Summer Blockbusters That Didn’t Suck

Jim Henson’s Muppets went from the small to the big screen with this origin story that set the lovable animals against the evil Doc Hopper, a restauranteur who wants Kermit to serve as the spokesfrog of his frog legs franchise. Featuring a star-studded cast and the Oscar-nominated tune, “Rainbow Connection,” the film maintains The Muppet Show‘s absurd humor and meta in-jokes. [Where to stream The Muppet Movie]

Hear me out on this one: Mad Max director George Miller went from dystopian desert chases to co-writing this charming tale of a pig who thought he was a sheep dog. A surprise late-summer hit, Babe‘s incredible special effects and its beautifully heartwarming tone earned a whopping seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. [Where to stream Babe]

This comedy classic is a magnificent mash-up of big laughs and big scares, which set the tone for numerous movies that tried to replicate its success by mixing together multiple genres — including its own sequel, which was another box-office smash five years later. [Where to stream Ghostbusters]

Stephen Spielberg introduced the world to Indiana Jones in this globe-trekking adventure that finds the famed archeologist trying to outsmart the Nazis before they can capture the Ark of the Covenant. Spawning three sequels, a television spin-off, and numerous amusement park rides, books, and video games, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a Best Picture-nominated behemoth that established one of the greatest cross-platform fictional universes ever. [Where to stream Raiders of the Lost Ark]

The first of Robert Zemeckis’ trilogy about time travel, Back to the Future followed in Ghostbusters‘ tradition and blended comedy and sci-fi — with an added dose of ’50s nostalgia. In arguably their most recognizable roles, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson created iconic characters, and Zemeckis and co-writer Bob Gale created a classic piece of cinema that still thrills audiences today. [Where to stream Back to the Future]

James Cameron’s follow-up to his 1984 thriller is one of those rare sequels that’s better than the original. But it also brought incredible special effects to the screen with the character of the shape-shifting, liquid metal robot played by Robert Patrick. Arnold Schwarzenegger reprised his role, this time as a protector of the characters he was issued to kill in the original film, further establishing the Terminator as one of cinema’s most iconic characters. [Where to stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day]

Big-ass explosions are pretty much a requirement for summer blockbusters, but Independence Day set the standard when aliens blew up the White House in the first act. And then we had intergalactic battles with Will Smith literally punching a giant alien the face and Jeff Goldblum saving the Earth from complete extra-terrestrial annihilation. [Where to stream Independence Day]

DINOSAURS! Steven Spielberg’s 1993 thriller wasn’t just scary (I mean, electrocution and being stalked by raptors?), it was also mind-blowing. There’s a reason why this one holds up today — and why it’s getting a third sequel this summer. The effects in Jurassic Park are a gold standard, as stunning now as they were two decades ago. [Where to stream Jurassic Park]

George Lucas’s film was not just a beautifully shot ode to classic sci-fi films that came before it — it also launched its own industry, with the original trilogy, its prequels, its commercial tie-ins, books, comics, TV shows, and the upcoming Disney-produced sequels and spin-offs bringing in billions and billions of dollars. That’s what every summer blockbuster strives for. [Where to stream Star Wars]

Not only did it serve as Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough film, Jaws was essentially the first summer blockbuster. Shot on a tiny budget, the film was a massive box-office success not just because it was terrifying (and continues to be) — it also is a great, artistic film. Of course, it spawned three disappointing sequels, but its legacy intact. [Where to stream Jaws]

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