Most Popular Movies 1996
This chart shows the 1996 movie releases that have attracted the most interest on The Numbers web site over the past 24 hours. A share of 100 corresponds to 1 percent of the total views for all 1996 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1996 - Top 1996 Worldwide
| ← 1995 | Most Popular Overall | 1997 → |
1
| Twister |
| Director: Jan De Bont |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 10, 1996 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Disaster, Extreme Weather, Academics, Action Adventure |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $241,688,385 |
|
International BO: $254,011,615 |
2
| Independence Day |
| Director: Roland Emmerich |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 2, 1996 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Visual Effects, Alien Invasion, Intertitle, 3D Re-release, White House Under Attack, Action Adventure |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $306,169,255 |
|
International BO: $511,231,623 |
3
| Phenomenon |
| Director: Jon Turteltaub |
| Lead Roles: John Travolta as George Malley |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 5, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Romantic Drama, Supernatural |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $104,636,382 |
|
International BO: $47,400,000 |
4
| The Craft |
| Director: Andrew Fleming |
| Lead Roles: Robin Tunney as Sarah Bailey, Fairuza Balk as Nancy, Neve Campbell as Bonnie, Rachel True as Rochelle |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 3, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Religious, Supernatural Horror, Supernatural, Witches, New Guy/Girl in School, Social Outcast, Friends turned Enemies |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $24,769,466 |
|
International BO: $30,900,000 |
5
| Mission: Impossible |
| Director: Brian De Palma |
| Lead Roles: Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 21, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Secret Agent, Slow Motion Scene, Fugitive / On the Run, Non-Chronological, 1990s, Faked Death, Betrayal, Hostage, Escape, Framed, C.I.A., Falsely Accused, Action Thriller |
| Classification: Based on TV, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $180,981,886 |
|
International BO: $276,716,108 |
6
| Scream |
| Director: Wes Craven |
| Lead Roles: Neve Campbell as Sidney |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1996 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Keywords: Wrongfully Convicted, Relationships Gone Wrong, Revenge, Surprise Twist, Spoof, Slasher Horror |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $103,046,663 |
|
International BO: $69,999,977 |
7
| Swingers |
| Director: Doug Liman |
| Lead Roles: Vince Vaughn as Trent |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 18, 1996 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Keywords: Relationships Gone Wrong, Performing Arts, Movie Business, Romance, Delayed Adulthood, Buddy Comedy, Relationship Advice, Screenplay Written By the Star |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,505,922 |
|
International BO: $2,112,656 |
8
| The Mirror Has Two Faces |
| Director: Barbra Streisand |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 15, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $41,267,469 |
9
| Stealing Beauty |
| Director: Bernardo Bertolucci |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 14, 1996 (Wide) by Fox Searchlight |
| Keywords: Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age Drama, Suicide, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Set in Italy, First Love, Loss Of Virginity |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,573,330 |
10
| Jack |
| Director: Francis Ford Coppola |
| Lead Roles: Robin Williams as Jack Powell, Diane Lane as Karen Powell |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 9, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama, Prologue, Troubled Pregnancy or Miscarriage, Medical and Hospitals, Home Schooled, Homeschooling, New Guy/Girl in School |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $58,617,334 |
11
| A Time to Kill |
| Director: Joel Schumacher |
| Lead Roles: Sandra Bullock as Ellen Roark, Samuel L. Jackson as Carl Lee Hailey, Matthew McConaughey as Jake Brigance |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 24, 1996 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Lawyers, Sex Crimes, African Americans, Revenge, Courtroom / Legal Drama, Bigotry |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $108,766,007 |
|
International BO: $43,500,000 |
12
| Evita |
| Director: Alan Parker |
| Lead Roles: Madonna as Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1996 (Wide) (United Kingdom) |
| Keywords: Biography, Epic Musical, Set in Argentina, Prologue, 1950s, 1930s, 1940s, Romance, Political, Cancer, Terminal Illness |
| Classification: Based on Musical or Opera, Musical, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $50,047,179 |
|
International BO: $101,900,000 |
13
| Beavis and Butt-Head Do America |
| Director: Mike Judge |
| Lead Roles: Mike Judge as Beavis, Butt-Head, Tom Anderson, Mr. Van Driessen, Principal McVicker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Road Trip, Hallucinations, Buddy Comedy, Mistaken Identity, Hitmen, Relationships Gone Wrong, Set in Las Vegas, ATF Agent, Same Actor, Multiple Roles |
| Classification: Based on TV, Comedy, Hand Animation, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $63,118,386 |
14
| Space Jam |
| Director: Joe Pytka |
| Lead Roles: Michael Jordan as Himself |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 15, 1996 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Basketball, Family Adventure, Gambling, 1970s, Prologue, Adult Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Retirement, Out of Retirement |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Animation/Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $90,463,534 |
|
International BO: $159,716,850 |
Synopsis
Swackhammer, an evil alien theme park owner, needs a new attraction at Moron Mountain. When his gang, the Nerdlucks, heads to Earth to kidnap Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, Bugs challenges them to a basketball game to determine their fate. The aliens agree, but they steal the powers of NBA basketball players, including Larry Bird and Charles Barkley — so Bugs gets some help from superstar Michael Jordan.
