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Edition · 1999
The Year in Film · 1999

Best of 1999

The films that defined 1999 — ranked by IMDb score.


These films defined 1999 — the year's highest-rated releases, ranked by IMDb score. Some are awards bait, some are popcorn fare, some quietly snuck in under the radar. All earned their place on the list.

  1. 01.
    Fight Club

    Fight Club

    1999·Dir. David Fincher·139 min·8.8

    A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion.

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  2. 02.
    The Matrix

    The Matrix

    1999·Dir. Lana Wachowski·136 min·8.7

    Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.

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  3. 03.
    Making 'The Matrix'

    Making 'The Matrix'

    1999·Dir. Josh Oreck·26 min·8.6

    A promotional making-of documentary for the film Matrix, The (1999) that devotes its time to explaining the digital and practical effects contained in the film. This is very interesting, seeing as how they're giving away the cinematic secrets that they created solely for the this movie, that have now been spoofed and referenced in countless other films.

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  4. 04.
    Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill

    Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill

    1999·Dir. Lawrence Jordan·114 min·8.6

    Eddie Izzard takes her show to San Francisco to give a brief history of pagan and Christian religions, the building of Stonehenge, the birth of the Church of England and of Western empires, and the need for a European dream.

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  5. 05.
    The Green Mile

    The Green Mile

    1999·Dir. Frank Darabont·189 min·8.6

    A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people's ailments. When the cell block's head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey's miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man's execution.

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  6. 06.
    Mudhalvan

    Mudhalvan

    1999·Dir. Shankar·169 min·8.4

    A man accepts a challenge to act as the Chief Minister for one day only, and makes such a success of it that soon he is embroiled in political intrigue.

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  7. 07.
    American Beauty

    American Beauty

    1999·Dir. Sam Mendes·122 min·8.3

    Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

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  8. 08.
    Thulladha Manamum Thullum

    Thulladha Manamum Thullum

    1999·Dir. Ezhil·170 min·8.3

    A struggling singer feels guilty about a girl losing her eyesight; to meet the cost of her eye transplant surgery, he offers his kidney to a rich man.

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  9. 09.
    Padayappa

    Padayappa

    1999·Dir. K. S. Ravikumar·172 min·8.3

    Padayappa, a mechanical engineer whose father gives up his property to his foster brother, and then dies of shock soon after. Neelambari initially loves Padayappa, but plans to humiliate him after his family humiliates her father. The rest of the plot deals with Padayappa overcoming all the obstacles placed by Neelambari.

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  10. 10.
    The Sixth Sense

    The Sixth Sense

    1999·Dir. M. Night Shyamalan·107 min·8.2

    Following an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe meets a nine year old boy named Cole Sear, who is hiding a dark secret.

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  11. 11.
    The Color of Paradise

    The Color of Paradise

    1999·Dir. Majid Majidi·88 min·8.1

    Mohammad joyfully returns to his tiny village on summer vacation from the Institute for the Blind, unaware of his widowed father's intentions to disown him in order to win the hand—and dowry—of a local woman. With the wedding swiftly approaching, Mohammad's future hangs precariously in the balance as his father struggles against his destiny, unable to see the wonder of life and love that's so clear to his son.

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  12. 12.
    Sarfarosh

    Sarfarosh

    1999·Dir. John Mathew Matthan·174 min·8.1

    When terrorists kill a cop's brother and disable his father, he fights back against the smuggling of guns and drugs which plagues his country.

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  13. 13.
    Cosy Dens

    Cosy Dens

    1999·Dir. Jan Hřebejk·115 min·8.1

    Two families, Sebkovi and Krausovi, are celebrating Christmas, but not everyone is in a good mood. The teenage kids think that their fathers are totally stupid, and the fathers are sure that their children are nothing more than rebels, hating anything they say.

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  14. 14.
    The Iron Giant

    The Iron Giant

    1999·Dir. Brad Bird·86 min·8.1

    In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.

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  15. 15.
    Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm

    Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm

    1999·Dir. Robert B. Weide·59 min·8.1

    Mock documentary about Seinfeld writer Larry David featuring contributions from his friends and colleagues. Larry makes a return to stand-up comedy and prepares to film a television special for HBO. This is the original special that gave birth to the long-running award-winning HBO series.

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  16. 16.
    Vaastav

    Vaastav

    1999·Dir. Mahesh Manjrekar·150 min·8.0

    Raghu, a simpleton, and his best friend decide to run a food stall to get rid of their unemployment. However, Raghu's life takes a drastic turn after he accidentally kills one of their customers and he is pushed into a life of crime.

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  17. 17.
    Magnolia

    Magnolia

    1999·Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson·189 min·8.0

    On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

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  18. 18.
    The Straight Story

    The Straight Story

    1999·Dir. David Lynch·112 min·8.0

    Retired farmer and widower Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. He then has the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.

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  19. 19.
    Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker

    Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker

    1999·Dir. Keith Truesdell·65 min·8.0

    Chris Rock brings his critically acclaimed brand of social commentary-themed humour to this HBO Special, extolling his razor-sharp wit and wisdom on such topics as gun control, President Clinton, homophobia, racism, black leaders and relationships.

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  20. 20.
    Toy Story 2

    Toy Story 2

    1999·Dir. John Lasseter·92 min·7.9

    Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

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  21. 21.
    The Insider

    The Insider

    1999·Dir. Michael Mann·158 min·7.8

    A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco.

