The1990swas an incredible decade for cinema. The birth of CGI (for better or worse)? That was the ’90s. For the advent of high-quality independent cinema? That, too, was the ’90s. The decade not only saw breakthroughs in terms of filmmaking technology, but it was also arguably the last decade before interconnected film universes became the commodity they are today. Thus, there was something pure about the franchise entries of the decade.
What follows are film franchises that not only debuted strong or got stronger throughout this particular decade, butpeaked. Naturally, film is subjective, but there are some consistencies. MaybeJurassic Parkisn’t every single film fan’s favorite installment of the franchise, but it’s darn well most people’s favorite.Jurassic Park’s here, for sure, but the dinos aren’t alone. Here are 10 film franchises that hit their absolute peak in the 1990s.
10American Pie Franchise
American Pie
American Pieis the story of a group of high school students desperate to lose their V-Cards before the start of college. Naturally, awkwardness gets in the way…but maybe notall the wayin the way. The film was followed by the funAmerican Pie 2in 2001, the forgettableAmerican Weddingin 2003 (which half the cast didn’t even come back for), and the slight rebound in 2012’sAmerican Reunion.
Why the ’90s Was the Peak
The appeal ofAmerican Piecomes down to the sneakily heartfelt script and casting. In other words, there’s a reason this one film made stars of Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Alyson Hannigan, Shannon Elizabeth, Mena Suvari, Seann William Scott, Natasha Lyonne, and Tara Reid. Not to mention, it made even bigger stars ofEugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge.
9Dumb and Dumber Franchise
Dumb and Dumber
Dumb and Dumberwas just one of three films Jim Carrey starred in back in 1994, andit was the best. He stars as Lloyd who, along with his buddy Harry, travels across the country to win the heart of a woman who is way,wayout of his league.Dumb and Dumbergot itself a regrettable prequel in 2003 and an arguably even worse (and totally mean spirited) legacy sequel in 2014.
The chemistry between Carrey and Jeff Daniels is bright as the sun inDumb and Dumber, and Daniels honestly should get the lions' share of the credit for that. Carrey was born into comedy, but Daniels wasn’t, and boy did he dive all the way in.
8Independence Day Franchise
Independence Day
Roland Emmerich’s iconic 1996 sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day chronicles the attack of a hostile race of aliens against planet Earth. When extraterrestrial aircraft occupy Earth without warning, the forces of humanity quickly band together to stop them. At the behest of President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), US Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) organize humanity’s last-ditch counterattack against the technologically-advanced alien mothership.
Roland Emmerich’sIndependence Dayshows the end of the world. Well, at least the near-end. The narrative follows a group of advanced tech-wielding aliens as they descend upon Earth to take it over for themselves. The White House might not survive.
Loaded with iconic shots (the aforementioned White House, for one) and lovable characters,Independence Dayis one of the ’90s definitive blockbusters. And, likeJurassic Parkbefore it,Independence Daywas a movie that knew precisely how to utilize Jeff Goldblum. The same can’t be said ofIndependence Day: Resurgence, released 20 years later to paltry box office returns and poor reviews.
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7Jurassic Park Franchise
Jurassic Park
The ultimate rollercoaster of a motion picture, Steven Spielberg’sJurassic Parkis as fun now as it was in the ’90s. The narrative, of course, follows a capitalist’s desire to open a brand-new type of theme park. One that involves what amounts to reincarnated dinos. From the expert merger of ahead-of-its-time (for the time)CGI and practical effects,Jurassic Parkis a dynamo of an experience.
Spielberg’s classic was followed byThe Lost World: Jurassic Park(which he also directed) in 1997, and while that film can be fun it’s notably darker and critics took notice. But being grim is better than being forgettable, and that’s 2001’sJurassic Park III. Things looked to be getting better withJurassic Worldin 2015, but that was ultimately a mostly solid start to a poor trilogy that got progressively worse fast.
6The Mask Franchise
The Mask, loosely based on the comics by Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi, stars Jim Carrey as pathetic banker Stanley Ipkiss. When Ipkiss finds an odd, green, wooden mask, he gains a new personality. A far more bombastic one. But, who does his new nightclub singer love prefer? The one who’s real, or the one with manufactured confidence that can make his face look like a cartoon wolf?
