25 movies turning 25 in 2020 to stream

By Megan Riedlinger 4:44am PDT, Aug 18, 2020

You might have recently binged Netflix's new take on "The Baby-Sitters Club," but the original film hit theaters back in 1995. That August, the young ladies of Stoneybrook hit the big screen in a movie showcasing a summer in their young lives. Rachael Leigh Cook and Larisa Oleynik were among the ensemble cast in this family-friendly film, which you can stream with a Showtime with Hulu subscription. Wonderwall.com is rounding up more flicks celebrating their 25th anniversaries in 2020 and letting you know where you can stream them — keep reading for more…

1995 gave us an instant classic when "Clueless" hit theaters that July. The teen comedy — which was loosely based on Jane Austen's "Emma" — starred Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy and chronicled the lives of Beverly Hills high school students. From the fashion to the lingo, the film made a lasting impact on pop culture that endures even 25 years later. Stream it anytime on Netflix.

A board game that brings a real-life jungle adventure to life? That's what "Jumanji" offered upon its December 1995 release. Though the wild premise didn't wow critics, the film — which starred Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier and Bonnie Hunt — did a whopping $263 million worldwide, resulting in sequels and a spot as the 10th highest grossing film that year.

1995's "Sense and Sensibility" gave Jane Austen fans another reworking of her classic tale. This time, Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay and starred in the film, with Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant also taking roles in this retelling. The movie did well at the box office and even picked up seven nominations at the Academy Awards. Stream this one now on Starz.

We first met the lovable characters of "Toy Story" in 1995! Yep, Woody and the gang are turning 25 in November. The crew of toys that come to life when not under the watchful eye of owner Andy ended up spawning three more films (the most recent — "Toy Story 4" — came out in 2019). All of the Pixar animated movies can be streamed now on Disney+.

Antonio Banderas's star rose back in 1995 with the release of "Desperado." The action film saw him starring as a mariachi seeking revenge on a drug lord, with Salma Hayek also headlining. This movie is currently streaming on Tubi.

Remember "Waterworld"? This infamous box office flop starred Kevin Costner and focused on a post-apocalyptic world where the ice caps have melted and almost the entire earth is covered with water. Despite being the most expensive movie made ever back in 1995 — it cost $172 million — the film received terrible reviews and didn't earn that budget back in U.S. theaters, taking in just $88 million domestically. If you want to see what all the hype was about, this one is streaming on Starz now.

It's morphin time! "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," the original Power Rangers flick, teleported into theaters in June 1995. Starring the cast of the television show including Amy Jo Johnson, Jason David Frank and David Yost, this flick took their escapades to the big screen and resulted in a $66 million gross worldwide. No need to ask Zordon — this one is streaming on Starz now.

1995 was packed with some pretty funny flicks! "Tommy Boy" hit theaters that March, cracking up audiences thanks to the comedic workings of David Spade and the late Chris Farley. This buddy comedy did well at the box office and later became a cult classic. It's available to rent or buy on Prime Video or iTunes.

The highest grossing flick of 1995 turned 25 in May! Bruce Willis starred in "Die Hard with a Vengeance" as an NYPD lieutenant who teams up with Samuel L. Jackson's character to stop bomb threats in the city. The film was the highly anticipated sequel to 1988's "Die Hard" with both based on a novel by Roderick Thorp. "Die Hard with a Vengeance" — which is streaming now on HBO Max — earned more than $366 million worldwide.

"A Goofy Movie" was fun for the whole family when it hit theaters in April 1995. The sweet father-son cartoon celebrating an iconic Disney character still holds up. It also comes packed with a killer soundtrack thanks to Tevin Campbell. Watch this one on Disney+ anytime.

"Houston, we have a problem!" Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton starred in our next 1995 flick: "Apollo 13," the dramatization of 1970's doomed Apollo 13 mission. The Hollywood portrayal was a smash hit, both critically and commercially, earning nine Academy Award nominations and grossing $355 million worldwide at the box office. Rent or buy this classic space film on Prime Video or iTunes tonight.

