about a young orphan bonding with his adoptive father, played by the late John Ritter, and getting into all sorts of trouble ended up beating Goodfellas, Rocky V, and dozens of other more-remembered movies.
Misery (1990)
Rob Reiner’s 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery will forever go down as one of the most terrifying psychological thrillers, but you might have forgotten that it was one of the most successful movies of that year, bringing in $61.2 million, according to Box Office Mojo. Kathy Bates’ Oscar-winning portrayal of an obsessive fan was enough to put the movie in the top 20 of domestic releases, beating out Edward Scissorhands, Look Who’s Talking Too, and Goodfellas.
City Slickers (1991)
Sure, City Slickers is one of the best Billy Crystal movies and it has quite a legacy, but some will forget just how successful it was in theaters. According to Box Office Mojo, the western comedy made $124 million domestically, which has it in the top five of all releases in 1991. Only Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Beauty and the Beast, and The Silence of the Lambs did better financially.
Wayne’s World (1992)
Aladdin, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Batman Returns all seem like movies you would expect to see when looking at a list of the most successful movies of 1992, but what about Wayne’s World? Arguably one of the best Saturday Night Live movies, the Mike Myers and Dana Carvey comedy about a public access show made a whopping $183.1. million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
Unforgiven (1992)
One of the best Clint Eastwood movies, Unforgiven blasted its way into theaters with its story of a gunslinger reluctantly coming out of retirement, bringing in just north of $159 million, per Box Office Mojo. It’s often remembered as one of the best westerns (it won four Oscars, including Best Picture), and its nine-digit return is nothing short of impressive and kind of hard to believe considering the competition in 1992.
The Fugitive (1993)
There’s a case to be made for The Fugitive being one of the best Harrison Ford movies, but there is no denying its place in the top tier of 1993 domestic releases. This cat-and-mouse crime thriller that also starred Tommy Lee Jones trying to track down an escaped convict trying to clear his name was only beat out by Jurassic Park and Mrs. Doubtfire, bringing in $368.9 million, per Box Office Mojo.
Indecent Proposal (1993)
When looking back on the list of big movies that defined 1993, you’d expect to find titles like Jurassic Park, Sleepless in Seattle, and Mrs. Doubtfire. But what about Adrian Lyne’s erotic thriller, Indecent Proposal? The movie, which centers on a couple (Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson) whose relationship is put to the test when a stranger (Robert Redford) comes forward with a tempting offer, made $266.6 million, according to BoxOfficeMojo. That’s more cash than In The Line of Fire and Schindler’s List. You can revisit it if you’d like, as it’s one of numerous sexually explicit movies streaming on Max.
The Pelican Brief (1993)
John Grisham movies typically do quite well, which happens to be the case for the 1993 legal thriller The Pelican Brief starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington as a law school student and reporter who uncover a deep conspiracy. But, it’s crazy to think about how the movie made $195.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Clear And Present Danger (1994)
Although there aren’t too many surprises with 1994 box office numbers, there is one top movie of note that performed better than you probably remember. Clear and Present Danger, the second of two Tom Clancy movies with Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan, brought in a staggering $215.9 million upon its release, per Box Office Mojo.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)
With the success Jim Carrey had in 1994 (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb and Dumber, and The Mask), it should come as no surprise that 1995 would be another landmark year for the actor. And he did just that with not one, but two movies in the top five domestic releases: Batman Forever and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. And while the former is no shocker, the latter, however, is quite surprising with its $212.4 million gross, per Box Office Mojo.
Se7en (1995)
David Fincher’s Se7en will forever go down as one of the most frightening crime thrillers, but it also went down as one of the most successful movies of 1995. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie about a pair of detectives hunting down a sadistic killer using the deadly sins as his motive made $327.3 million worldwide. I guess people really wanted to know what was inside the box during the Se7en ending.
The Birdcage (1996)
Robin Williams was still in the middle of his impressive box office run by the time The Birdcage was released in 1996, but the movie’s domestic take is still something impressive. According to Box Office Mojo, the hilarious comedy about a man trying to hide his sexuality and lavish lifestyle from the conservative parents of his son’s girlfriend made $185.3 million.
