1. "Godzilla"
   "Jurassic Park"
2. "Cloverfield"
   "The Host"

In 1993, filmmaker Steven Spielberg ushered in a new era of special effects technology with "Jurassic Park." Based on Michael Crichton's 1990 novel, the film focuses on a revolutionary theme park in which genetically engineered dinosaurs are the main attraction. What could go wrong?

1. "Real Genius"
   "Weird Science"
2. "Back to the Future"
   "My Science Project"

Reluctant time traveler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) finds himself trapped in the '50s in 1985's "Back to the Future." Directed by Robert Zemeckis, "Back to the Future" was one of the biggest hits of the '80s spawning two equally popular sequels and a theme park ride.

1. "The Towering Inferno"
   "United 93"
2. "Pearl Harbor"
   "Titanic"

1997's "Titanic" made director James Cameron the box office's king of the world. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as star-crossed lovers who cross class lines to find romance on the doomed maiden voyage of the Titanic. It remains one of the highest grossing films of all time.

1. "The Princess Bride"
   "Legend"
2. "The Neverending Story"
   "Hook"

Rob Reiner's 1987 cinematic adaptation of William Goldman's book "The Princess Bride" is one of the most beloved and quoted films of all time. Framed as a story read to a sick little boy (Fred Savage) by his grandfather (Peter Falk), the film is a witty and sly subversion of fairy tale tropes.

1. "The Empire Strikes Back"
   "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
2. "Aliens"
   "The Matrix Reloaded"

With "The Empire Strikes Back," "Star Wars" creator George Lucas handed the directing reins to Irvin Kershner. Balancing the eye-popping special effects of the first film with mature characterization and plotting, Kershner delivers a film that's dramatically superior to its predecessor.

1. "You've Got Mail"
   "When Harry Met Sally"
2. "While You Were Sleeping"
   "Sleepless in Seattle"

The complex and often hilarious dynamics of romance are put under the microscope in Rob Reiner's 1989 comedy "When Harry Met Sally." Written by Nora Ephron, the film stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as their relationship evolves from disdain to true love through a series of chance encounters.

1. "The Misfits"
   "Red Dust"
2. "Gone With the Wind"
   "Hearts in Bondage"

1939's "Gone With the Wind" stars Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy plantation owner who must overcome hardship and loss when the Civil War changes her life forever. Adjusted for inflation, "Gone With the Wind" remains the most profitable film in history.

1. "Goodfellas"
   "The Godfather"
2. "Prizzi's Honor"
   "Once Upon a Time in America"

Francis Ford Coppola's crime drama "The Godfather" was an instant hit upon its release in 1972. Perhaps the only legitimate rival to "Citizen Kane" for the title of best film ever made, "The Godfather's" combination of flawless direction and perfect performances make it a classic for the ages.

1. "Zelig"
   "Sling Blade"
2. "Forrest Gump"
   "Being There"

Loosely based on Winston Groom's 1986 novel, Robert Zemeckis' Oscar Winning "Forrest Gump" was the cinematic phenomenon of 1994. A sentimental and sincere portrait of a simple man's improbably charmed life, the movie cemented Tom Hanks' reputation as America's favorite actor.

1. "The Shawshank Redemption"
   "The Green Mile"
2. "Cool Hand Luke"
   "The Great Escape"

Based on a novella by Stephen King," Frank Darabont's 1994 hit "The Shawshank Redemption" stars Tim Robbins as a wrongly convicted man who meticulously plans a daring escape. Considered a bomb during its theatrical release, the film found its audience on home video and TV.

1. "Stripes"
   "Ghostbusters"
2. "Meatballs"
   "Caddyshack"

"Ghostbusters" is a near perfect comedy. Written by co-star Dan Aykroyd and rooted in his own lifelong obsession with the paranormal, "Ghostbusters" is an outrageous blend of stellar comedic performances and special effects wizardry. An essential film, it's become an indelible part of pop culture.

1. "Orca"
   "The Deep"
2. "Piranha"
   "Jaws"

Director Steven Spielberg virtually created the summer blockbuster with his 1975 thriller "Jaws." Base on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel about a killer great white shark that terrorizes a New England resort town, the suspenseful film frightened movie fans out of the water for decades.

1. "Romancing the Stone"
   "National Treasure"
2. "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
   "The Mummy"

Directed by Steven Spielberg, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" introduced audiences to Indiana Jones. It was the highest-grossing movie of 1981 and received a best picture nomination. Indy returned for "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

1. "To Have and Have Not"
   "The Maltese Falcon"
2. "The Big Sleep"
   "Casablanca"

The 1942 wartime drama "Casablanca" is easily one of the greatest films ever made. In a signature role, Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, a man torn between the love of his life and doing the right thing. An endlessly quotable movie, "Casablanca" is essential viewing for cinephiles.

