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Best-Reviewed Summer Blockbusters by Year Since 1975

by Tim Ryan | August 2, 2016

When it comes to big summer movies, the opinions of critics and audiences are always out of sync. Right? Not so fast. Using our weighted formula, we at Rotten Tomatoes decided to spotlight the best-reviewed wide releases from each summer since 1975 — the year Jaws kicked off the blockbuster era — and it turns out that many of the big winners with the pundits have become perennial favorites with regular moviegoers as well.

1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

#1980

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

93%

Critics Consensus: Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels.

Synopsis: The adventure continues in this "Star Wars" sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams

Directed By: Irvin Kershner

#1981

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

94%

Critics Consensus: Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

Synopsis: Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Wolf Kahler

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

#1982

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

99%

Critics Consensus: Playing as both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable portrait of childhood, Steven Spielberg's touching tale of a homesick alien remains a piece of movie magic for young and old.

Synopsis: After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Drew Barrymore

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

#1983

Risky Business (1983)

93%

Critics Consensus: Featuring one of Tom Cruise's best early performances, Risky Business is a sharp, funny examination of teen angst that doesn't stop short of exploring dark themes.

Synopsis: Ecstatic when his parents leave on vacation for a few days, high school senior Joel Goodsen cuts loose with his best friend Miles. After an... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Bronson Pinchot, Joe Pantoliano

Directed By: Paul Brickman

#1984

Ghostbusters (1984)

95%

Critics Consensus: An infectiously fun blend of special effects and comedy, with Bill Murray's hilarious deadpan performance leading a cast of great comic turns.

Synopsis: After the members of a team of scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a university in New York City,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

#1985

Back to the Future (1985)

93%

Critics Consensus: Inventive, funny, and breathlessly constructed, Back to the Future is a rousing time-travel adventure with an unforgettable spirit.

Synopsis: In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly is thrown back into the '50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

#1986

Aliens (1986)

94%

Critics Consensus: While Alien was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension, Aliens packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.

Synopsis: After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser

Directed By: James Cameron

#1987

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

90%

Critics Consensus: Intense, tightly constructed, and darkly comic at times, Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket may not boast the most original of themes, but it is exceedingly effective at communicating them.

Synopsis: Stanley Kubrick's take on the Vietnam War follows smart-aleck Private Davis (Matthew Modine), quickly christened "Joker" by his foul-mouthed drill sergeant (R. Lee Ermey), and... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey

Directed By: Stanley Kubrick

#1988

Big (1988)

98%

Critics Consensus: Refreshingly sweet and undeniably funny, Big is a showcase for Tom Hanks, who dives into his role and infuses it with charm and surprising poignancy.

Synopsis: At a carnival, young Josh Baskin wishes he were big, only to wake up the next morning and discover his wish came true. But the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard

Directed By: Penny Marshall

#1989

Parenthood (1989)

92%

Critics Consensus: Bolstered by a delightful cast, Parenthood is a funny and thoughtfully crafted look at the best and worst moments of family life that resonates broadly.

Synopsis: Perfectionist Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) struggles with the deficiencies of his children, thinking they reflect poorly on his parenting -- and Gil's siblings only add... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards

Directed By: Ron Howard