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Credit: Barbie/Warner Bros.
Ever since Jaws made people afraid to go back into the water in 1975, summer has been considered prime moviegoing season, at least for a certain flavor of film: Usually loud, often heavy on the thrills, and more likely than not, loaded with special effects. Summer blockbusters have a reputation for being silly and superficial; though that need not be the case, it’s certainly true that the defining examples of the form favor wowing you with spectacle over making you think (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
To celebrate the return of Hot Weather Movies, let’s run down the list of the best summer blockbusters released since the year 2000. To be considered, a film need not have topped the box office (though most of these did), nor been released during what the calendar strictly defines as summer—I think we can all agree that as far as the movies are concerned, the high season begins in May and ends in August. What they do have to offer, is an entertaining ride.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Release date: May 27, 2022
U.S. box office gross: $719 million
After being delayed for nearly three years, first for reshoots and then because of COVID lockdowns, Top Gun: Maverick felt as though it could easily been an afterthought—especially given the hit-or-miss nature of legacy sequels. Instead, it became the movie that “saved Hollywood” (and movie theaters) after the pandemic had threatened to make streaming the new norma;. The second biggest domestic box office winner of 2022 (behind Avatar: The Way of Water), the sequel to 1986’s Top Gun was a fun throwback that actually bested its predecessor as both a theatrical experience and in having a coherent plot—though the dearth of the original’s gay undertones feels disrespectful to its legacy. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Paramount+, MGM+, Prime Video
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Release date: June 30, 2004
U.S. box office gross: $373 million
For a time, it something of a given that any Marvel movie would be at least passably entertaining and a huge box office hit, but that was hardly the case when Sam Raimi was faced with following up 2002’s $400 million smash Spider-Man. The director had no choice but to make the sequel bigger in every way—flashier special effects, higher stakes, the villain even has more arms! Luckier, the movie is also better in areas like, oh, the script (written by Oscar-winner Alvin Sargent from a story by Pulitzer-winner Michael Chabon); not only was it almost as big in U.S. theaters, it kicked off the modern summer blockbuster era in earnest. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Barbie (2023)
Release date: July 21, 2023
U.S. box office gross: $636 million
The top-grossing movie of 2023, and the one that captured the zeitgeist (sorry Oppenheimer), Barbie is not only a phenomenally good time, it’s also going to remain a fascinating cultural artifact for decades to come. It’s a deeply weird movie: a piece of corporate IP helmed by a prestigious director (Greta Gerwig) that manages to be as goofy as it is genuinely moving. For a brief, beautiful moment, we were united in our shared affection a film based on a doll. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Star Trek (2009)
Release date: May 8, 2009
U.S. box office gross: $257 million
When it comes to Star Trek, I was always more of a Next Generation guy—though don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the even-numbered films as much as the next geek—so I wasn’t as offended as some by the big swings director J.J. Abrams took when given the conn of the long-lived franchise. Yeah, it recasts the original leads (though Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Karl Urban do a good job replicating the Big Throuple Energy of Kirk/Spock/Bones), it de-canonizes all that came before by taking place in an alternate timeline, it even kills off an entire, beloved alien species. But in foregrounding the action, it also feels like the first big-screen Trek to truly take advantage of its summer release date. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Paramount+, Digital rental
Wonder Woman (2017)
Release date: June 2, 2017
U.S. box office gross: $413 million
A bright spot in the wildly inconsistent (but often not great, let’s be real) DC movie universe, the Patty Jenkins-directed take on Wonder Woman manages to feel like a real, actual movie for most of its runtime, placing genuine human (and superhuman) characters in a visceral World War I setting and telling a story that doesn’t feel like setup for a dozen crossovers and spinoffs. Diana’s (Gal Gadot) journey from an isolated island of women into a world shaped by men feels like a descent into hell, a bold choice that pays off, making it clear exactly what kind of hero she is. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Ready or Not (2019)
Release date: August 21, 2019
U.S. box office gross: $29 million
Aside from late October, there’s no better time for a chilling horror flick than the dog days of summer, and this underrated high-concept, bloody romp certainly feels perfect for the hottest month, blending a creepy setup—a woman (Samara Weaving) gets more than she bargained for when she marries into an ultra-wealthy family with a penchant for playing The Most Dangerous Game—with over-the-top action that grows increasingly unhinged with every death (and zany plot twist). Go in knowing as little as possible and you’ll have just the best time. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Digital rental
