When we look back at the '90s, we are reminded of all the great cinema that was being made — classic films that still feel relevant today and characters whom we always find ourselves relating to. 1997 was an especially great year for film as some of the most innovative and groundbreaking movies were released during this time. Directors and producers were pushing boundaries in terms of storytelling, special effects, and film editing, in addition to the rise of some of today’s most promising actors, such as Oscar-winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

One of the greatest things about movies is that they have the ability to inspire us and restore audiences' hope. A great film leaves an impression on us that will keep us thinking about it long after we leave the theater. Movies such as Titanic, Good Will Hunting, and As Good As It Gets do just that. Here are some of the best movies released in 1997 that prove what a great year it was for cinema.

Updated on October 8, 2023, by Soniya Hinduja: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

13 In the Company of Men

Before cinema became universally better in terms of treating women better and advocating equal rights and respect on and off screen, director Neil LaBute exposed power dynamics through this minimalist black comedy that made 1997 truly memorable. In the Company of Men centers around two vengeful and avoidant businessmen, Chad and Howard, tormenting a deaf woman and shattering every ounce of her self-respect while on a project abroad. Both these men are misogynists who recently got out of a bad relationship, and instead of working on themselves, they decide to take it out on someone else. Through several revelations and subtexts, we see just how ugly their actions can get. Aaron Eckhart sears in his breakout performance, while Matt Malloy is equally cruel as the junior executive.

12 Happy Together

Director Wong Kar-wai has a reputation of crafting the most depressing and achingly beautiful love stories ever. Whether it is forbidden love and the longing that it produces or the separation of two souls who share a promising relationship, his films portray the misery of being in love quite realistically.

Happy Together is a dear film in the director’s filmography. It follows a tempestuous pair of lovers, Lai and his boyfriend Ho, who tour Argentina with hopes that a different country would make their lives easier. But soon, their relationship turns sour, and endless fights reveal their toxic natures. Meanwhile, Lai meets Chang, who isn’t just gorgeous but also matches Lai’s need for restless intimacy. In a way, Happy Together isn’t about love; it is about two lives interrupted by separation and exile.

11 Contact

Adapted from the 1985 novel written by Carl Sagan, Contact is an interesting science fiction film about the complex vision of first contact where science rescues faith and drives closed minds into imaginative and believing ends. Starring Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway, who has spent years trying to obtain proof that there is extraterrestrial life out there, the movie follows the very first radio signals sent by aliens. She, with her team (which includes Matthew McConaughey’s Palmer Joss), gets deeper into deciphering this message by building a machine. The film begins at the intersection of faith, science, and politics. These three things never go hand in hand, but a person’s determination to seek truth does. With soulful storytelling and breathtaking visuals, this unsung classic is still quite incredible.

10 The Fifth Element

Few science-fiction movies manage to age like fine wine. Apart from proper classics like Alien, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, and more, the genre sees so many advancements that it's hard to remain blockbusters decades after its initial release. As for Luc Besson’s sci-fi opera The Fifth Element, the movie finds nuance and vision in its futuristic setting.

It follows Korben Dallas, a cab driver, trying to be the hero who would save the world from destruction with the help of four mystical stones and the titular fifth element. The sheer artistry required to create the film – from visions of an Egyptian past to flying cars – demands high praise. Moreover, its rewatch value increases its meaning because we understand that the film is trying to drop clues to a better, colorful world.

9 Boogie Nights

How could a ‘90s film list be complete without mentioning Paul Thomas Anderson? Written and directed by the man, Boogie Nights takes you to the San Fernando Valley in 1977, where a young busboy named Eddie Adams is discovered by a porn director. He turns the boy into a sensation overnight, but soon Eddie becomes consumed by the lifestyle and the toxicity of the industry, is addicted to drugs, and goes downward in a spiral of emotions.

