The 10 Most Essential Movies of 1997, Ranked

1997 saw the release of a wide array of exceptionally well-regarded movies, including the likes of Jackie Brown, Good Will Hunting, and Titanic.

March 23, 2025 · 1 min · 78 words · Hunter Werner

Table of Contents

Evil to create a duo of comedy icons.

7’L.A.

Confidential,which weaves together a deeply engaging mystery through its stylish and sleek look at 1950s L.A. crime.

Most-Essential-Movies-of-1997

Custom Image by Nimesh Perera

NEXT:The 10 Most Essential Movies of 1998, Ranked

The T-Rex roaring at San Diego in ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’.

Image via Universal Pictures

Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson in a silver robe holding a gun in Boogie Nights

Image via New Line Cinema

Doctor Evil holding a cat while on the phone in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Image Via New Line Cinema

Austin Powers International Man of Mystery Poster

Guy Pearce battered in ‘L.A. Confidential’

Image via Warner Bros

l-a-confidential-1997-poster-kevin-spacey-russel-crowe-guy-pearce-kim-basinger.jpg

Princess Mononoke Movie Poster

Pam Grier in Jackie Brown looking at someone or something off-camera.

Image via Miramax

Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) stands alongside the orange-haired Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) as she flashes her identification in ‘The Fifth Element’ (1997).

Image via Gaumont Buena Vista International

Robin Williams as Sean Maguire and Matt Damon as Will Hunting sitting on a park bench in Good Will Hunting.

Image via Miramax

Agent K and Agent J preparing to wipe someone’s memory in Men In Black.

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack holds Kate Winslet as Rose on the bow of the ship in Titanic.

Image via Paramount Pictures

Titanic poster

Movie

L.A. Confidential