Universal Pictures (USA): 245

Jurassic Park III (2001) is an American science fiction action film directed by Joe Johnston and written by Peter Buchman, Alexander Payne, and Jim Taylor. The story follows twelve-year-old Eric Kirby and his mother’s boyfriend, Ben Hildebrand, who find themselves parasailing near the restricted Isla Sorna. After their boat enters a dense fog, they are attacked by an unknown creature which leads to Ben detaching the line and both of them drifting towards the island. On ...

The action film, The Fast and the Furious (2001), was directed by Rob Cohen with a screenplay by Gary Scott Thompson, Erik Bergquist, and David Ayer. It was inspired by a Vibe magazine article titled Racer X written by Ken Li. In the movie, a group of heist specialists use modified Honda Civics to steal a truck full of electronics and evade capture on Terminal Island Freeway. As this crime spree continues, LAPD officer ...

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) is an American Christmas fantasy comedy film directed by Ron Howard, who also produced with Brian Grazer. It is based on Dr. Seuss’s beloved 1957 children’s book of the same name and was the first to be adapted into a full-length feature film. As Whoville gears up for the holiday season, their plans are threatened by the Grinch, a grumpy green creature living in isolation on Mount Crumpit. One day, six-year-old Cindy Lou Who encounters him at the town’s post office and ...

U-571 (2000), a submarine film directed by Jonathan Mostow and co-written by Sam Montgomery and David Ayer, takes place during the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942. After successfully sinking an Allied convoy ship, German U-boat U-571 is heavily damaged by depth charges from a British destroyer. The boat’s captain, Kapitänleutnant Günther Wassner, sends out a distress call which is picked up by American intelligence. In response, the US Navy modifies their submarine S-33 to resemble a German supply vessel in order to ...

The film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) is a clever mix of satire and drama, written, produced, co-edited, and directed by the talented duo Joel and Ethan Coen. Three prisoners – Pete, Delmar, and their leader Ulysses Everett McGill – flee from a chain gang in order to find a hidden fortune before the area is flooded. Along the way, they receive help from a blind man on a railway handcar who warns them that their reward may not be what they expect. Seeking refuge at Wash’s home – Pete’s cousin – the trio incurs the wrath of Sheriff ...

The drama film, The Man Who Cried (2000), written and directed by Sally Potter tells the story of Fegele Abramovich, a Russian Jew who becomes separated from her father in 1927. As her father seeks his fortune in America, he promises to bring Fegele and her grandmother to join him. Before departing, he sings ‘Je Crois Entendre Encore’ from Les pêcheurs de perles by Bizet to his daughter. Tragically, a pogrom strikes their village after he leaves, and Fegele is forced to flee with the help of kind neighbors. Despite facing numerous obstacles on her journey, she eventually boards a ship bound for Britain with ...

Gladiator (2000) is a film set in ancient Rome, directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. In 180 AD, Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius returns home after leading the army to victory against Germanic tribes near Vindobona on the Limes Germanicus. Emperor Marcus Aurelius informs Maximus that his son, Commodus, is not fit to take over as emperor. Instead, he offers Maximus the role of regent in hopes of restoring the Roman ...

Erin Brockovich (2000), an American biographical legal drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Susannah Grant, follows the story of an unemployed single mother of three children in 1993. After being injured in a traffic accident involving a doctor, Erin decides to sue him with the help of her lawyer, Ed Masry. Despite their expectations of winning, Erin’s explosive behavior during cross-examination results in losing the case and Ed refusing to take her calls. However, one day she shows up at his office seeking a job, as he had previously mentioned ...

American Psycho (2000), a satirical psychological thriller film, is directed and co-written by Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner respectively. Set in 1987, the story follows investment banker Patrick Bateman as he maintains his façade for his fiancée Evelyn Williams and wealthy acquaintances. During a business meeting, Bateman’s colleagues showcase their business cards and obsess over their designs. One particular card belonging to Paul Allen sparks anger in Bateman, leading him to kill a homeless man and his dog later that night. As Bateman plans dinner with Allen after a Christmas party, he harbors resentment ...

The American biographical sports drama film, The Hurricane (1999), was directed and produced by Norman Jewison. It tells the story of Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter, a middleweight boxer wrongfully convicted of a triple murder in Paterson, New Jersey. After spending nearly two decades in prison, his sentence was finally overturned. The film focuses on Carter’s life from 1966 to 1985 as he fights against the unjust conviction. In parallel, we follow the journey of Lesra Martin, an underprivileged Afro-American youth from Brooklyn now living in Toronto. In the 1980s, Lesra becomes intrigued by ...

The film For Love of the Game (1999), directed by Sam Raimi and written by Dana Stevens, is based on Michael Shaara’s novel of the same name. The Detroit Tigers are scheduled to play a final series against the New York Yankees in New York City. Despite their 63-97 record, which eliminates them from any chance at the playoffs, they take pride in facing the Yankees who are vying for the American League East title. In his Manhattan hotel suite, 40-year-old pitcher Billy Chapel waits for his girlfriend Jane Aubrey, but ...

