The 50 biggest summer blockbusters ever, ranked (including 'Jaws')
The 50 biggest summer blockbusters ever, ranked (including 'Jaws')
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These are the top 3 summer movie blockbusters of all time
USA TODAY movie critic Brian Truitt breaks down the top summer blockbusters of all time.
"Jaws" chewed up the box office 50 years ago, and Hollywood was never the same.
The blockbuster was born that summer when Steven Spielberg's instantly classic shark movie took a bite out of pop culture and set the stage for the next five decades. Every summer since, film lovers have bought tickets, stood in lines, snapped up merch – we remember you fondly, Batmania! – and gone all in on the biggest movies, from "Star Wars" episodes and Marvel superhero flicks to animated family movies and so, so many sequels.
That's 50 years, 50 blockbusters. So what's the greatest of them all? That's what we're here to find out, fam. In honor of the "Jaws" anniversary, we're ranking the biggest movies of summer (May through August) since 1975 according to Box Office Mojo, from worst to best.
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50. 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' (2009)
Dead last still seems too high for this dreck. The first "Transformers" sequel is infamous for being the one where a gigantic Decepticon has a wrecking ball for genitalia. Optimus Prime can't be that proud of this.
49. 'Spider-Man 3' (2007)
After two great Tobey Maguire Spidey movies, the threequel nosedived with too many supervillains, a terrible plot and Peter Parker doing an evil dance – with hip thrusts! – to a funky James Brown jam.
48. 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' (1999)
So many fans flocked to theaters for the first "Star Wars" in 16 years only to be met by midi-chlorians, Jar Jar Binks and a clunky plot. That said, the whole trade negotiations thing seems strangely timely now.
47. 'Iron Man 3' (2013)
Good news: It wasn't "Iron Man 2." Bad news: It wasn't "Iron Man." There's only so much Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley criminally underutilized as a living, breathing plot twist, and a whole platoon of armored suits can do.
46. 'Rambo: First Blood Part II' (1985)
Sylvester Stallone's thoughtful and complex "First Blood" was followed up by perhaps the most macho, gung-ho, mindless action-fest of the 1980s – which is saying something.
45. 'Shrek 2' (2004)
A definite letdown after the first "Shrek," the sequel was an excuse to bring in a cavalcade of supporting characters. Introducing Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots was one of the best moves ever, however.
44. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006)
Yes, you are seeing a pattern developing – a first great movie, followed by a not-so-great movie. Not as electric a quest as the original "Pirates," "Dead Man's Chest" does deliver Bill Nighy as octopus-y crab dude Davy Jones.
43. 'Mission: Impossible II' (2000)
Tom Cruise's "Mission" franchise sets a high bar for action, so it's head-scratching that the worst one winds up here. John Woo is the master, though he's off his game here, thanks to melodrama and excessive slo-mo.
42. 'The Amityville Horror' (1979)
Hindsight is 20/20, but it's wild that this somehow outgrossed "Rocky II," "Apocalypse Now," "Moonraker" and "Alien." Young couple buys a house that turns out to be a haunting hotbed of creepy flies and evil spirits.
41. 'Beverly Hills Cop II' (1987)
Eddie Murphy's Detroit cop Axel Foley returns to help his SoCal buds to take down shady criminals. An action comedy with an overload of action and not much comedy, it's a waste of Murphy's charismatic antics.
40. 'Jurassic World' (2015)
Between epic throwdowns among dino species and Chris Pratt zooming through the jungle with his ride-or-die crew of velociraptors, this thing's trying way too hard to live up to Steven Spielberg's first "Jurassic Park."
39. 'Finding Dory' (2016)
The sequel featuring Ellen DeGeneres' forgetful fish lacks the joy of undersea exploration and big heart of "Finding Nemo," yet "Dory" came hard when adding to its aquarium of guest stars (Idris Elba as a sleepy sea lion).
38. 'Black Widow' (2021)
Scarlett Johansson's Avenger has her backstory explored and reconnects with her adoptive family. It's just a pretty good Marvel outing but introduced Florence Pugh and scene-stealing David Harbour to the MCU.
37. 'Batman Forever' (1995)
The first post-Tim Burton Bat-flick has a bad rap for going full camp rather than keeping with the grittiness. But come on, Jim Carrey's Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones' Two-Face are out of their minds enough to be enjoyable.
