Most Popular Movies 1998
This chart shows the 1998 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 1998 releases.
See also: Domestic Release Schedule for 1998 - Top 1998 Worldwide
1
| A Bug’s Life |
| Director: John Lasseter |
| Lead Roles: Dave Foley as Flik |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 20, 1998 (Exclusive) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Family Movie, Tiny Worlds, Family Adventure, Talking Animals, Animal Lead |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Digital Animation, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $162,798,565 |
|
International BO: $200,296,754 |
2
| Quest for Camelot |
| Director: Frederik Du Chau |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 15, 1998 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Family Adventure, Dragon, Medieval, Royalty, Good vs. Evil |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Hand Animation, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $22,772,500 |
|
International BO: $15,400,000 |
3
| Belly |
| Director: Hype Williams |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 4, 1998 (Wide) by Artisan |
| Keywords: Hood Film, Crime Drama, Narcotics, Gangs, Drug Dealer, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Gang Warfare, No Honor Among Thieves, 1990s |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $9,639,390 |
Synopsis
As gang leader Tommy looks to expand his turf by dealing a new form of heroin, his friend Sincere (Nas) dreams of escaping the gangster life with his girlfriend and baby daughter. After a drug house operated by Tommy is raided, he and Sincere — now pursued by both the police and rival gangs — each find themselves on a course that will either lead to redemption or ruin.
4
| Saving Private Ryan |
| Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Lead Roles: Tom Hanks as Captain John Miller, Edward Burns as Private Reiben, Tom Sizemore as Sergeant Horvath, Matt Damon as Private James Ryan |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 24, 1998 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG |
| Keywords: World War II, Rescue, War, War Drama, 1999 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $216,335,085 |
|
International BO: $268,700,000 |
5
| The Wedding Singer |
| Director: Frank Coraci |
| Lead Roles: Adam Sandler as Robby Hart, Drew Barrymore as Julia |
| Video Release Date: January 12, 1998 by New Line Home Video |
| Keywords: Romance, Singers, Wedding Day Disasters, 1980s |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $80,245,725 |
|
International BO: $43,100,000 |
6
| Meet Joe Black |
| Director: Martin Brest |
| Lead Roles: Brad Pitt as Joe Black/Man in Coffee Shop, Claire Forlani as Susan Parrish |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 13, 1998 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Supernatural, Death as a Character, Romance, Romantic Drama, Possessed, Corporate Malfeasance, Adult Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $44,650,003 |
7
| Rush Hour |
| Director: Brett Ratner |
| Lead Roles: Jackie Chan as Detective Inspector Lee, Chris Tucker as Detective James Carter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: September 18, 1998 (Wide) by New Line |
| Keywords: Kidnap, Buddy Cop, Buddy Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $141,186,864 |
|
International BO: $104,113,136 |
8
| Small Soldiers |
| Director: Joe Dante |
| Lead Roles: Kirsten Dunst as Christy Fimple, Gregory Smith as Alan Abernathy, Jay Mohr as Larry Benson, Phil Hartman as Phil Fimple, Kevin Dunn as Stuart Abernathy, Denis Leary as Gil Mars |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 10, 1998 (Wide) by Dreamworks SKG |
| Keywords: Living Toys, Family Adventure, Corporate Malfeasance, Artificial Intelligence, Posthumous Release, Kidnap, Rescue, First Love, Romance |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Adventure, Animation/Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $55,143,823 |
|
International BO: $16,600,000 |
Synopsis
When teenager Alan buys a set of Commando Elite action figures, he’s unaware that they have been programmed with military technology. The toys, including leader Chip, spring to life and start taking their directives seriously, beginning by “killing” their enemies, the toy Gorgonites. But Archer and the Gorgonites won’t go down without a fight. Alan gets caught in the middle of the war, as does his neighbor and crush, Christy.