Bowfinger (1999) is an American satirical buddy comedy film, helmed by director Frank Oz. B movie maker Bobby Bowfinger has been collecting funds to direct his dream project since childhood: with $2,184 in hand, he is finally ready to cover the production expenses. A script (‘Chubby Rain’) written by an accountant, Afrim, and access to studio equipment through his camera operator Dave’s job as a gofer complete Bowfinger’s team. To fill the remaining gaps, Bowfinger enlists the help of actors in need of work and a group of undocumented Mexican immigrants to serve as his camera crew. All that is ...

The Mummy (1999), an American action-adventure film written and directed by Stephen Sommers, is a remake of the 1932 film with the same title. In ancient Egypt, high priest Imhotep engages in an illicit affair with Anck-su-Namun, the mistress of Pharaoh Seti. Despite strict rules forbidding any other men from touching her, their romance is discovered by the Pharaoh. To cover their tracks, Imhotep and Anck-su-Namun murder him and flee before his guards can find them. Tragically, Anck-su-Namun commits suicide with the hope of being resurrected by Imhotep. However, their plans are foiled when Seti’s guards catch them ...

The Bone Collector (1999), a crime thriller, was helmed by director Phillip Noyce. Set in New York City the year prior, the protagonist Lincoln Rhyme is left paralyzed from the neck down following an accident. While on patrol duty, Amelia Donaghy uncovers a mutilated body at an old Civil War-era railroad site. With Rhyme confined to his bed, he guides her through the investigation via video and audio feeds from her patrol car. Upon finding evidence that suggests foul play, Rhyme enlists Amelia’s help despite her initial hesitation. The killer poses as a taxi driver and kidnaps a married couple before our ...

The romantic comedy film, Shakespeare in Love (1998), was directed by John Madden. Set in London during 1593, it follows the story of William Shakespeare as he struggles with writer’s block while working for Philip Henslowe, owner of The Rose Theatre and the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. In an attempt to sell his new comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter, to rival theatre owner Richard Burbage, Shakespeare tries to seduce Rosaline, Burbage’s mistress. He also seeks advice from fellow playwright Christopher Marlowe. However, his plans are complicated when he discovers Rosaline is involved with ...

Out of Sight (1998) is an American crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Frank, adapted from Elmore Leonard’s 1996 novel of the same name. Jack Foley, a career bank robber, is serving time at Lompoc Penitentiary in California alongside his partner Buddy Bragg. During his time there, he befriends Glenn Michaels – a jittery petty criminal who never takes off his sunglasses – and Richard Ripley, a wealthy white collar criminal from Detroit. After Foley saves Ripley from being ...

The film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) was released, based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel of the same name. The story follows Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo as they speed through the Mojave Desert in 1971. While under the influence of mescaline, Duke shares his encounters with giant bats and takes stock of their drug supply. In their rented red Chevrolet Impala convertible, they pick up a hitchhiker and reveal their assignment from a magazine to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas. However, their excessive drug use causes the hitchhiker to flee on foot. Desperate to reach their destination before any ...

The film Meet Joe Black (1998), directed and produced by Martin Brest, tells the story of media mogul Bill Parrish. He’s considering a merger while his daughter Allison plans his 65th birthday bash. The younger daughter, Susan, is a resident in internal medicine who is dating Drew, a member of Bill’s board. As Bill observes Susan’s relationship with Drew and realizes she may not be truly in love, he encourages her to wait for true love instead. During their helicopter ride, Bill hears a mysterious voice but tries to brush it off. Later at the office, he experiences chest pains and hears the voice again ...

Dante’s Peak (1997) is a disaster film helmed by director Roger Donaldson and penned by writer Leslie Bohem. In 1993, USGS volcanologist Harry Dalton and his fiancée-turned-partner Marianne are caught in an eruption in Colombia. Despite their attempt to escape, a lava bomb crashes into their truck, killing Marianne. Four years later, Harry is assigned by his supervisor Dr. Paul Dreyfus to investigate seismic activity around the town of Dante’s Peak, Washington – which sits next to a stratovolcano – despite the emotional toll his previous work has ...

The American science fiction action film, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), takes place four years after the events on Isla Nublar. A British family unknowingly anchors their yacht near the nearby Isla Sorna, which is home to genetically engineered dinosaurs. During their visit, their daughter wanders off and is attacked by a pack of Compsognathus. Dr. John Hammond, who created the dinosaurs through his company InGen, invites mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm to his residence to discuss the incident. However, following the incident, Hammond’s nephew Peter Ludlow takes over control of InGen from him. Ian discovers that besides Isla Nublar, InGen also had a ...