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  22. 22.
    One Day in September

    One Day in September

    1999·Dir. Kevin Macdonald·94 min·7.8

    The full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli revenge operation 'Wrath of God.' The 1972 Munich Olympics were interrupted by Palestinian terrorists taking Israeli athletes hostage. Besides footage taken at the time, we see interviews with the surviving terrorist, Jamal Al Gashey, and various officials detailing exactly how the police, lacking an anti-terrorist squad and turning down help from the Israelis, botched the operation.

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  23. 23.
    Screwed in Tallinn: A Small Film About Loneliness

    Screwed in Tallinn: A Small Film About Loneliness

    1999·Dir. Tomas Alfredson·59 min·7.8

    Percy Nilegaard collects Swedish single men and embarks on a bus trip to Tallinn with a so-called "highly-experienced driver".

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  24. 24.
    My Best Fiend

    My Best Fiend

    1999·Dir. Werner Herzog·95 min·7.8

    A film that describes the love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.

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  25. 25.
    American Movie

    American Movie

    1999·Dir. Chris Smith·107 min·7.8

    American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual crisis, American Movie is a portrayal of ambition, obsession, excess, and one man's quest for the American Dream.

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  26. 26.
    All About My Mother

    All About My Mother

    1999·Dir. Pedro Almodóvar·101 min·7.8

    Following the tragic death of her teenage son, Manuela travels from Madrid to Barcelona in an attempt to contact the long-estranged father the boy never knew. She reunites with an old friend, an outspoken transgender sex worker, and befriends a troubled actress and a pregnant, HIV-positive nun.

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  27. 27.
    Gloomy Sunday

    Gloomy Sunday

    1999·Dir. Rolf Schübel·112 min·7.8

    Budapest in the thirties. The restaurant owner Laszlo hires the pianist András to play in his restaurant. Both men fall in love with the beautiful waitress Ilona who inspires András to his only composition. His song of Gloomy Sunday is, at first, loved and then feared, for its melancholic melody triggers off a chain of suicides. The fragile balance of the erotic ménage à trois is sent off kilter when the German Hans goes and falls in love with Ilona as well.

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  28. 28.
    Kaun?

    Kaun?

    1999·Dir. Ram Gopal Varma·90 min·7.8

    While alone in the house, a woman hears news of serial killer on the loose. And then a stranger rings the doorbell...

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  29. 29.
    October Sky

    October Sky

    1999·Dir. Joe Johnston·107 min·7.8

    The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

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  30. 30.
    Not One Less

    Not One Less

    1999·Dir. Zhang Yimou·106 min·7.7

    Set in the People's Republic of China during the 1990s, the film centers on a 13-year-old substitute teacher, Wei Minzhi, in the Chinese countryside. Called in to substitute for a village teacher for one month, Wei is told not to lose any students.

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  31. 31.
    Batman Beyond: The Movie

    Batman Beyond: The Movie

    1999·Dir. Curt Geda·41 min·7.7

    Fuelled by remorse and vengeance, a high schooler named Terry McGinnis becomes the new Batman as he fights crime in the futuristic Neo-Gotham City.

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  32. 32.
    Herod's Law

    Herod's Law

    1999·Dir. Luis Estrada·123 min·7.7

    In the 1940s, a small Mexican town has seen its last three mayors assassinated in rapid succession. A naive janitor is recruited to become the new mayor, and he believes he will modernize the little town and usher in a reign of peace. But the system corrupts him very quickly, and he takes to abusing his power while associating with an unscrupulous assortment of opportunists, hypocrites and criminals.

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  33. 33.
    Being John Malkovich

    Being John Malkovich

    1999·Dir. Spike Jonze·113 min·7.7

    One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

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  34. 34.
    The Road Home

    The Road Home

    1999·Dir. Zhang Yimou·89 min·7.7

    Prompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback.

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  35. 35.
    Kikujiro

    Kikujiro

    1999·Dir. Takeshi Kitano·121 min·7.7

    Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro is the unlikely companion for Masao who is determined to see the mother he has never met. The two begin a series of adventures which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and unique characters along the way.

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  36. 36.
    South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

    South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

    1999·Dir. Trey Parker·81 min·7.7

    In this feature film based on the hit animated series, the third graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities Terrance and Phillip, and emerge with expanded vocabularies that leave their parents and teachers scandalized. When outraged Americans try to censor the film, the controversy spirals into a call to wage war on Canada and Terrance and Phillip end up on death row, with the kids their only hope of rescue.

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  37. 37.
    Office Space

    Office Space

    1999·Dir. Mike Judge·90 min·7.6

    A depressed white-collar worker tries hypnotherapy, only to find himself in a perpetual state of devil-may-care bliss that prompts him to start living by his own rules, and hatch a hapless attempt to embezzle money from his soul-killing employers.

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  38. 38.
    Buena Vista Social Club

    Buena Vista Social Club

    1999·Dir. Wim Wenders·105 min·7.6

    In this fascinating Oscar-nominated documentary, American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their native city of Havana. The result is a spectacular compilation of concert footage from the group's gigs in Amsterdam and New York City's famed Carnegie Hall, with director Wim Wenders capturing not only the music -- but also the musicians' life stories.

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  39. 39.
    After Life

    After Life

    1999·Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda·118 min·7.6

    On a cold Monday morning, a group of counselors clock in at an old-fashioned social services office. Their task is to interview the recently deceased, record their personal details, then, over the course of the week, assist them in choosing a single memory to keep for eternity.

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  40. 40.
    Blackadder: Back & Forth

    Blackadder: Back & Forth

    1999·Dir. Paul Weiland·33 min·7.6

    What was a cunning plan from Lord Edmund Blackadder V to fake a time machine on his gullibly incompetent friends, turns out to be the real thing and hurls him and his imbecile underling, Baldrick, through the course of human history.

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— End of Chapter —