Independence Day became the highest-grossing film of Will Smith's career, up until it was surpassed by Aladdin (2019).[2]
Rumble in the Bronx was released in North America, becoming Jackie Chan's first major box office hit in the region, with its US box office alone earning over 20 times its budget.[3] It was Chan's biggest ever hit up until then.[4]
Contextedit
The theatrical year of 1996 achieved a $5.8 billion domestic gross milestone and saw a record twelve films earning over $100 million by the end of December, with Independence Day earning over $300 million. However, the film industry experienced a surplus of releases between 1995 and 1996 that resulted in several box office flops, studio bankruptcies and sales, and otherwise successful films struggling to turn in a profit. The average cost of producing and marketing film rose to $60 million, a 20% increase from the previous year, with a contributing factor being the record high-salaries for stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Jim Carrey, Harrison Ford, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, and Demi Moore that became the subject of industry scrutiny following several high profile flops that were released in between 1995 and 1996. This resulted in studios having to cut their film slate by fifty percent to offset growing production and marketing costs and ensure more profits.[5][6][7][8][9]
September 20 – 75-year-old English actor Sir Dirk Bogarde has a severe stroke. He continued to need a wheelchair until his death in 1999.
December 20 - Scream is released to a surprised commercial success. Hailed as a influential landmark in the horror genre, it revitalized the declining slasher genre by satirizing the subgenre with characters that are well-versed in its clichés. Scream’s success lead to studios capitalizing especially on marketing horror films towards the teenage and young adult demographic.
^"Will Smith Movie Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
^Brownstein, Bill (27 January 1997). "Jackie Chan rules – on ledgers, too: Rumble in the Bronx earned more than 20 times its cost". The Gazette. p. 15. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Klady, Leonard (February 19, 1996). "B.O. with a vengeance: $9.1 billion worldwide". Variety. p. 1.
^Philip Sledge (2020-06-07). "Looking Back On Independence Day And The Highest Grossing Movies Of 1996". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
^Weinraub, Bernard (1996-07-30). "Hollywood Reeling As Many Blockbusters Become Quick Busts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
^Weinraub, Bernard (1996-06-17). "Film Glut Prompts Disney to Halve Production". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
^"Study: Film stars are overpaid - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
^Dutka, Elaine (1996-12-31). "The Money's Where the Action Is". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
^Smallwood, Bill (March 16, 1947). "Delightful Side". Los Angeles Sentinel. p. 17. ProQuest 562108876. Billye [sic] Yarbo and Nat Cole both birthday on the 17th.
^1940 United States Federal Census Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00416; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 60-362
^"Washington Death Index, 1965-2014," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLWM-FFV7 : 13 July 2017), Lillian M Yarbo, 12 Jun 1996, King, Washington, United States; from the Department of Health, Death Index, 1907-1960; 1965-2014, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Collections/TitleInfo/472 : n.d.); Citing Washington State Department of Health.