36. 'The Lion King' (2019)
Disney's "live action" remake brings the star power. Donald Glover as Simba! Beyoncé as Nala! The CGI animal characters are fairly dazzling to watch singing those old songs. The story, though? Same as it ever was.
35. 'Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith' (2005)
"Sith" is the prequel trilogy that feels most like the original movies, the kind of dark episode that screams for a new hope down the line. Anakin and Obi-Wan's lightsaber brawl is an all-timer just for sheer brutality.
34. 'Toy Story 3' (2010)
The most harrowing of all "Toy Story" movies. The gang is in existential crisis mode when they get thrown into a donation box and face their own mortality at a day care run by a sadistic teddy bear. It is, as the kids say, a lot.
33. 'Incredibles 2' (2018)
The sequel to Pixar's greatest hit misses the scrappy charm and rousing attitude of the original. This time around, the superpowered clan struggle through personal issues while also working on getting some PR going.
Top 3 scary moments in 'Jaws'
'Jaws' turns 50 this summer and USA TODAY film critic Brian Truitt celebrates with his favorite bloody moments.
32. 'Tenet' (2020)
Christopher Nolan's puzzle box of a thriller stars John David Washington and Robert Pattinson as secret agents who have to use time inversion to save the world. Still not sure what time inversion is but, man, it looks cool.
31. 'Wonder Woman' (2017)
In the World War II adventure, the stirring sight of Gal Gadot's superhero walking across No Man's Land by herself, bullets bouncing off her bracelets and shield, is etched into cinema history.
30. 'Inside Out 2' (2024)
We're not all teens hitting puberty, but we can understand the extra emotions involved in this clever Pixar sequel. There's something universally so relatable in watching a frazzle-haired Anxiety totally get in the way of inner Joy.
29. 'Men in Black' (1997)
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' buddy-cop vibe is on point in this goofy sci-fi action comedy, with Smith as the suave and cocky rookie and Jones as the deadpan veteran. (Extra points for Big Willie's kicky title theme song.)
28. 'Ghost' (1990)
A romantically supernatural palate cleanser among superhero adventures and macho fantasies – with the most sensuous pottery-making session you'll ever witness between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.
27. 'Shrek' (2001)
The original "Shrek" is downright hilarious poking fun at Disney and princess stories, and the buddy pairing of Mike Myers' grumpy ogre and Eddie Murphy's chatty donkey remains inspired genius.
26. 'The Omen' (1976)
The horror movie wasn't the first in the creepy-kid genre, yet it's certainly one of the best and most infamous. Gregory Peck plays a diplomat who secretly adopts a baby who turns out to be the son of Satan. Oops.
25. 'Superman II' (1981)
Even though "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was a summer release that ruled the rest of the year, the Man of Steel sequel was also a phenomenon. And that's because even when you take away Christopher Reeve's superpowers, that dude doesn't lose a lick of heroism.
24. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' (2011)
Harry Potter vs. Voldemort, for all the magical marbles. You'll be psyched to watch this epic throwdown, plus a huge Battle of Hogwarts that's like "Avengers: Endgame" for kids with magic wands.
23. 'Finding Nemo' (2003)
You, too, will be overly invested in the emotional lives of fish thanks to this heartwarming Pixar film. Albert Brooks upped his status among youngsters as an overprotective clownfish dad who desperately searches for his son.
22. 'Batman Returns' (1992)
The art deco sequel/Christmas movie pits the Caped Crusader against the nightmarishly freaky Penguin and the fierce, leather-clad Catwoman. If you didn't meow when Michelle Pfeiffer showed up back in the day, you weren't living.
21. 'Armageddon' (1998)
Sometimes an action movie is so proudly nuts that you just let the bonkers-ness wash over you. Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck are oil-drilling roughnecks who have to nuke an asteroid before it can wipe out humanity. Sure!
20. 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Arnold Schwarzenegger has never been better than as a reprogrammed hero T-800, and Robert Patrick's liquid-metal villain exudes unfeeling menace. Come for the special-effects bonanza, stay for a most epic thumbs-up.
19. 'Independence Day' (1996)
Space invaders blow up the White House in an all-out assault on Earth, and Will Smith's hotshot pilot and Jeff Goldblum's brainiac scientist are among those who fight back with fervor. It's a B-movie with A-level excitement.
