See how we rank the greatest attractions in our annual MayAugust romance with the movies.

John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) returns to Vietnam, wins this time.

We were all believers.

Released: May 22, 1985 Box office: $300.4 million The classic Sequel-as-Hyperbolized-Remake. John Rambo returns to Vietnam, wins this time. — Darren Franich Read more about

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Evidence of the film’s influence: Now each summer, we wait forthatyear’sInception.

It was no slouch at the box office, either.

And, of course, it’s the reason “Are you not entertained?!”

Released: July 15, 1998 Box office: $369.9 million Invented Cameron Diaz, perfected Ben Stiller, became one of the great slow-rising sleeper hits with a sui

Glenn Watson

became part of the pop culture lexicon, for which we are forever grateful.L.H.

An iconic presidential speech!)

and in terms of its box office haul.

When it comes to superhero movies, I have become an agnostic. I have neither the faith of a fanboy nor the knee-jerk derision of a

© Marvel 2014

21 on our listbut it might be No.

1 in your heart.

Don’t think youngBryan SingerandZack Snyderweren’t impressed.

Released: May 18, 2001 Box office: $484.4 million The defining DreamWorks Animation project: PG-rude, celebrity voices, pop culture references, playful jabs at Disney and a

Dreamworks

It’s good to be king.

Night Shyamalan’s atmospheric thriller.

The film’s soundtrack became iconic.

Released: July 16, 2010 Box office: $825.5 million Christopher Nolan’s 2010 actioner mixed the brain-twisty cerebral storytelling of Memento and The Prestige with the grand

Stephen Vaughan

Everything about the movie became iconic.

The definition of ‘‘iconic’’ is just a picture ofTom Cruisewearing aviators.

and many decades later, everyone still knows the answer.

Released: May 3, 2002 Box office: $821.7 million Blade and X-Men got there first, but Sam Raimi’s web-swinging film officially began the superhero era. Spider-Man

Zade Rosenthal

Yet, it was solid as a rock while feeling light as a feather.

Sure, it was more fantasy than fact-checking, butForrest Gumpis just darn charming.

It feels not a moment too soon to declareFury Roadan all-time classic.

Released: July 24, 1998 Box office: $481.8 million Opened in late July, which meant that August 1998 was essentially Saving Private Ryan Month. — Darren

David James

It will ride eternal, shiny and chrome.Tyler Aquilina

6.E.T.

the Extra-Terrestrial

Released:June 11, 1982

Box office:Worldwide gross$792,910,554according toBox Office Mojo

E.T.

Intimacy wins over loud special effects, making for a movie that retains its magic decades later.

Released: May 5, 2000 Box office: $457.6 million Invented Russell Crowe. Reinvented ancient epics. — Darren Franich Read more about EW’s Best Summer Blockbusters series!

Jaap Buitendijk

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is everywhere.

And you’re free to seeStar Warseverywhere.

Heck,Star Warswas one of the first ‘‘gritty-realism’’ fantasies.

Released: July 3, 1996 Box office: $817.4 million The White House would never be safe again. — Darren Franich Read more about EW’s Best Summer

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Image

© Disney/Pixar

Released: July 9, 2003 Box office: $654 million Although it seems weird to attribute too much importance to a series as lightweight as Pirates ,

Disney

Grease

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Released: July 15, 2011 Box office: $1.34 billion Deathly Hallows 2 is one of the best-constructed projects from a contemporary fan-service perspective, mixing together a

Jaap Buitendijk

The Avengers

Marvel

Released: July 3, 1985 Box office: $381.1million Back to the Future transformed Michael J. Fox from a phenomenally popular TV actor to a bona fide

Ralph Nelson

Released: June 19, 1981 Box office: $108.2 million While the 1978 original hooked audiences with then-spectacular special effects showing a man who could fly faster

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Released: June 24, 1994 (wide) Box office: $987.5 million Alongside fellow EW Blockbuster Forrest Gump, The Lion King ruled the ‘94 box office. Kids —

© Disney

Released: Aug. 6, 1999 Box office: $672.8 million In the post- Lady in the Water era, it’s tough to remember how bonkers people once went

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Released: May 16, 1986 Box office: $356 million The movie’s mixture of Reagan-era patriotism and MTV-era style proved an uncannily perfect concoction with something for

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Released: July 3, 1991 Box office: $315 million The Terminator of Judgment Day would be a good guy this time, paired up with a sassy

Zade Rosenthal

ANIMAL HOUSE

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Released: June 8, 1984 Box office: $291.6 million Ghostbusters surrounded some of the funniest guys on the planet with expensive — though slightly cheesy —

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Released: July 6, 1994 Box office: $677.4 million Based on Winston Groom’s fantastical novel, Robert Zemeckis’s decades-spanning movie touched on nearly ever major cultural milestone

Phillip Caruso

Charlize Theron as Furiosa in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

Charlize Theron as Furiosa in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.Everett Collection

Released: June 11, 1982 Box office: $792.9 million E.T. is one of Steven Spielberg’s more personal films, telling the story of a young boy and

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Released: June 12, 1981 Box office: $389.9 million In the first 13 minutes of Raiders , audiences experienced more pulsating action than most action movies

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Released: July 18, 2008 Box office: $1 billion Unshackled by the need to reboot and restart the Caped Crusader franchise, Christopher Nolan delivered an ambitious

Stephen Vaughan

Released: May 25, 1977 Box office: $775 million The influence of Star Wars outside of Star Wars is hard to measure, because it’s hard to

Lucasfilm, Ltd

Director: Steven Spielberg ‘‘You’re gonna need a bigger boat.''

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