Top Ranked Films by Year: the 90s

Based on our compendium of all film polls
[2011 Edition, updated with 2011 polls]
© William L. Sinclair

This continues our series of top-ranked films by year, based on the Top Ranked 1000 Films on the Net, 2011 Edition that we compiled.

Total Ranked Films in the 90's: 119 (up from 110)

 - [ 1990 ] -
1. Goodfellas - Scorsese, Martin #26 (photo rt)
2. Close-Up - Kiarostami, Abbas #254
3. Days of Being Wild - Wong Kar-Wai #463
4. Edward Scissorhands - Burton, Tim #487
5. Miller's Crossing - Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #671
6. Reversal of Fortune - Schroeder, Barbet #715
7. Grifters, The - Frears, Stephen #898
[Gone: An Angel at My Table, Ju Dou, Miller's Crossing]
Best Picture: Dances With Wolves

- [ 1991 ] -
1. Silence of the Lambs, The - Demme, Jonathan #47 (photo above)
2. Reservoir Dogs - Tarantino, Quentin #129
3. Terminator2: Judgment Day - Cameron, James #186
4. Thelma & Louise - Scott, Ridley #285
5. Double Life of Veronique, The - Kieslowski, Krszystof #342
6. Raise the Red Lantern - Yimou, Zhang #383
7. Barton Fink - Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #466
8. Beauty and the Beast - Trousdale, Gary #541
9. Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film - Burns, Rick #917
10. JFK - Stone, Oliver #930
11. Brighter Summer Day, A - Yang, Edward #935
12. Europa - von Trier, Lars #941
13. And Life Goes On - Kiarostami, Abbas #946
14. La Belle Noiseuse - Rivette, Jacques #965
[Gone: Van Gogh]
Best Picture: The Silence of the Lambs

- [ 1992 ] -
1. Unforgiven - Eastwood, Clint #57(photo rt)
2. Player, The - Altman, Robert #366
3. Crying Game, The - Jordan, Neil #500
4. Glengarry Glen Ross (92) Foley, James #823
5. Howards End - Ivory, James #831
[Gone: Orlando, Un Coeur en hiver]
Best Picture: Unforgiven

- [ 1993 ] -
1. Schindler's List #27 - Spielberg, Steven (photo rt)
1. Schindler's List - Spielberg, Steven #30
2. Piano, The - Campion, Jane #108
3. Groundhog Day - Ramis, Harold #174
4. Age of Innocence, The - Scorsese, Martin #415
5. Three Colours: Blue - Kieslowski, Krszystof #418
6. Short Cuts - Altman, Robert #444
7. Dazed and Confused - Linklater, Richard #528
8. Farewell, My Concubine - Chen Kaige #612
9. Fugitive, The - Davis, Andrew #914
10. Nightmare Before Christmas, The - Selick, Henry #953
11. Last Seduction, The - Dahl, John #963
12. Remains of the Day, The - Ivory, James #977
[Gone: The Puppetmaster, Naked]
Best Picture: Schindler's List

- [ 1994 ] -
1. Shawshank Redemption, The - Darabont, Frank #182 (photo rt)
2. Forrest Gump - Zemeckis, Robert #205
3. Three Colours: Red - Kieslowski, Krszystof #273
4. Léon (The Professional,1994) Besson, Luc #312
5. Chungking Express - Wong Kar-Wai #361 [photo above]
6. Lion King, The - Allers, Roger & Minkoff, Robert #401
7. Ed Wood - Burton, Tim #475
8. Crumb - Zwigoff, Terry #490
9. Sátántangó - Tarr, Béla #540
10. Quiz Show - Redford, Robert #819
11. Little Women - Armstrong, Gillian #824
12. Three Colours: White - Kieslowski, Krszystof #843
[Gone: Through the Olive Trees, Little Women]
Best Picture: Forrest Gump

