10 Best Blockbuster Movies of the Last 40 Years, Ranked

Ever since the release of films such as The Exorcist , Jaws , and Star Wars , the advent of the cinematic blockbuster has been hitting theaters and multiplexes for the last few decades. The term ‘blockbuster’ itself comes from the sight of people queuing beyond the street block of the movie theater just to grab a ticket. Since then, we have seen no shortage of blockbusters, especially within the last 40 years, that have earned their place as some of the most acclaimed and popular movies ever made .

Films like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy , Titanic , and The Dark Knight have continued the long-standing tradition of massive, epic event films where audiences will practically line up around the block to see them. They usually contain ground-breaking visual effects, a fun, adventurous tone, and are dedicated to showing their audience the best time possible. They are films that remind audiences of the joy of going out, sitting back with a tub of popcorn, and watching a movie on the big screen where they belong.

10

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)

It’s not often that a sequel nearly three decades in the making reaches even further heights than the original, but Top Gun: Maverick passes that test with flying colors. The air force training school, better known as Top Gun , has just hired its latest instructor – decorated Captain Pete Mitchell, AKA Maverick ( Tom Cruise ). In preparation for a perilous mission, this free-spirited but skilled captain must train a whole new squad of rookies – among them Rooster ( Miles Teller ), who just so happens to be the son of Maverick’s dead partner, Goose.

Top Gun: Maverick is a legacy sequel that walks the line perfectly between building a new foundation, especially with the young rookie cast, and honoring the original, including Val Kilmer in a cameo that has only become more poignant since his recent death. The flying sequences are some of the best in film history, putting the viewer right in the cockpit in an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride that never forgets to wear its heart on its sleeve .

9

‘Barbie’ (2023)

After decades of languishing in development hell, the first live-action film adaptation of Barbie made headlines for its lavish production design, campy tone, and biting social commentary. In Barbieland, one Barbie ( Margot Robbie ) has begun to act atypically of what everyone expects a Barbie to be. With the help of Ken ( Ryan Gosling ), Barbie travels to the real world to find answers. While Barbie discovers her brand isn’t quite as helpful to society as she thought, Ken discovers a world where men rule – and gets some dangerous ideas as a result.

Its thematic elements have proven divisive in some circles, but the fact that Barbie managed to entertain so many audiences while still inspiring conversation means that it achieved exactly what it set out to do. The production design is a Technicolor spectacle, the soundtrack is perfect, and the performances are outlandish but committed on every level. Very rare is the franchise film that dissects the central property while still showing its value, but Barbie somehow makes it look easy.

8

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

While many can argue about which film in the MCU is the best, Avengers: Endgame was the ultimate culmination of Marvel’s 11-year journey to pop culture superstardom. After the events of Infinity War, half of all life in the universe has vanished into dust. The Avengers have been left fractured, Thanos (Josh Brolin) is dead with no catharsis, and life across the galaxy has struggled to carry on. But when Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) suddenly reappears, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will find the key to bringing everyone back and face their biggest battle yet.

Avengers: Endgame is a mixtape of some of the MCU’s best locations and characters, culminating in one of the most epic showdowns in superhero movie history. Every hero we have grown to love (even Howard the Duck) is present, and it is a truly glorious sight to see. On top of that, the character development, especially Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), is engaging, the special effects have aged better compared to other Marvel films, and the ending is beautifully cathartic.

7

‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

A few years ago, a mining crew in South America discovered the fossilized remains of a prehistoric mosquito. One of many that fed upon the blood of dinosaurs. Now, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has spared no expense, or so he says, in using the DNA from that mosquito to bring dinosaurs back to life – as the star attractions of his upcoming Jurassic Park. But the film’s cast quickly realize the faults in bringing a species separated by 65 million years of evolution back – with bloody results.

Jurassic Park is one part whimsical adventure and one part monster movie, with ground-breaking visual effects, great performances, and a tone perfectly suited for the whole family. The visual depiction of the central creatures was so meticulously studied and accurate for the time that it directly contributed to modern advancements in paleontological research. The sequels may come and go, but there can only be one Jurassic Park.

6

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Once, Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) was a cop. Now, he’s out in the post-apocalyptic Australian wilderness looking for enough food, water, and gas to survive another day. But he finds himself a blood bag in a cult of warboys led by the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), whose chief Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) has just escaped with his prized wives. Initially just wanting to break free from the cult’s shackles and get on his way, Max now must once again try to provide help in a helpless wasteland.