1. "An American in Paris"
   "Meet Me in St. Louis"
2. "Singin' in the Rain"
   "Summer Stock"

Alongside Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds gave us one of the most beloved movie musical moments ever — the iconic "Good Morning" tap dance. Ever since it opened in 1952, "Singin' in the Rain" has been an audience favorite.

1. "Lambada: The Forbidden Dance"
   "Save the Last Dance"
2. "Staying Alive"
   "Dirty Dancing"

It's hard to believe now, but "Dirty Dancing" was considered a surprise hit and had little support from its distributor Vestron who planned to dump the film to home video after a one week release. Strong word-of-mouth and dedicated fans, however, made it one of the top grossing films of 1987.

1. "The Last Boy Scout"
   "Die Hard"
2. "Commando"
   "Beverly Hills Cop"

Although the debate rages as to whether "Die Hard" is a holiday movie, nearly everyone is in agreement that it's one of the smartest action movies of the 1980s. The 1988 film introduced audiences to wisecracking, everyman cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) who would return in four sequels.

1. "Mary Poppins"
   "My Fair Lady"
2. "The Sound of Music"
   "The King and I"

The hills are alive whenever you pop on this Julie Andrews classic. It's full of songs that you just can't help singing along to — "I Have Confidence," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" and "Edelweiss," to name a few. The 1965 musical won five Academy Awards, including best picture.

1. "Half Baked"
   "The Beach Bim"
2. "Up in Smoke"
   "The Big Lebowski"

"The Big Lebowski" is that rare film that's transcended its cult status to become a way of life for its dedicated fans. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, a laid back bowler who bumbles his way into a mystery complete with mistaken identities, a kidnapped heiress and nihilists.

1. "The Wizard of Oz"
   "Hans Christian Andersen"
2. "Alice in Wonderland"
   "Heidi"

Based on L. Frank Baum's book series, the "The Wizard of Oz" stars Judy Garland as Kansas farmgirl Dorothy Gale. Dorothy longs for an escape from her drab life, but when a cyclone transports her to a mysterious land of magic, she learns that there's truly no place like home.

1. "Mac and Me"
   "Pod People"
2. "Flight of the Navigator"
   "E.T. the Extraterrestrial"

Steven Spielberg owned the '80s box office. In 1982, he followed up his runaway hit "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with "E.T. The Extraterrestrial." Based in part on the director's own childhood imaginary friend, "E.T." is the story of a lonely boy who befriends a stranded alien botanist.

1. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
   "Sixteen Candles"
2. "The Breakfast Club"
   "Pretty in Pink"

John Hughes made teen movies must-see in the 1980s with a string of hits, including "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." There's nothing like watching Matthew Broderick's Ferris spend the day exploring Chicago.

1. "Shop Around the Corner"
   "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
2. "It's a Wonderful Life"
   "Holiday Inn"

Frank Capra's 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life" has become synonymous with the holiday season. Considered a flop on its initial release, the film found new life on syndicated television in the 1970s and '80s. Now considered a classic, "It's a Wonderful Life" is essential holiday viewing.

1. "The Sandlot"
   "The Outsiders"
2. "Stand by Me"
   "Stand and Deliver"

The cast of "Stand By Me" is a who's who of young acting talent including Wil Wheaton, the late River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell. In the film, based on Stephen King's novella "The Body," four boys find the meaning of friendship while searching for the dead body of a missing child.

1. "Wyatt Earp"
   "Young Guns II"
2. "The Quick and the Dead"
   "Tombstone"

Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer and Sam Elliott bring '90s flair to the well-worn Western material of the historical Gunfight at the O.K. Coral in "Tombstone." In the film, Russell stars as lawman Wyatt Earp whose attempt to settle down to a normal life is disrupted by a band of outlaws called the Cowboys.

1. "Grease"
   "American Graffiti"
2. "Saturday Night Fever"
   "Diner"

The wave of 1950s nostalgia that began with "American Graffiti" reached its pinnacle in 1978 with the blockbuster musical "Grease." With the undeniable chemistry of stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton John and an unbeatable soundtrack, "Grease" remains one of the most popular musicals ever.

1. "Killing Zoe"
   "True Romance"
2. "Pulp Fiction"
   "Reservoir Dogs"

Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" established the writer-director as the '90s king of independent film. With its focus on crackling dialogue laced with endless pop culture call-backs, Tarantino brought his personal obsessions to the screen garnering him an Oscar for best original screenplay.