- [ 1995 ] -
1. Pulp Fiction - Tarantino, Quentin #20 (photo rt)
2. Toy Story - Lasseter, John #72
3. Casino - Scorsese, Martin #120
4. Usual Suspects, The - Singer, Bryan #141
5. Trainspotting - Boyle, Danny #170
6. Heat - Mann, Michael #185
7. Se7en - Fincher, David #298
8. Dead Man - Jarmusch, Jim #421
9. 12 Monkeys - Gilliam, Terry #427
10. Naked - Leigh, Mike #630
11. Underground - Kusturica, Emir #631
12. Braveheart - Gibson, Mel #647
13. Leaving Las Vegas - Figgis, Mike #696
14. Before Sunrise (95) Linklater, Richard #748
15. Welcome to the Dollhouse - Solondz, Todd #750
16. Sense and Sensibility - Lee, Ang #802
17. To Die For - Van Sant, Gus #857
[Gone: Safe]
Best Picture: Braveheart

- [ 1996 ] -
1. Fargo - Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #49 (photo rt)
2. Breaking the Waves - von Trier, Lars #337
3. Secrets & Lies - Leigh, Mike #413
4. English Patient, The - Minghella, Anthony #481
5. Shine - Hicks, Scott #595
6. Moment of Innocence, A - Makhmalbaf, Mohsen #796
7. Crash - Cronenberg, David #862
8. Sling Blade - Thornton, Billy Bob #998
Best Picture: English Patient, The

- [ 1997 ] -
1. L.A. Confidential - Hanson, Curtis #61  (photo rt)
2. Boogie Nights - Anderson, Paul Thomas #212
3. Mononoke-hime - - anime Miyazaki, Hayao #353
4. Sweet Hereafter, The - Egoyan, Atom #354
5. Life is Beautiful - Begnini, Roberto #443
6. Taste of Cherry, A - Kiarostami, Abbas #520
7. Good Will Hunting - Van Sant, Gus #587
8. Lost Highway - Lynch, David #658
9. 4 Little Girls - Lee, Spike #766
10. Titanic - Cameron, James #769
11. Happy Together - Wong Kar-Wai #822
[Gone: Hana-Bi]
Best Picture: Titanic

- [ 1998 ] -
1. Saving Private Ryan - Spielberg, Steven #109 (photo rt)
2. Big Lebowski, The - Coen, Ethan and Joel #259
3. Truman Show, The - Weir, Peter #268
4. Rushmore - Anderson, Wes #304
5. American History X - Kaye, Tony #341
6. Thin Red Line, The - Malick, Terrence #371
7. Celebration (aka Festen) - Vinterberg, Thomas #386
8. Beau Travail - Denis, Claire #465
9. Shakespeare in Love - Madden, John #594
10. Happiness - Solondz, Todd #638
11. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Ritchie, Guy #834
12. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (98) Gilliam, Terry #859
13. 42 UP - Apted, Michael #860
14. Out of Sight - Soderbergh, Steven #978
15. Run Lola Run - Tykwer, Tom #999
[Gone: Flowers of Shanghai]
Best Picture: Shakespeare in Love

 - [ 1999 ] -
1. American Beauty - Mendes, Sam #97
2. Matrix, The - Wachowski, Andy & Larry Wachowski #190 (photo rt)
3. Fight Club - Fincher, David #201
4. All About My Mother - Almodóvar, Pedro #206
5. Being John Malkovich - Jonze, Spike #276
6. Magnolia - Anderson, Paul Thomas #319
7. Toy Story2 - Lasseter, John & Brannon, Ash #483
8. Straight Story, The - Lynch, David #495
9. Insider, The - Mann, Michael #512
10. Sixth Sense, The - Shyamalan, M. Knight #524
11. Wind Will Carry Us, The - Kiarostami, Abbas #536
12. Eyes Wide Shut - Kubrick, Stanley #566
13. Green Mile, The - Darabont, Frank #627
14. Iron Giant, The - Bird, Brad #701
15. My Voyage to Italy - Scorsese, Martin #751
16. Topsy-Turvy - Leigh, Mike #755
17. Boys Don't Cry - Pierce, Kimberly #833
18. American Movie - Smith, Chris #846
Best Picture: American Beauty

