The 18 Best Summer Blockbusters Ever

Polls don’t lie! Here are the 18 best summer blockbusters ever.

We’ve been celebrating summer movies with a site-wide debate week focused on identifying the best summer blockbuster of them all [cough] Jaws [cough] and we even sent our picks out on Twitter to see which film would win based on thousands of votes. As everyone knows, though, the smaller the sample size the more accurate the results (this is not true), so in addition to the Twitter polling we’ve also conducted our own internal poll.

The results may surprise you, but only if you haven’t been paying attention.

Keep reading for our take on the eighteen best summer blockbusters of all time… as decided by sixteen members of FSR.

18. The Fugitive (1993)

Do you like iconic one-liners? How about seeing a prestigious doctor falsely accused of murdering his own wife? Getting to watch Harrison Ford in high-stress situations? Dramatic confrontations in lavish ballrooms? Classic gas station bathroom hair-dyeing scenes? Andrew Davis‘ The Fugitive has all of that and much much more. Come for Dr. Richard Kimble (Ford) and Samuel Gerard’s (Tommy Lee Jones) high stakes game of cat and mouse, and stay for Richard’s thrilling hunt for his white whale: the elusive one-armed man. – Madison Brek

17. Ratatouille (2007)

“Anyone can cook,” declares Chef Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett), the renowned French chef whose legacy shapes the plot of Brad Bird’s 2007 beloved animated blockbuster Ratatouille. Much like the movie itself, it’s a simple yet somehow profoundly heartwarming statement. When culinary-minded rat Remy (Patton Oswalt) learns that he can control the hands of hapless garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano), the unlikely team-up quickly transforms Linguini into a gourmet superstar – a setup that proves ripe for priceless physical comedy (which the film delivers expertly in lively, dynamic computer animation), but also a strikingly earnest message that reminds us that imagination and creative talent shouldn’t be discounted because it comes from an unlikely place (in this case, a literal sewer-dwelling rodent). It’s the cinematic equivalent of a gourmet five-course meal – both utterly delectable and full of substance. – Aline Dolinh

16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

In the seven-year sojourn between T1 and T2, Arnold Schwarzenegger training-montage’d himself into a whole new kind of leading man; headlining the likes of Commando, Predator, and Total Recall to cement himself as a sympathetic action genre great. In turn, James Cameron‘s Terminator 2: Judgment Day needed a new kind of Terminator: a good guy, a protector, a capable beefcake to face off against the cutting edge CG metamorphic baddie of Robert Patrick’s T-1000. Throw in a gutsy teen and a newly gun-toting Linda Hamilton and you’ve got yourself one of the best summer blockbusters/sequels/action movies in cinema history. Humanity’s inevitable self-destruction has never been so goddamn fun. – Meg Shields

15. Bridesmaids (2011)

Summer means blockbuster season for Hollywood, but it also means wedding season. Bridesmaids offered something that many audiences hadn’t seen before in a summer blockbuster: an original female comedy, written by two women, with a scene involving Melissa McCarthy shitting into a sink.  It’s now become the yardstick by which female comedies are judged, for better or for worse. – Sarah Foulkes

14. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Released near the end of summer 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy was no ordinary superhero blockbuster. As a film about a group of cynical outcasts who reluctantly answer the call to be heroes and never take themselves too seriously, it was a game changer for the MCU and the superhero genre in general. By hitting on deeper themes regarding family and finding a connection with others, it not only accomplished making the heroes feel relatable but it also totally immersed us in their journey. Plus, it has everything you could hope for from a summer blockbuster including an adventurous story with lots of heart, smart comedy, and a killer soundtrack that takes you back to the 70’s even if you never lived during that decade. It’s entertaining and pure joy all the way through, making it a perfect summer movie. – Natalie Mokry

13. Ghostbusters (1984)

In May 1984, Columbia Pictures made a call to the world. They did so with a very catchy (if somewhat familiar) eponymous song by Ray Parker Jr. and its star-studded music video. The lyrics inquired, “Who you gonna call?” But the tune also asked, “What you gonna see?” The answer to both: Ghostbusters. The paranormal comedy offered a very fresh (if somewhat familiar) mix of jokes and special effects spectacle that hadn’t really been done so perfectly broad and accessible before and rarely has such a combo been done so well since. Bill, Dan, Harold and Ernie as Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston immediately became iconic in their costumes and their dialogue-driven personalities. Its release in June 1984 brought a cool new classic to the hot summer days, high in concept, simple in plot, just creepy and crude enough for the older kids while just light enough for the whole family, Ghostbusters killed so much with audiences, it shoulda been called Ghostmakers. Fortunately, it’s a lot funnier than I am. – Chris Campbell