Far from being compassionate, the film takes you straight into the rise and fall of a man who never thought he'd reach such exquisite heights. Boogie Nights is PTA's sophomore project, and even though the premise screams adult-only, there's very little explicit content, which shows the director's talent for making a point without lifting a finger. Overall, it is a genuinely recommended ensemble drama.

8 Donnie Brasco

Al Pacino and Johnny Depp give great performances as they star in the crime/drama Donnie Brasco. These two actors are legends and some of the most talented individuals working in the business; they have gained such acclaim over the years that audiences will watch a film solely because they are in them. Director Mike Newell did a brilliant job in telling the story of an undercover FBI agent (Depp) working his way into a relationship with a mob hitman (Pacino) in an attempt to get information on the New York Mafia families he infiltrated.

7 L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential is the story of three policemen in Los Angeles, each with his own agenda, who come together to solve a murder that took place in the 50s. Each of the characters' individual pasts play into how they solve cases and define the people they are. Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, and Danny DeVito star in Curtis Hanson's crime film.

With a 99% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, it's safe to say this movie was a huge success. Out of the nine Oscar nominations it received, L.A. Confidential won two in the categories of Best Supporting Actress (for Basinger) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

6 Jackie Brown

In 1997, iconic filmmaker and director Quentin Tarantino released his third film, Jackie Brown, starring Pam Grier. Tarantino is definitely one of a kind in the world of cinema, known for his stylistic choices, use of violence and comedy, and extended dialogue. Some say that the director's films are so unique that they exist within their own universe wherein Tarantino can rewrite history. Grier gave a great performance in the crime/drama, but despite how well-received Jackie Brown was, it didn't land any Academy Award nominations, resulting in what some consider to be one of the biggest Oscar snubs in the history of the Best Actress category.

5 As Good As It Gets

Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt star as an angry writer suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and a single mother working as a waitress at a local diner in New York, respectively. These two characters, Melvin Udall (Nicholson) and Carol Connelly (Hunt), embark on an unlikely journey despite their initial rough start. Nicholson and Hunt's onscreen chemistry is fantastic, resulting in them both winning Oscars that year for Best Actor and Best Actress. As Good As It Gets is a great film and a must-watch.

4 Liar Liar

The 90s mark the height of comedian and actor Jim Carrey's career. With the release of films such as The Mask, Batman Forever, Man on the Moon, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura, The Truman Show, and, of course, Liar Liar, Carrey was consistently putting out great work. The comedy/adventure, directed by Tom Shadyac, follows a successful lawyer who finds himself only being able to tell the truth for 24 hours on the day when his career-deciding case must be won.

3 Good Will Hunting

Matt Damon stars in and co-wrote the screenplay for the beautiful drama/romance Good Will Hunting alongside fellow actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck. Everything about this movie is remarkable: from the acting to the screenplay, direction, and soundtrack, it holds its own as one of the best movies of the 90s.

Good Will Hunting was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1998, ultimately winning two, the first in the category of Best Supporting Actor for the performance of Robin Williams' career as therapist Sean Maguire, and the second for Best Original Screenplay, which was the first Oscar win for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

2 The Full Monty

The Full Monty is a great film, but unique compared to the others on this list due to the fact that it is one of the few comedies, by that point, to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards. The film follows two men desperate to make money in an attempt to pay back missed child support payments and their idea to put on a male strip tease act. Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, and Tom Wilkinson star in this hilarious film.

1 Titanic

When you think about an epic movie, you think of James Cameron's Titanic. This breathtaking romance/drama is iconic and will forever be one of the most successful movies ever made. The level of authenticity and accuracy that went into the making of Titanic is unbelievable, from ensuring every detail of the ship was accurate to traveling to the bottom of the ocean to capture footage of the wreck. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star as the ill-fated lovers Jack and Rose — two of their most iconic roles to date. Their performances propelled the two to stardom and are still referenced over 20 years after the film's release.

Cameron is an incredible filmmaker and broke ground in the world of cinema in terms of the cinematography, special effects, and film editing in Titanic. The film was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, winning ten, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.