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
| 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 |
2
| Happy Gilmore |
| Director: Dennis Dugan |
| Lead Roles: Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 16, 1996 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Golf, Sports Comedy, Underdog, Professional Rivalry, Death of a Mentor |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $38,623,460 |
|
International BO: $2,380,952 |
3
| 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 |
4
| The Birdcage |
| Director: Mike Nichols |
| Lead Roles: Robin Williams as Armand Goldman |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 8, 1996 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Cross-Dressing, LGBTQ+, In-Laws / Future In-Laws |
| Classification: Remake, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $124,060,553 |
|
International BO: $57,700,000 |
5
| 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 |
6
| James and the Giant Peach |
| Director: Henry Selick |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 12, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Live Action Segment in Animated Movie, Family Adventure, Talking Animals, Animal Lead, 1940s, Dysfunctional Family, Prologue |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Stop-Motion Animation, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $28,921,264 |
7
| 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.
8
| Flirting with Disaster |
| Director: David O. Russell |
| Lead Roles: Ben Stiller as Mel Coplin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 22, 1996 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Adopted Family Seeking Reunion, Road Trip, Relationships Gone Wrong, Dysfunctional Family |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $14,853,474 |
|
International BO: $1,295,706 |
9
| Breaking the Waves |
| Director: Lars Von Trier |
| Lead Roles: Emily Watson as Bess |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 13, 1996 (Wide) by October Films |
| Keywords: Erotic Drama |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,040,691 |
|
International BO: $31,437 |
Synopsis
In a small and religious coastal town, a simple, devoutly religious Scottish woman, Bess McNeill, finds a partner in an oil rig worker from Norway, Jan Nyman. However, the relationship grows strained when Nyman breaks his neck in a horrific work accident on the rig and becomes paralyzed. Unable to perform sexually and suffering mentally from the accident as well, Jan convinces Bess to have sex with other men, which she comes to believe is God’s work.
10
| 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 |
11
| 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 |
12
| The Rock |
| Director: Michael Bay |
| Lead Roles: Sean Connery as Patrick Mason, Nicolas Cage as Stanley Goodspeed, Ed Harris as General Francis X Hummel |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 7, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Action Thriller, Terrorism, Revenge, Hostage, Ransom, Remade, Secret Agent |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $134,069,511 |
|
International BO: $202,000,000 |
13
| The Cable Guy |
| Director: Ben Stiller |
| Lead Roles: Jim Carrey as Cable Guy |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 14, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Black Comedy, Mental Illness, Revenge, Hostage, Same Role, Multiple Actors, Framed, Slow Motion Scene, Prostitution, False Identity, Same Actor, Multiple Roles, Surprise Twist, Faked Death, Character POV shot, Architecture, Dysfunctional Family, Fired |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $60,240,295 |
|
International BO: $42,585,501 |
14
| Ransom |
| Director: Ron Howard |
| Lead Roles: Mel Gibson as Tom Mullen |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 8, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Kidnap, Corrupt Cops, Revenge, Action Thriller, Remake, Bounty/Price on one's Head, No Honor Among Thieves |
| Classification: Based on TV, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $136,492,681 |
|
International BO: $172,207,319 |
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
| 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 |
17
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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 |
18
| Man of the Year |
| Director: Dirk Shafer |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 1, 1996 (Limited) by Seventh Art Releasing |
| Keywords: Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $209,935 |
19
| Kazaam |
| Director: Paul Michael Glaser |
| Lead Roles: Shaquille O'Neal as Kazaam, Francis Capra as Maxwell "Max" Connor |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 17, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Farcical / Slapstick Comedy, Wish Granters, Genie or Djinn, Famously Bad, Dysfunctional Family, Single Parent, Music Industry, Divorcée Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $18,880,508 |
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
| Somebody to Love |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 27, 1996 (Wide) by Legacy Releasing |
|
Domestic BO: $5,000 |
22
| Welcome to the Dollhouse |
| Director: Todd Solondz |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 10, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures Classics |
| Keywords: Coming of Age, Black Comedy, High School Hell, Bullies, Middle School, First Love, Drug Dealer, Missing Child |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $4,198,137 |
|
International BO: $836,657 |
23
| Bulletproof |
| Director: Ernest Dickerson |
| Lead Roles: Damon Wayans as Keats, Adam Sandler as Moses |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 6, 1996 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Action Comedy, Buddy Cop, Undercover, Organized Crime, LAPD, Witness Protection, Road Trip, Corrupt Cops |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $21,195,840 |
|
International BO: $1,035,000 |
Synopsis
A none-too-bright criminal, Archie Moses works for drug kingpin Frank Colton and remains oblivious to the fact that one of his closest buddies is actually an undercover police officer named Jack Carter. After Moses accidentally shoots Carter, the cop must recover and then bring the two-bit thug in to take the stand against Colton. With Carter and Moses on far from good terms, however, the trip does not go well.
24
| The Secret Agent |
| Director: Christopher Hampton |
| Lead Roles: Bob Hoskins as Verloc |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 8, 1996 (Wide) by Fox Searchlight |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $106,606 |
25
| Bogus |
| Director: Norman Jewison |
| Lead Roles: Whoopi Goldberg as Harriet Franklin |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 6, 1996 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Family Comedy, Orphan, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Imaginary Friend, Stage Magician, Dream Sequence |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $4,357,406 |