12. The Rock (1996)

Michael Bay is essentially a far more productive (but less talented) James Cameron. Just as Avatar has sucked up Cameron’s time, the Transformers movies have sucked up Bay’s, and it’s a damn shame too because when he’s not churning out giant sentient robot flicks he’s delivered some highly entertaining big-screen entertainment. Bad Boys, 13 Hours, and The Island (shut up, it’s great) are all exciting watches, but his action masterpiece is The Rock. There’s charisma to spare on both sides of the moral divide, there’s a suspenseful countdown scenario, and the stellar action set-pieces run the gamut of shootouts, car chases, and brawls. Everything about this movie rocks, and yeah, that pun was intended. – Rob Hunter

11. Star Wars (1977)

Forty years and eight sequels later, it’s easy to dismiss George Lucas‘ zippy hero’s journey as just the beginning of decades upon decades of Hollywood noise. You shouldn’t. Jaws may have invented the summer blockbuster, but Star Wars perfected it, leaping from set piece to set piece with the wild abandon of a ten-year-old dropping his action figures off of the backyard porch. Modern blockbusters can keep tossing explosions around; they’ll never top the pure exhilaration of that climactic trench run. – John DiLillo

10. Aliens (1986)

Most sequels follow in lock-step with their predecessor in every way but size, but James Cameron‘s sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic is every bit as fantastic even as it changes up the genre. The sci-fi is still here, obviously, but the slasher/horror aspect of Alien is traded in for blistering action and epic set-pieces. Sigourney Weaver delivers one of the screen’s most memorable kick-ass females. The film does a fantastic job introducing a broad selection of characters before setting their world ablaze with alien carnage, corporate fuckery, and incredibly suspenseful sequences. It’s over two hours of pure adrenaline, and it’s always a good time to enjoy it again. – Rob Hunter

9. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Steven Spielberg directed three of the films on this list (and produced another one), and while his other two ranked higher based on votes that’s no slight against Indiana Jones’ first adventure. (Hell, every film on this list is a guaranteed slice of cinematic brilliance.) This film remains a rousing experience from beginning to end with scenes that leave audiences laughing, cheering, and holding their collective breath. Nazis are always a good choice for antagonists, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better cinematic denouement for their dastardly deeds (outside of maybe Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds) than they get here. – Rob Hunter

8. The Avengers (2012)

Your enthusiasm on the first five films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may vary. Iron Man revealed an emotionally fractured military arms dealer struggling to seek amends via vigilante justice and a boundless desire to tinker, The Incredible Hulk looked to replicate the appeal of the original television show while ignoring the embarrassment of that Ang Lee ordeal, Thor had to prove this universe could offer more than earthbound routine, and Captain America: The First Avenger made patriotism cool again just so it could shatter the American dream in the sequel. Then The Avengers brought the whole gang together and nothing would be the same again. You may prefer one hero to the other, but once you see these titans standing in a circle together, the appeal of the standalone franchise begins to dwindle. Ten years into this endeavor and my astonishment of watching Captain America order The Hulk to smash has not diminished. These are Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assembled under one banner. While the MCU will probably continue well beyond our deaths, it will be hard to replicate the original sense of wonder at seeing these characters sharing shawarma together. – Brad Gullickson

7. Die Hard (1988)

John McTiernan’s career is an odd one, but sandwiched between the terrific fun of 1987’s Predator and the suspenseful tension of 1990’s The Hunt for Red October sits one of the greatest action movies ever made. Die Hard certainly wasn’t the first to pit an out-gunned underdog against trained and heavily-armed baddies, but sweet Jesus does it execute the premise with perfection. Bruce Willis proved himself capable of more than mere smirks and one-liners (although they’re present here too), and the film’s numerous beats of action, suspense, and humanity remain every bit as powerful today as they were thirty years ago. The film spawned four lesser sequels, the second of which saw McTiernan return with the goods, but the original remains a modern classic. – Rob Hunter

6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Back in 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl was the definition of high-risk, high-reward filmmaking: a PG-13 live-action Disney film based on a theme park ride, and an adventure-comedy starring a mix of serious actors and relative unknowns. Somehow, it all worked. Besides reintroducing the word “swashbuckling” into our cultural vocabulary and generating one of the best soundtracks of the new millennium, the film brought us a set of singular characters, a ragtag bunch of poetic, bizarre, and begrudging heroes for the ages. Of course, none were more memorable than Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. The pirate’s self-made mythology and grungy charm inspired countless imitators (and faded with each sequel), but for one golden summer, he sauntered the fine line between a soaring children’s adventure saga and an endlessly dark folk tale to become a pop culture legend. – Valerie Ettenhofer

