14 Must-See Summer Blockbusters!

Truth rating: 10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Independence Day Star Wars The Avengers Toy Story 3

By Shari Weiss | 11:59 am, July 4th, 2014

PHOTOS

(Universal Pictures)

If Hurricane Arthur is putting a damper on your July Fourth plans, consider curling up inside with an awesome summer blockbuster.

The summer box office season is known for some of the most epic movies of all time, from Jaws in 1975 to Marvel’s The Avengers in 2012.

Need some viewing ideas?

Check out Gossip Cop’s picks below!

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1.1. Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s shark saga is still amazingly terrifying nearly 40 years later. It also changed movie-making forever, and without it, it's possible all the other films on this list never would've happened. (Universal Pictures)

2.2. Star Wars (1977)

The one that started it all -- prequels not withstanding. And what better time to revisit Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill than in anticipation of their return in Star Wars: Episode VII? (20th Century Fox)

3.3. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Drew Barrymore has grown into a beautiful actress, mother, and entrepreneur. But this is how we like to remember her. (Universal Pictures)

4.4. Back to the Future (1985)

Need proof of the time-traveling franchise's enduring popularity? Look no further than the incessant Facebook hoaxes claiming today is Back to the Future Day, the day Marty McFly traveled to the future. It's actually not until October 21, 2015. (Universal Pictures)

5.5. Jurassic Park (1993)

What? Jeff Goldblum isn't in the upcoming Jurassic World sequel? Thank goodness we'll always have the original. (Universal Pictures)

6.6. Speed (1994)

Forget Speed 2. And don't even get us started on The Lake House. Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves proved that sometimes your first time is better than any other. (20th Century Fox)

7.7. Independence Day (1996)

Rumors of a sequel seem to spark every few years, including just last fall. In the meantime, you can watch Will Smith kill some aliens on repeat. (20th Century Fox)

8.8. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Surely not the most "entertaining" summer movie, but this Oscar-winning war epic serves as a poignant reminder that freedom and peace are worth fighting for. (DreamWorks Pictures)

9.9. Gladiator (2000)

An Academy Award Best Picture winner -- but more importantly, has Russell Crowe ever looked better? (DreamWorks Pictures)

10.10. Transformers (2007)

Plan on seeing Transformers: Age of Extinction this weekend? Brush up on the series' origins with the first installment, back when Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox were well-liked. (DreamWorks Pictures)

11.11. The Dark Knight (2008)

This sequel to Batman Begins and prequel to The Dark Knight Rises is widely regarded as the best in the series. Two words: Heath Ledger. (Warner Bros.)

12.12. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Watch it with your kids -- or watch it by yourself. It's one of the rare children's movies to bring adults to tears, and rightfully so. (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

13.13. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2 (2011)

The last installment in the franchise was not only the highest-grossing, but it also wrapped up the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the most satisfying of ways. (Warner Bros.)

14.14. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

The highly-anticipated comic book adaption opened in theaters with a whopping $207,438,708. Will next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron beat that? (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)