There’s nothing like the excitement of seeing a big-budget film during the summer. A conversation unfolded over atr/moviesthat posed the question, what is the greatest summer blockbuster of all time? Redditors took a walk down memory lane to remember their favorite movies released during the summer.
From the hype surroundingStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hopeto the non-stop buzz about the release ofJurassic Park, these flicks will forever be solidified with viewers as the movie they just couldn’t wait to see. Find out which films Reddit users think are the best summer blockbusters.
10’Batman' (1989)
One of the most anticipated summer films of 1989 wasTim Burton’sBatman. The film featured a strong ensemble cast includingMichael Keatonas Batman,Jack Nicholsonas The Joker, andKim Basingeras Vicki Vale. Combine that with Burton’s signature playful use of bold colors, and it’s no wonder there was so much hype around its release.
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Reddit userElCochinoFeosaid about the movie, “Batman(1989) had this huge buzz, unlike anything I’d seen in my life at that time. Their marketing was mysterious and simple. By the time it came out, people felt like they just had to see it.” It’s no shock that the film was a massive box-office success.
9’Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Arnold Schwarzeneggerdominated the 80s inThe Terminatorand made a triumphant return in the sequelTerminator 2: Judgment Day. DirectorJames Cameron(who went on to create several blockbusters likeTitanicandAvatar) worked his magic to generate plenty of excitement around the film’s release.
Reddit userHa1rBalladded the movie to the discussion of the best summer blockbusters of all time, writing, “T2. I was around for all the big ones named here. None of them compare toT2.” Viewers flocked to watch Sarah Conner (played by the iconicLinda Hamilton) kick butt and take names.
8’The Dark Knight' (2008)
The year was 2008 andChristopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightwas THE summer movie.Christian Balekilled it as Batman andHeath Ledger’s performance as the deranged Joker won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (which he received posthumously) after his tragic death.
Redditorjc2190said about the movie, “1990 kid here, and for me, it has to beThe Dark Knight.I remember seeing it at 3 am (they had midnight, 3, and 6 showings at Regal near me) and saw it again later on Imax and being immersed in that world. I’m a huge Batman fan as well, and being a teenager at that time, thought it was the movie of the year.”
7’Independence Day' (1996)
Will Smith,Bill Pullman, andJeff Goldblumowned the summer of 1996 for the roles in the patriotic blockbusterIndependence Day. Directed byRoland Emmerich(the man behind the action-packed, poorly reviewed 1998Godzilla), the flick filled movie theaters and became the highest-grossing film of the year.
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Reddit userVikAzeem23wrote about the movie’s success, “Not going to lie, not even about quality per se, butIndependence Daywas the first thing that came to mind for some reason.” Unfortunately, the follow-up filmIndependence Day: Resurgencedidn’t live up to its predecessor.
6’Tropic Thunder' (2008)
What happens when A-listersBen Stiller,Robert Downey Jr.,andJack Black(among others) are thrown into the jungle together?Tropic Thunderwas comedy gold and held its own among the 08 summer releases. It even landed asone of the funniest movies of all time, according to Reddit.
RedditorTheDadThatGrillswrote about the film, “Tropic Thunderwas a great summer Blockbuster release.” UserTomBirkinstockreplied, “That was such a fun movie. I understand why more people aren’t picking comedies, but there was a period of time when the summer comedy stood side-by-side with the summer blockbuster.”
5’Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)
Tom Cruiseruled 1986 as Maverick in the box-office hitTop Gun. Who would think that he would reprise the role decades later onTop Gun: Maverick? Directed byJoseph Kosinski(thinkTRON: Legacy), the movie smashed records to become the biggest movie of 2022.
Reddit userthingaumbukujoined the conversation, writing about the film, “For personal preference?Top Gun: Maverick.” It received six Academy Award nominations (including Best Motion Picture of the Year). The film only took home one Oscar for Best Sound, but there’s no denying it brought viewers back to theaters post-Covid.
4’Jurassic Park' (1993)
1993 will go down in history as the yearJurassic Parkhit theaters.Sam Neill,Laura Dern,and Goldblumgave outstanding performances in the film,making it one of the best summer romps of all time.DirectorSteven Spielbergproves time and time again that he’s the king of blockbusters.
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RedditorA_Song_Of_Two_Humanssaid about the flick, “The correct answer isJurassic Park. Summer of 93 was about 95% dinosaur related. The marketing/merchandise for the film was unreal. Plus the film itself was brilliant.” This one even found a place as one of10 movies from the ’90s that never get old.
3’Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)
Indiana Jones has become synonymous with the summer blockbuster andRaiders of the Lost Arkwas the film to see in 1981.Harrison Fordand Spielberg teamed up and created an unstoppable franchise which resulted in five theatrically released films (DirectorJames Mangoldtook over for the latest installmentIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny).
ReddiorTomBirkinstockwrote about the impact of the initial release, saying, “There are probably a dozen or so movies for me, but I would go withRaiders of the Lost Ark. I love how it takes so much from movie history from Buster Keaton to 1930s serials to Bogie and Bacall’s classic run and creates something truly unique.”
2’Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope' (1977)
Generation X can attest to the fact thatStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hopewas a game-changer when it comes to summer blockbusters.George Lucasdirected this film that madeMark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Ford household names. It was so huge that it became a social phenomenon.
Reddit userYabanijinreflected on the release of the movie, saying “In my lifetime,Star Wars. Not even close. I have yet to see a movie that ran 24 hours a day and still had a line around the block. OR was still in theaters a YEAR after release. The only thing that could even challenge it isGone with the Wind, and I was not alive for that. I honestly think most people have no idea how bigStar Warswas, really.”
1’Jaws' (1975)
In the summer of 1975, everyone couldn’t wait to see the horror filmJaws. Directed by Spielberg, it was the movie that started it all.Roy Scheider,Richard Dreyfuss, andRobert Shawstar in the film which made viewers terrified to go into the water. It landed as one of the10 most thrilling movies of all time, according to the AFI.
RedditorKylon1138said about the movie, “Jaws. There is no other answer. It’s the film that created the summer blockbuster.” UserLoveEffective1349wrote, “Unlike most that follow it, it wasn’t made to “follow the blockbuster formula”. It wasn’t trying to tick the boxes of a formula movie…it just happened to resonate.”