15
| Jerry Maguire |
| Director: Cameron Crowe |
| Lead Roles: Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 13, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Romance, Football, Fired, Romantic Comedy, 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $153,952,592 |
|
International BO: $119,600,000 |
16
| Marvin's Room |
| Director: Jerry Zaks |
| Lead Roles: Meryl Streep as Lee, Leonardo DiCaprio as Hank, Diane Keaton as Bessie |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 20, 1996 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Keywords: Family Drama, Stroke, Dysfunctional Family, Arson, Mental Illness, Cancer, Terminal Illness |
| Classification: Based on Play, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $12,803,305 |
17
| Mars Attacks! |
| Director: Tim Burton |
| Lead Roles: Jack Nicholson as President Dale/Art Land, Glenn Close as Marsha Dale, Annette Bening as Barbara Land, Pierce Brosnan as Donald Kessler |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 13, 1996 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Alien Invasion, Same Actor, Multiple Roles, White House Under Attack, Set on Mars, First Contact, Black Comedy |
| Classification: Based on Toy, Black Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $37,771,017 |
|
International BO: $63,600,000 |
18
| Last Dance |
| Director: Bruce Beresford |
| Lead Roles: Sharon Stone as Cindy Liggett |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 3, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Crime Drama, Death Row, Lawyers, Addiction, Narcotics |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,857,534 |
19
| Black Sheep |
| Director: Penelope Spheeris |
| Lead Roles: Chris Farley as Mike Donnelly, David Spade as Steve Dodds |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 2, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Political Campaign, Buddy Comedy, Road Trip, Political, Dysfunctional Family |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $32,330,354 |
20
| The Ghost and the Darkness |
| Director: Stephen Hopkins |
| Lead Roles: Michael Douglas as Remington, Val Kilmer as John Patterson |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 11, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Animals Gone Bad, Action Thriller, Set in Africa, 1890s, Voiceover/Narration, Culture Clash, Hunting |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Action, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $38,564,422 |
21
| Fled |
| Director: Kevin Hooks |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 19, 1996 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Mafia, Action Comedy, FBI, Witness Tampering, Assassination, Heist, Fugitive / On the Run |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $17,192,205 |
|
International BO: $2,700,000 |
22
| The First Wives Club |
| Director: Hugh Wilson |
| Lead Roles: Bette Midler as Brenda Morelli Cushman, Goldie Hawn as Elise Eliot Atchinson, Diane Keaton as Annie MacDuggan Paradis |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 20, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $105,489,203 |
|
International BO: $76,000,000 |
23
| First Kid |
| Lead Roles: Sinbad as Sam Simms, Robert Guillaume as Wilkes, Brock Pierce as Luke Davenport |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 30, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Politicians, Bullies, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Fired, Kidnap, Revenge |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $26,465,920 |
24
| The Phantom |
| Director: Simon Wincer |
| Lead Roles: Billy Zane as The Phantom |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 7, 1996 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: Comic Strip, Film Noir, Action Adventure, 1700s, Prologue, 1930s, Father’s Footsteps, Set in New York, Set in New York City, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel, Action, Live Action, Super Hero |
|
Domestic BO: $17,220,599 |
25
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| Crash |
| Director: David Cronenberg |
| Lead Roles: James Spader as James Ballard, Holly Hunter as Helen Remington, Elias Koteas as Vaughan, Deborah Kara Unger as Catherine Ballard, Rosanna Arquette as Gabrielle |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1996 (Wide) by Fine Line |
| Keywords: Sexual Fetishism, Erotic Thriller, Relationships Gone Wrong, Open Relationships, Car Accident, Cult Movie |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,357,324 |
|
International BO: $55,056 |