The Best and Worst of 1996

The author’s considered best/worst in each category are listed in bold italics with an asterisk (*). The listed links will take you to more detailed reviews of each film.


The 10 Best Films

  1. Breaking the Waves
  2. Hamlet
  3. James and the Giant Peach
  4. Mary Reilly
  5. Crash
  6. Forbidden City Cop
  7. Scream
  8. The Trigger Effect
  9. The Island of Dr Moreau
  10. The Arrival

Worst Films

  1. Mindbender
  2. Bio-Dome
  3. Lawnmower Man II: Beyond Cyberspace
  4. Forest Warrior
  5. Spy Hard

Best Director

David Cronenberg – Crash
Henry Selick – James and the Giant Peach
Tony Scott – The Fan
David Twohy – The Arrival
Lars von Trier – Breaking the Waves (*)


Best Original Screenplay

The Arrival
Breaking the Waves
Everyone Says I Love You
Scream (*)
The Trigger Effect


Best Adapted Screenplay

Crash
Freeway
Hamlet
Kissed
Mary Reilly (*)


Best Actor

George Clooney – From Dusk Till Dawn
Michael Keaton – Multiplicity
Eddie Murphy – The Nutty Professor (*)
Kurt Russell – Escape from L.A.
Mark Wahlberg – Fear


Best Actress

Glenn Close – 101 Dalmatians
Helen Hunt – Twister
Deborah Kara Unger – Crash
Emily Watson – Breaking the Waves (*)
Reese Witherspoon – Freeway


Best Supporting Actor

Morgan Freeman – Chain Reaction (*)
Gene Hackman – Extreme Measures
Elias Koteas – Crash
Daniel Rigny – The Island of Dr Moreau
Stellan SkarsgĂ„rd – Breaking the Waves


Best Supporting Actress

Katrin Cartlidge – Breaking the Waves (*)
Embeth Davidtz – Matilda
Catherine Zeta Jones – The Phantom
Alice Krige – Star Trek: First Contact
Natasha Lyonne – Everyone Says I Love You


Best Cinematography

Breaking the Waves
The Crow: City of Angels
The Fan (*)
The Island of Dr Moreau
The Phantom


Best Music

Crash
James and the Giant Peach
Mary Reilly
Star Trek: First Contact (*)


Best Special Effects

DragonHeart
Independence Day
Mars Attacks!
Multiplicity
Star Trek: First Contact
Twister (*)


Best Makeup Effects

From Dusk Till Dawn
The Island of Dr Moreau
The Nutty Professor (*)
Thinner


Best Production Design

Hamlet
James and the Giant Peach (*)
Mary Reilly
Star Trek: First Contact