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'Spider-Man' (2002) -

While 'Blade' (1998) and 'X-Men' (2000) came out first, Sam Raimi's web-swinging film officially began the superhero era.

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'Jaws' (1975) -

Premiering on June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg's marine monster movie became a cultural sensation that established the template for every blockbuster that followed.

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'Shrek' (2001) -

With the celebrity voices, pop culture references, and just being PG-rude, 'Shrek' became the defining DreamWorks Animation project.

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'Inception' (2010) -

Christopher Nolan never disappoints when it comes to his movies, and the brain-twisty 'Inception' wasn't an exception.

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'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003) -

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.

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'Grease' (1978) -

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!

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'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981) -

Featuring Nazis, biblical wrath, and snakes, the film gave audiences more action than most action movies ever had until that point.

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'Forrest Gump' (1994) -

Touching on every major cultural milestone in the second half of the 20th century, the highly quotable 'Forrest Gump' is just so darn charming.

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'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014) -

It wasn't just the action-packed adventure that made this one a hit—the soundtrack was also the best summer playlist!

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'Toy Story 3' (2010) -

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.

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'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' (1977) -

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.

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'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982) -

Cementing Steven Spielberg as a box-office powerhouse, 'E.T.' proved that a sentimental family flick could be just as lucrative as action.

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'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' (2011) -

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.

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'Gladiator' (2000) -

Starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen, this Roman epic by Ridley Scott is credited for reigniting interest in ancient tales.

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'Saving Private Ryan' (1998) -

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.

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'Ghostbusters' (1984) -

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?''

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'Wonder Woman' (2017) -

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.

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'There's Something About Mary' (1998) -

With a mix of gross-out absurdity and rom-com sweetness, 'There's Something About Mary' helped Cameron Diaz rise to fame.

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'Jurassic Park' (1993) -

Spielberg’s technologically groundbreaking dinosaur thriller was a worldwide sensation that went on to gross over US$914 million globally.

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'Independence Day' (1996) -

At the time the second highest-grossing film in history, this alien invasion summer epic cemented Will Smith as a bona fide movie star.

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'The Avengers' (2012) -

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!

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'The Sixth Sense' (1999) -

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.

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'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015) -

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. 

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'The Lion King' (1994) -

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.

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'Top Gun' (1986) -

With its breathtaking stunts and effects, showcasing the Navy’s famous flight school, 'Top Gun' became an iconic summer blockbuster.

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'The Dark Knight' (2008) -

The second installment of Christopher Nolan’s 'Batman' trilogy grossed over US$1 billion worldwide. It introduced a new era of grittier superhero movies.

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'Back to the Future' (1985) -

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.

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'Rambo: First Blood Part II' (1985) -

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.

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'Superman II' (1981) -

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.

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'National Lampoon's Animal House' (1978) -

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.

Sources: (Entertainment Weekly) (Time Out) (Mental Floss) 

See also: 30 films you have to watch once in your life 

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