5. American History X (1998)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (479,979 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (87 reviews)
> Worldwide box office, adj. for inflation: $13.1 million (1.4 million tickets)
> Est. production budget, adj. for inflation: $19.5 million
This searing drama chronicles the exploits of a reformed neo-Nazi and his radicalized younger brother. Star Edward Norton and director Tony Kaye wrestled for creative control over the final product, which arguably worked to its advantage. “A work of impressive scale and craft and not a movie that’s easy to dismiss in the end,” wrote critic Andrew O’Hehir for Sight & Sound.
4. Fight Club (1999)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (1.1 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (179 reviews)
> Worldwide box office, adj. for inflation: $182.5 million (19.9 million tickets)
> Est. production budget, adj. for inflation: $117.7 million
David Fincher’s testosterone-fueled satire roiled studio executives before arriving in theaters, where it didn’t meet box office expectations. It achieved commercial success through the home rental market, prompting critical reappraisals and a massive following. The story of underground fight clubs and anti-capitalist male angst remains controversial to this day.
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3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (887,061 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (77 reviews)
> Worldwide box office, adj. for inflation: $63.8 million (7 million tickets)
> Est. production budget, adj. for inflation: $56.1 million
Based on a Stephen King novella, this historical prison drama was trounced at the box office by the likes of “Pulp Fiction” and “Forrest Gump.” It was then re-released in theaters after receiving seven Oscar nominations, which helped recoup some of the loss. Now considered one of the greatest films ever made, it holds the No. 1 position on IMDb’s list of the Top 250 Movies.
2. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (878,111 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (53 reviews)
> Worldwide box office, adj. for inflation: $22.2 million (2.4 million tickets)
> Est. production budget, adj. for inflation: $16.7 million
Five children win exclusive access to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in this fantasy-based musical. It receded from the public consciousness soon after its release, only to be revived years later through TV broadcasts and home video sales. In 1996, a 25th anniversary theatrical re-release earned $21 million at the box office.
1. Donnie Darko (2001)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (31 million votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (118 reviews)
> Worldwide box office, adj. for inflation: $12.2 million (1.3 million tickets)
> Est. production budget, adj. for inflation: $7.3 million
A demonic rabbit and mysterious countdown thrust this surreal sci-fi drama and its title character toward a harrowing conclusion. Featuring a plane crash as a major plot point, the film quietly rolled in and out of limited theaters soon after 9/11. Re-releases, home rentals, and powerful word-of-mouth have helped turn it into one of the foremost cult smashes of its time.
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