All Ranked Films for the Decade
1. Pulp Fiction (1995) Tarantino, Quentin #20
2. Goodfellas (1990) Scorsese, Martin #26
3. Schindler's List (1993) Spielberg, Steven #30
4. Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Demme, Jonathan #47
5. Fargo (1996) Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #49
6. Unforgiven (1992) Eastwood, Clint #57
7. L.A. Confidential (1997) Hanson, Curtis #61
8. Toy Story (1995) Lasseter, John #72
9. American Beauty (1999) Mendes, Sam #97
10. Piano, The (1993) Campion, Jane #108
11. Saving Private Ryan (1998) Spielberg, Steven #109
12. Casino (1995) Scorsese, Martin #120
13. Reservoir Dogs (1991) Tarantino, Quentin #129
14. Usual Suspects, The (1995) Singer, Bryan #141
15. Trainspotting (1995) Boyle, Danny #170
16. Groundhog Day (1993) Ramis, Harold #174
17. Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) Darabont, Frank #182
18. Heat (1995) Mann, Michael #185
19. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Cameron, James #186
20. Matrix, The (1999) Wachowski, Andy & Larry Wachowski #190
21. Fight Club (1999) Fincher, David #201
22. Forrest Gump (1994) Zemeckis, Robert #205
23. All About My Mother (1999) Almodóvar, Pedro #206
24. Boogie Nights (1997) Anderson, Paul Thomas #212
25. Close-Up (1990) Kiarostami, Abbas #254
26. Big Lebowski, The (1998) Coen, Ethan and Joel #259
27. Truman Show, The (1998) Weir, Peter #268
28. Three Colours: Red (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #273
29. Being John Malkovich (1999) Jonze, Spike #276
30. Thelma & Louise (1991) Scott, Ridley #285
31. Se7en (1995) Fincher, David #298
32. Rushmore (1998) Anderson, Wes #304
33. Léon (The Professional, 1994) Besson, Luc #312
34. Magnolia (1999) Anderson, Paul Thomas #319
35. Breaking the Waves (1996) von Trier, Lars #337
36. American History X (1998) Kaye, Tony #341
37. Double Life of Veronique, The (1991) Kieslowski, Krszystof #342
38. Mononoke-hime (1997) - anime Miyazaki, Hayao #353
39. Sweet Hereafter, The (1997) Egoyan, Atom #354
40. Chungking Express (1994) Wong Kar-Wai #361
41. Player, The (1992) Altman, Robert #366
42. Thin Red Line, The (1998) Malick, Terrence #371
43. Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Yimou, Zhang #383
44. Celebration (aka Festen) (1998) Vinterberg, Thomas #386
45. Lion King, The (1994) Allers, Roger & Minkoff, Robert #401
46. Secrets & Lies (1996) Leigh, Mike #413
47. Age of Innocence, The (1993) Scorsese, Martin #415
48. Three Colours: Blue (1993) Kieslowski, Krszystof #418
49. Dead Man (1995) Jarmusch, Jim #421
50. 12 Monkeys (1995) Gilliam, Terry #427
51. Life is Beautiful (1997) Begnini, Roberto #443
52. Short Cuts (1993) Altman, Robert #444
53. Days of Being Wild (1990) Wong Kar-Wai #463
54. Beau Travail (1998) Denis, Claire #465
55. Barton Fink (1991) Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #466
56. Ed Wood (1994) Burton, Tim #475
57. English Patient, The (1996) Minghella, Anthony #481
58. Toy Story 2 (1999) Lasseter, John & Brannon, Ash #483
59. Edward Scissorhands (1990) Burton, Tim #487
60. Crumb (1994) Zwigoff, Terry #490
61. Straight Story, The (1999) Lynch, David #495
62. Crying Game, The (1992) Jordan, Neil #500
63. Insider, The (1999) Mann, Michael #512
64. Taste of Cherry, A (1997) Kiarostami, Abbas #520
65. Sixth Sense, The (1999) Shyamalan, M. Knight #524
66. Dazed and Confused (1993) Linklater, Richard #528
67. Wind Will Carry Us, The (1999) Kiarostami, Abbas #536
68. Sátántangó (1994) Tarr, Béla #540
69. Beauty and the Beast (1992) Trousdale, Gary #541
70. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Kubrick, Stanley #566
71. Good Will Hunting (1997) Van Sant, Gus #587
72. Shakespeare in Love (1998) Madden, John #594
73. Shine (1996) Hicks, Scott #595
74. Farewell, My Concubine (1993) Chen Kaige #612
75. Green Mile, The (1999) Darabont, Frank #627
76. Naked (1993) Leigh, Mike #630
77. Underground (1995) Kusturica, Emir #631
78. Happiness (1998) Solondz, Todd #638
79. Braveheart (1995) Gibson, Mel #647
80. Lost Highway (1997) Lynch, David #658
81. Miller's Crossing (1990) Coen, Joel and Ethan Coen #671
82. Leaving Las Vegas (1996) Figgis, Mike #696
83. Iron Giant, The (1999) Bird, Brad #701
84. Reversal of Fortune (1990) Schroeder, Barbet #715
85. Before Sunrise (95) Linklater, Richard #748
86. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) Solondz, Todd #750
87. My Voyage to Italy (1999) Scorsese, Martin #751
88. Topsy-Turvy (1999) Leigh, Mike #755
89. 4 Little Girls (1997) Lee, Spike #766
90. Titanic (1997) Cameron, James #769
91. Moment of Innocence, A (1996) Makhmalbaf, Mohsen #796
92. Sense and Sensibility (1995) Lee, Ang #802
93. Quiz Show (1994) Redford, Robert #819
94. Happy Together (1997) Wong Kar-Wai #822
95. Glengarry Glen Ross (92) Foley, James #823
96. Little Women (1994) Armstrong, Gillian #824
97. Howards End (1992) Ivory, James #831
98. Boys Don't Cry (1999) Pierce, Kimberly #833
99. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) Ritchie, Guy #834
100. Three Colours: White (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #843
101. American Movie (1999) Smith, Chris #846
102. To Die For (1995) Van Sant, Gus #857
103. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (98) Gilliam, Terry #859
104. 42 UP (1998) Apted, Michael #860
105. Crash (1996) Cronenberg, David #862
106. Grifters, The (1990) Frears, Stephen #898
107. Fugitive, The (1993) Davis, Andrew #914
108. Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film (1991) Burns, Rick #917
109. JFK (1991) Stone, Oliver #930
110. Brighter Summer Day, A (1991) Yang, Edward #935
111. Europa (1991) von Trier, Lars #941
112. And Life Goes On (1991) Kiarostami, Abbas #946
113. Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993) Selick, Henry #953
114. Last Seduction, The (1993) Dahl, John #963
115. La Belle Noiseuse (1991) Rivette, Jacques #965
116. Remains of the Day, The (1993) Ivory, James #977
117. Out of Sight (1998) Soderbergh, Steven #978
118. Sling Blade (1996) Thornton, Billy Bob #998
119. Run Lola Run (1998) Tykwer, Tom #999