Jim Carrey made a heck of an impression back in 1994. AfterIn Living Color, he seemed like a shoe-in to be a Hollywood breakout, and withAce Venture: Pet Detective,The Mask, andDumb and Dumber, the comedian showed three times in the same year that he had major box office viability.
This is especially true ofThe Mask, which was higher in concept and budget thanAce Ventura. No wonder the successful film spawned an animated series the following year, even if it wasn’t quite as solid. That said, at least it was better than 2005’s horridSon of the Mask.
5The Matrix Franchise
The Matrix
The Wachowskis’The Matrixrevolutionized the film industry, and by this point that’s common knowledge, but it’s still impressive. The plot follows an utter outsider who is awoken to the reality that his reality…well, it’s notreallyreality. He and his peers are owned and operated by machines, and until they take a certain pill there’s nothing they can do about it.
The special effects inThe Matrixare what really made it sink into the zeitgeist.But, a good-looking film can’t be memorable just by being good-looking, they need to have a unique, compelling narrative. AndThe Matrix’s world-bending story is just that. However, most fans would argue the world got just a little too complex with 2003’sThe Matrix ReloadandThe Matrix Revolutions. 2021’s legacy sequelThe Matrix Resurrections, likewise, didn’t quite score with critics, and it did even worse at the box office thanResolutions.
4Men in Black Franchise
Men In Black
1997’sMen in Blackwas just one blockbuster that helped cement the year as top-tier for cinema. The narrative is simple: a bug alien comes down to Earth, grabs a skin suit, and wrecks havoc. Fortunately for earthlings, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) has a new partner in Agent J (Will Smith).
Men in Black’s greatest asset is its pacing, but there’s also the incredible chemistry between Jones and Smith. Toss in terrific practical effects and a wonderful villainous performance from Vincent D’Onofrio andMiBis one of the late ’90s better high-budget films. 2002’sMen in Black II, however, was critically panned and while 2012’sMen in Black 3is an improvement, it’s not in the same league as the first film. And the less said about 2019’sMen in Black: International, the better.
3The Mummy Franchise
Stephen Sommers' box office hitThe Mummymay not be as cerebral as the earlier Universal Monsters installments, but it’s a blast nonetheless. The narrative centers on Imhotep and his quest to regain his mortal form, but too bad for him,adventurer Rick O’Connellis going to be standing in his way.
Brendan Fraser’s greatest claim to fame will always beThe Mummy. And thank goodness he was cast, because his nice guy charm blends inperfectlyas a balance to the film’s more grotesque, scarab-fueled scenes. That said, the charm could only carry the IP so far, withThe Mummy Returnsbeing an ambitious but jumbled mess with some awful CGI. But, at leastReturnsis fun, which is more than can be said of 2008’sThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
2Scream Franchise
One of the few perfect films, perhaps there was never any toppingScream. But, if any sequel did, it wasScream 2, which was released just one year after the first one. In other words, as far as 1996 and 1997 horror cinema goes,Screamwas definitively on top.
Of course, its influence has stretched out way beyond those two years of box office dominance. Just as it was in the ’90s and aughts, the originalScreamis influential today. As for the further films down the line,Scream 3is almost universally the pic for the franchise’s nadir whileScream 4is fairly fun but unfortunately flopped at the box office. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’sScream(2022) andScream VIwere excellent, but still not in league with Craven’s original.
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1Terminator Franchise
Terminator 2
1984’sThe Terminatoris a masterpiece, but there are many out there who would considerT2: Judgment Dayevery bit the masterwork that sci-fi action slasher was. The plot follows Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rebooted T-800 as it seeks to protect the Connor family, specifically young John, from an extra-advanced liquid metal Terminator.
Terminator 2forgoes much of the original film’s dark, you’re-in-an-’80s-club-now vibe for a more straightforward action-focused one. The result is spectacular, and to this dayT2has a real sound argument for being the best action film ever made. Like the first film, the sequel is one of thebest movies James Cameron’s ever made.
Every installment that has followed it (arguably save for 2009’s wartimeTerminator Salvation) has replications of its story beats or T-1000 antagonist. But, while 2019’sTerminator: Dark Fateis an underrated good bit of fun, it doesn’t hold a candle to the first two films.