The Dark Knight (2008)
Release date: July 18, 2008
U.S. box office gross: $534 million
I’m not sold on the idea that superhero flicks need to be some version of dark and “mature” to be taken seriously—often those movies feel like they’re trying too hard to bend a story into a shape it was never meant for. Christopher Nolan’s Bat sequel, though, squares that circle rather elegantly, telling a story that feels both grounded in its action (looking to films like Michael Mann’s Heat for inspiration) and over the top in its comic book flourishes—including its villains. Heath Ledger, of course, a posthumous Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the Joker. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Release date: June 26, 2001
U.S. box office gross: $78 million
You can understand why Warner Bros. thought it was a good idea to release the next sci-fi special effects extravaganza from Steven Spielberg at the height of summer, but this cold, calculating, alienating story of a robot boy yearning to be real offers little of the fun of Jurassic Park. It’s generally a dour, depressing affair, concerning as it does, oh, the death of all humanity and the artificial emotional strain experienced by a doll programmed to love (portrayed with unsettling, glassy-eyed unreality by Haley Joel Osment). This is all hardly surprising, considering it was originally envisioned as a vehicle for director Stanley Kubrick. But it’s also one of the most challenging, intelligent would-be summer blockbusters ever made (and if you want to complain about the ending, feel free to email me). —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Paramount+, MGM+, digital rental
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Release date: May 15, 2015
U.S. box office gross: $154 million
George Miller returned in 2015 to the franchise he’d kicked off decades earlier, and by recasting the lead character and rebooting the timeline, he proved the best way to do a legacy sequel is (probably) not to care much at all about what came before. Taking the some of the style from those earlier movies and ditching the rest, Miller and company crafted a uniquely thrilling and distinctive visual spectacle. There have been a lot of action movies, but the unique tone and precision on display here is virtually unmatched. Plus: Charlie Theron’s Furiosa is an instant icon. (I’d put her new solo movie on this list too, box office receipts be damned.) —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Release date: May 28, 2014
U.S. box office gross: $100 million
There’s something so inherently satisfying about the Groundhog Day story structure—in which the protagonists experience the same day over and over until they get it right, or at least figure out why and how to stop it—that it has become something of a sub-genre unto itself, and I can think of few better examples of the form than this late-era Tom Cruise star vehicle, based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill. Cruise plays a privileged military brat who is conscripted into the marines and forced to fight in battle armor in a brutal war against alien invaders. He’s promptly killed, which does him little good when he wakes up and is forced to relive the harrowing events again… and again. Watching him piece together what’s going on is great fun, especially once Emily Blunt appears as a sword-wielding combat expert who is also stuck on repeat. (That sequel… when?) —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Digital rental
Scary Movie (2000)
Release date: July 7, 2000
U.S. box office gross: $278 million
The genre of the very specific parody movie this one’s success revived got old fast, but the lunacy of Scary Movie (directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans) feels inspired—think Spaceballs, but even goofier and with a laser focus on then-recent horror movies (Scream, especially). I’m not sure how well the references hold up—is the lengthy “Wazzup!” sequence still funny if you aren’t steeped in the history of late-1990s beer commercials?—but there’s still plenty of genuinely funny stuff to giggle at, and leads Regina Hall and Anna Faris prove themselves to be comedy MVPs. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Release date: June 27, 2009
U.S. box office gross: $144 million
Musicals make for perfect escapist summer fare—at least when they’re as light and frothy as this straight-from-Broadway jukebox compilation, which does its best to craft a nonsensical story out of a collection of ABBA’s greatest hits. The plot is laughable—Amanda Seyfried plays a girl who wants to finally meet her dad before she gets hitched, but her mom (Meryl Streep) isn’t sure who he is, so it’s extra awkward when all three potential sperm donors attend the wedding—but it exists only to string together infectious singalong sequences set against a gorgeous Greek island backdrop. It turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the year, raking in over $600 million worldwide and spawning an almost as successful sequel a decade later—good thing ABBA had a lot of songs to work with. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Release date: Aug. 5, 2011
U.S. box office gross: $177 million
