1975 — Jaws
In 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws filled millions of people with a deep fear of the ocean. Off the shores of Amity Island, Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) comes across a shark attack victim. While Brody’s first thought is to close the beaches to swimmers until it is safe, Mayor Larry Vaughn decides to keep the beaches open — as the summer is a lucrative time for the town.
That weekend, Brody’s worst fears are realized as a young boy is killed by a shark. Brody, local fisherman, and others in search of collecting a bounty reward (placed on the shark by the deceased boy’s mother) begin to hunt the monster shark. Jaws is an all-time classic, buoyed by an outstanding score (John Williams) and one of the most terrifying villains in cinema history.
Image Source: IMDb
1976 — The Omen
The Omen was not only a dark movie, but there have been a handful of eerie and tragic events involving people who worked on the film in the year’s following its release. At the center of the story is a child named Damien. Shortly after Damien’s birth, he is adopted by Robert and Katherine Thorn. The US Ambassador to Great Britain, Robert relocates his family to London.
However, mysterious deaths and accidents begin to occur around the family. Damien’s nanny commits suicide. At one point, Damien causes his mother to fall over a balcony — resulting in serious injuries. As it turns out, Damien is the Son of Satan and the first Antichrist. Never trust a child in a horror film.
Image Source: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images
1977 — Star Wars
New Arena’s own Alexander McKee said it best:
“No other film in history has been cited more by filmmakers as their career inspiration than 1977’s Star Wars. A cinematic achievement on all fronts, from narrative to technological, the original entry in a galaxy far, far away took us to worlds and introduced us to characters we never thought we could meet. The combination of a cosmos filled with starships and lightsabers and the mythic storytelling of Arthurian legend has left generations of audience enthralled and entranced.
In this sci-fi world, poverty, unfulfilled desires, and the fight for freedom still existed despite a setting and aesthetic we had never seen on film before. Imaginary words such as Jedi, Wookiee, and Hyperspace were put into mainstream language as we followed the journey of a young man striving to find and make his place in the galaxy. We don’t love Star Wars because we escaped somewhere else — we love Star Wars because we saw people and places that reminded us of ourselves.”
Image Source: IMDb
1978 — Grease
It is easy to understand why Grease was the biggest summer blockbuster of 1978. Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Grease is one of the most entertaining musicals of all-time. Centered around a group of California high school students in the 1950’s, the film’s two standouts are Travolta as Danny Zuko — the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing greasers — and Newton-John as Sandy Olsson — a stunning woman who moves to California from Australia and becomes a member of the Pink Ladies. The film is full of memorable moments, catchy songs, and some bonafide knee-slappers.
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1979 — Alien
Over 40 years after its release, Alien remains an incredible film. Directed by Ridley Scott, this science-fiction horror epic is grand in every imaginable way. From its writing, to its visual and special effects, to its sets, to its stars (namely John Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Tom Skerritt), Alien is a near masterpiece. Stuck in the middle of space aboard starship Nostromo, the astronauts receive a distress call from an alien spaceship…one they should not have answered. Alien is a gripping two-hour watch, one that will have you screaming and watching through your fingers. Horror at its best.
Image Source: IMDb
1980 — Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
After the stunning success of Episode IV – A New Hope, all eyes were on Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back to see if it could live up to the hype. In this second act, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda. However, while Skywalker is being taught the ways of the Force, his closest friends — Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca — are being hunted by Darth Vader and Boba Fett.
Many fans consider The Empire Strikes Back to be the best film in the franchise for numerous reasons, but its ending is what truly makes it special. The final moments of Episode V contain one of the most famous scenes/lines in cinematic history: “I am your father.”
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1981 — Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
The film that kicked off the entire Indiana Jones franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark was the biggest summer blockbuster in 1981. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones — an archaeology professor and adventurer who is in search of the Ark of the Covenant. In the midst of his quest, Jones must avoid many dangerous situations and dastardly opponents. His main enemy is Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman) and his group of Nazis. This rip-roaring adventure kicked off one of the greatest film franchises the world has ever seen.
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1982 — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is iconic. Directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg, E.T. tells the tale of a friendship involving a young boy and an abandoned alien. Elliott, the young boy, befriends E.T. The 10-year-old, his family, and friends are determined to help E.T. avoid detection and secure a safe journey home. That’s fine, but that doesn’t mean the film isn’t creepy.
