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
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
| 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 |
3
| The Adventures of Pinocchio |
| Director: Steve Barron |
| Initial Theatrical Release: July 26, 1996 (Wide) by New Line |
| Keywords: Family Adventure, Living Toys, Remake, Puppets in a Live-Action World, Unexpected Families |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Animation/Live Action, Fantasy |
|
Domestic BO: $15,382,170 |
|
International BO: $21,300,000 |
4
| 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.
5
| 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 |
6
| Mystery Science Theatre 3000 |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 19, 1996 (Wide) by Gramercy |
| Classification: Based on TV, Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $949,745 |
7
| 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 |
8
| 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 |
9
| Flipper |
| Director: Alan Shapiro |
| Initial Theatrical Release: May 17, 1996 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Animal Lead, Family Adventure, Romance, Set in Florida, Dysfunctional Family, Slow Motion Scene |
| Classification: Based on TV, Adventure, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,080,020 |
|
International BO: $10,513,293 |
10
| Fear |
| Director: James Foley |
| Lead Roles: Reese Witherspoon as Nicole Walker |
| Initial Theatrical Release: April 12, 1996 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Psychological Thriller, Stalker, Erotic Thriller |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,694,623 |
11
| 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 |
12
| 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 |
13
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| Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves |
| Director: Dean Cundey |
| Lead Roles: Rick Moranis as Wayne |
| Keywords: Direct-to-Video |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Science Fiction |
14
| 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 |
15
| 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 |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Action, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $136,492,681 |
|
International BO: $172,207,319 |
16
| Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood |
| Director: Gilbert Adler |
| Initial Theatrical Release: August 16, 1996 (Wide) by Universal |
| Keywords: Prostitution, Vampire, Horror Comedy, Prologue, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Epilogue, Cult Movie, Development Hell, Missing Person |
| Classification: Based on TV, Horror, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $5,601,285 |
17
| Striptease |
| Director: Andrew Bergman |
| Lead Roles: Demi Moore as Erin Grant |
| Initial Theatrical Release: June 28, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Black Comedy, Strippers / Stripping, Relationships Gone Wrong, Child Neglect, Political, Political Campaign, FBI, Fired, Political Assassination |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Black Comedy, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $33,109,743 |
|
International BO: $80,200,000 |
18
| Bound |
| Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 4, 1996 (Wide) by Gramercy |
| Keywords: Mafia, Film Noir, Erotic Thriller, Relationships Gone Wrong, Romance, Infidelity, Tortured for Information |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $3,802,260 |
|
International BO: $3,209,057 |
19
| Fargo |
| Director: Joel Coen |
| Lead Roles: Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson, William H. Macy as Jerry Lundegaard, Steve Buscemi as Carl Showalter |
| Initial Theatrical Release: March 8, 1996 (Wide) by Gramercy |
| Keywords: Kidnap, Film Noir, Based on an UNTRUE Story, Body in a Trunk, Corrupt Cops, Police Procedural, Life in a Small Town, Crime Thriller, No Honor Among Thieves, Relationships Gone Wrong, In-Laws / Future In-Laws, 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Thriller/Suspense, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $24,567,751 |
|
International BO: $26,635,756 |
Synopsis
A pregnant police chief is investigating a series of homicides across the frozen tundra. Against a sprawling Minnesota landscape, a car salesman hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. But when the scheme goes sour, and wood chippers get involved, the haphazard kidnapping plot turns deadly serious.
20
| Microcosmos |
| Director: Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perennou |
| Initial Theatrical Release: October 11, 1996 (Wide) by Miramax |
| Classification: Based on Real Life Events, Documentary, Live Action, Factual |
|
Domestic BO: $1,573,842 |
|
International BO: $5,400,000 |
21
| Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored |
| Initial Theatrical Release: January 26, 1996 (Wide) by BET Pictures |
| Keywords: African Americans |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Drama, Live Action, Dramatization |
|
Domestic BO: $2,291,255 |
22
| Muppet Treasure Island |
| Director: Brian Henson |
| Lead Roles: Tim Curry as Long John Silver |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 16, 1996 (Wide) by Walt Disney |
| Keywords: Pirates, Treasure Hunters, Family Adventure, Breaking the Fourth Wall, 1880s, Scene in End Credits |
| Classification: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story, Adventure, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $34,327,391 |
23
| 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 |
24
| City Hall |
| Director: Harold Becker |
| Lead Roles: Al Pacino as Mayor John Pappas, John Cusack as Kevin Calhoun, Bridget Fonda as Marybeth Cogan |
| Initial Theatrical Release: February 16, 1996 (Wide) by Sony Pictures |
| Keywords: Mafia, Crime Drama, Police Shooting, Set in New York City, Set in New York, Set in Brooklyn, NYPD, Framed, Suicide, Government Corruption, Corrupt Judge |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Drama, Live Action, Contemporary Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $20,278,055 |
25
| Larger Than Life |
| Director: Howard Franklin |
| Lead Roles: Bill Murray as Jack Corcoran |
| Initial Theatrical Release: November 1, 1996 (Wide) by MGM |
| Keywords: Family Comedy, Inheritance, Animal Lead, Motivational Speaker, Road Trip, Dysfunctional Family, Zoos |
| Classification: Original Screenplay, Comedy, Live Action, Kids Fiction |
|
Domestic BO: $8,295,903 |