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Summer movie hits of 10, 20, 25 years ago

The Columbian
Published: July 6, 2014, 12:00am

Some summer movie seasons are hotter than others, and that’s not just referring to the weather. So far, the 2014 summer movie season has yet to have a mega-box-office and critical success of the caliber of these films from 10, 20 or 25 years ago.

1989

“Batman”: Holy franchise! The series got off to a flying start with Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader and Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

“Dead Poets Society”: Even without explosions or car chases and a restrained performance from Robin Williams, this Oscar-nominated drama sizzled.

“Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”: Rick Moranis got gigantic laughs as a not-too-brilliant scientist who shrinks his children when an experiment goes awry.

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”: Audiences loved keeping up with the Joneses: Harrison Ford as Indy and Sean Connery as his dad.

“When Harry Met Sally…”: The Meg Ryan-Billy Crystal romcom was the perfect summer date movie, and it didn’t hurt business at delicatessens, either.

1994

“Forrest Gump”: The Tom Hanks hit about a Southerner who popped up at historic moments made us look at a box of chocolates differently.

“The Lion King”: Hamlet met “Hakuna Matata” in this Disney epic that roared big time at theaters and spawned a Broadway hit.

“True Lies”: Arnold Schwarzenegger led two lives as he kept his job as a spy hidden from spouse Jamie Lee Curtis.

2004

“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”: It was good news for Will Ferrell, who followed “Elf” with this smash set in the disco era about a dim newsman.

“The Bourne Supremacy”: Matt Damon was on the run again as Jason Bourne in this sequel that found our hero looking for the person trying to kill him.

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”: Director Alfonso Cuarón worked his magic on the wiz kid and took the series in a darker direction.

“Shrek 2”: The unjolly green giant was married and dealing with in-law troubles in this sequel.

“Spider-Man 2”: The webslinger franchise proved it had legs, including those of the villainous Doc Ock.

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