To start, Elliott is capable of “feeling” E.T.’s thoughts and emotions. If the alien drinks, Elliott feels drunk. When E.T. watches a kissing scene on TV, Elliott kisses a girl at school — not weird at all. Towards the end of the film, Elliott watches E.T. die…only for him to come back to life…and then must say goodbye as E.T. boards a spaceship to return home. Creepy and sad, an E.T. story. Iconic, yes. A bit strange? Yes.
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1983 — Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
The final film of the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi would be the last venture into a galaxy far, far away for 16 years. In this epic, the war between the Rebels and the Empire reaches its boiling point. Luke Skywalker is faced with numerous challenges in Return of the Jedi. Not only must he reject the draw to join the Dark Side, but he is faced with the looming threats of Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt. It is clear that Skywalker is a changed man in this film. Through his experiences, Skywalker has become a more confident man/Jedi — but also has the ability to be rather dangerous if presented the right opportunity. Between Luke’s moments with Vader, his father, and witnessing the Galactic Empire building its second Death Star, Return of the Jedi is electric from start to finish.
Image Source: IMDb
1984 — Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Would you or anyone you know be willing to enter a place known as the Temple of Doom? Didn’t think so. In this Indy adventure, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones finds himself helping an Indian village which believes their children have been taken by evil spirits. Indy is joined by a nightclub singer named Willie Scott and Short Round — a 12-year-old boy — as he ventures into the Temple of Doom to search for a stolen rock. Who stole the rock? Thuggee, a cult of assassins whom believe they can rule the world if they possess all five Sankara stones. Temple of Doom is the second entry to the franchise, and it may just be the most entertaining.
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1985 — Back to the Future
More than 35 years after its release, Back to the Future remains a fan favorite amongst people of all ages. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and Biff (Tom Wilson) are three of the most recognizable characters of the past 30 years. After McFly travels 30 years back in time via Doc’s time-traveling DeLorean, the 17-year-old is tasked with making sure his parents — who are teenagers in 1955 — fall in love. If he fails, he won’t be able to travel back to the future. Fox and Lloyd are terrific in their roles, and the film is consistently funny and is a blast to watch.
Image Source: IMDb
1986 — Top Gun
This won’t be the last time you see Tom Cruise on this list. Throughout his career, Cruise has made a habit of starring in some of the world’s biggest summer blockbusters. Cruise has been a star for five decades, but 1986’s Top Gun arguably represents his most revered film. Pete Mitchell (Cruise) is a skilled Navy pilot who is accepted into Top Gun — an elite Fighter School. Known as Maverick, Mitchell is known for his wild and sometimes reckless tendencies. Maverick wants to be the best pilot, but he has some serious competition from a fellow student named Iceman (Val Kilmer). Top Gun was a spectacular movie for its time, and remains a joy to watch more than 35 years later.
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1987 — Beverly Hills Cop II
Three years after Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) visits Beverly Hills to solve the murder of his best friend, Foley makes his way back to the famed California city to put an end to a gun-running gang. In this sequel, Foley returns to Beverly Hills to aid detectives Taggart (John Ashton) and Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) in investigating Chief Bogomil’s near-fatal shooting. In addition to the attack, the trio are determined to discover the truth behind the “Alphabet Crimes” — a string of violent robberies.
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1988 — Who Framed Roger Rabbit
This may seem like a surprising film to hold the honor of being the biggest summer blockbuster of 1988, but Who Framed Roger Rabbit made a ton of cash. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film featured truly groundbreaking interaction between animated and live characters. At the center of story are Roger Rabbit — a toon who has been framed for murder — a private investigator named Eddie Valiant, Jessica Rabbit and Marvin Acme (the man who Roger is accused of murdering). Not only is the film innovative, but it is incredibly entertaining and tells a fantastic story. Who Framed Roger Rabbit made $351 million at the box office.
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1989 — Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Despite being the third entry to the franchise, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a sequel to 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark — the first Indy film. This time around, Harrison Ford’s Indy is determined to find his missing father. Played by Sean Connery, Henry Jones, Sr. vanished while searching for the Holy Grail. Indy and one of Henry’s colleagues, Elsa (Alison Doody), join forces and set out to find Henry. Along the way, Indiana and Elsa come face-to-face with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. It is ultimately revealed that Elsa is in fact a Nazi — and her goal is to use the Joneses to find the Holy Grail. Can Indy find his way out of this mess?