It’s tempting to go with the bigger and significantly more financially successful sequel, but Rise kicked off what’s probably the most impressive blockbuster series in modern history—certainly when judged by an unremitting willingness to dive into the dark. Without being entirely cynical or hopeless, each movie iin the series (up to and including 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) plumbs the depths of human inadequacies, refusing to offer up reassuring platitudes or easy heroes. Here, Andy Serkis plays Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee who goes from pet to leading an ape uprising against humanity…and we’re mostly rooting for the apes. In a world of carefully triangulated blockbusters designed to make us feel good enough to go shopping afterward, it’s amazing these things got made. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Hulu, digital rental
Attack the Block (2011)
Release date: July 29, 2011
U.S. box office gross: $1 million
Not all summer sci-fi blockbusters need break the bank when it comes to lavishing spending on special effects spectacle, and this one sure doesn’t. Yet this nimble effort from Edgar Wright collaborator Joe Cornish makes the most of its £8 million budget, favoring innovative staging and perfectly simplistic monster design as it tells the story of a group of British teens (including a pre-Finn John Boyega) on the run from carnivorous alien beasties invading their towering London apartment building. The survival horror setup and immensely charming young cast proves irresistible, and though it barely made a blip in U.S. theaters, it became a cult hit on DVD, and for good reason. And thankfully, it was too much madness for just one movie—more than a decade later, a sequel is in the works. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Digital rental
Bridesmaids (2011)
Release date: May 12, 2011
U.S. box office gross: $169 million
Summer blockbusters aren’t always about special effects and elaborate action sequence, and certainly this team-up of some of the funniest women in comedy—including Kristen Wigg, Maya Rudolph, and surprise Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy in her breakout role—felt like a big deal. It’s a pleasure seeing these funny ladies make the most of a thin premise (unlucky in love, Wigg’s Annie tries to make the most out of being appointed her best pal’s maid of honor, but ends up making a mess of things)—the kind of largesse usually only granted to a gaggle of male comedians. The movie was a huge smash, enduring all the better because they never tried to make a sequel. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Digital rental
Girls Trip (2017)
Release date: July 21, 2017
U.S. box office gross: $115 million
Another great summer comedy. Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and Jada Pinkett Smith set off on the titular adventure, heading to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Hijinks ensure. The cast is key here, with four leads who can absolutely do comedy, but also create compelling characters that you actually care about. There are enough solid laughs here for two or three more conventional comedies. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Peacock, digital rental
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Release date: August 15, 2018
U.S. box office gross: $175 million
Crazy Rich Asians dials wedding comedy tropes up to twenty—the groom’s family isn’t just richer than the bride’s…they’re richer than just about everybody on the planet (aka crazy rich)—while exploring a cultural landscape literally foreign to most high budget Hollywood films. Constance Wu’s Rachel Chu comes from New York, a world apart from the more traditional (in one sense) Singapore upbringing of her fiancé Nick Young (Henry Fielding). The mere facts of her life seem to serve as proof that she’s nothing but a gold-digger—even if Nick’s casually cruel mother (Michelle Yeoh) has a similarly questionable background. The big-hearted, funny, and groundbreaking film is a delight from beginning to end, even as its comedy frequently has bite. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Netflix, digital rental
Pacific Rim (2013)
Release date: July 11, 2013
U.S. box office gross: $102 million
I could offer up a lot of reasons why this Guillermo del Toro-direction action extravaganza is perfect summer entertainment—fantastic special effects, ingeniously conceived action sequences, a more-than-capable multicultural cast, a setup that feels both novel and familiar—but I’ve leave it at this: Giant robots fighting giant monsters. Really says it all. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Apple TV+, Digital rental
Inception (2008)
Release date: July 13, 2010
U.S. box office gross: $293 million
Director Christopher Nolan has managed to stake a claim to the summer months, whether he’s making an obtuse sci-fi flick (Tenet) or a downbeat historical biopic (Oppenheimer). And no movie captures his signature mix of slick style and (at least an attempt at) substance than Inception, which manages to layer what passes for a brainy high-concept plot (a heist pulled off in the layered world of dreams; it’s all very silly but makes you think more than many a slice of summer escapism) with a sequences of elaborate, fourth-dimensional action sequences. And it’s just nice to watch Leonardo DiCaprio working in peak form. —Joel Cunningham
The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Release date: June 28, 2003
U.S. box office gross: $305 million