Ransom (1996)
Ransom, the 1996 thriller starring Mel Gibson as a father who will do anything to get his son back, doesn’t get talked about all that often these days. This is a shame considering the movie made $309.5 million, per Box Office Mojo, and was only out-performed by Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, and Jerry Maguire. Yeesh.
Phenomenon (1996)
The 1996 fantasy drama starring John Travolta, Phenomenon, is one of those movies you’ll randomly catch on cable on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but it was one of the highest grossing movies upon its release. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie brought in $152 worldwide, and was only a few million dollars shy of being in the top 10 that year.
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
By the time My Best Friend’s Wedding came out in 1997, Julia Roberts was one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and Cameron Diaz was well on her way to superstardom. But still, despite being one of the best romantic comedies of all time, it’s still surprising how well it performed domestically. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie brought in $299.3 million worldwide.
Con Air (1997)
Despite its issues, there are few ‘90s movies I enjoy more than Con Air, but even I was surprised by its domestic haul at the box office upon release in 1997. The over-the-top action flick about prisoners hijacking a plane with a cast featuring Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich, and John Cusack sounds like something that should have failed in theaters and found new life on cable, but according to Box Office Mojo, it brought in $224 million.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
In 1997, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck went from two fairly successful actors to overnight sensations with the release of Good Will Hunting. The rags-to-riches story for the two Hollywood powerhouses is still remembered more than 25 years later, one thing that doesn’t get mentioned all that much is just how much money the movie brought in during its run. All in all, it made $225.9 million, per Box Office Mojo.
There's Something About Mary (1998)
I know There’s Something About Mary was a massive movie upon release with all of its iconic scenes and side-splitting gags, but I completely forgot it was an absolute juggernaut at the domestic box office upon release in 1998. According to Box Office Mojo, it brought in $369.9 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of the year.
The Waterboy (1998)
Adam Sandler was on a roll by the time The Waterboy was released in late 1998, but it’s crazy to think that it was the fifth highest grossing movie that year. According to Box Office Mojo, it brought in $185.9 million.
Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Though none of the subsequent films based on the classic property have done that well at the box office, the Eddie Murphy-led Doctor Dolittle was rather successful domestically and was in the middle of the top 10 highest grossers in 1998. According to Box Office Mojo, the star-studded comedy made $294.5 million worldwide.
Rush Hour (1998)
Sure, Rush Hour launched a franchise (that also included a short-lived TV adaptation), had two of the biggest stars of the ‘90s, and had a huge marketing push behind it, but this doesn’t mean its domestic gross was any less impressive. With a total of $244.7 million, per Box Office Mojo, the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker buddy cop comedy out-performed Lethal Weapon 4.
Patch Adams (1998)
The 1998 biographical drama Patch Adams, may not be the most successful Robin Williams movie of the 1990s. But the film, which sometimes seems all but forgotten, made $202.3 million, per Box Office Mojo, with a large chunk of that coming from its Christmas Day opening.
Stepmom (1998)
Stepmom, the emotional drama starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, was another movie that opened Christmas Day 1998 and ended up with a domestic total close to reaching nine figures. According to Box Office Mojo, the tearjerker made $159.7 million by the time its theatrical run concluded.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the sharp and crude Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was a massive hit upon release in the summer of 1999. But what is surprising is just how much money it made when compared to its predecessor, two years earlier. According to Box Office Mojo, the Mike Myers spy comedy brought in $313.7 million worldwide.
Runaway Bride (1999)
Though not brought up nearly as much as the first movie starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, 1999’s Runaway Bride will still surprise you with how much money it drew upon its release. Per Box Office Mojo, the film brought in $309.5 million by the time everything was said and done.
Big Daddy (1999)
Adam Sandler was one of the highest grossing comedic actors of the 1990s, and he ended the decade with one of his most successful movies yet: Big Daddy. Opening about a week before the July 4th weekend, this surprisingly heartfelt comedy had an even more surprising theatrical run, bringing in $234.8 million, per Box Office Mojo.
Each of these movies were massive hits, though some of them may not have been remembered that way, but hopefully this helps us all remember how much we loved these titles way back when. If you want to know what movies stand a chance at becoming a surprise hit in the near future, check out CinemaBlend's 2024 movie schedule.