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1990 — Ghost
Woah, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to meLonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea, yeah
Lonely rivers sigh
“Wait for me, wait for me”
I’ll be coming home, wait for meWoah, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
Are you tearing up, too? Starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost was a film that tugged on everyone’s heartstrings when it debuted in 1990. There are many reasons why this film won two Oscars and was nominated for three others (including Best Picture).
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1991 — Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Often referred to as simply T2, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the greatest action flicks of all-time. The sequel to 1984’s The Terminator, T2 sees the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger return as The Terminator. This time around, Schwarzenegger’s Terminator is sent to the future in order to protect John Connor — the son of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman The Terminator was set out to kill in the first film. In addition to featuring incredible SFX, T2 is powered by strong performances and a captivating story. Arguably one of the greatest films of all-time, Judgment Day won four Oscars and was nominated for two others.
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1992 — Lethal Weapon 3
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover reunited for a third Lethal Weapon film in 1992. While the movie has its moments, it doesn’t come close to matching the effectiveness of the first two editions to the franchise. This buddy cop flick sees Murtaugh (Glover) and Riggs (Gibson) attempt to track down a disgraced LAPD officer who has embarked on a dark path. The former cop has caused mayhem by using his expertise to efficiently steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs. Sounds like a great premise, but unfortunately the film doesn’t take full advantage of its concept.
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1993 — Jurassic Park
Thanks to author Michael Crichton and director Steven Spielberg, the world got a taste of what life would be like if dinosaurs still roamed the land. In this all-time classic, dinosaurs are no longer extinct thanks to a group of scientists that successfully cloned the once-extinct animals by extracting dinosaur DNA from prehistoric mosquitoes preserved in amber. Naturally, things begin to go wrong at Jurassic Park — a wildlife park created by wealthy businessman John Hammond. Featuring groundbreaking SFX (won three Oscars including two for special effects) and a stellar cast including the likes of Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Richard Attenborough, Jurassic Park is a film that will stand the test of time.
Image Source: IMDb
1994 — The Lion King
The Lion King is historic. The story is one that everyone knows — a young lion named Simba is traumatized at a young age when his father, Mufasa, is killed by Scar (his uncle). With Mufasa (the king) dead and Simba on the run, Scar declares himself the new king. However, as Simba grows up he becomes increasingly determined to return home and claim his rightful place as the king. A powerful, gripping story is accompanied by one of the greatest soundtracks in film history. Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song — and Hans Zimmer took home an Oscar for Best Music, Original Score.
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1995 — Die Hard with a Vengeance
The third entry to the Die Hard franchise was the highest-grossing film of 1995. Die Hard with a Vengeance united Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. NYPD Lieutenant John McClane (Willis) and his partner Zeus Carver (Jackson) are faced with stopping a string of bomb threats across New York City. The man they are trying to stop is named Simon. Simon, a German terrorist, plans to rob the Federal Reserve Building — home to the largest gold storage in the world. The film will leave you breathless throughout its opening act. While not as good as the original, Die Hard with a Vengeance is considered by many to be the second-best film in the series.
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1996 — Independence Day
This 1996 blockbuster featured a gigantic cast and an even bigger budget. While reviews were generally mixed, it still holds a place as a decent adventure/disaster film during the 1990’s. In what has become a familiar storyline at this point, Independence Day tells the tale of an impending alien invasion. The humans have no chance holding their own against alien technology, but they will not go down without a fight. Starring Will Smith (Capt. Steven Hiller), Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson) and Bill Pullman (President Thomas J. Whitmore), the film culminates on July 4th. A day after major cities around the United States are pulverized, mankind fights the alien force at Area 51.
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1997 — The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park was certainly not the biggest movie of 1997. Despite pulling in over $615 million at the box office — making it the biggest summer blockbuster — The Lost World fell well short of a film that debuted in December. A little film called Titanic. Anyways…
…The Lost World arrived four years after the epic Jurassic Park. While the special effects improved a ton and stars such as Vince Vaughn and Julianne Moore joined the franchise, the sequel didn’t quite live up to its predecessor. This time around, a group of individuals hatch a plan to capture dinosaurs on Isla Sorna and bring them back to San Diego where a new Jurassic Park location would open. What can go wrong?
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1998 — Armageddon
Two years after aliens threatened mankind in Independence Day, the people of Earth were once again faced with an impending doom. Instead of an alien invasion, Armageddon introduced an asteroid the size of Texas that was hurling towards Earth. In order to destroy the asteroid, it is determined that a team of experts must drill into its surface and plant a nuclear bomb. The disaster film features a star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, Steve Buscemi, Michael Clarke Duncan and Will Patton (amongst others). Can Bruce Willis’ Harry Stamper save the world?
