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Film has certainly evolved over the past 50 years.
The special effects that captivated audiences in 1975's Jaws are a far cry from those in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick. Today, video and projection are digital, and computer-generated imagery (CGI) dominates the screen. Yet, these advancements don't make earlier films any less special; if anything, they make them more classic, though we appreciate the technological mastery of modern filmmaking.
Do you remember the movies that came out the year you donned your cap and gown and walked across the stage for your high school diploma? If you graduated before the turn of the century, you probably had to visit a movie theater in person to see what all the fuss was about, then wait months before grabbing the VHS tape for your home collection.
Franchises like Rocky and Star Wars dominated the '70s, while cult classics such as E.T. and Back to the Future became synonymous with '80s pop culture. The '90s were a string of box-office blockbusters that remain household names into the millennium: Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, and Titanic, to name only a few cinematic sensations of the decade.
Similarly, the early 2000s brought a collection of films we still revisit and quote today: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Finding Nemo, Spider-Man, Shrek, and the first films in both The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter franchises. By this decade, you could rent a DVD copy of the film at your local video store.
Recent high school graduates can stream the latest box-office hits from the comfort of their homes when they become available via Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc., though many still prefer an extra-large, extra-buttered popcorn and the big-screen experience. While each decade saw different approaches to filmmaking, no matter when you graduated or what kind of movies you enjoy, there was always one film that ruled the box office every year (and a legendary score or soundtrack that's likely still in your head).
Let’s fast-forward through the previews and press play on the most popular movie from the year you graduated high school.
THE MOST POPULAR MOVIE THE YEAR YOU GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL
1975
Jaws
1976
Rocky
1977
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
1978
Grease
1979
Superman
1980
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
1981
Superman II
1982
E.T.
1983
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
1984
Ghostbusters
1985
Back to the Future
1986
Top Gun
1987
Beverly Hills Cop II
1988
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
1989
Batman
1990
Ghost
1991
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1992
Aladdin
1993
Jurassic Park
1994
Forrest Gump
1995
Batman Forever
1996
Independence Day
1997
Men in Black
1998
Titanic
1999
Star Wars: Ep. I – Phantom Menace
2000
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
2001
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone
2002
Spider-Man
2003
Finding Nemo
2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004
Shrek 2
2005
Star Wars: Ep. III – Revenge Of The Sith
2006
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
2007
Spider-Man 3
2008
The Dark Knight
2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2010
Avatar
2011
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows II
2012
Avengers
2013
Iron Man 3
2014
Guardians of the Galaxy
2015
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
2016
Finding Dory
2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2018
Black Panther
2019
Avengers: Endgame
2020
Bad Boys For Life
2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home
2022
Top Gun: Maverick
2023
Barbie
2024
Inside Out 2
2025
A Minecraft Movie