8 Best Movies of 1998

By Vlad Zakh · June 29, 2026

1998 mixed Coen comedy, Disney animation and British crime. The Big Lebowski has a slacker mistaken for a millionaire, Mulan has a young woman taking her father’s place in the army, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels has crooks scrambling to pay a rigged poker debt. The Legend of 1900, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, Perfect Blue and American History X round out the eight.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 79% Metacritic 71

A laid-back slacker is mistaken for a millionaire and dragged into a bizarre kidnapping scheme.

Directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen · 1h 57m · Rated R

7 wins & 18 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mulan (1998)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A young woman disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father's place in the army.

Directed by Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook · 1h 28m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 75% Metacritic 67

A group of small-time crooks scrambles to pay off a rigged poker debt to a dangerous crime boss.

Directed by Guy Ritchie · 1h 45m · Rated R

Won 1 BAFTA Award13 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

TMDB ★ 8.2

A man born and raised aboard an ocean liner becomes a legendary pianist who never once sets foot on land.

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore · 2h 50m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Truman Show (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 94% Metacritic 90

An ordinary man slowly discovers his entire life has been broadcast as a reality television show.

Directed by Peter Weir · 1h 43m · Rated PG

Nominated for 3 Oscars42 wins & 69 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 94% Metacritic 91

A squad of soldiers is sent behind enemy lines to bring home a paratrooper whose brothers have all been killed.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 49m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars79 wins & 75 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Perfect Blue (1998)

TMDB ★ 8.3

A retiring pop idol's grip on reality unravels as a stalker blurs the line between her old and new identities.

Directed by Satoshi Kon · 1h 21m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American History X (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 84% Metacritic 62

A former neo-Nazi tries to stop his younger brother going down the same path of hate that consumed him.

Directed by Tony Kaye · 1h 59m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar4 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

8 Best Movies of 1998

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Mulan (1998)

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

The Truman Show (1998)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Perfect Blue (1998)

American History X (1998)

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