1996 wasn’t just a year — it was a turning point. It gave us shows that shaped how we saw ourselves on TV and movies that defined what blockbuster, comedy, drama, and cultural conversation looked like for a generation. From sitcoms that grew up with us to films that shifted the box office and challenged the status quo, these projects didn’t just entertain — they left a mark.
Now, nearly 30 years later, we’re looking back at the TV shows and movies released in 1996 that still live rent-free in our minds, our quotes, and our rewatches. Some became cultural staples, some were slept on in real time, and others feel even more relevant today than they did back then.
This is the class of ’96 — and the legacy speaks for itself.
Movies Turning 30 This Year
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood | January 12
The Wayans brothers flipped every popular hood film trope on its head, creating a parody so sharp it became part of the culture itself.
Independence Day | July 3
Alien invasion meets American bravado. Explosions, fighter jets, and a global threat turned Independence Day into the blueprint for modern blockbusters as it was the highest grossing movie of ’96 — and cemented Will Smith as a movie star.
The Nutty Professor | June 28
Eddie Murphy multiplied himself to explore confidence, self-worth, and love, wrapping big laughs around a surprisingly tender story about acceptance.
A Time to Kill | July 24
A tense courtroom drama centered on race, justice, and morality in the South, forcing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths through a mainstream lens.
From Dusk Till Dawn | January 19
What starts as a crime thriller swerves hard into vampire horror, delivering a genre switch that shocked audiences and earned cult status.
Girl 6 | March 22
A young Black woman navigates power, desire, and independence while working as a phone-sex operator, offering a layered look at agency and identity.
Executive Decision | March 15
A hijacked plane, a covert mission, and high-stakes tension made this one of the decade’s most pulse-pounding thrillers.
A Thin Line Between Love and Hate | April 3
A smooth-talking charmer learns the hard way that playing games with emotions can have real consequences — funny, dark, and intentional.
Soul of the Game | April 20
Set during baseball’s integration era, the film highlights the talent and legacy of Negro League players history tried to overlook.
The Great White Hype | May 3
A sharp satire exposing race, marketing, and spectacle in professional boxing — still biting decades later.
Eddie | May 31
A superfan unexpectedly becomes the coach of her favorite basketball team, blending sports comedy with underdog charm.
Eraser | June 21
Witness protection meets corporate conspiracy, delivering peak ’90s action with oversized set pieces and nonstop momentum.
Kazaam | July 17
A boombox, three wishes, and a rapping genie — pure mid-’90s chaos in cinematic form.
Basquiat | August 9
An intimate portrait of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat’s rise, creativity, and exploitation within the art world.
Bulletproof | September 6
Two longtime friends end up on opposite sides of the law, blending action and comedy with buddy-movie tension.
The Rich Man’s Wife | September 13
A chance encounter spirals into obsession and danger, exploring desire and betrayal among the wealthy elite.
The First Wives Club | September 20
Three women reclaim their power after betrayal, turning friendship into revenge — iconic, quotable, and timeless.
Secrets & Lies | September 27
Long-buried family truths surface, leading to raw emotional reckonings and unforgettable performances.
The Long Kiss Goodnight | October 11
A suburban mom discovers she was once a deadly assassin, unleashing stylish action and sharp humor.
Get on the Bus | October 16
A cross-country bus ride to the Million Man March becomes a powerful exploration of Black male identity and community.
The Associate | October 25
A woman creates a fictional male boss to break corporate barriers, exposing sexism in the workplace.
When We Were Kings | October 25
The definitive portrait of Muhammad Ali’s legendary fight in Zaire — boxing, politics, and Black excellence intertwined.
Set It Off | November 6
Four women pushed to the edge turn to bank robbery, delivering a raw, emotional story about friendship, survival, and desperation.
Space Jam | November 15
Basketball, cartoons, and Michael Jordan collided in a pop-culture moment that defined childhood for a generation.
Jingle All the Way | November 22
A frantic holiday scramble turns consumer chaos into Christmas comedy.
