Star Wars (May 1977)
Yes, the visuals are awe-inspiring and the sound effects enough to knock you off your chair, but it has a deep emotional core. Line-ups snaked around the block for the George Lucas sci-fi masterpiece and moviegoers wound up caring about Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and even Chewbacca, the Wookie co-pilot. The force has been with us ever since.

Shrek (May 2001)
This animated comic romance won the hearts of fans through humor. The fast-paced, hilarious script delivered by Mike Myers as the ornery green ogre and Eddie Murphy as the talkative Donkey kept the laughs coming from beginning to end. The cast and crew reinvented the traditional fairytale and viewers couldn't get enough.

Men in Black (July 1997)
Chemistry made this one a winner. The dynamic between the two stars, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as agents J and K was extremely engaging. The premise of secret government agents responsible for monitoring all alien activity here on earth was original and refreshing. Throw in a cast of strange space creatures and you've got a blockbuster.

The Sixth Sense (August 1999)
Society's fascination with the supernatural launched this chilling thriller into the blockbuster category. Bruce Willis plays a psychologist whose patient, nine year old Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), is haunted by a dark secret, ("I see dead people"). The script also says something about the connection between this world and the next.

The Lion King (June 1994)
Music played a big part in the success of this animated summer hit. Elton John and Tim Rice came up with the highly singable number "Hakuna Matata" while Timon and Pumbaa delivered the tune in an irresistible manner. Teaming up the twosome with Simba, the troubled lion cub, helped make it a roaring success.

Jurassic Park (June 1993)
What better cure for summer boredom than dinosaurs? Another Steven Spielberg creature feature, this rousing adventure is big on thrills. Set in a remote island theme park, real dinosaurs have been grown from long-dormant DNA molecules. Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum are entertaining, but the dinos steal the show.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (June 1982)
The perfect film for the whole family. Director Steven Spielberg got in touch with his inner child to create a magical fantasy. The little alien creature mistakenly left on earth forms a special bond with a young boy named Elliott. Together they learn about friendship, love and eventually loss. ("I'll be right here.") The John Williams soundtrack is unforgettable.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
(June 1999)
Yeah baby, yeah! When Toronto's Mike Myers created the shagadelic Man of Mystery, he never knew the dentally-challenged British spy would net him a top box office sequel. The camp comedy parodies corny old spy movies and also features the versatile Myers as Dr. Evil and Fat Bastard. The outrageous flick left fans feeling absolutely groovy.

- Elaine Loring