The Movie Blog



Weekend Chatter: Was 1982 the Greatest Summer Movies Season of All Time?

By: Sean OConnell on May 4, 2012 at 2:23PM Comments (23)
 
After weeks or promotion (and preparation), the 2012 Summer Movie Season officially kick starts with the opening of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, a blockbuster in every sense of the word that already has established itself as a critical and commercial success. 
 
We’ve spent so much time looking forward to The Avengers that we’ve barely had time to look beyond it. There are dozens of highly-anticipated crowd-pleasers on the horizon this summer … and a few of them don’t have superheroes. Ridley Scott returns to sci-fi with the epic Prometheus. Action junkies will strap in for G.I. Joe: Retaliation and The Expendables 2. Pixar attempts to rebound with Brave, and Will Ferrell runs against Zach Galifianakis in the political comedy The Campaign
 
Could this be the “Best Summer of All Time,” as some already have claimed? Of course, it depends on your tastes. If you like comic book movies, you’ll likely overdose on The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises. Kristen Stewart enthusiasts likely will pick up their swords for Snow White and the Huntsman, with Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth. Moonrise Kingdom, from Wes Anderson, is just one of the art-house comedies we’re looking forward to. 
 
Basically, this summer, there appears to be a little something out there for everyone. 
 
But it has a long way to go before it touches the Summer of 1982. Get a load of the masterpieces that reached theaters that summer:
 
The Road Warrior
Blade Runner
John Carpenter’s The Thing
Tron
An Officer and a Gentlemen
Conan the Barbarian
Poltergeist
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
E.T.
 
All in one summer! That’s mind-blowing. I caught very few of those films in theaters. I was eight, and my parents weren’t what you’d call “movie buffs.” 
 

 
But I’ll always, ALWAYS remember seeing John G. Avildsen’s The Karate Kid in theaters in June 1984, and standing – cheering! – at the finale liked a crazed movie fan. Crane kick to Johnny’s face? Magical. I feel like I chase that sensation every summer.
 
Do you have a favorite summer-movie experience, a jolt of cinematic joy that keeps you coming back to the multiplexes every summer? Share it with us below. And enjoy the summer movie season, with all of its thrills, chills, laughs and tears. We’re hoping for the best, and we look forward to sharing it all with you. 

Follow along on Twitter @Sean_OConnell and @Fandango for more news, trailer and clips throughout the week and be sure to Like us on Facebook!

 

Comments (23)Leave a Comment

  • May 6th 2012 11:36AM

    1232808988  said...

    1984 has to be in the mix with such films: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Ghostbusters Gremlins The Karate Kid Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock The Last Starfighter The Natural Purple Rain Sixteen Candles

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 4:49PM

    1538134103  said...

    Yeah, '84 was pretty spectacular. I remember seeing GHOSTBUSTERS multiple times in the theater. Such a blast!

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 9:11AM

    1170355679  said...

    For me 1989 will be the year of movie magic for me, my parents took me to see Micheal Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Batman this was a larger than life experience before then I could only read about Batman. I got goosebumps the first time I saw Keaton dressed up as Batman. My mom and dad got the tickets as a surprise. 1999 was magical in the sense that for the first time in my life I was able to see a Star Wars movie on the silver screen When the Phantom Menece started and I hard the Star Wars Main theme I was hooked and to see those lightsabers and what Jedi were like before the empire it was true cinema magic. Now my brother and I try to go to the movies at least once a month.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 4:48PM

    1538134103  said...

    I love that Batman story, Ryan. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 9:11AM

    1170355679  said...

    For me 1989 will be the year of movie magic for me, my parents took me to see Micheal Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Batman this was a larger than life experience before then I could only read about Batman. I got goosebumps the first time I saw Keaton dressed up as Batman. My mom and dad got the tickets as a surprise. 1999 was magical in the sense that for the first time in my life I was able to see a Star Wars movie on the silver screen When the Phantom Menece started and I hard the Star Wars Main theme I was hooked and to see those lightsabers and what Jedi were like before the empire it was true cinema magic. Now my brother and I try to go to the movies at least once a month.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 9:11AM

    1170355679  said...

    For me 1989 will be the year of movie magic for me, my parents took me to see Micheal Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Batman this was a larger than life experience before then I could only read about Batman. I got goosebumps the first time I saw Keaton dressed up as Batman. My mom and dad got the tickets as a surprise. 1999 was magical in the sense that for the first time in my life I was able to see a Star Wars movie on the silver screen When the Phantom Menece started and I hard the Star Wars Main theme I was hooked and to see those lightsabers and what Jedi were like before the empire it was true cinema magic. Now my brother and I try to go to the movies at least once a month.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 8:52AM

    1469432651  said...

    I remember the summer of 1979 was incredible. There were 19 great movies! Was there a summer with a higher number of memorable films that this? Here's the impressive list of 1979's summer of movies: Alien All That Jazz The Amityville Horror Apocalypse Now The Black Hole The Black Stallion The China Syndrome Conan The Barbarian Escape From Alcatraz The Jerk Kramer vs Kramer Love At First Bite Manhattan Meatballs Moonraker (James Bond) The Muppet Movie Rocky II Star Trek: The Motion Picture 10 (The Bo Derek, Dudley Moore comedy) (and The Empire Strikes Back was in production that summer as well)

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:49AM

    582416013  said...

    I think 1997 was a great summer. There was Men in Black, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Air Force One, The Fifth Element, George of the Jungle, Batman and Robin (lol), Contact, Event Horizon. The latter movie was when i saw the trailer for what would become a summer-like movie in the winter of 1997-1998, Titanic. As of this year, the 3D rerelease is adding more money to its coffer, although Titanic sold more tickets than Avatar and spent more weeks at the top.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:34AM

    prudog76  said...