Jerry Maguire | December 13
A sports agent’s moral awakening leads to love, vulnerability, and one of the most quoted lines in movie history.
D3: The Mighty Ducks | October 4
The Ducks face new competition at a prep school, testing loyalty, leadership, and growing up.
Mars Attacks! | December 13
Aliens invade Earth — and it’s loud, absurd, and intentionally ridiculous.
The Preacher’s Wife | December 13
An angel intervenes in a struggling marriage, blending romance, faith, and holiday warmth.
The Cherokee Kid | December 14
Sinbad reimagines the Western through a Black lens, mixing comedy with frontier mythmaking.
House Arrest | August 14
Kids flip the script on their parents’ divorce by locking them in the basement, forcing adults to finally talk things out.
Carpool | August 23
A morning drive spirals into chaos when a carpool turns into a hostage situation — very ’90s, very unhinged.
Harriet the Spy | July 10
A curious, observant young girl documents the world around her, learning hard lessons about honesty, friendship, and growing up.
Matilda | August 2
A brilliant young girl discovers her power — literally — in a darkly whimsical story about intelligence, resilience, and chosen family.
First Kid | August 30
A Secret Service agent bonds with the president’s son, mixing family-friendly laughs with light political commentary.
Fly Away Home | September 13
A quiet, emotional journey about loss, healing, and guiding a flock of geese home — gentle and unexpectedly moving.
High School High | October 25
A sharp parody of inner-city school dramas, High School High flipped every inspirational-teacher trope on its head, using absurd comedy to critique how Hollywood framed education and “saving” Black and brown students.
Sunset Park | April 26
Set around a struggling high school basketball team in Brooklyn, Sunset Park blended sports, street realism, and mentorship, spotlighting youth trying to survive—and succeed—within systems stacked against them.
TV Shows Turning 30 This Year
Photo: David Bjerke
Malcolm & Eddie | August 26
Two friends with opposite personalities move to L.A. chasing opportunity and end up running a barbershop. Built on brotherhood, hustle, and working-class ambition, Malcolm & Eddie made everyday survival feel like a win.
Moesha | January 23
Centered on a sharp, opinionated teenage girl navigating family, friendships, and first loves, Moesha became a cultural touchstone for Black girlhood and coming-of-age storytelling in the ’90s.
Clueless | September 20
Picking up the world of Beverly Hills privilege, fashion, and teen politics, the TV series extended Cher Horowitz’s reign as pop culture’s favorite matchmaker with a weekly dose of style and sarcasm.
Cosby | September 16
Following a successful married couple balancing careers, parenting, and extended family, Cosby leaned into grown-folks comedy and the rhythms of everyday Black life.
Dangerous Minds | September 30
Set in an inner-city classroom, the series followed a teacher determined to reach students written off by the system, turning the film’s premise into episodic drama about education and survival.
Sparks | August 26
Two brothers run a small law practice in Compton while juggling work, family expectations, and community ties. Sparks blended workplace comedy with grounded, neighborhood-rooted stories.
The Steve Harvey Show | August 25
Steve Harvey stars as a former funk legend turned high-school music teacher, using humor, mentorship, and life lessons to connect with students while figuring out his own next chapter.
The High Life | November 9
A young man chases big dreams in the city while navigating friendships, temptation, and ambition, offering a stylish, short-lived look at nightlife-era adulthood.
Homeboys in Outer Space | August 27
Two unlikely heroes accidentally end up as intergalactic adventurers, blending sci-fi parody with street-level humor in a concept that felt wild — and weirdly futuristic.
The Jamie Foxx Show | August 28
Set in a Los Angeles hotel, the series follows an aspiring musician working the front desk at his family’s hotel while juggling romance, family pressure, and big dreams, powered by Jamie Foxx’s undeniable charisma.
Kenan & Kel | July 15
Best friends with zero impulse control get into nonstop schemes, misunderstandings, and physical comedy chaos, cementing themselves as one of the most beloved duos of ’90s kids TV.