Top 10 Greatest Summers In Movie History

Top 10 Greatest Summers in Movie History

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the summer release schedules that made it a great time to be a movie lover.

#10: 1977

This might be the only year on this list to earn its significance off a single movie. However, that out-of-this-world summer had numerous options for those looking to stay on Earth. While Star Wars outgrossed a certain shark at the box office, audiences met another memorable Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me, a high point in Roger Moores tenure as James Bond. In fact, adventures came in all shapes and sizes in the summer of 77. Burt Reynolds gave one of his greatest performances in Smokey and the Bandit while Disney found unexpected success with the small-scale delights of The Rescuers. Incredibly, this summer also balanced these lighthearted stories with deadly serious chills thanks to the likes of Suspiria and The Hills Have Eyes.

#9: 2015

By the mid-2010s, sequels and reboots had taken over Hollywood, but 2015 was a special summer simply due to quality. While Pixar made an original and deeply moving comeback with Inside Out, franchise fans firmly embraced Jurassic World and Avengers: Age of Ultron to the tune of a billion dollars. The summer season thrived off action flicks, with Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation continuing the franchises reliable streak and Melissa McCarthys Spy becoming an unexpected hit. But 2015 was truly made complete by the arrival of Mad Max: Fury Road. Not only did the long-gestating reboot instantly become the most celebrated entry of the franchise, but it also set new standards for the genre yet to be matched. What a summer. What a lovely summer.

#8: 1988

Although Best Picture winner Rain Man would top the box office by years end, it did so after a summer defined by legacies in the making. 1988 saw the emergence of superstars like Bruce Willis and Tom Hanks, along with a revolutionary step forward for animation in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Each of these movies gave us things wed never experienced before without ever forgetting to just have fun. Comedy was king in 1988, blending with romance in Coming to America, sports in Bull Durham, and crime in A Fish Called Wanda to enormous success. Perhaps most impressive about this collection is their originality. Although sequels were slowly but surely becoming a mainstay, summers like this remind us just how effective new ideas can be.

#7: 1981

Up until recently, Indiana Jones was something of a good luck charm for the summer release window, and it all started here. 1981 was controlled front to back by Raiders of the Lost Ark, which delivered a globe-trotting adventure perfect for escaping the heat. As well see later on in this list, Indy pairs well with iconic superheroes, and Raiders found a terrific foil just a week after its release in Superman II. Christopher Reeves iconic Man of Steel returned in style, but other stars made an impression, too, with Bill Murray and Dudley Moore making surprise hits out of Stripes and Arthur, respectively. Even darker outings like Escape from New York and An American Werewolf in London managed to remain fun amidst the violence.

#6: 1994

Often considered one of the best overall years in movie history, 1994 featured the rare feat of a summer blockbuster dominating the Oscars AND the box office. That movie was the iconic Forrest Gump, but this summer had a little something for everyone, as well. Action cinema was taken to new heights in Speed and True Lies, while Disney reached the peak of its 90s Renaissance with The Lion King. Need we also mention that a rising comedian named Jim Carrey solidified himself as Hollywoods next big leading man with The Mask? Heck, even independent cinema got up off the mat, with The Crow making a splash just a week before Pulp Fiction rewrote the rules with its big win at the Cannes Film Festival.

#5: 1979

It was the scariest of times and the most ridiculous of times. Those two qualities would define the movie summer of 79, with the ridiculous front led by Moonraker and Rocky II. These movies took their franchises to increasingly absurd territory, while the Muppets and Monty Python redefined absurdity altogether with box office successes of their own. But 1979 was nothing if not defined by horror in a plethora of packages. Audiences got two very different, but equally unnerving, takes on haunted houses and unnatural enemies in The Amityville Horror and Alien, with both spawning long-running franchises. And, of course, horror took on a new face when Apocalypse Now was released, riding its chaotic and terrifying take on war all the way to the Oscars.

#4: 1989

If theres one year to thank for the filmgoing culture of today, it might be 1989. The last summer of the 80s helped establish a number of trends that continue to define the theater experience. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Back to the Future Part II confirmed sequels as big business, while Disneys emergence as a global force began with The Little Mermaid. But Batman was the movie to beat, catapulting superheroes straight to the top with its unprecedented ad campaign and record-setting opening weekend. Just like that, capes, cowls, and big franchises were here to stay. Nevertheless, intimate offerings still had their say, as Field of Dreams, When Harry Met Sally, and especially Dead Poets Society all managed to turn significant profits.

#3: 2008

A summer dominated by superheroes and archaeologists? Sounds familiar. Indeed, 2008 once again saw Indiana Jones and Batman punch their way to glory, with the Caped Crusader winning a second time. The Dark Knight surpassed all expectations with its gritty realism, becoming a watershed moment for the superhero genre and one of the most acclaimed movies of the century. But DC and Marvel both had something to celebrate, as the latter made a splash of their own by kicking off an entire universe of movies with Iron Man. And even then, these two superheroes werent the only ones riding a wave of butt-kicking and world-saving tech. DreamWorks and Pixar renewed their status as animation powerhouses, giving us lovable underdogs in Po and WALL-E, respectively.

#2: 1984

As far as movies go, there may not be a year more synonymous with nostalgia than 1984. For kids coming of age, there was no shortage of summertime classics to eventually add to their VHS rotation. While Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop laughed their way to box office supremacy, edgy fantasies became nightmarish reality in Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Furthermore, teens entering adulthood learned about balance in The Karate Kid and found a champion in director John Hughes, who tapped directly into their feelings with Sixteen Candles. On top of giving us the PG-13 rating, several of these properties have experienced continuations within the last decade, which is a testament to their endurance as beloved fixtures in pop culture.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

1980

Between Jason, Jack Torrance, and Darth Vader, It Was a Great Year for Villains

2019

Endgame Led the Way for a Record-Breaking Summer

1996

Disaster Flicks Crashed Theaters with Independence Day and Twister

2011

The First Avenger and the Final Harry Potter? You Cant Ask For More

1975

Because Jaws Alone Made the Summer Season What it is Today

#1: 1982

Although the precedent for summer blockbusters had been set, the dog days of 1982 easily produced the most ideal version of an entire movie season. On one hand, romantics and comedy fans were blessed with An Officer and a Gentlemen and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. On the other, genre nerds were absolutely spoiled with journeys into tomorrow. While Steven Spielberg ruled the box office with the one-two punch of Poltergeist and E.T., the entire summer turned sci-fi and horror into art. June alone gave us Star Trek II, Blade Runner, and The Thing, all of which speak for themselves. Its confounding that some of these masterpieces initially flopped, but that only adds to the mystique surrounding such an incredible time at the movies.

Which summer gave you the best moviegoing experience? Let us know down in the comments!