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1999 — Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
16 years after Return of the Jedi completed the original Star Wars trilogy, Episode I – The Phantom Menace kicked off a prequel trilogy. This film is famous for a handful of moments and characters — including the maligned Jar Jar Binks, a young Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), Senator Palpatine and Darth Maul. While there are some truly dazzling visual effects and fight sequences, The Phantom Menace falls short of matching the greatness of the original trilogy. Still, it is interesting to see Anakin as a youngster — and years before he would become Darth Vader.
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2000 — Mission: Impossible II
We mentioned earlier that you would see Tom Cruise again on this list. The beloved actor has made a habit out of owning the summer box office, and 2000’s Mission: Impossible II was no exception. In the second entry to the iconic franchise, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt travels to Sydney, Australia, in order to find and destroy “Chimera” — a deadly disease that has been genetically modified. The man drawing Hunt’s ire is named Sean Ambrose, a former I.M.F agent who has gone rogue. In order to track down Ambrose and contain the disease, Hunt needs the assistance of Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton). Hall must go undercover to get close to Ambrose…will she make it out unscathed?
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2001 — Shrek
Who doesn’t love Shrek? In this 2001 kid-friendly comedy, an ogre named Shrek becomes enraged when his swamp is overrun with fairytale creatures. Voiced by Mike Myers, Shrek sets off an adventure to find Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) in hopes of ridding his swamp of the creatures. Accompanying him on his quest is a hilarious, loud-mouthed donkey (Eddie Murphy). Farquaad tells Shrek that in order to get his land back, he must rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Of course, not everything goes to plan. This film is a blast for adults and children alike. And, as you will see in a few minutes, it is incredibly popular.
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2002 — Spider-Man
Since 2002, we have seen three men play Spider-Man (live-action version) on the big screen — Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland. In our opinion, Maguire’s rendition of Peter Parker remains the best. Starting with 2002’s Spider-Man, Maguire was the leading man three times. In this film, we witness Peter Parker transform from a lonely high school student to everyone’s favorite webslinger. Peter quickly embraces his new spider-like abilities and becomes a superhero in his city. Naturally, he is faced with shielding his identity from his loved ones — Aunt May, Uncle Ben and Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) — and his eventual foes. His main enemy in this story? The Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe).
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2003 — Finding Nemo
From the moment the first trailer dropped, it was evident that Finding Nemo would be a massive hit. Traveling through the beauty (and horrors) of the ocean, a clown fish named Marlin searches for his son — Nemo. In the midst of searching for Nemo, Marlin runs into an aloof fish named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres). The pair embark on an entertaining journey throughout the depths of the sea in hopes of finding Nemo. This film instantly became one of the most popular animated films of all-time, and it was very warranted. Nominated for four Oscars, Finding Nemo became the first Pixar film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
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2004 — Shrek 2
Three years after the world was introduced to an ogre named Shrek, the green giant and his donkey sidekick returned for another adventure. In this beloved sequel, Shrek and Princess Fiona embark on a journey to the Kingdom of Far Far Away. There, the pair intend on celebrating their marriage. However, the King and Queen of Far Far Away — Fiona’s parents — aren’t too happy. Not everyone wants Shrek and Fiona to live happily ever after — especially Prince Charming and the Fairly Godmother. Shrek 2 may not be as revered as the original, but it is still a very entertaining film.
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2005 — Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
22 years after Return of the Jedi wrapped up the original Star Wars trilogy, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith marked the end of the second trilogy. In this sixth entry to the famed franchise, we finally witness Anakin Skywalker’s turning point. Through the efforts of Palpatine, Anakin slowly embraces the Dark Side. In the film’s final moments, Obi-Wan and Anakin battle for supremacy. Eventually, Obi-Wan bests Anakin and utters the famous line, “You were the chosen one!” From there, we bear witness to Anakin becoming Darth Vader.
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2006 — Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
In 2003, Finding Nemo beat out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as the summer’s biggest blockbuster. Three years later, there was no questioning which film would rule the summer. In Dead Man’s Chest, Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is in a fight for his life. If he doesn’t recover the heart of Davy Jones, Sparrow’s soul will be enslaved to Jones’ ship (the Flying Dutchman) for eternity. Meanwhile, Sparrow’s two companions/adversaries — Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) — are sentenced to hang. How will Captain Jack Sparrow save himself and the lives of his two new friends?
