Can You Believe These 10 Iconic Movies Turn 25 in 2024?

The Matrix

Even today, it's impossible to look at dark sunglasses and black trench coats and not think of The Matrix and that slow-motion action sequence.

Before Keanu Reeves was John Wick, he was at the center of a 4-time Oscar-winning sci-fi movie that is still considered a masterpiece. The Matrix explores the world we live in as a simulation and follows an epic struggle to escape the robotic forces that enslave humanity. Interestingly, the film feels even more relevant today than it did 25 years ago.

The Mummy

The Mummy saw Brendan Fraser at the height of his acting career, as a group of archaeologists accidentally awaken an ancient mummy who wreaks havoc on the living world.

The film was a huge success, but nearly cost Fraser his life after he fell unconscious and had to be revived following a scene in which his character was hanged.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Not only was this the highest-grossing film of 1999 ($924 million), but it also served as a grand return to the world of epic space battles, strange alien creatures, and stunning visual effects (now with CGI and more annoying sidekicks than ever!).

Star Wars is still a massive franchise with a culture all its own. It's amazing to think that it all started 47 years ago and is still going strong.

American Pie

The first of what would eventually be a total of 4 raunchy, sex-centered teen flicks, American Pie rocked the predominantly safe PG13 comedy genre with its characters' somewhat depraved (but hilarious) antics and obsession with sex.

Adam Hertz wrote the screenplay, originally titled 'Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million That Most Readers Will Probably Hate But I Think You Will Love' in just 6 weeks, and credited much of his inspiration to shows like The Bachelor. The last of the films was released in 2012, and is still considered a classic today.

The Blair Witch Project

This found footage horror quite literally rocked the world, and not just for its fast-paced, and truly unique terror in the darkness of the woods. Filmed in just 8 days, the film earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for 'Top Budget: Box Office Ratio' with a spend of $60 000, and a return of $248 million.

The Sixth Sense

The iconic line, 'I see dead people' originated from this film about a young boy seeing a psychologist for that exact reason. If you forget how old this film is, just look at little Haley Joel Osment today (feel old yet?).

The M. Night Shyamalan masterpiece was the second highest grossing film in 1999, after Star Wars, and earned a whopping $672 million. Osment was apparently not only perfect for the film, but was also chosen because he was the only kid to wear a tie to his audition, and revealed that he had read the entire script three times beforehand.

American Beauty

This provocative film, centered on a frustrated suburban father who becomes infatuated with his daughter's friend, delves into the complexity of the human psyche and our desires.

Even all these years later, the iconic rose petal scene and the film's thought-provoking ending are still in our minds, and relevant to our society.

Fight Club

Author Chuck Palahniuk got the idea for his novel of the same name after being beaten up on a camping trip. The gritty film spoke volumes about masculinity and consumerism, following two men (one of them being Brad Pitt) who start an underground fight club that quickly spirals into something bigger.

Even today, people break its golden rule and can't help but talk about Fight Club, which has garnered a die-hard following and a permanent place in pop culture history.

The Green Mile

Inspiring, touching, and sad, The Green Mile explores the idea of miracles in what Stephen King once called one of the most faithful adaptations of his work. The Green Mile currently sits at #3 on the list of top-grossing Stephen King adaptations, having earned $511 million worldwide.

The movie follows the gentle giant John Coffee, a death row inmate with an incredible ability to heal people. It also featured the unforgettable mouse, Mr. Jingles, played by more than 15 specially trained mice.

10 Things I Hate About You

At a fitting number 10 on the list, we're still swooning over Heath Ledger 25 years after his breakout role in this unforgettable teen romcom.

A modern adaptation of Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew, the sweet movie had so much authenticity, from filming on real locations to Kat's emotional poem written by the actress herself. Shot in just over 30 days, the film explores themes of love and friendship, as well as gender roles and stereotypes that are still relevant today.