6 stars from the ’90s who are overdue for a Jeff Goldblum-like comeback

Jeff Goldblum was on top of the world.

With “Jurassic Park” and “Independence Day,” he starred in the highest-grossing movies of 1993 and 1996. Were it not for “Men in Black” and a little film called “Titanic,” he would have repeated that feat with 1997’s “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.”

It was one of the unlikeliest box-office runs since the summer of 1989, when Rick Moranis appeared in three $100 million movies — “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” “ Ghostbusters II” and “Parenthood” — back when earning $100 million meant something.

But aside from some memorable work in Wes Anderson projects, that was pretty much the end of Goldblum’s movie career.

Until now.

After being sorely missed in last summer’s “Jurassic World,” Goldblum is bringing his eccentric line readings to this weekend’s “Independence Day: Resurgence.” He’ll follow that up by portraying The Grandmaster in next fall’s “Thor: Ragnarok.”

Since “Independence Day: Resurgence” is the rare high-profile studio release that isn’t being screened for critics, here’s a look at some other Hollywood stars from the 1990s who, like Goldblum, are overdue for a comeback.

JOHN TRAVOLTA

In the ’90s: “Pulp Fiction,” “Get Shorty,” “Face/Off,” “Broken Arrow,” “Michael,” “Phenomenon”

Lately: “Hairspray” (2007), “Bolt” (2008), “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (2016)

John Travolta was reduced to making movies about talking babies before Quentin Tarantino cast him in “Pulp Fiction,” but the movie roles that followed dried up nearly as quickly as they had flooded in. His willingness to head back to his TV roots this year as Robert Shapiro in Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story” franchise is a step in the right direction. Now that Jessica Lange has moved on from “American Horror Story,” Travolta could replace her as Murphy’s muse.

BRUCE WILLIS

In the ’90s: “Pulp Fiction,” “Die Hard 2,” “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Armageddon,” “Twelve Monkeys,” “The Fifth Element”

Lately: “Red” (2010), “Looper” (2012), “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” (2013)

Like Goldblum, Bruce Willis has shined in a Wes Anderson movie (2012’s “Moonrise Kingdom”), but when it comes to his trademark action roles, he’s mostly been a team player. He’s reached the age where he’s supposed to star in Eli Roth’s “Death Wish” remake. Still, Willis has to have at least one more blockbuster in him. Hopefully it won’t be the rumored “Die Hard: Year One” prequel, though. That sounds abysmal.

DEMI MOORE

In the ’90s: “Ghost,” “A Few Good Men,” “Indecent Proposal,” “Disclosure,” “GI Jane,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

Lately: “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (2003), “Margin Call” (2011), watching daughter Rumer Willis from the audience at “Dancing with the Stars” (2015)

Say what you will about her acting skills, but in 1994’s “Disclosure,” Demi Moore was able to convince moviegoers that being sexually harassed by her was a bad thing. Unlike her ex-husband Willis, Moore has kept a low profile since her comeback role in the “Charlie’s Angels” sequel. Still, there must be room for her in Sandra Bullock’s upcoming all-female “Ocean’s Eleven” spinoff. If not, there’s surely a sexy grandma role for Moore somewhere on cable like the one Ellen Barkin’s playing on TNT’s “Animal Kingdom.”

MIKE MYERS

In the ’90s: “Wayne’s World,” “Wayne’s World 2,” “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”

Lately: The “Shrek” movies, “The Cat in the Hat” (2003), “The Love Guru” (2008)

Aside from his small role in 2009’s “Inglourious Basterds” and his schwing-ing by the “Saturday Night Live” 40th anniversary special, Mike Myers mostly has spent the past decade being seen and not heard as the voice of Shrek. There are rumors of a fourth “Austin Powers” movie, but surely he can come up with something better than that. If Netflix can give Adam Sandler a four-movie deal, Myers has to be worth at least one.

MEG RYAN

In the ’90s: “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Courage Under Fire,” “French Kiss”

Lately: “Kate & Leopold” (2001), “The Women” (2008)

Meg Ryan’s reputation as America’s Sweetheart took a beating after she had an affair with co-star Russell Crowe while filming 2000’s “Proof of Life.” She’s barely worked since, and her comeback vehicle, narrating the sitcom spinoff “How I Met Your Dad,” never materialized. Still, Ryan knows how to make news: Her dramatic new look unveiled at June 12’s Tony Awards made headlines by trending higher than the Pulse nightclub shooting earlier that morning.

NICOLAS CAGE

In the ’90s: “The Rock,” “Con Air,” “Face/Off,” “Honeymoon in Vegas,” “Leaving Las Vegas”

Lately: “Kick-Ass” (2010), “The Croods” (2013), “Left Behind” (2014)

Nicolas Cage hasn’t stopped acting since moving to Las Vegas in 2012. It’s just that most of his movies no longer end up at the multiplexes. He still has that spark, though, as briefly evidenced in his recent made-in-Vegas heist movie, “The Trust.” Hopefully, he’ll find his way to some gritty indie role, like Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler.” If not, he could always reteam with Travolta for “Face/Off 2: Castor Troy’s Revenge.”

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @life_onthecouch