Busting The Block - Which is the Greatest ?

[Mandon Knight]

Have tried to choose 'equally' of time and 'era' fairly, but given the 80's & 90's gave us some of the best blockbusters of all time, some may argue it's a wee bit swayed, but in people's opinions, what are the definitive 'summer' blockbusters. I have taken from Jaws (1975) onwards, as that is regarded and heralded as the film that launched the definition of the term and I don't apologise for it being Spielberg-heavy either

 

[Pink Ranger]

I chose BTTF. A blockbuster that shouldn't have been a blockbuster: primarily a comedy, not a lot of fighting, no horror violence, no traditional male-female love interest. Yet somehow became this cultural touchstone for a whole generation just because of inventive, refreshing storytelling.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Am going to go for Star Wars, after MUCH deliberation. Purely from the shift, view & perception it gave cinematic access too, the changes to film making it brought with it (VFX, Sound Editing, Merchandising, Sequel Building etc.). The Summer of 1977 changed everything.

 

[Drizzle]

I'm going to give it to Star Wars. Jaws was the trailblazer but Star Wars was the game changer in terms of just how massive it became.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I think each of the choices (and I'm not patting myself on the back....well a little bit) have everything of what defines modern cinema and also illustrates how the dynamic and preferences have shifted since 1975.

I feel blessed to have been able to see some of the defining classics during the 80's as a child growing up, heck, Spielberg & Williams define my childhood in some form or another.

 

[Mandon Knight]

To tie in with the other blockbuster thread that's been set up concentrating on the 1980's, thought people may want to look at this one again, with it having a pan-generational vote structure option to it and dovetails the 80's one quite well.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I thought it would, but Star Wars winning this one so far.

 

[3rdstone]

Many awesome flicks on that list that I've highly enjoyed when they came out and still do whenever they turn up on the telly (and hard to put in any order since I like them all kinda equally). Anyways:

I obviously gotta go with Star Wars here. A huge nostalgia trip for me for sure, since I watched it at the cinema at 11 years old back then (and had the most incredible movie experience in my snotty kid life, before and after).

But regardless of nostalgia it actually was such a big cinematic event at the time. This kind of high budget sci-fi space opera, with relatable heroes and a fascinating mythology felt very fresh and unique at that time, which I think was a huge part of all the buzz surrounding it before the premiere.

And believe me, it was a HUUGE buzz. Like pop culture icon stuff but contemporary even before the premiere. I've never experienced anything rarely close to that afterwards.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Many awesome flicks on that list that I've highly enjoyed when they came out and still do whenever they turn up on the telly (and hard to put in any order since I like them all kinda equally). Anyways:

I obviously gotta go with Star Wars here. A huge nostalgia trip for me for sure, since I watched it at the cinema at 11 years old back then (and had the most incredible movie experience in my snotty kid life, before and after).

But regardless of nostalgia it actually was such a big cinematic event at the time. This kind of high budget sci-fi space opera, with relatable heroes and a fascinating mythology felt very fresh and unique at that time, which I think was a huge part of all the buzz surrounding it before the premiere.

And believe me, it was a HUUGE buzz. Like pop culture icon stuff but contemporary even before the premiere. I've never experienced anything rarely close to that afterwards.

It was massive, the queues round the block, the impact of merchandising, the feeling of the film taking 'over', it was simply 'everything' at the time and this opening will stay with me forever, I was just 'wow' seeing it on screen at time....

 

[Batmannerism]

Of this century I would say The Dark Knight, but of all time nothing beats original Star Wars - it was a phenomenon which completely exceeded the hype, pure cinematic magic !

 

[Batmannerism]

Many awesome flicks on that list that I've highly enjoyed when they came out and still do whenever they turn up on the telly (and hard to put in any order since I like them all kinda equally). Anyways:

I obviously gotta go with Star Wars here. A huge nostalgia trip for me for sure, since I watched it at the cinema at 11 years old back then (and had the most incredible movie experience in my snotty kid life, before and after).

But regardless of nostalgia it actually was such a big cinematic event at the time. This kind of high budget sci-fi space opera, with relatable heroes and a fascinating mythology felt very fresh and unique at that time, which I think was a huge part of all the buzz surrounding it before the premiere.

And believe me, it was a HUUGE buzz. Like pop culture icon stuff but contemporary even before the premiere. I've never experienced anything rarely close to that afterwards.

Totally agree. I saw it as a 7 year old with my father- I remember after the lights came up we looked at each other and jusy said " Wow!"

I don't think any single movie since has had that kind of cultural imapct.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Even though Return of the Jedi is actually the film that set the template for most of the blockbusters that have came in the last 4 decades, I had to go with Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. Not only did it get the blockbuster ball really rolling, it holds up over 40 years later, a timeless classic.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Opening up thread debate again as we enter the summer BB period....