The Decade of Money, Mega-Spending and Special Effects Films of the 1990’s

Oscar Winners for Best Picture: 1990 – 1999 American Beauty, 1999 Shakespeare in Love Titanic The English Patient Braveheart Forrest Gump Schindler's List Unforgiven The Silence of the Lambs Dances With Wolves, 1990 Forrest Gump Schindler's List Forrest Gump Schindler's List

$ Makers 1990 Home Alone Ghost1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1992Aladdin

1993 Jurassic Park Mrs. Doubtfire 1994 Forrest Gump The Lion King 1995 Toy Story Batman Forever

1996Independence Day & Twister 1997Titanic1998 Saving Private Ryan & Armageddon 1999 The Phantom Menace & The Sixth Sense

1991 Pixar and Disney agreed to co- produce the first fully computer- generated feature, Toy Story, released four years later. Pixar and Disney agreed to co- produce the first fully computer- generated feature, Toy Story, released four years later. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Disney's Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

1992 Americans spent $12 billion to buy or rent video tapes, compared to just $4.9 billion on box office ticket sales. 76 percent of homes had VCRs. Americans spent $12 billion to buy or rent video tapes, compared to just $4.9 billion on box office ticket sales. 76 percent of homes had VCRs.

1993 Ground-breaking, historically-significant film Philadelphia from Jonathan Demme, starring straight actors Tom Hanks (won his first Best Actor Oscar) and Antonio Banderas as gay lovers: Ground-breaking, historically-significant film Philadelphia from Jonathan Demme, starring straight actors Tom Hanks (won his first Best Actor Oscar) and Antonio Banderas as gay lovers: first major studio (big-budget) film to confront the AIDS issue from a societal, medical, and political point of view. first major studio (big-budget) film to confront the AIDS issue from a societal, medical, and political point of view. Hanks' character, AIDS-afflicted lawyer who contracted the disease and was forced to sue his law firm over job discrimination - he was ably defended by a black lawyer (Denzel Washington). Hanks' character, AIDS-afflicted lawyer who contracted the disease and was forced to sue his law firm over job discrimination - he was ably defended by a black lawyer (Denzel Washington).

1994 Disney became the first studio to gross more than $1 billion at the box office domestically in a single year, mostly due to the release of The Lion King (1994) - the highest-grossing traditionally animated feature film in the US at the time. Disney became the first studio to gross more than $1 billion at the box office domestically in a single year, mostly due to the release of The Lion King (1994) - the highest-grossing traditionally animated feature film in the US at the time.

Best Picture winner Forrest Gump used revolutionary digital photo tricks to insert the film's main character into historical footage with past Presidents (John F. Kennedy and LBJ) and other situations. It would encourage the trend of physically including actors with old existing footage, making it appear like the characters were interacting with each other. Shortly afterwards, this technique - which expanded to advertising commercials - controversially presented dead stars hawking products (i.e., James Cagney and Louis Armstrong appeared in Diet Coke ads, and John Wayne was in a Coors Light commercial). Best Picture winner Forrest Gump used revolutionary digital photo tricks to insert the film's main character into historical footage with past Presidents (John F. Kennedy and LBJ) and other situations. It would encourage the trend of physically including actors with old existing footage, making it appear like the characters were interacting with each other. Shortly afterwards, this technique - which expanded to advertising commercials - controversially presented dead stars hawking products (i.e., James Cagney and Louis Armstrong appeared in Diet Coke ads, and John Wayne was in a Coors Light commercial).

A Newcomer Studio: DreamWorks A Newcomer Studio: DreamWorks Saving Private Ryan (1998) Saving Private Ryan (1998) American Beauty (1999) American Beauty (1999) Gladiator (2000) Gladiator (2000) A Beautiful Mind (2001) A Beautiful Mind (2001)

1995 Toy Story was the first totally-digital (or computer-generated) feature-length animated film. Noted as being Pixar's first feature to be released in theaters. The visuals were entirely generated from computers, creating a wonderfully-realistic 3-D world with lighting, shading, and textures, that included real toys in supporting roles (Etch-A-Sketch, Slinky Dog, the plastic toy soldiers, Mr. Potato Head, etc.). Toy Story was the first totally-digital (or computer-generated) feature-length animated film. Noted as being Pixar's first feature to be released in theaters. The visuals were entirely generated from computers, creating a wonderfully-realistic 3-D world with lighting, shading, and textures, that included real toys in supporting roles (Etch-A-Sketch, Slinky Dog, the plastic toy soldiers, Mr. Potato Head, etc.).