I think we probably all had our doubts leading up to the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the first in what would become a sprawling five-film series. Rides in Disney’s Magic Kingdom are usually inspired by popular movies—not the other way around. But although pirates in general are not typically lovable characters, Captain Jack Sparrow (a mostly pre-cancellation Johnny Depp) manages to win viewers over with an irresistible quirkiness and humor that I can’t imagine replicating. This film features all the things you crave in summer, including live pirates, skeletal pirates, love, violence, treasure, and more. —Meghan Walbert
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Neighbors (2014)
Release date: May 9, 2014
U.S. box office gross: $150 million
A goofy sex comedy that’s also impressively warmhearted, Neighbors stars Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne as a thirty-something couple who try to remain cool when a frat house moves in next door. At first they use the opportunity to relive their college days, but soon they’re going to war with the bros next door (and their leader, played by Zac Efron) when it all gets to be too much. It’s a solid premise, executed with smarts and silliness. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Apple TV+, digital rental
The Meg (2018)
Release date: May 30, 2003
U.S. box office gross: $145 million
In 1999, Samuel L. Jackson’s Deep Blue Sea answered the question, what if Jaws, but dumber? The answer turned out to be very good for summer movie fans, if not their brain cells, so you’ve got to hand it to The Meg for coming along nearly two decades later to ask, what if Deep Blue Sea, but significantly dumber? The answer turned out to be another question: “Did Jason Statham just punch a giant shark?” —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Hulu, Digital rental
Finding Nemo (2003)
Release date: May 30, 2003
U.S. box office gross: $380 million
Did I see Finding Nemo in 2003, a full seven years before I had a kid? Why yes, yes I did. And if you didn’t, you seriously miscalculated how much an adult can enjoy an animated movie geared toward kids. Sure, it starts with the classic Disney move of killing off a parent basically right away. But the usually level-headed Nemo’s one rule-breaking moment leads him on an epic—and dangerous!—adventure in which he meets a slew of relatable personalities. (Sure, there’s the iconic Dory; but remember the “Fish are friends, not food” shark support group? Good stuff.) This endearing and funny film is still worth a watch. —Meghan Walbert
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Release date: April 26, 2019
U.S. box office gross: $858 million
Love Marvel or hate it, there’s real narrative power on display in this culmination of the 20+ films that came before it—and it definitely sticks the landing. For all of our sequel-obsessed movie culture, no other single film has beeb challenged with effective summing up an entire franchise in quite the same way (the closest comparison I can think of is The Rise of Skywalker, which was…less successful). Five years after the end of the world, the surviving Avengers take on a mission through time (and their earlier adventures) to try to restore what’s been lost, leading to a climactic showdown for the ages. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Ghostbusters (2016)
Release date: July 15, 2016
U.S. box office gross: $128 million
Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones lead this loose and fun reboot, which largely coasts on the comedic talents of its core cast while also offering up plenty of summer spectacle. In a just world, we’d have gotten at least one sequel to this reboot—which, it bears mentioning, is still the most successful of the modern Ghostbusters movies, both critically and at the box office. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Digital rental
John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum (2019)
Release date: May 15, 2019
U.S. box office gross: $171 million
Did the second sequel to surprise 2014 action hit John Wick really need to introduce a cartoonish network of super-assassins to combat Keanu Reeves’ titular reluctant professional killer? Yes, I would argue, it did. No, I don’t know know why it is subtitled “Parabellum,” but I promise not to think about it too hard as long as Keanu promises to keep riding horses down the streets of New York City for some reason. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Peacock, Digital rental
Nope (2022)
Release date: July 22, 2022
U.S. box office gross: $123 million
When Wikipedia tries to classify films by genre, it typically sticks to a word or two. For Jordan Peele’s Nope we get “neo-Western science fiction horror film.” Which tells you simultaneously nothing, and everything you need to know. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as a couple of siblings in rural California who work supplying live animals to the movie business, and happen upon…something (it might be a UFO, or something else entirely) terrorizing the horses at their remote ranch. The atmosphere of suspense is brilliantly maintained, layered with an aura of general weirdness that will be familiar to anyone who loved Get Out and Us. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Digital rental
The Forty-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Release date: August 11, 2005
U.S. box office gross: $109 million
