10 Movies That Escaped The Dump Month Curse

1993's Dazed and Confused granted director Richard Linklater a cult following in independent cinema and his success would continue with the release of Before Sunrise on January 27, 1995.

Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the film barely has a plot but despite it just being about two young people walking in Vienna, Before Sunrise succeeds by making the characters behave like real people. Sure, its narrative may feel mundane, yet our two leads feel so natural and candid. Jesse and Celine are characters who share an emotional connection but also have differences in how they view life. Their falling in love is believable but at the same time, the film always makes sure that they're two different people with different goals and aspirations.

Ultimately, this is why Before Sunrise would resonate with audiences despite being a romantic movie that wasn't like its contemporaries. In fact, its execution made it stand out compared to the more typical romantic films being released at the time. The film grossed $22.5 million on a $2.5 million budget and would spawn two sequels Before Sunset and Before Midnight all released in 9-year gaps.