1995 brought about countless entertaining films, all whose 30th anniversary this year provides the perfect opportunity to dive into these must-see movies. Spanning across a variety of genres, the best films from 1995 have strong legacies that have endured in the decades since and have had a considerable influence on their respective genre or medium.

These movies represent the best of the decade in terms of storytelling, technological achievements, and performances from actors, which to this day are praised as being some of their best work. Movies like Apollo 13, Toy Story, and Clueless capture the spirit of 1995, but remain timeless. Whether they’re films that audiences have revisited numerous times since seeing them in theaters, or they’ve been stuck on a watchlist for years, the upcoming 30th anniversary of these 1995 classics is a great time to check out these must-see movies.

10

ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man Walking

Directed by Tim Robbins

Susan Sarandon has been nominated for a handful of Academy Awards for Best Actress, and finally took home the statuette for her performance in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man Walking. Sarandon portrays Sister Helen Prejean in the film, a real-life advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, whose 1993 non-fiction book ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man Walking is adapted from.

Sarandon stars alongside Sean Penn as prisoner Matthew Poncelet, who is nearing his execution date and calls upon Helen in a desperate attempt at a final appeal. The film was both a critical and commercial success in 1995 and only continues to get better with age. Though Sarandon’s performance alone makes ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Man Walking a must-watch film, the thought-provoking narrative about justice and the complicated conversations surrounding the death penalty are just as important.

9

Sense And Sensibility

Directed by Ang Lee

The legacy of Jane Austen’s novels has endured as a result of the numerous film and TV show adaptations of her work, including 1995’s Sense and Sensibility. The film, based on Austen’s novel of the same name, is written and led by Emma Thompson, who portrays one of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor. The film sees Elinor in search of a suitable husband for the sake of the financial security of her family.

The characters’ navigation of love and societal standards continues to entertain and capture the audience’s hearts 30 years later. Like many of the best Jane Austen adaptations, Sense and Sensibility is visually inspiring and humorous. Led by a strong cast of actors like Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant, Ang Lee’s period drama has a lot of heart.

8

GoldenEye

Directed by Martin Campbell

Easily the best Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie, GoldenEye introduced audiences to the actor as the тιтular agent for the first time. Set amidst the end of the Cold War, the film sees Bond attempting to prevent a destructive satellite weapon from being used for chaos. Though Brosnan would continue to lead the James Bond franchise through the ’90s and early 2000s, no film ever topped the feats of his debut.

Brosnan’s captivating performance and the recasting of M, now played by Judi Dench, mark a significant change in the franchise. GoldenEye‘s arrival was crucial for the Bond franchise at the time, as previous entries underperformed and began to feel outdated. The 1995 film takes advantage of the blockbuster action distinctive of the decade by fusing it with the traditional and beloved James Bond formula.

7

Se7en

Directed by David Fincher

Earning a greater critical response in the decades since its release, Se7en revived David Fincher’s career and set the tone for his best crime thrillers released in the past 30 years. The film features a dynamic seen in several crime narratives before, where a rookie is paired with a veteran detective, but Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman’s performances as the mismatched pairing work incredibly well.

Throughout the film, the two detectives track down a serial killer who aligns their murders with the seven ᴅᴇᴀᴅly sins. Se7en is best known for its plot twist ending, but there’s a sinister atmosphere that lingers throughout much of the film beforehand that prompts audiences to be fully engaged. With well-crafted thrills and some career-best performances from its leads, it’s no wonder Se7en has earned as much praise as it has over the years.

6

Clueless

Directed by Amy Heckerling

Jane Austen’s Emma has been adapted into film quite a few times over the years, but the best to do it is the teen movie Clueless. The film pays tribute to Austen’s novel by preserving the original themes and likability of Emma‘s characters, while simultaneously making appreciated updates for a story that now takes place in high school during the ’90s.

Leading the film is Alicia Silverstone as valley girl Cher Horowitz, who is popular, charming, and takes on the responsibility of playing matchmaker for her teachers and classmates. Clueless‘ effortless modernization of Austen’s novel, its self-awareness, and the use of slang that has been further embedded into pop culture make it a ’90s movie that gets better with every rewatch and is a must-see for those who haven’t.

5

Before Sunrise

Directed by Richard Linklater

The first entry in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, Before Sunrise is a must-see ’90s romance movie that was ahead of its time. Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as two strangers who meet and spend just one night together, the romance drama contains little plot and mostly follows the pair around as they engage in lengthy philosophical conversations about life and romance.

Though the characters of Jesse and Céline don’t spend as much time together as other on-screen romantic pairings, their connection is immediate and moving. Hawke and Delpy’s chemistry on screen has had a lasting impact on audiences, which has continued for decades through the remaining Before films in 2004 and 2013. Before Sunrise is a testament to the powerful combination of subtle performances and poignant writing.

4

Crimson Tide

Directed by Tony Scott

At its core, Crimson Tide explores the moral dilemmas and power dynamics aboard a submarine during a nuclear standoff. The confined space of the submarine allows for tension to naturally build, with the hostility on board being further exacerbated by the conflict between Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington).

Thanks to its unique brand of suspense and action set pieces, Crimson Tide has gone on to be considered one of the best submarine war movies in the 30 years since its release. The dynamic duo of Hackman and Washington has also contributed to the film’s positive reputation, with the two delivering effortlessly intense performances that complement each other well and have audiences on the edge of their seats.

3

Toy Story

Directed by John Lᴀsseter

The quality of Pixar’s animation and storytelling in the past 30 years has improved greatly, but none of it would have been possible without the animation studio’s first outing. Toy Story is not only Pixar’s first feature film, but it’s also famously the first entirely computer-animated film as well, and has been lauded for changing the landscape of animation forever.

The film is centered around a group of toys that come to life in the absence of humans, focusing primarily on the rivalry between the cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks) and Space Ranger action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Toy Story was ahead of its time with its technological achievements, but also holds up well thanks to its dynamic voice acting, lovable characters, and heartfelt narratives that have continued to develop throughout its ongoing franchise.

2

Heat

Directed by Michael Mann

Heat is a quintessential heist movie that has influenced several films in the action genre in the 30 years since its 1995 release. Having both been celebrated for their movie performances in the years prior, Heat sees Al Pacino and Robert De Niro paired together on screen for the first time. The film follows the efforts of Pacino’s LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna to bring down De Niro’s Neil McCauley, an expert thief.

Despite its incredible shootouts and action set pieces, the enduring legacy of Heat can largely be attributed to its performances. Coupled with Michael Mann’s direction and depiction of Los Angeles, Pacino and De Niro ground the film with their remarkable chemistry. Their conflicting characters in Heat will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, producing an intense game of cat and mouse.

1

Apollo 13

Directed by Ron Howard

Tom Hanks has portrayed real-life individuals a handful of times throughout his career, delivering one of his best performances as Commander Jim Lovell in Apollo 13. The film tells the gripping story of three astronauts during the famous Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970. During the trip, an explosion onboard causes the mission to be abandoned, and it’s a race against the clock to get the astronauts back to Earth safely.

The film will celebrate its big 30th anniversary this summer, though praise surrounding the film hasn’t diminished over the years. Apollo 13 not only features some of the best performances of Hanks, Bill Paxton, and Kevin Bacon’s respective careers, but also makes a great effort to be technically accurate as well, avoiding exaggerated embellishments for the sake of entertainment.