Warner Bros. created the WB Network, a TV broadcast outlet for its TV properties. (Some of the new network's earliest shows were Buffy The Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, and Dawson's Creek -- none of which were produced by Warners.) Warner Bros. created the WB Network, a TV broadcast outlet for its TV properties. (Some of the new network's earliest shows were Buffy The Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, and Dawson's Creek -- none of which were produced by Warners.)

1996 Genre of teen slasher films was revitalized by Scream from famed horror director Wes Craven. The half-parody and half- tribute film (with nods to Hitchcock's films, Friday the 13th (1980) and Halloween (1978), among others) gave rise to two sequels (1997 and 2000) and other copycat films (i.e., I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and The Faculty (1999)), including the silly Scary Movie franchise. Genre of teen slasher films was revitalized by Scream from famed horror director Wes Craven. The half-parody and half- tribute film (with nods to Hitchcock's films, Friday the 13th (1980) and Halloween (1978), among others) gave rise to two sequels (1997 and 2000) and other copycat films (i.e., I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and The Faculty (1999)), including the silly Scary Movie franchise. Halloween (1978) Halloween (1978)

In the US, Twister was rated PG-13 for "intense depiction of very bad weather." In the US, Twister was rated PG-13 for "intense depiction of very bad weather." Twister was also the first film released on DVD. Twister was also the first film released on DVD.

1997 James Cameron's Titanic, the most expensive film of all time at the time of its release, also soon became the highest grossing film in Hollywood history (at $600.8 million domestic gross box-office receipts, and $1.8 billion total worldwide). Delays during production & budget of $200 million threatened to 'sink' the film, but didn't affect its overall success. James Cameron's Titanic, the most expensive film of all time at the time of its release, also soon became the highest grossing film in Hollywood history (at $600.8 million domestic gross box-office receipts, and $1.8 billion total worldwide). Delays during production & budget of $200 million threatened to 'sink' the film, but didn't affect its overall success.

Repeated theatrical viewings by young teens (enthralled by the romance between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) were partly responsible for the film's high returns. Repeated theatrical viewings by young teens (enthralled by the romance between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) were partly responsible for the film's high returns. The blockbuster film had a record- tying fourteen nominations and won a record-tying eleven Academy Awards, including those for Best Picture and Best Director. The blockbuster film had a record- tying fourteen nominations and won a record-tying eleven Academy Awards, including those for Best Picture and Best Director.

And the film was backed or co- produced by two studios in order to foot the bill: Fox and Paramount. And the film was backed or co- produced by two studios in order to foot the bill: Fox and Paramount. When adjusted for inflation, however, Cleopatra (1963) had the highest budget of any film, and Gone with the Wind (1939) remained the highest grossing. When adjusted for inflation, however, Cleopatra (1963) had the highest budget of any film, and Gone with the Wind (1939) remained the highest grossing.Gone with the Wind (1939)Gone with the Wind (1939)

1998 Steven Spielberg's war epic of D-Day, Saving Private Ryan, gave its director his second Best Director Oscar. Film noted for its half-hour, spectacularly- bloody, realistically-filmed opening of the Omaha Beach landing. It also inspired dialogue between generations regarding the events of World War II. Steven Spielberg's war epic of D-Day, Saving Private Ryan, gave its director his second Best Director Oscar. Film noted for its half-hour, spectacularly- bloody, realistically-filmed opening of the Omaha Beach landing. It also inspired dialogue between generations regarding the events of World War II.

1999 First of three prequels (released from ), George Lucas' highly- anticipated Star Wars: Episode I -The Phantom Menace, opened and became the top grossing film of its year. First of three prequels (released from ), George Lucas' highly- anticipated Star Wars: Episode I -The Phantom Menace, opened and became the top grossing film of its year. $28.5 million-first day of showing, and passed the $100 million level in a record five days. It eventually grossed over $400 million. $28.5 million-first day of showing, and passed the $100 million level in a record five days. It eventually grossed over $400 million.

First film w/ a Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtrack. This film undoubtedly contained more computer animation and special effects than any previous film - over 90%. First film w/ a Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtrack. This film undoubtedly contained more computer animation and special effects than any previous film - over 90%. Featured a completely CGI- generated (all digital), fully- articulated main humanoid character named Jar Jar Binks Featured a completely CGI- generated (all digital), fully- articulated main humanoid character named Jar Jar Binks

Groundbreaking Internet Film-Marketing: Case Study - The Blair Witch Project Most financially successful film. Made for $30,000, it grosses over $140 million. One of the keys to its success is advertising over the internet Most financially successful film. Made for $30,000, it grosses over $140 million. One of the keys to its success is advertising over the internet