Just three years ago, it seemed like the summer blockbuster might be a thing of the past. After COVID-19 kept cinemas closed across the United States for the majority of 2020, the box office reopened in 2021 on uncertain footing. Many movies flopped, and overall grosses leaned towards the softer side. That summer seemed like the harbinger of the end for the seasonal release strategy perfected by “Jaws” in 1975, wherein the hottest months host the biggest titles — marketed aggressively to theatergoers. The movie theater business had been in crisis for a while, but the pandemic seemed to speed along its predicted demise, as the streaming age ended the era when movies could be events. So thank goodness for “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”
Things aren’t entirely rosy at cinemas again, but summer 2024 was a balm, with the Barbenheimer double header raking in billions and turning theater-going into a major viral trend. While that summer had its fair share of high-profile financial duds — does anyone even remember that “The Flash” came out a year ago? — it marked easily the most optimistic time for the theatrical business in post-COVID memory. Summer 2024, relatively thin on releases thanks to the creeping effects of the work stoppage caused by last year’s dual WGA and SAG strikes, has been accompanied by a new wave of hand-wringing about the state of moviegoing after disappointments like “The Fall Guy” and “Furiosa.” Still, major financial smashes like “Inside Out 2” are keeping the hope of the theatrical business alive and well.
In celebration of a new summer season, we’re refreshing our look at the best and most noteworthy summer blockbusters of the 2000s. Since there aren’t specific parameters of what makes a summer blockbuster a summer blockbuster, we set some ground rules in selecting titles for the list. Number one is that the films had to be released in the summer theatrical window, loosely defined as the period between May 15 and September 15. Second, the films’ worldwide box office totals had to equal or exceed $500 million, with the numbers sourced from Box Office Mojo.
With that said, let’s look back at the films that defined our summers. Entries are unranked and listed in chronological order. Read on for our list of the 12 best summer blockbusters of the 21st century.
The 12 Best Summer Blockbusters of the 21st Century
‘Finding Nemo’ (2003, Andrew Stanton)
What it is: Pixar’s popular animated classic focuses on clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks) as he goes on a quest to save his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) after he’s captured by humans and brought to the surface as a pet.
What it made at the box office: $871,014,978
Peak cultural frenzy: ‘Finding Nemo’ made a ton of money in theaters, but its true success was on home video, where it became a staple of family movie collections and a perennial kid rewatch classic. Upon its release, it was the most successful DVD release of all time, selling 15 million copies during its first two weeks. It remains the second best-selling film on home video in the United States, only behind Disney’s ‘The Lion King.’
‘Shrek 2’ (2004, Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon)
What it is: The sequel to DreamWorks’ defining film sees the titular ogre meet the parents of his wife Fiona — and lock horns with her scheming Fairy Godmother.
What it made at the box office: $928,760,770
Peak cultural frenzy: If you need a reminder of how big the ‘Shrek’ franchise was in the early 2000s, consider that the sequel competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film festival. The series ended in 2010, but its cultural legacy remains apparent in the “Puss in Boots” spinoff series and the legendary memes it spawned. In ‘Shrek 2’ alone, you have the famous reaction photo of Puss making a pleading baby face, and the beloved ‘I Need a Hero’ scene. Shrek is truly love, and Shrek is truly life.
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004, Alfonso Cuarón)
What it is: Peak Pottermania was of course the massive first film, but it — and most of the other ‘Harry Potter’ movies — was a holiday hit. The first entry in the franchise to release during the summer, and the best of the films overall, ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ sees the titular wizard struggle through his third year at Hogwarts, especially when a mysterious figure from his parents’ past escapes prison and seeks him out.
What it made at the box office: $795,634,069
Peak cultural frenzy: ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ is widely agreed to be the strongest film in the ‘Potter’ film series, but was the lowest-grossing film in the franchise (yes, nearly $800 million is low by the standards of the Wizarding World franchise). But even at the ‘low point of Potter mania, the film inspired a ton of opening night cosplay for kids and kids at heart alike.
‘Spider-Man 2’ (2004, Sam Raimi)
What it is: Sam Raimi’s sequel to his original 2002 ‘Spider-Man’ sees Tobey Maguire return as the web-slinger to confront a new threat: the insane and heartbroken Dr. Ot to Octavius.