9
| Enemy of the State |
| Director: Tony Scott |
| Lead Roles: Will Smith as Robert Clayton Dean, Gene Hackman as Brill |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 20, 1998 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Mafia |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $111,549,836 |
|
International BO: $139,100,000 |
10
| You’ve Got Mail |
| Director: Nora Ephron |
| Lead Roles: Tom Hanks as Joe Fox, Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 18, 1998 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Internet, Split Screen, Voiceover/Narration, Corporate Life, Corporate Malfeasance, Romance, Love Triangle, Relationships Gone Wrong, Corporations vs. Mom and Pop Store, Romantic Comedy |
| Classification: Based on Play, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $115,821,495 |
|
International BO: $134,978,505 |
11
| Spice World |
| Director: Bob Spiers |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 23, 1998 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Musicians, Music Industry, Paparazzi, Epilogue, Voiceover/Narration, Scene in End Credits, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Gratuitous Cameos, Farcical / Slapstick Comedy |
| Classification: Based on Musical Group, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $29,342,592 |
|
International BO: $26,700,000 |
12
| The Truman Show |
| Director: Peter Weir |
| Lead Roles: Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 5, 1998 (Wide) by Paramount Pictures |
| Keywords: TV Industry, Reality TV, 1990s, False Identity, Life in a Small Town, Escape, Hidden Camera, Comedy Drama |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $125,618,201 |
|
International BO: $138,500,000 |
13
| 54 |
| Director: Mark Christpher |
| Lead Roles: Ryan Phillippe as Shane O'Shea, Salma Hayek as Anita, Neve Campbell as Julie Black, Mike Myers as Steve Rubell |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 28, 1998 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Keywords: Set in New York City, 1970s, Designer Drugs, Disco, Historical Drama, LBGTQ, Dysfunctional Family, Epilogue, White Collar Crime |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $16,757,163 |
14
| The Waterboy |
| Director: Frank Coraci |
| Lead Roles: Adam Sandler as Bobby Boucher, Fairuza Balk as Vicki Vallencourt |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 6, 1998 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Football |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $161,491,646 |
|
International BO: $28,700,000 |
15
| The Negotiator |
| Director: F. Gary Gray |
| Lead Roles: Samuel L. Jackson as Danny Roman, Kevin Spacey as Chris Sabian |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 29, 1998 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Keywords: Corrupt Cops |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $44,705,766 |
|
International BO: $4,400,000 |
17
| Stepmom |
| Director: Chris Columbus |
| Lead Roles: Julia Roberts as Isabel Kelly, Susan Sarandon as Jackie Harrison |
| Initial Theatrical Release: December 25, 1998 (Wide) by Sony/TriStar |
| Keywords: Comedy Drama |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $91,137,662 |
|
International BO: $68,607,617 |
18
| The Gingerbread Man |
| Director: Robert Altman |
| Lead Roles: Kenneth Branagh as Rick Magruder |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 23, 1998 (Wide) by Polygram |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $1,626,593 |
19
| Die Story von Monty Spinnerratz |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 20, 1998 (Wide) by Legacy Releasing, released as A Rat's Tale |
|
Domestic BO: $33,768 |
20
| The Players Club |
| Director: Ice Cube |
| Lead Roles: Bernie Mac as Dollar Bill, Monica Calhoun as Ebony, A.J. Johnson as Li'l Man, Ice Cube as Reggie, Alex Thomas as Clyde |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 8, 1998 (Wide) by New Line |
| Keywords: Black Comedy, Strippers / Stripping, Non-Chronological, Sex Crimes, Revenge, Dysfunctional Family, Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Organized Crime, Loan Shark, Money Troubles, Corrupt Cops, Actors Making Their Directorial Debut, Directing Yourself, Screenplay Written By the Star |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $23,047,939 |
Synopsis
Single mother Diana Armstrong takes to sliding down a stripper pole in order to pay for college—and make a better life for her child. But taking off her clothes for a paying audience is the easy part at the Player’s Club. More challenging for Diana is staying on the good side of motormouthed club owner Dolla Bill, avoiding the club’s unsavory cast of characters and helping her newbie stripping cousin, Ebony, stay on the straight and narrow.
21
| Chinese Box |
| Director: Wayne Wang |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 17, 1998 (Wide) by Trimark |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,265,328 |
22
| The Dress |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 16, 1998 (Limited) by Attitude Films |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action |
|
Domestic BO: $16,556 |
23
| There's Something About Mary |
| Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly |
| Lead Roles: Cameron Diaz as Mary Jenson, Ben Stiller as Ted |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 15, 1998 (Wide) by 20th Century Fox |
| Keywords: Private Investigator, Romance, 1980s, 1990s, Non-Chronological, Obsessive Love, Love at First Sight, Romantic Comedy |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Romantic Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $176,484,651 |
|
International BO: $193,400,000 |
24
| The Mask of Zorro |
| Director: Martin Campbell |
| Lead Roles: Antonio Banderas as Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro, Anthony Hopkins as Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 17, 1998 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Action Adventure, Prologue, Government Corruption, 1800s, Death of a Spouse or Fiancée / Fiancé, Raised by Kidnappers, Mentor, Romance, Death of a Sibling, Bandits, Robin Hood Bandits |
| Classification: Remake, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $93,828,745 |
|
International BO: $139,871,255 |
Synopsis
After having been imprisoned for 20 years, Don Diego de la Vega (aka Zorro) is intent on revenge after rival Don Raphael Montero murdered his wife and took his daughter Elena. He takes on Alejandro Murieta, who has his own reason for revenge, as his brother was killed by one of Montero’s henchmen, as an apprentice.
25
| Tarzan and the Lost City |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 24, 1998 (Wide) by Warner Bros. |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Live Action, Historical Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $2,147,114 |