When you think of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the iconic chest-waxing scene is probably what first comes to mind. It was absolutely hilarious at the time, even if it might feel tired now. But nah—it’s still funny, and I’ll watch a (relatively) young Paul Rudd, and Seth Rogan improvise insults at one another as they try to find their older, virginal friend Steve Carell a willing date… basically whenever. This is a movie I’d stop to watch every damn time I came across it on TV, which makes it a real shame that you have to rent or buy it now—but I’m willing to pay that fee for the happy ending. —Meghan Walbert
Where to stream: Starz, digital rental
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Release date: May 25, 2018
U.S. box office gross: $214 million
I know what you’re going to say but: Solo is the only post-prequels Star War to come out during the summer. And once you can get past the fact that no, we didn’t really need Han’s origin story and that recasting Harrison Ford was a fool’s errand, you’ll realize that this is exactly the kind of inconsequential lark we needed from the galaxy far, far away: a high-stakes heist peppered by memorable characters (including Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a sass-mouthed robot and Donald Glover as the embodiment of Billy Dee Williams) and fantastic deep space action. Sure, I wish original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had gotten to execute their (reportedly weirder) vision, but Ron Howard’s version is still perfect summer entertainment. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Maleficent (2014)
Release date: May 30, 2014
U.S. box office gross: $241 million
Angelina Jolie offers up some sympathy for a Disney devil, starring as the titular dark fairy, once self-described “Mistress of All Evil.” Maleficent takes the Wicked route of exploring the villain’s backstory, and finds in it a goodhearted young woman twisted by war and betrayal. Unlike many a live-action take on a Disney classic, this one more than justifies its existence thanks to its revisionist take, and a delightfully nasty performance from Jolie. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Digital rental
Minority Report (2002)
Release date: June 21, 2002
U.S. box office gross: $132 million
If A.I. made for a poorly timed summer blockbuster, Spielberg’s subsequent effort, adapting a short story from sci-fi mastermind Philip K. Dick, is the opposite: Set in a near-future in which government surveillance has become omnipresent to the point that police have started arresting people for psychically predicted crimes even before they’re committed, it proves to be the perfect vehicle for Tom Cruise doing what he does best: Making that weird face when he runs. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Paramount+, digital rental
Shrek (2001)
Release date: May 18, 2001
U.S. box office gross: $268 million
The film that launched a franchise. Mike Myers stars as the title’s disgusting green ogre, on a reluctant quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), but only so that he can get his swamp back. Taking comedic aim at just about every fairytale trope you’ve ever heard, Shrek feels like the antithesis of the classic Disney formula—first in its gassy protagonist, and then in its firm conviction that the way to happiness isn’t to become pretty royalty, but to be yourself. —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Netflix, digital rental
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Release date: July 25, 2007
U.S. box office gross: $183 million
Some 17 years elapsed between the series premiere of The Simpsons and the launch of the first film starring America’s favorite yellow family in theaters. At that point, it was the best thing the then-flagging franchise had produced in quite some time—a strong story built on bigger, better animation than the small screen version could ever have hoped to deliver. Audiences responded by turning it into a huge hit, perhaps unaware that doing so would only encourage Fox to keep right on making more episodes of the show until the end of time. (Fun fact: As much time has since elapsed between the release of this film and the present, and the show is still on the air.) —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Disney+, digital rental
Gladiator (2000)
Release date: May 5, 2000
U.S. box office gross: $188 million
Ridley Scott has been fighting the good fight to keep the venerable historical epic alive since this Russell Crowe drama that took home Oscar gold while also managing to deliver a sword-and-sandal spectacle of the kind they don’t make anymore (well, except that Ridley Scott still does—Gladiator 2 is coming later this year). Crowe plays the title warrior, who falls from a high status as a Roman general when he invokes the wrath of the emperor, and finds himself fighting for life and glory in the arena. Perhaps you remember his name? —Ross Johnson
Where to stream: Peacock, Paramount+, digital rental
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Release date: Aug. 1, 2014
U.S. box office gross: $331 million
One more comic book movie for the list, and the one that proved that Marvel could get really weird and still attract an audience (until it couldn’t). An on-the-come-up Chris Pratt stars as an orphaned human who was raised in a distant galaxy filled with other-worldly dangers and biarre aliens (including a sentient tree and a talking raccoon). The general public knew nothing of these heroic C-listers before summer 2014; thanks to the sure hand of writer/director James Gunn, by the release of the third film in 2023, they felt like last Marvel franchise standing. —Joel Cunningham
Where to stream: Disney+, digital renta