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2007 — Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Just one summer later, Pirates of the Caribbean returned for a third installment. Once again directed by Gore Verbinski, At World’s End saw an unlikely trio join forces in hopes of finding Captain Jack Sparrow. Joining Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan in searching for Jack Sparrow is none other than Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) — the villain in The Curse of the Black Pearl. In addition to looking for Sparrow, the group must battle Davy Jones and Lord Cutler Beckett. In order to have any chance of defeating their enemies, the trio enlists the help of the Pirate Lords. This would be the last Pirates film for six years.
Image Source: Disney
2008 — The Dark Knight
After creating a spectacular movie in 2005 with Batman Begins, director Christopher Nolan upped the ante with 2008’s The Dark Knight. We’ve seen Batman’s top nemesis, the Joker, many times before, but the late Heath Ledger executed the best version of the villain to that point. Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker was captivating — both through his delivery and quirky movements.
With another strong performance from Christian Bale as Batman and the introduction of Two-Face, The Dark Knight set a new standard for superhero movies. Ledger was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor — a true credit to the performance he put together.
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2009 — Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Just like Star Wars before it, Harry Potter was seen as an iconic franchise for an entire generation. The first film — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — was released in 2001, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince became the sixth entry to the franchise in 2009. This time around, Harry Potter is beginning his sixth year at Hogwarts. Once on the premises, Harry discovers a book containing the notation, “the property of the Half-Blood Prince.” As Harry continues to learn about Voldemort’s past, Dumbledore prepares the young wizard for the imminent dangers and challenges that he faces. This film kickstarts the final chapters of the Harry Potter saga in an impactful way.
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2010 — Toy Story 3
11 years after Woody’s fate is left to one’s imagination at the conclusion of Toy Story 2, Andy — the boy who owns all of the toys — is getting ready to move away for college. With Andy on his way to school, Woody, Buzz and the rest of the crew are boxed up. However, instead of being put into the attic, the toys are accidentally taken to a day care. To put it simply, the day care is a nightmare. The toys must decide: Did Andy abandon them? Or were they brought to this hellscape on accident? Toy Story 3 won two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.
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2011 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
10 years after Harry Potter debuted on the big screen, his story came to an end. Released one year after Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 wrapped up J.K. Rowling’s epic tale. Following the murder of Dumbledore, Voldemort is in possession of the Elder Wand — the world’s most powerful wand. It is now up to Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron and many others to bring an end to Voldemort’s terror before he completely takes over the Wizarding World. It is up to Harry and Co. to find Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes — if they destroy the Horcruxes, they can defeat the Dark Lord. The film culminates with a legendary battle between good and evil. But before we reach a resolution, we must witness some excruciating losses.
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2012 — The Avengers
2012’s The Avengers is the sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and represents the first time all of the heroes would come together on screen. We’ve come to know numerous superheroes in the decade since this film debuted, but in The Avengers the likes of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye joined forces to fight evil. In this story, the Avengers are determined to put an end to Loki’s dark plans. Loki, the Asgardian god, and his alien army are focused on enslaving humanity. Adding to the drama, Loki is Thor’s adopted brother.
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2013 — Iron Man 3
The seventh MCU film, Iron Man 3 marked the end of Tony Stark’s solo story (for now). In this MCU epic, Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces both external and internal crises. As Iron Man, the billionaire is faced with the threat of a terrorist known as the Mandarin. When Stark’s home address is leaked to the public, the Mandarin launches an assault on Stark’s estate. In addition to battling the dastardly villain, Stark must come to grips with his self. Is it the man himself that makes Iron Man? Or does Iron Man make the man (Tony)? Can Iron Man live a life outside of the suit? Or is he too deeply tied to his superhero persona?
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2014 — Transformers: Age of Extinction
Woof. Talk about a mediocre movie. Not all movies that make a ton of money are good films — and Transformers: Age of Extinction is certainly not a good film. The fourth film in the Transformers franchise, Age of Extinction stars Mark Wahlberg and Nicola Peltz Beckham. Wahlberg plays the role of Cade Yeager — a mechanic who takes it upon himself to help Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots survive an attack from a Cybertronian assassin and bounty hunter known as Lockdown. Sure, this film offers fun special effects, big action and loud noises — but that’s it. It may have been a success at the box office, but Age of Extinction will leave you feeling underwhelmed.