Mad Max: Fury Road is not just one of the greatest post-apocalyptic films in history; it set a whole new standard for action and chase movies in general. Each line of dialogue is deliberate and relatively sparse, allowing the visuals to say everything the viewer needs to understand the story. It has everything a good story needs – compelling heroes, a powerful villain, and a whole lot of explosions and cars. Oh, what a lovely day indeed.

5

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Gotham City has become safe again. Batman (Christian Bale) has scared criminals so much that they’re willing to do illegal activity in broad daylight. And newly elected district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) has the skill, the charisma, and most importantly, the seemingly infallible moral code to get the job done. In their desperation, the mob becomes willing to accept the help of a mysterious criminal known as The Joker (Heath Ledger), but he’s got a lot more in mind for the city than just petty cash.

Once upon a time, comic book movies were seen as cheesy kid stuff. And then The Dark Knight came along, broke box office records, won dozens of awards, and redefined the genre and the character of Batman. Oscar-winning performances, the revolutionary use of IMAX cameras, and some of the deepest psychological and sociological themes of any superhero film seen before or since make it one of the most beloved blockbusters in history.

4

‘Sinners’ (2025)

One part blues musical, one part gangster epic, one part supernatural horror movie, Sinners is one of the most unique blockbusters in recent memory. Twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) have returned to their home in the Mississippi Delta to open a juke joint, recruiting their young musician cousin Sammie (Miles Caton) as their main entertainment. But when the sun goes down, a mysterious man named Remmick (Jack O’Connell) seeks to take Sammie’s seemingly god-given talent – and will spill as much blood as he needs to get it.

Sinners is a tale of a group of flawed people trying their best to find their personal sense of freedom in a world that doesn’t seem to want them, whether it be through love, music, or even through the supernatural. The music in particular makes for one of the best soundtracks and two of the best musical sequences in any movie in recent memory. The first act is a compelling crime drama, the middle is a joyful yet tense party, and the third act is equal parts terrifying and bittersweet.

3

‘King Kong’ (2005)

The original King Kong is one of the forerunners of all monster movies, but the 2005 remake helped bring the eighth wonder of the world back into the minds of audiences everywhere. In 1933, eccentric filmmaker Carl Denham (Jack Black) brings a motley crew, including struggling actress Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), to a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs, giant bugs, and ruled over by a giant gorilla named Kong (Andy Serkis).

While the infamously long runtime makes the first act feel somewhat inflated, the 2005 King Kong is still a worthy tribute to the original classic. The relationship between beauty and beast is surprisingly nuanced, the commitment to fleshing out the worlds of both Skull Island and 1930s NYC is impeccable, and the love it feels for the great ape and his impact on cinema can be felt in every frame. Kong may have gotten his long-overdue heroic victory in the Monsterverse, but the 2005 King Kong may be the technical best of his reign.

2

‘Titanic’ (1997)

A group of treasure hunters seeks a mysterious blue jewel rumored to be on the wreckage of the Titanic. But all they seem to find of the diamond is a drawing of a young woman wearing it. When they are contacted by an old woman claiming to be the same person in the image, she is transported to the sight of the wreck, and regales them with her experience on the world’s most infamous ocean liner, and the young man who saved her in every way a person can be saved.

Many have decried Titanic over the years for its melodramatic elements, but there’s a reason it held the record for the highest-grossing film of all time for over a decade . The first half is a beautifully simple love story that gets the audience invested in the characters aboard the ship, while the second half shows the ship sinking in real-time to truly highlight the urgency and tragedy of the situation. This film does more than just tell the story of the Titanic – it makes the viewer experience it firsthand.

1

The ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-03)

One trilogy to rule them all. In the fantastical realm of Middle-earth, the forces of evil seek to claim the One Ring, a ring forged by the dark lord Sauron with the power to rule over all races. A fellowship of heroes, among them a pair of Hobbits, venture forth to the fires of Mount Doom to destroy the ring, all the while facing armies, wraiths, and villains of all shapes and sizes.

It may seem like a cheat to rank all three Lord of the Rings films together, but each film on its own, much like their literary source material, is just a chapter of one epic story. Previously considered unfilmable, it wouldn’t be until the early 2000s that cinematic technology had finally caught up to the vision of JR Tolkien ‘s literary masterpieces. The healthy mixture of practical and special effects, the grand scope, the Oscar-worthy performances, and epic tone make The Lord of the Rings one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

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