What it made at the box office: $788,618,317
Peak cultural frenzy: Raimi’s Spider-Man films helped save Marvel from bankruptcy during the early 2000s, and was the most prominent franchise in the superhero boom during the turn of the century. The first ‘Spider-Man’ was a particularly major cultural moment, with its upside-down kiss embedding itself in film history. Raimi’s distinctive, funny, and vibrant tone helped his ‘Spider-Man’ films endure in the public consciousness years later, with Maguire still the definitive Spidey.
‘Mamma Mia!’ (2008, Phyllida Lloyd)
What it is: An adaptation of the popular ABBA jukebox musical, ‘Mamma Mia!’ features an all-star cast – Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, and Julie Walters — in an ensemble comedy about a young woman inviting her three prospective fathers to her fantasy wedding.
What it made at the box office: $694,665,913
Peak cultural frenzy: ‘Mamma Mia!’ received mixed reviews from critics but was a huge crowd-pleaser in theaters and remains a TV staple to this day. Its success led to a resurgence of interest in ABBA’s music among younger generations, and eventually birthed a 10-years-later sequel.
‘Inception’ (2010, Christopher Nolan)
What it is: Christopher Nolan’s dream heist movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who steals information by infiltrating his targets’ subconscious.
What it made at the box office: $825,793,570
Peak cultural frenzy: Yes, “The Dark Knight” was the bigger movie at its time, but looking back, “Inception” might have had the longer legacy. Nolan’s film didn’t just make a lot of money; it added a whole new term to the cultural lexicon. “Inception” became a shorthand for many when talking about anything complicated or with layers, ensuring that the film would still remain on (and in) people’s minds for years to come.
‘Wonder Woman’ (2017, Patty Jenkins)
What it is: The long-awaited first film starring comic book’s most famous heroine, ‘Wonder Woman’ sees Gal Gadot don the tiara and wield the lasso of the Amazon princess as she ventures into the world of men in an attempt to stop World War II.
What it made at the box office: $821,847,012
Peak cultural frenzy: As the first major studio superhero film to be directed solo by a woman, Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” was greeted with high expectations when it premiered in Summer 2017. Similar to “Barbie,” its positive reception turned it into a cultural moment, with even non-superhero fans flocking to theaters to support the first truly good, major female-led superhero movie, turning it into (at the time) the most successful film from a solo female director ever.
‘It: Chapter One’ (2017, Andy Muschietti)
What it is: The first half of Stephen King’s iconic book about a scary clown — actually a scary shapeshifting monster [editor’s note: actually an evil, ancient, cosmic entity] — tormenting a bunch of small-town kids is faithfully adapted, with Bill Skarsgård in the title role of It.
What it made at the box office: $700,381,748
Peak cultural frenzy: ‘It’ revitalized interest in Stephen King’s work, particularly for a younger audience who didn’t grow up with the Tim Curry ’90s miniseries adaptation of the book. Pennywise and the Loser’s Club became the hottest group Halloween costume of 2017, and it launched a dedicated online fandom that still can be found on the edges of TikTok and Tumblr to this day.
‘Mission: Impossible — Fallout’ (2018, Christopher McQuarrie)
What it is: The sixth entry in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise pits Tom Cruise against a bioterrorist organization in a nuclear arms race.
What it made at the box office: $791,115,104
Peak cultural frenzy: “Mission: Impossible” has always been a workhorse blockbuster franchise, always big but never the biggest movie of its year. “Fallout” managed to distinguish itself as the high point of the series, receiving acclaim as one of the best action movies of all time. Its critical and commercial success helped revive interest in the franchise, setting it up for a highly lucrative few years to come.
‘Black Panther’ (2018, Ryan Coogler)
What it is: The solo film starring the Black Panther, Marvel’s first Black superhero and ruler of the secret, highly-advanced African kingdom of Wakanda, who seeks vengeance for his father’s death and to save his country from external and internal threats.
What it made at the box office: $1,382,829,172
Peak cultural frenzy: “Black Panther” was more than just a superhero movie; it was a movement. As the first mainstream superhero film to feature a predominantly Black cast and an African protagonist, it broke new ground for representation in Hollywood and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. “Black Panther” shattered stereotypes and broke box office records, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated fanbase and inspiring a wave of pride and celebration in Black communities worldwide.
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