MY Top 10 Summer Blockbusters of all time

It’s that time of year again!  The summer blockbuster movie season.  I am a confessed movie junkie.  In particular, I am a fan of those big budget movies bloated with special effects. 

Some time in April, I create my checklist of movies that I must indulge in this summer.  Those days when I will escape the summer heat, and hunker down in my local theater’s cool air conditioned facilities, armed with my popcorn, Rasinettes and cherry coke, and just escape.  

Sadly this summer seems to be lacking movies that I can’t wait to plunk down my hard earned money for.  Sure there are a handful that I’ll see, but not like in years past.  So I decided to create my own list of Top 10 summer blockbusters.  Movies that always put me in mind of summer and make me squeal with excitement no matter how times I see them. 

I want to preface my list by stating that I tried to limit my list to movies that I actually saw on the big screen, not that I saw for the first time on video or on cable.   So, if your favorite movie is not here, that may be reason.  I based my list on The Dissolve's "50 Greatest Summer Blockbusters."  See their top 10 here. Of course, some of my faves didn't make the Dissolve's list, but they are special to me nonetheless.  So, here we go:

10.  Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl (June, 2003)
I loved this movie so much I saw it twice in the same day.  Beautiful beaches, swashbuckling adventures, lots of laughter; and best of all Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom combo –what more could a girl ask for?

9.  Ghostbusters  (June, 1984)
I must have seen this movie a thousand times, but I find myself watching it whenever I stumble upon it on TV…and I crack up every time!

8.  ET the Extra-Terrestrial (June 1982)
Funny, visually stunning, and all of the whimsy one would expect from a Spielberg movie.  Not only that, but kids roaming the streets out on an adventure, just epitomizes summer to me (except we never found any aliens during our summer adventures).

7.  Terminator 2 – Judgement Day (July 1991) 
Hands down, this is the best of the Terminator series.  I remember sitting in the theater being blown away by the unstoppable, molten metal version of the Terminator, who was straight up off the chain!!! (and yes, I can say “off the chain” since the movie came out in 1991)

6.  Batman (June, 1989) 
The Michael Keaton Batman.  To me this is the one that really kicked off the phenomena of the Comic Book Hero Franchise (and that is a good thing or bad thing depending on who you ask).  I loved this franchise because it was dark, but funny.  And it didn’t take itself too seriously, which is my main criticism of the new generation of superhero flicks.  Plus, the soundtrack was done by Prince.  It’s worth the price of admission just for that.

5.  Grease (June, 1978) 
This one wasn’t on The Dissolve’s list, but I had to put it on my list.  I saw it in the drive in movies when I was a little kid, and even though I didn’t understand it then, it made me smile.  As I’ve grown up, this movie became one of my summer staples.  I hear a song from the soundtrack and automatically I transported back in time to my childhood, sitting in the backseat of my mom's car, in my pj’s trying to watch the movie and listen to it through that tinny contraption that was attached to the driver’s side window.  A Classic.

4.  Top Gun (May, 1986)
  Highway to the Danger-zone, she sings with full gusto.  Talk about a movie that had it all.  Hot sound track, hot guys and lots of action.  How could I ever forget the volleyball scene?  I remember songs from this movie dominating the radio all that summer.  Take My Breath Away, she now sings, with a heartfelt anguish in her eyes.

3.  Jurassic Park (June, 1993) 
 For some reason, I hadn’t heard of this movie until just a few days before it was set to come out.  But there was so much hype about it, I just had to go.  The first time the T-Rex took a step and the ground shook, I felt it vibrate in my chest, as well.  I thought: “Aw shucks!  It’s about to be on!”  ….and it was.

2.  The Empire Strikes Back (May, 1980) 
 This is another one of those rare times when the sequel surpassed the original (in my humble opinion).  I was really young when I saw this the first time, but I remember being horrified when Hans Solo was frozen in that thing (I don’t feel like looking up the name of that thing, but I’m sure there’s a Star War’s expert who could tell me just what it’s called).  And since I’m a space junkie, I fell in love with this movie from the first note of its signature soundtrack.

1.  Jaws (June, 1975) 
Honestly, I only vaguely remember seeing this in the drive-in.  It’s possible that I didn’t see this one in the movies and I have it mixed up with something else, but this is by far, my number 1 go-to summer movie.  I watch it every time it comes on.  Having grown up near the beach, for me, Jaws terrified and intrigued me all at once--like a roller coaster or a really good water slide…And as an adult, it is a shining example that you don’t have to beat your audience over the head with blood and special effects to make them scream.

Honorable Mentions: 

If I had made the list a Top 20 list, these movies would’ve definitely made the grade—either because of the level of action and adventure, the visual look of it, or for at least one, it was the movie I saw on a really memorable date:  Raiders of the Lost Ark (June, 1981), The Lion King (June, 1994), The Lost Boys (July, 1987), Fast and the Furious (June 2001), Inception (July, 2010), Gremlins (June, 1984), Star Wars (May 1977), The Fugitive (August, 1993)


So that's my list.  Wanna show me yours?  Or feel free to challenge my Number 1 summer blockbuster--though I think it's going to hard to beat Jaws as the best summer blockbuster of all time.

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