    I think every summer is a tentpole for studios. I look back at summer after summer of amazing movies and I think it's really where you are in your life that leaves the lasting impression and fond memories. 1999 was a great year in my life and when I look back at the summer line up it still amazes me. Office Space, American Pie, Fight Club, The Matrix, The Sixth Sense, The Mummy, Austin Powers 2, Toy Story 2, Blair Witch Project...maybe not that one. 1982 was amazing, but at the time most of those films bombed under the weight of ET. It's only now that we look back and appreciate them for what they were.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:52AM

    582416013  said...

    The summer of 1999 was great, despite Star Wars Episode I being the least favorite. Toy Story 2 was released in thanksgiving of 1999, not summer, and so was Fight Club in october. Summer of 2000 was good and 2001 was ok. 2002 was when a lot of people went to movies, a record which still stands. For one reason, it was after 9/11 so people were looking for an escape, and Spider-Man dominated the box office. 10 years later, not only there is a new spider-man, but a new men in black, the return of Batman, and of course The Avengers.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 1:51AM

    flaminfilms  said...

    The Avengers has now just completely topped and blown all the other best summer movie experiences I've had out of the water, completely forgot I was even watching a movie, it was like some insane ride with a bunch of people! I still find it surreal that it even happened, been waiting for this movie for so long, even though it is finished and released, it felt like some kind of waking dream, I have images and story in my head, but it's almost like it never happened! Can't wait to experience it all over again, this time i'm gonna pinch myself, just to make sure...:) Joss, I tip my imaginary hat to you! please com back for number 2!

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:59AM

    prudog76  said...

    Yeah you're right. Like I said fond memories sometimes blur realities. All those great movies seem to blend together. Strange I forgot about Star Wars. I stood in line for hours to see that one!

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 7:02AM

    582416013  said...

    star wars i actually waited a few weeks after it came out for each movie, with the exception of Revenge of the Sith, which I think perfectly blended the prequels with the classic trilogy.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 5th 2012 5:52PM

    1538134103  said...

    Oooh, Wall-E, Tropic AND Dark Knight? You might be right ...

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:54AM

    582416013  said...

    I missed on Wall-E (I saw ratatouille the previous year and liked it), but tropic thunder was hilarious and so was Dark Knight. I was there opening day and loved that movie. Hadn't it been for Heath Ledger's passing, the movie would still make money. Summer of 2005 was the worst, with a few exceptions. Ditto for 2011. The summer of 1985 cooled off despite having Back to the Future dominating the box office (two sequels were filmed back to back but couldnt match up the original). Summer of 1989 was good although i was too young to see Batman until it came out on vhs.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 5th 2012 5:00PM

    TheBearJew\m/  said...

    2008 had Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E, Wanted, Tropic Thunder, and The Dark Knight. That year has to be in consideration.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 5th 2012 12:56PM

    1285719310  said...

    1994 was the best movie summer. You have The Lion King, Speed, Forest Gump, and True Lies. Those are classics and there were even more movies that summer as well.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 7:01AM

    582416013  said...

    I agree. 1995 was when i saw my first pg-13 movie, Batman Forever, which today pales in comparison to the Nolan movies. It was the first movie i heard in 5.1 SDDS, and i liked the trailers for what was to come...Mortal Kombat was and still is the best videogame movie of all time. There was also Apollo 13, which was great. Didn't care for Waterworld but enjoyed it sometimes. The lion king was a great disney movie, and the 3d rerelease brought new generations to this timeless classic. 2006 was also a good summer too. Having Superman return to the big screen was good, even though a reboot is planned for 2013.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 10:25AM

    rst808  said...

    Thank you for mentioning 1994. A few more notables from the year that deserve mentioning: Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, Interview with the Vampire, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Dumb and Dumber, Clerks, Clear and Present Danger, Hoop Dreams...

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 4th 2012 5:30PM

    janeylynne  said...

    I never saw The Karate Kid in the theater, but I do remember watching E.T. I was 4 1/2 and remember clearly being scared of the opening when Elliot found E.T. in the shed. I just introduced my kids to it this year and still cried at the end. "ouch" *tear*

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:58AM

    582416013  said...

    ET i didn't see until it came out on vhs in the fall of 1988-1989. I was crying because of the emotional music and drama. It still scares me to this day when the men in space suits invade Elliots home. It was the first movie that i saw that had elliot's brother saying a curse word. Had ET been made today, it would be rated pg-13. My mom told me when i was born, i looked like et. I now own the 20th anniversary dvd that includes the infamous 2002 rerelease as well as the 1982 classic. It introduced me to Drew Barrymore.

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 4th 2012 3:52PM

    lilmissmuffett  said...

    1982 was a great year in movies. Loved all those films! But to call any one year of good films as the Greatest Summer Movies Season of All Time? Not possible! I love classics going back 50 years and more. So I would never call '82 nor 2012 the greatest!

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment
  • May 6th 2012 6:56AM

    582416013  said...

    Maybe the summer of 1975, when Jaws became the first movie to become a hit during that period. 1977 was even bigger, with Star Wars. Two sequels would soon follow, each doing better than the last and breaking records. 1981 had the original Clash of the Titans, History of the World Part I, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, all opening on the same day...guess which movie won.....

    Reply

    Characters Remaining: 750
    • E-mail me when someone replies to my comment

Fandango Bloggers