1. "Silent Movie"
   "Young Frankenstein"
2. "High Anxiety"
   "The Producers"

Having already skewered the western genre with 1974's "Blazing Saddles," funnyman Mel Brooks turned his comedic lens on horror film with "Young Frankenstein." The film, which treads a fine line between parody and homage, wears Brooks' affection for the Universal monster movies on its sleeve.

1. "Modern Problems"
   "History of the World, Part I"
2. "Airplane!
   "The Naked Gun"

Filmmakers Jerry and David Zucker and Jim Abrahams brought a new level of absurdism to movie comedy with 1980's "Airplane!" A send-up of '70s disaster movies, "Airplane!" is an hilarious mix of sight gags, puns and sharp, memorable dialogue. Leslie Nielsen co-stars in his first comedic role.

1. "Cinderella"
   "Sleeping Beauty"
2. "Fantasia"
   "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" began Walt Disney Productions' reign as the undisputed masters of animation. Considered a risk at the time, Walt Disney trusted his instincts that audiences would line up for a feature length animated film. His hunch continues to pay off into the 21st century.

1. "The Karate Kid"
   "The Last Dragon"
2. "Kung Fu Hustle"
   "Crossroads"

"The Karate Kid" is one of those films that every '80s kid knows by heart. Part martial arts movie, part coming of age drama, the 1984 film stars Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso, a bullied teen who turns to karate for self defense. He finds a mentor and himself in his sensei Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).

1. "Mean Streets"
   "Serpico"
2. "The French Connection"
   "Taxi Driver"

Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" is a disturbing portrait of one man's descent into madness. Robert De Niro stars as disturbed Vietnam vet Travis Bickle who takes a job as an overnight cabbie. Unable to connect with people, an increasingly isolated Bickle embarks on a violent self-appointed mission.

1. "Thank God It's Friday"
   "Saturday Night Fever"
2. "Roller Boogie"
   "Disco Godfather"

John Travolta is electrifying as working class youth by day, disco king by night Tony Manero in "Saturday Night Fever." Launching TV heartthrob Travolta to film stardom, the R rated film proved so popular that it was recut and re-released with a PG rating to satisfy the star's young fanbase.

1. "Failsafe"
   "On the Beach"
2. "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"
   "Our Man in Havana"

Just two years after the world found itself on the brink of nuclear war during 1962's Cuban Missile Crisis, Stanley Kubrick played the prospect of atomic annihilation for laughs in "Dr. Strangelove." Teetering on the absurd, the film sardonically points out the futility of nuclear conflict.

1. "Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace"
   "Bicentennial Man"
2. "Galaxy Quest"
   "The Matrix"

The Wachowskis' 1999 hit "The Matrix" casts Keanu Reeves as Neo, a cyberverse savior. Noted for its revolutionary special effects and unique story, the film caught the imaginations of audiences as no film ever before nearly edging out "Star Wars Episode I" as the science fiction smash of the decade.

1. "Rosemary's Baby"
   "The Omen"
2. "Beyond the Door"
   "The Exorcist"

Hailed as the greatest horror film of all time, "The Exorcist's" power to shock is undiminished after nearly 50 yeas. Based on the bestseller by William Peter Blatty, the film stars Ellen Burstyn as a desperate woman who enlists the aid of a young priest to save her demonically possessed daughter.

1. "Batman Begins"
   "Iron Man"
2. "Dr. Strange"
   "Watchmen"

The Marvel Cinematic Universe got off to an auspicious start with 2008's "Iron Man." A perfectly cast Robert Downey Jr. stars as playboy industrialist and war profiteer Tony Stark. Following a near death experience in a war zone, Stark recreates himself as an armored superhero.

1. "Summer of '42"
   "The Graduate"
2. "Harold and Maude"
   "Where's Poppa?"

Released in 1971, director Hal Ashby's black comedy "Harold and Maude" is an oddly life-affirming film about death. Bud Cort and the always delightful Ruth Gordon star as the titular couple whose unusual friendship turns into an unlikely May-December romance.

1. "If...."
   "The Warriors"
2. "The Omega Man"
   "A Clockwork Orange"

Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange," based on Anthony Burgess' 1962 novel, stars Malcolm McDowell as Alex DeLarge, the leader of a brutal youth gang in a dystopian near future London. Exploring themes of the nature of violence and the individual versus the state this film is eternally relevant.

1. "Mulholland Drive"
   "Blue Velvet"
2. "Inland Empire"
   "Lost Highway"

2001's "Mulholland Drive" is David Lynch's nightmarish, neo-noir masterpiece. A surreal love letter to classics in the vein of "Sunset Boulevard" and "Double Indemnity," the film stars Naomi Watts as an aspiring actress who befriends a woman who seemingly has no past.