While Titanic isn’t James Cameron’s first hugely successful film, it is surely one of the most notable. Back when the 1997 film was still in productions – the size of the final budget was almost unheard of and periodically, there would be articles bashing Cameron on how much money he was spending on a movie. Then – Titanic was released and ticket sales for the film hit record numbers – literally breaking records and becoming the highest grossing film of all time. Only to be done again 13 years later by the same man.

Overall, as most people know – Titanic is a fantastic film, perfect for renting, owning, or by any other means. Oscar Winning Film.

Budget: $200 million
Director: James Cameron
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Kate Winslet
Billy Zane
Kathy Bates
Frances Fisher
Gloria Stuart
Bill Paxton
Bernard Hill

Independence Day is the 1996 Blockbuster film starring Will Smith and Directed by Roland Emmerich. When this film was released, it was some of the best special effects and action that most people had seen up to that point. The films plot, characters, and the way events unfolded were awesome. What makes this film even better, is that soon, it will be considered the first film in a TRILOGY. That’s right, they are producing two more Independence Day films – set for 2013 & 2014.

The film also won an Oscar for it’s visual effects.

Overall, this film is awesome – great to watch and own. In a few years I’m sure you’ll be able to own the box set as well.

Budget: $75 million
Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring:
Will Smith
Bill Pullman
Jeff Goldblum
Mary McDonnell
Judd Hirsch
Robert Loggia
Randy Quaid
Vivica A. Fox
Margaret Colin
Adam Baldwin
Brent Spiner

True Lies is a 1994 film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Harry Tasker (Arnold) : devoted father, husband, and computer salesman. Or so everyone thinks. In reality, Tasker is a spy in one of the United States government’s highest branches. As Tasker continues to keep his profession a secret from his family, his wife, Helen, begins to surreptitiously meet with a used car salesman, Simon. Upon discovering this, Tasker sets out on a personal mission to win his wife back and find out Simon’s true motives. Meanwhile, a Middle Eastern terrorist organization known as “Crimson Jihad” is on the rise, threatening nuclear war with the United States if their demands are not met. As the clock winds down, Tasker must not only fight against the bloodthirsty terrorists, but also fight to regain the trust of his family.

Budget: $120 million
Director: James Cameron
Starring:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Tom Arnold
Jamie Lee Curtis
Bill Paxton
Tia Carrere
Eliza Dushku

The Postman is a 1997 film starring Kevin Costner; and taking place in the near future — after an apocalyptic war.

This was one of those films that people either really liked or really didn’t. While the film came with a large price tag and it didn’t recoup it at the theater when the film was release; it was at the time considered a flop. Though over the years, the films been on almost every television station.

The film is about a now defunct United States, where Kevin Costner is a traveling actor and con, just trying to survive. At one point during the film, he finds an old Postal Worker Uniform, puts it on, and begins posing as a new Postman for the New United States Government. It just escalates from there.

Overall, it was a really good movie. Very long movie, but still good.

Budget: $80 million
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring:
Kevin Costner
Will Patton
Larenz Tate
Olivia Williams
James Russo
Daniel von Bargen
Tom Petty
Giovanni Ribisi
Peggy Lipton

Adam Sandler, like all his other films, does a great job and brings a lot of funny moments. It’s really funny and something that can be watched over and over. If you haven’t seen it lately, it’s time to dust it off and watch it again.

Budget: $23 million
Director: Frank Coraci
Starring:
Adam Sandler
Kathy Bates
Fairuza Balk
Henry Winkler
Jerry Reed
Larry Gilliard Jr.
Rob Schneider

Dances With Wolves is a 1990 film, starring Kevin Costner as a Union Officer that is transferred to the Western frontier. When he arrives, he discovers the post abandoned. For a while, it is just him and a lone wolf that comes around. Eventually, he meets and becomes friends with the local Indian tribe. Over time, he begins to transform from a Union Soldier, and into an Indian. Later a new unit of Union Soldiers arrive at the post, only to find Costner living amongst the Indians; they think he is a traitor.

This film is really good, probably one of the best he ever made, and after almost twenty years, most people still love it.

Budget: $19 million
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring:
Kevin Costner
Mary McDonnell
Graham Greene
Rodney A. Grant
Robert Pastorelli

This 1996 film stars Tom Cruise in one of his best performances. He’s a sports agent, that one night has a moral epiphany, writes it down, then distributes it to the people he works with. This of course gets him fired, so he’s left trying to hold onto the clients he has, as the other agents reach in and take them away; while also taking his financial security. Jerry Maguire is a really great drama; it was great back then and is still to this day.

Eventually, Jerry is able to convince his last remaining athlete to stay with him — only problem is, he’s a third round draft pick that has an attitude problem and his value isn’t what it used to be. This is also the film that saw the rise of Cuba Gooding Jr. as an actor. His and Tom Cruise’s performance were perfect together, eventually leading to Gooding Jr. receiving the Oscar.

Budget: $50 million
Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring:
Tom Cruise
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Renee Zellweger
Kelly Preston
Jerry O’Connell
Jay Mohr
Bonnie Hunt
Regina King

Apollo 13 is a 1995 film, directed by Ron Howard and staring Tom Hanks. It is the true story about the Apollo 13 moon landing mission how things went terribly wrong for astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert.

On their way to the moon a small explosion blows a hole in the side of their space craft during routine testing and maintenance. This explosion not only cancels any chance that they may have of landing on the moon, but also may be the event that sparks the first American astronauts lost in space. Using their training, and abilities to imagine solutions to great problems, the astronauts and the supporting crew on the ground, come up with ways to help get the Apollo 13 crew home safely.

This is a great film, that goes step by step into the accident that took place in space and about the men and women working behind the scene went through to help bring our astronauts home safely. A must buy.

Budget: $62 million
Director: Ron Howard
Starring:
Tom Hanks
Bill Paxton
Kevin Bacon
Gary Sinise
Ed Harris
Kathleen Quinlan
Mary Kate Schellhardt

As Good as It Gets is a 1997 film, starring Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson. Nicholson plays an OCD type writer who goes into the same restaurant and orders the same thing everyday. He eventually begins to fall for the waitress (Hunt). When he learns that she has a son, who is sick, and may have to leave her job – Nicholson sends a doctor friend over to her home to look at the boy. Though he likes Hunt, he tells her he did it so she wouldn’t quit her job.

At the same time, he’s having issues with his gay neighbor and his manager (Gooding Jr.). Towards the end, Hunt, Nicholson, and Greg Kinnear take a trip to visit Kinnear’s family (looking for money). This trip, while almost ripping them all apart, actually strengthens their bond as friends.

Overall, it was a great movie. A mix between comedy and drama, with hilarious moments on everyone’s part.

Budget: $50 million
Director: James L. Brooks
Starring:
Jack Nicholson
Helen Hunt
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Greg Kinnear
Skeet Ulrich

Men in Black (and the sequel) were very funny films that a lot of people anticipated before its release. The film, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, is about the two Agents (Kay and Jay), as they try to protect NYC from being destroyed aliens. The movie, when first released, had a lot of really cool special effects and gadgets that most of us had never seen.

Though it’s been on the market for quite some time now, you should get yourself a copy, along with the sequel and make a night out of it. They’re both really good films to watch again.

Budget: $90 million
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Starring:
Will Smith
Tommy Lee Jones
Linda Fiorentino
Rip Torn
Vincent D’Onofrio
Jon Gries