Hollywood history is a fascinating field that explores the development of the film industry over the past decades. The big screen that continues to captivate many viewers has had its up and downs. Each year filmmakers try their best to come up with novel ideas and beguiling storylines. However, there have been several years that have stood out in Hollywood’s timeline as years that have not only defined Hollywood but have gone on to inspire the succeeding filmmakers. Of course, it is not just directors, producers and screenwriters that contribute to such projects, since there’s a whole group of cast and crew that work strenuously to bring forth brilliant films. Thus, every year there is a group of people who come together to deliver some shocking creations.

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Out of all these years, 1999 might be one of the best, if not THE best, year of Hollywood. In fact, many critics like Brian Raftery have expounded on this thesis by bringing in some powerful arguments in favor of it. While agreeing with these critics, this article further affirms why 1999 was one of the best years in Hollywood history.

Different Genres

     20th Century Fox & Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

1999 saw filmmakers exploring different genres. Unlike other years, there were films of all kinds being produced. Sixteen years after the Star Wars trilogy that focused on Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford), George Lucas brought forth the prequel trilogy, which marked a huge hit on the sci-fi genre. 1999 marked the year in which Lucas’s first film of the prequel trilogy, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, was released. David Fincher’s Fight Club took over the genre of action thrillers. All these films had dark tones and were filled with adventure and energy, so much so that it went on to captivate people for many years.

However, action was not the only genre that took over in 1999. There was also Mike Judge’s black comedy, Office Space, that focused on work place humor and wit. Toy Story 2 became a popular animated film cartoon as it went on to introduce some new characters like Jessie and Bullseye. Spike Jonze presented his surrealist fantasy comedy, Being John Malkovich. This particular film was seen as quite innovative given the way in which it experimented with different genres and came up with one crazy but interesting film.

Given that the year 1999 marked the end of a century, it is no surprise to see people being driven with anxiety. These films from different genres allowed the people to divert away from the unknown and indulge in a rollercoaster ride in Hollywood.

Films Focused on Society and Became Influential

     20th Century Fox & Warner Bros.

Most of the films that were released set new trends and went on to become cult classics. These films also focused on both social issues and philosophical questions and were high on the social commentary element. Fight Club was one such example. The film, which was an adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel of the same name, became more popular than its book. Fight Club focused on the idea of revolution while expanding on social hierarchy. The film also taps into the dilemma and frustration of people over their monotonous lives that focused on work.

A similar approach was taken in films like The Matrix. This film by The Wachowskis tapped into the philosophical questions of what is reality and what are the ethics of freedom. Fascinatingly, most of the messages and symbols that this 1999 film reflected on can be seen as very much real today. The editors of Vulture break this down by showing how The Matrix might have predicted certain trends of life today. From the rise of the superhero movies and the red pill theory that focuses on how the misogynistic views fed to young men, there are many similarities between life in the 21st Century and the film’s messages. Thus, it is definitely so surprise to see these big film names under “best movies” categories. They are still being watched and loved by film enthusiasts.

Rise of The Internet

     Artisan Entertainment & Summit Entertainment

Another key reason why these films became so popular might be due to the rise of the internet. As Raftery states in his book, the mid-to-late ’90s acted as the beginning of “internet fandoms” and the space to criticize and scrutinize films. This, obviously brought together film lovers across the world and allowed these films to gain more popularity.

The internet also acted as a topic of discussion and a space for marketing. Given that people were being concerned about the influence of the internet on society, many filmmakers used this as a central theme in their films. The Matrix and even The Blair Witch Project are such examples which reflect on this anxiety.

However, the filmmakers also used the internet as an opportunity to amp up their marketing game. The Blair Witch Project which had one of the best marketing campaigns, used the internet to create a realistic illusion of their story. This, obviously, attracted many viewers and allowed the film to become a timeless piece that is still being discussed. In fact, people still question whether the story, or rather, the legend, is real or not. As ScreenRant points out, this film is “an improvisational, low-budget experiment (that) became one of the most influential horror movies ever produced”.

A Big Year for Certain Directors and Actors

     Warner Bros. & Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

In 1999, while some directors said goodbye to filmmaking, some had their names all over Hollywood. It was the year that Stanley Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut, was released. On the other hand, M. Night Shyamalan had his big break with his film The Sixth Sense. Following this film, Shyamalan went on to become one of the biggest directors of Hollywood. 10 Things I Hate About You, Cruel Intentions, Notting Hill, Lake Placid and Girl, Interrupted are some other big names that became quite popular during the year and even after. It was also the year that Pedro Almodóvar released his Oscar-winning film, All About My Mother. The directors George Lucas, Stephen Sommers and The Wachowskis were able to kickstart infamous film franchises.

There were certain actors that delivered brilliant performances in 1999 and went on to become big names. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton were two names that took over Hollywood thanks to their performances in Fight Club. Brendan Fraser became a heartthrob due to his role in The Mummy as Rick O’Connell. Of course, Keanu Reeves’ Neo is still being talked about since 1999.

All these clearly indicate that this particular year was one major hit for Hollywood and is one that can never be replicated.