18. 'Grease' (1978)
For musical-theater types, this is the one that you want. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sang and danced their way into America's hearts with a movie musical that features the least-dangerous high school gangs ever.
17. 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)
Tom Cruise absolutely cooks returning to his most iconic role (sorry, Ethan Hunt) alongside young Hollywood's finest ('sup, Glen Powell!), with more quality man hugs and go-for-broke macho attitude.
16. 'Spider-Man' (2002)
Who cares if Tobey Maguire was 26 playing a wall-crawling teen with superpowers? Watching his Peter Parker learn to swing through New York City as Spidey gave comic-book fans life years before the MCU.
15. 'Barbie' (2023)
Barbie Land. Barbie having an existential crisis. "I'm Just Ken." The Mojo Dojo Casa House. The patriarchy (ick). That feminist meta pop-culture moment everyone loved. All of that's Kenough to make a modern classic.
14. 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
Cameos aplenty (Mickey Mouse! Bugs Bunny! Droppy Dog!) pepper the main plot of wacky Roger Rabbit being framed for murder and needing to team up with 'toon-hating private eye Eddie Valiant (a great Bob Hoskins).
13. 'The Lion King' (1994)
The Disney classic gave children a taste of Shakespearean drama, whether they knew it or not, sprinkled with zesty Elton John tunes. An instant phenomenon as resonant as James Earl Jones' deep Mufasa voice.
12. 'The Avengers' (2012)
Super-friends team up, navigate friction and save New York City from an alien invasion. It's the moment when the Marvel Cinematic Universe became an undeniable force and laid a spectacular Hulk smash on pop culture.
11. 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)
Still the best thing that ever happened for Reese's Pieces. Steven Spielberg's heartwarming fantasy followed a boy (Henry Thomas) who befriends a stranded alien trying to get home. The definition of an all-ages picture.
10. 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014)
"The Avengers" was an easy home run. Marvel's more impressive big swing was getting audiences to fall in love with a talking raccoon, a tree and their motley crew of space misfits. Say it with me: We. Are. Groot.
9. 'Jurassic Park' (1993)
Kids have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. Steven Spielberg just happened to put that wonder on-screen. Like Laura Dern and Sam Neill, our jaws drop when we see their majesty set to a stirring John Williams theme.
8. 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi' (1983)
Yes, the one with the Ewoks is the best "Star Wars" trilogy closer. It's a satisfying conclusion that shows how weird this galaxy truly is, and also an emotional finale of a father finding redemption through his son.
7. 'Top Gun' (1986)
"I'll be your wingman anytime." The fact that Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer's rival hotshots can be friends means there's hope for all of us. As Maverick, cockiness just drips off Cruise at all times, even in beach volleyball.
6. 'Batman' (1989)
Tim Burton's stylish, striking and slightly gonzo take on the Dark Knight defined the hero for a generation. Michael Keaton brings enough madness that you think, yeah, this guy definitely dresses up as a bat to fight crime.
5. 'Jaws' (1975)
The world wasn't ready for Steven Spielberg's scary story of a beach town beset by a killer great white. It's both a shark-fueled fright fest and an introspective quest for three men hunting a fish who all need a victory.
4. 'Star Wars' (1977)
The original "Star Wars" captured hearts and minds with a farm boy, a rogue smuggler and a feisty princess taking on a far-reaching Empire. And Darth Vader is just the right foil for these underdogs.
3. 'The Dark Knight' (2008)
Christian Bale's indefatigable Batman matches wits with Heath Ledger's chaotic, unpredictable Joker in Christopher Nolan's intoxicating, powerhouse affair about the fine line between good and evil.
2. 'Ghostbusters' (1984)
Mixing adult comedy with kid-friendly shenanigans, ghostly mayhem and even a little thoughtful spirituality ensues when four guys protect Manhattan from being toasted by an ancient demon and a kaiju-sized marshmallow guy.
1. 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' (1980)
From the opening battle on an ice planet to that truth-bomb cliffhanger, there are no false notes in the "Star Wars" sequel. Yoda teaches the life lesson, "Do or do not, there is no try." And this blockbuster succeeded in taking a nifty sci-fi fairy tale with Arthurian overtones and creating something magnificent and unforgettable.
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