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2015 — Jurassic World
After a 14-year hiatus, the Jurassic Park franchise returned to our lives. Kicking off a new trilogy, Jurassic World introduces us to a new cast of characters including Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard). In this return to the dino genre, a new theme park has been built on the original site of Jurassic Park. It wasn’t a good idea the first time around, and it certainly doesn’t work out now. While Grady is busy training a squad of Velociraptors, a new, hybrid dinosaur — the Indominus Rex — escapes containment and runs amok on the island. It is up to Grady and Dearing to save their loved ones and all of the tourists on the island. While this film doesn’t compare to the original, it is quite fun in its own right.
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2016 — Captain America: Civil War
We are used to the Avengers coming together to fight against evil, but what happens when the elite team of superheroes splinters? In Captain America: Civil War, we learn the answer to that question. As a result of the government’s decision to push the Hero Registration Act — a law that diminishes the impact of superheroes — two of The Avengers’ biggest heroes are pitted against each other.
On one side of the war is Team Captain America, consisting of Bucky Barnes, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant Man. Captain America and his team are opposed by Team Iron Man. Led by Tony Stark himself, Team Iron Man also includes Black Panther, Vision, Black Widow, War Machine, and Spider-Man. Who will come out on top in this epic battle?
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2017 — Despicable Me 3
For six summers, action films ruled the box office. So, it was somewhat refreshing to see a lighthearted comedy like Despicable Me 3 take over the summer of 2017. In this comedy, Felonious Gru joins forces with his long-lost twin brother, Dru. Dru is not like Gru — Dru is successful, charming, and has a brighter outlook on life. Their differences make their dynamic incredibly funny. So, what caused the twins to come together? Balthazar Bratt. In the 1980s, Bratt was a child actor. Now, he is bitter and seeks to destroy Hollywood. Can Gru and Dru stop (the) Bratt?
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2018 — Avengers: Infinity War
Six years after fans were introduced to the all-powerful Thanos during a post-credits scene attached to The Avengers, Thanos demonstrates his powers in Avengers: Infinity War. As the movie begins, Thanos lays the smackdown on one of the strongest creatures in the world — The Incredible Hulk. Thanos’ goal is simple — collect all six Infinity Stones in order to take control of all of reality with a simple snap of his fingers. This epic film pulls at heartstrings with a powerful final act, and perfectly sets up the *ahem* endgame.
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2019 — Avengers: Endgame
How will the Avengers recover from Thanos’ destruction in Avengers: Infinity War? That was the question everybody was asking in advance of Endgame. With one snap of his fingers, Thanos had wiped out half of the world’s population — and disintegrated more than a few Avengers. This film is all about dealing with the aftermath of Thanos’ actions. What can the Avengers possibly do — if anything — to save the world and reverse Thanos’ destruction? The conclusion to “The Infinity Saga” was equal parts exciting and emotional. Who do you think will come out on top, Thanos or the Avengers?
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2020 — Tenet
Christopher Nolan has produced and directed many memorable films throughout the course of his career. Some of his most notable works include Memento, The Dark Knight trilogy, The Prestige, Inception, and Dunkirk. Three years after Nolan earned an Oscar nomination for Dunkirk, he directed Tenet. Starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki, the film follows The Protagonist (Washington) as he embarks on a mission to save the world. The Protagonist must master the art of “time inversion” in order to prevent the world’s destruction. His main adversary? A Russian oligarch named Andrei Sator who is keen on starting World War III.
Image Source: Warner Brothers
2021 — Black Widow
Despite meeting her maker in Avengers: Endgame, Scarlett Johansson returned as Black Widow for this adventure centered around Natasha Romanoff. Johansson is joined by two excellent talents in Florence Pugh and David Harbour. Pugh, a rising star in the industry, is excellent in her role as sister Yelena Belova. This spy thriller contains a ton of high stakes action and gives Johansson a much-deserved opportunity to shine as Black Widow.
Image Source: BBC
2022 — Top Gun: Maverick
36 years after Top Gun won the summer of 1986, Top Gun: Maverick dominated the summer box office. In this long-awaited sequel, Tom Cruise reprises his role as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. Despite over 30 years having passed, Maverick remains a top naval aviator. However, after pushing the limits a bit too far, Maverick is sent to the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program — TOPGUN — to train a group of young pilots who must prepare for a critical mission. Upon arriving in San Diego, Maverick comes to learn one of his students is the son of Lieutenant Nick “Goose” Bradshaw — Mav’s deceased best friend. This film is incredible, you don’t want to miss out.
Image Source: Stephane Cardinale/Getty Images