25 films from the last 25 years

For Empire’s 300th issue, they’ve asked some of this generation’s greatest filmmakers to share some of their filmmaking highlights. Features include Guillermo Del Toro’s sketchbook, exclusive behind the scenes photos from Lost in Translation, a brilliant account of  a filmmaker’s experiences of sharing his favourite films with his daughter, and Edgar Wright’s favourite films from the last 25 years. It got me thinking about my own favourites. Some years had more favourites than others, so I’ve thrown in some honourable mentions…

1989
Favourite: The Little Mermaid
Guilty pleasure: When Harry Met Sally
Honourable mention: Dead Poets Society

1990
Favourite: Pretty Woman
Honourable mention: Home Alone

1991
Favourite: The Silence of the Lambs
Guilty pleasure: Hook

1992
Favourite: Reservoir Dogs
Guilty pleasure: Wayne’s World

1993
Favourite: So I Married an Axe Murderer
Guilty pleasure: Hocus Pocus
Honourable mention: Sleepless in Seattle

1994
Favourite: Clerks
Honourable mention: Leon

1995
Favourite: Before Sunrise
Honourable mention: Se7en

1996
Favourite: Fargo
Guilty pleasure: Space Jam
Honourable mention: Scream

1997
Favourite: As Good As It Gets
Guilty pleasure: Anastasia
Honourable mention: Good Will Hunting

1998
Favourite: The Truman Show
Guilty pleasure: Antz
Honourable mention: The Big Lebowski, Rushmore

1999
Favourite: The Talented Mr Ripley
Guilty pleasure: 10 Things I Hate About You
Honourable mention: The Virgin Suicides

2000
Favourite: Almost Famous
Guilty pleasure: What Women Want
Honourable mention: You Can Count On Me

2001
Favourite: Amelie
Guilty pleasure: Moulin Rouge

2002
Favourite: Real Women Have Curves
Honourable mention: The Royal Tenenbaums

2003
Favourite: Lost in Translation
Honourable mention: The Station Agent

2004
Favourite: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Guilty pleasure: New Police Story
Honourable mention: Before Sunset

2005
Favourite: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Honourable mention: Walk the Line

2006
Favourite: Away From Her
Honourable mention: Little Children

2007
Favourite: Once
Guilty pleasure: Priceless
Honourable mention: Lars and the Real Girl, The Visitor

2008
Favourite: The Dark Knight
Guilty pleasure: Tropic Thunder
Honourable mention: Wall-E, Volver

2009
Favourite: The Young Victoria
Guilty pleasure: I Love You, Man
Honourable mention: Inglourious Basterds, Whip It

2010
Favourite: Restrepo
Honourable mention: Blue Valentine, Scott Pilgrim vs the World

2011
Favourite: Midnight in Paris
Guilty pleasure: Crazy Stupid Love
Honourable mention: Tucker and Dale vs Evil, The Skin I Live In, Tyrannosaur, Beginners

2012
Favourite: Skyfall
Guilty pleasure: Safety Not Guaranteed
Honourable mention: Moonrise Kingdom

2013
Favourite: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Honourable mention: Captain Phillips

2014
Favourite: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Honourable mention: The Grand Budapest Hotel