Unranked Best Pictures: Dances With Wolves (are you kidding, with Titanic and Braveheart getting ranked?)

My Favorites 1-The Shawshank Redemption, 2-Shakespeare in Love, 3-Silence of the Lambs, 4-Run Lola Run, 5-Groundhog Day, 6-Schindler’s List, 7-The Player, 8-Dances With Wolves, 9-The Grifters, 10-Goodfellas, 11-Chungking Express, 12-Fargo, 13-L.A. Confidential, 14-The Sweet Hereafter, 15-American History X, 16-JFK, 17-Toy Story, 18-Saving Private Ryan, 19-Terminator 2, 20-Leon (The Professional), 21-Pulp Fiction, 22-Being John Malkovich, 23-The Usual Suspects, 24-Good Will Hunting, 25-Unforgiven, 26-Fight Club, 27-To Die For, 28-12 Monkeys, 29-Howard's End, 30-The Thin Red Line, 31-The Crying Game, 32-The Remains of the Day, 33-The Last Seduction, 34-The Matrix

Stephen Frears, who did the excellent con-artist film The Grifters, also directed Dangerous Liaisons, which had arguably the best peformances ever from Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer (Oscar nomination), and Uma Thurman. Being John Malkovich, of course also starred John, and is from the inventive brain of author Charlie Kaufman, who also gave us Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York.

Fans of Pulp Fiction need to see Wong Kar-Wai's Chungking Express, and it's sequel Fallen Angels, as Tarantino said his 3-part film was inspired by these two, which were intended to be one film by Wong but each part was so long that he released them as two films.