Some completely missed the mark
A long-delayed fourth sequel in the hit post-apocalyptic franchise, the iconic 'Mad Max: Fury Road' broke all expectations of a modern Hollywood blockbuster.
Touching on every major cultural milestone in the second half of the 20th century, the highly quotable 'Forrest Gump' is just so darn charming.
While the 1978 original hooked audiences with then-impressive special effects, the sequel wowed everyone with enormous action sequences of a superhero fighting villains and crashing through concrete walls.
Spielberg’s technologically groundbreaking dinosaur thriller was a worldwide sensation that went on to gross over US$914 million globally.
With the celebrity voices, pop culture references, and just being PG-rude, 'Shrek' became the defining DreamWorks Animation project.
Alongside fellow blockbuster 'Forrest Gump', 'The Lion King' ruled the 1994 box office. Both kids and their parents were absolutely amazed by the then-revolutionary animation.
With a mix of gross-out absurdity and rom-com sweetness, 'There's Something About Mary' helped Cameron Diaz rise to fame.
A box-office smash and Best Picture nominee, the creepy visuals of this movie, and its game-changing twist, managed to be both surprising and inevitable.
While 'Blade' (1998) and 'X-Men' (2000) came out first, Sam Raimi's web-swinging film officially began the superhero era.
From John Belushi's iconic performance to the biggest toga party since Roman times, 'National Lampoon's Animal House' launched a love of comedies for many generations to come.
Premiering on June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg's marine monster movie became a cultural sensation that established the template for every blockbuster that followed.
The second installment of Christopher Nolan’s 'Batman' trilogy grossed over US$1 billion worldwide. It introduced a new era of grittier superhero movies.
Blending comedy, adventure, and honest emotion, 'Toy Story 3' mapped out all of our leftover childhood imagination. Plus, it made over US$1 billion at the global box office.
Cementing Steven Spielberg as a box-office powerhouse, 'E.T.' proved that a sentimental family flick could be just as lucrative as action.
The final chapter of 'Harry Potter' was the most lucrative of the original film series, making US$381.2 million at the US box office.
Christopher Nolan never disappoints when it comes to his movies, and the brain-twisty 'Inception' wasn't an exception.
Featuring some of the funniest guys on the planet, 'Ghostbusters' came to define '80s cinema. And many decades later, everyone still knows the answer to the question "Who you gonna call?''
Despite initial skepticism from fans and critics alike, this superhero-uniting film became the highest-grossing release of 2012, with over US$1 billion in international ticket sales. And we all know what it kicked off!
It wasn't just the action-packed adventure that made this one a hit—the soundtrack was also the best summer playlist!
This sci-fi comedy adventure made a splash in theaters, and it transformed Michael J. Fox from a popular TV actor to a huge movie star.
With its breathtaking stunts and effects, showcasing the Navy’s famous flight school, 'Top Gun' became an iconic summer blockbuster.
The number one film of 1978, this wop-bop-a-loo-bopping high school musical about the aftermath of summer lovin' was a natural fit for a June release. And we still love it!
Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen, this Roman epic by Ridley Scott is credited for reigniting interest in ancient tales.
The DC Extended Universe hadn't been a consistent heavyweight at the box office, until 'Wonder Woman' came along, making US$412.6 million in US earnings alone.
Achieving worldwide box-office revenues of around US$775 million, few could predict how this space epic would dominate pop culture for decades to come.
At the time the second highest-grossing film in history, this alien invasion summer epic cemented Will Smith as a bona fide movie star.
The first film of the franchise was an immense success, which helped define a certain kind of Hollywood product: epic but fun, filled with action but child-friendly, and spooky but not scary.
Featuring Nazis, biblical wrath, and snakes, the film gave audiences more action than most action movies ever had until that point.
One of the highest grossing movies of that year, Steven Spielberg's World War II epic won five of the 11 Oscars it was up for.
A sequel to 'First Blood' (1982), this is the second installment in the 'Rambo' franchise, where John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) returns to Vietnam, and wins this time.
It's hard to imagine now, but summer was once a slow season for movie theaters. With the lack of central air, it was hard to convince people to take a break from outdoor activities and spend time in a stuffy, windowless room. Even as venues improved, the industry still remained hesitant to take risks on summer releases. However, that all changed in the mid '70s when Hollywood realized that big concepts, action, and stunning special effects could attract audiences.
Released between May and August, these films had to have grossed at least US$100 million globally, the standard benchmark for blockbuster status. That said, and without further ado, click on to reminisce about the best summer blockbusters of all time.
30 of the best summer blockbusters of all time
These summer movies left their mark on audiences
MOVIES Cinema
It's hard to imagine now, but summer was once a slow season for movie theaters. With the lack of central air, it was hard to convince people to take a break from outdoor activities and spend time in a stuffy, windowless room. Even as venues improved, the industry still remained hesitant to take risks on summer releases. However, that all changed in the mid '70s when Hollywood realized that big concepts, action, and stunning special effects could attract audiences.
Released between May and August, these films had to have grossed at least US$100 million globally, the standard benchmark for blockbuster status. That said, and without further ado, click on to reminisce about the best summer blockbusters of all time.