10 Best Movies From 1999, According To IMDb

Movies released in 1999 served as the final representation of the 20th century in cinema. Fans have been able to check out these features in recent years thanks to their availability on streaming services. While movies like The Matrix and The Sixth Sense remain popular, certain others also show up in audiences’ favorite lists.

With sites such as IMDb giving fans the platform to vote for movies they feel are the best, 1999 releases can be assessed through the ratings that reflect the audience’s reception. Since these carry hundreds of thousands of votes, there’s no doubt that the top-rated movies can be considered to be the greatest to come out of the year.

10 Being John Malkovich – 7.8 – Stream On Peacock

A fantasy comedy with a particularly wacky premise, Being John Malkovich is about Craig (John Cusack) and Lotte (Cameron Diaz), an unhappy couple who discover a portal that enables them to inhabit the mind of John Malkovich. Soon enough, the two became rivals in their bid to permanently take over Malkovich’s body as they compete for the affections of Maxine (Catherine Keener).

The movie is as bizarre as it sounds, with all the main characters giving up any moralities over possessing the innocent Malkovich. On the other hand, viewers enjoy the kooky comedy in place here since the plot is never supposed to be taken seriously. Even more than two decades later, there aren’t many films as quirky as Being John Malkovich is.

9 All About My Mother – 7.8 – Stream On Vudu

Penélope Cruz is one of the Oscar nominees in the 2022 ceremony and was part of this Oscar-winning film back in 1999 as well. All About My Mother is about Manuela (Cecilia Roth), a mother who befriends people in Barcelona, which she visits to tell the father of their deceased son about the latter’s demise.

All About My Mother received major praise for touching on topics existentialism and grief, with the film’s reception improving amongst audiences as years have passed. Penélope Cruz appears as Rosa, one of the women that Manuela becomes close to during her stays in Barcelona.

8 Toy Story 2 – 7.9 – Stream On Disney+

The second entry in the animated series sees Woody (Tom Hanks) stolen by a toy collector and his friends seeking to rescue him. Woody’s subsequent friendship with Jessie (Joan Cusack) casts seeds of doubt in him over wanting to stay at the collector’s museum.

The film is praised for bringing many great new characters after the first Toy Story, with Jessie and Woody’s sibling-like relationship considered a standout. It didn’t receive as great reviews from viewers as critics bestowed upon it, but Toy Story 2 is still considered a classic and easily among the best 1999 movies to check out.

7 Magnolia – 8.0 – Stream On Kanopy

Director Paul Thomas Anderson took his boldest narrative choice yet with Magnolia, featuring a large number of characters whose stories intertwine in various ways. Starring the likes of Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, among others, the story is set in one day where every character has to deal with a personal tragedy.

Magnolia is a rare effort where the massive runtime of 188 minutes services the plot so well, as it gives enough time to wrap up each plot thread. The themes of anger, remorse, and regret are relatable, but Paul Thomas Anderson also manages to pack in several surprises viewers wouldn’t see coming.

6 The Iron Giant – 8.1 – Stream On HBO Max

Long considered among the ‘90s animated movies that deserves a sequel, this science-fiction drama was released at a time when non-Disney animations rarely received praise. The Iron Giant is about the titular robot who befriends a young boy while evading the military that wants to destroy it.

Starring Vin Diesel as the voice of the Giant, the film is a tearjerker that delays the inevitable separation of the robot and his young human friend. It’s still remarkable for the way The Iron Giant makes viewers care so much for this unconventional friendship to lead into its heartbreaking conclusion.

5 The Sixth Sense – 8.2 – Stream On ITunes

M. Night Shyamalan burst onto the scene with his direction of The Sixth Sense, a supernatural thriller where child psychologist Malcolm (Bruce Willis) deals with his patient Cole’s (Haley Joel Osment) ability to see and speak to the dead. A creative take on the ghost genre, it was a major critical and commercial success.

Haley Joel Osment’s portrayal is particularly praised by fans of The Sixth Sense because of how the young actor captures the character’s horror at seeing deceased souls in daylight. Willis also acted against type in this slow but gripping feature that arguably is M. Night Shyamalan’s best feature yet.

4 American Beauty – 8.4 – Stream On Fubo TV

Winner of major Oscar awards, including Best Picture, American Beauty is a comedy-drama centering on the topic of midlife crisis. Here, Lester (Kevin Spacey) is a middle-aged man in an unhappy marriage with materialistic wife Carolyn (Annette Bening), and becomes infatuated with his daughter’s friend as a way of finding a spark in his life.

American Beauty might not be for everyone, but its rating makes it clear that fans of the film certainly do enjoy it for the bold themes in place. While funny in places, Sam Mendes’ direction is meant to communicate the reality of how dangerous midlife crisis can be, and why people should address it.

3 The Green Mile – 8.6 – Stream On Netflix

An adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name, The Green Mile is about innocent convict John (Michael Clark Duncan), who wins over the prison guards through his supernatural abilities shortly before he’s put on death row. Also starring Tom Hanks as the prison supervisor, it remains one of the most tragic movies in contemporary cinema.

The Green Mile is best remembered for Duncan’s masterful portrayal of John, as his impending execution is certain to make viewers emotional. Although its critical reception was great overall, the film has received more love from audiences and is a fan favorite in 1999 releases.

2 The Matrix – 8.7 – Stream On HBO Max

Few movies hold up today as well as The Matrix does, which took the world by storm through its breathtaking visuals. The story of Neo (Keanu Reeves) becoming The One to stop the machines from destroying Zion has become commonplace to mainstream viewers because of how popular The Matrix is.

Filled with sequences such as Neo’s body-bending evasion of bullets to incredible CGI effects showing the limitless capabilities of the Matrix, the film is a feast for the eyes. Viewers certainly hold it in high esteem, with many considering this to be the most famous 1999 movie.

1 Fight Club – 8.8 – Stream On iTunes

There aren’t many sleeper hits with as big of a cult following as Fight Club, whose penchant for memorable dialogue enabled it to remain firm in memory. The story is about The Narrator (Edward Norton), who befriends the enigmatic Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and opens up a secret fight club. Things get out of hand when the new members start to follow Dudren’s plans for anarchy, leading to a huge disaster. 

Fight Club can be considered to be something of a coming-of-age film, as it deals with adult men having to deal with their masculinity in dangerous ways. Effortlessly funny and carrying a plot twist that completely changes the entire context of the story, its multifaceted quality it completely can’t-miss.

About The Author

Saim Cheeda
(1344 Articles Published)

Saim Cheeda is an entertainment writer covering all of Film, TV, Gaming and Books. He’s been a writer for Valnet since 2017, contributing 500+ articles for The Gamer, The Things, Game Rant, Comic Book Resources and Screen Rant. Apart from freelance writing, Saim is a lifestyle blogger, co-owning the blog 3 States Apart.

http://3statesapart.com

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