The Best Summer Blockbusters

Summer is all about the beach and blockbusters, and Time Out New York set out on a big mission: To rank the 30 best. It set a few restrictions—films had to hit theaters between May and August, had to gross more than $100 million globally, and couldn't be surprise hits, a la The Blair Witch Project. Highlights:

1. Jaws, 1975: This wasn't just a nail-biter, it was a trailblazer, the first flick to use a "wide-release" strategy, which no doubt helped make it the first film to rake in more than $100 million.

4. Ghostbusters, 1984: An action-sci-fi hybrid dosed with SNL-style humor, it proved that something-for-everyone mash-ups can make a smash at the box office.

6. Fahrenheit 9/11, 2004: Michael Moore's documentary edges out No. 7, The Empire Strikes Back. The first doc to earn the title "blockbuster," the film has led us to think of nonfiction movies as must-sees.

9. Face/Off, 1997: The plot is ridiculous (good guy and bad guy switch...faces!) but Nicolas Cage and John Travolta did a fabulous job of mimicking each other; John Woo has yet to top this one.

13. Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988: CGI-hybrid films are pretty standard these days—thanks, in part, to a certain cartoon rabbit.

Click here for the entire list.
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