Val Kilmer wore on Batman's cape and cowl in 1995's "Batman Forever," starring alongside Chris O'Donnell as Robin and other big names like Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman. The star-packed superhero installment was naturally a box office smash. Audiences flocked to visit Gotham City on the big screen, resulting in a $336 million gross worldwide (making it the sixth highest earning flick of the year). Catch this one again on HBO Max.

"A Little Princess" hit theaters in May 1995. The movie follows Sara, a young girl in the midst of World War I who has to work in servitude at a New York City boarding school after her father's death. The family drama is an adaptation of a 1939 film with the same name that was based on a book with the same name from 1905. HBO Max has this one streaming now.

Record employees got the movie treatment in 1995's "Empire Records." Renee Zellweger and Liv Tyler were among the ensemble cast in this comedy-drama centered around the workers of Empire Records as they work to prevent their store from being sold to a chain. Armed with a killer soundtrack including bands of the moment Better Than Ezra and the Cranberries, this one's a fun re-watch if you rent or buy it on Prime Video or iTunes.

A James Bond film turns 25 this year. "GoldenEye" marked Pierce Brosnan's first time playing the British secret agent. Judi Dench and Famke Janssen also starred in this '95 hit, which was the fourth highest grossing film that year. If you want to revisit this 007 flick, you're in luck! It's currently streaming on Netflix.

Kids movies reigned supreme in 1995! "Casper" hit theaters that year in May, bringing the tale of the friendly ghost to the big screen. Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman and Amy Brenneman starred in this family-fantasy flick that did so well at the box office that it resulted in four sequels. Rent or buy this one on Prime Video or iTunes.

Based on a novel by Michael Crichton of the same name, "Congo" took audiences on an adventure through the jungle during its June release. The action film starred Laura Linney, Dylan Walsh and Tim Curry and despite not being a hit with critics, it still earned $152 million at the worldwide box office. Cinemax Go has this one streaming right now.

Next up? A thriller starring Sandra Bullock! "The Net" came out in July 25 years ago. It follows a woman whose identity is stolen as thieves seek a floppy disk in her possession. Though the technology certainly doesn't hold up, this one is an interesting watch to buy or rent on iTunes or Prime Video.

Another coming-of-age film that 1995 blessed us with? "Now and Then," a girl-gang flick that followed a set of friends from their childhoods in the '70s to the present day in the '90s. An all-star cast and a touching tale of female friendship helped this one triple its budget at the box office. You can revisit this classic on HBO Max.

Adam Sandler continued his funny streak in 1995 with the hilarious comedy "Billy Madison." This movie centered around Adam as the titular character, a 27-year-old man-child forced to head back to elementary school. For a guaranteed laugh, stream this one on Cinemax Go.

Angelina Jolie's crime flick "Hackers" is up next. Originally released in September 1995, it follows high school hackers (led by Angelina Jolie and future ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller) who get involved in a corporate extortion conspiracy. Despite dismal showings at both the box office and with critics, this one later attained cult status in part due to its outdated views of technology. Catch it on HBO Max tonight.

Looking for a family-friendly film from '95 to stream? "Heavyweights" is a great option. It was co-written by a young Judd Apatow and stars Ben Stiller as a fitness guru in charge of a children's fat camp. If you want to watch this one, it's streaming now on Disney+.

Ice Cube's legendary comedy "Friday" first hit theaters in April 1995. The flick was a hit with both critics and audiences alike, earning over $28 million worldwide and attaining cult-classic status after its home release. It spawned two sequels — "Next Friday" and "Friday After Next" — but you can watch the original by buying or renting it on iTunes.

September 1995 saw the release of the hilarious "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar." The film starred Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo as drag queens on a road trip. The trio delivered the laughs as they headed to Hollywood for the Miss Drag Queen of America Pageant. Rewatch this one on Netflix.