5. Back to the Future (1985)

To me, the best summer movies fall into the action-adventure or comedy genre, providing a thrilling ride and/or gut-busting jokes needed during those sweltering nights. Back to the Future fits both categories, expertly balancing excitement and danger with humor and gags. The skateboard chase alone is iconic because it employs both so well. When Marty McFly goes back in time thirty years, 1955 first serves solely as a set piece to mine fish-out-of-water jokes, but the stakes are quickly introduced and we fear for his safety while he tries to get back home. From the ultra-tense clocktower finale to the feel-good Johnny B. Goode number, Robert Zemeckis‘ mid-80s hit is the classic summer movie. – Alex Vitti

4. The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan’s sequel to one of the best superhero movies ever made actually is the BEST superhero movie ever made. With The Dark Knight, the director transcended typical caped crusader fare to deliver a chaotic crime saga that’s reminiscent of Michael Mann’s finest works. Here, Gotham City feels like an integral character in its own right, and its soul is completely torn. The blockbuster spectacle is exquisite, but it’s an action film with real stakes and casualties. Additionally, the film does an excellent job of making you empathize with several perspectives, regardless of where they sit on the good/evil spectrum. Plus, who doesn’t love a villain who just wants to see the world burn? – Kieran Fisher

3. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

From its convulsive action sequences and war drum-laden soundtrack to its onslaught of themes (feminism, climate change, dystopia), the latest in George Miller’s apocalyptic sci-fi franchise is a roaring, screeching ride. Charlize Theron leads an empowered band of sex slaves to freedom in a totally unexpected spotlight shift from the movie’s predecessors, with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) relegated to a mere supporting role. This, plus its superlative, Pimp-My-Ride production design and sparse, guttural dialogue, mean Mad Max: Fury Road’s radicalness is so deep-rooted that watching it is always a visceral, rather than an intellectual, experience – just what a great summer blockbuster should be. – Farah Cheded

2. Jurassic Park (1993)

We give Steven Spielberg a lot of credit as the Godfather of the Blockbuster. And rightly so. With Jaws, he kicked the whole thing into gear. From then on, our perception of watching movies during the summer months changed. But it wasn’t until Jurassic Park that he’d perfected the craft of the blockbuster. It’s a film full of heart, a genuine scientific curiosity, and of course, dinosaurs that look so real you’d believe it was all live-action. Jurassic Park isn’t just a great summer movie, it’s the largest dot on the roadmap of cinema. It’s the blending of the classic, the modern, and as time has shown, it was also very much a film of the future. We won’t see it’s kind again soon. – Neil Miller

1. Jaws (1975)

Were summer blockbusters even a thing before 1975’s Jaws? Not according to the numbers, since its release catapulted it to the position of the highest-grossing movie of all time. A beach movie that made its audience terrified of the beach, Jaws didn’t just dominate the summer — it epitomized it and ruined it. Premiering on June 20th, it doomed its viewers to an entire season of second-guessing their trips to the shore. Maybe that was the film’s secret agenda: audiences had to beat the heat by going to the movies because they sure as hell weren’t going in the water. Whatever it was, it worked, and Jaws earned its place as the quintessential summer blockbuster that still graces some big screens every year to terrify new generations of beachgoers. – Liz Baessler

 

Individual picks for five favorite summer blockbusters ever:

Liz Baessler — Jaws (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), The Lion King (1994), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Madison Brek — The Fly (1986), The Fugitive (1993), The Truman Show (1998), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Chris Campbell — Jaws (1975), Ghostbusters (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Die Hard (1988), The Rock (1996)

Farah Cheded — Jaws (1975), Chicken Run (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Ratatouille (2007), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

John DiLillo — Star Wars (1977), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Back to the Future (1985), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Up (2009)

Aline Dolinh — Aliens (1986), The Fly (1986), Jurassic Park (1993), Ratatouille (2007), Pacific Rim (2013)

Valerie Ettenhofer — Jurassic Park (1993), The Truman Show (1998), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), The Dark Knight (2008), Star Trek (2009)

Kieran Fisher — Predator (1987), Point Break (1991), Face/Off (1997), The Dark Knight (2008), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Sarah Foulkes — The Bourne Identity (2002), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Toy Story 3 (2010), Bridesmaids (2011), Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Brad Gullickson – Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Aliens (1986), The Avengers (2012)

Rob Hunter — Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Die Hard (1988), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Neil Miller — Jaws (1975), Jurassic Park (1993), Independence Day (1996), The Rock (1996), The Dark Knight (2008)

Natalie Mokry — The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Spider-Man (2002), Shrek 2 (2004), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Meg Shields — Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Sophia Stewart — Minority Report (2002), X-Men 2 (2003), The Dark Knight (2008), District 9 (2009), Wonder Woman (2017)

Alex Vitti — Jaws (1975), Back to the Future (1985), Bridesmaids (2011), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Spy (2015)

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