From my perspective, this is the strongest of the three-five title lists. I’m somewhat biased on this as these were all released during my movie-loving formative years and left the longest lasting impressions. That, and they actually are the collective best of the lot.
Also, every title here was good and/or popular enough to prompt a sequel, prequel, or TV adaptation, none of which came close to the original in quality, which should come as no surprise to anyone.
‘American Graffiti’ (1973)
Set in Modesto, California, during a single summer night in 1962, this sophomore effort from co-writer/director George Lucas is the best movie he’s ever made (and yes, that includes “Star Wars”).
The intertwining four-way narrative follows the exploits of the seven co-leads: Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, and Richard Dreyfuss.
Also famous for its classic 1950s-1960s early rock-and-roll soundtrack as the (then) unconventional structure, the movie features radio voice-overs from DJ Wolfman Jack and an extended cameo from Harrison Ford in a rare performance as an antagonist.
‘Jaws’ (1975)
The first theatrical feature from Steven Spielberg was responsible for creating the industry measuring stick, the summer blockbuster.
Set in the fictional New England beach town of Amity Island, it finds a community pitted against itself because of the arrival of a killer shark. Locals and town officials greatly depend on summer tourism and butt heads with the town sheriff (Roy Scheider) and an oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss). These two want to shut everything down until the shark is captured.
In something of a compromise, the city hires Quint (Robert Shaw), an ornery, salty sea dog with a track record, to hunt down and take out the shark.
How the movie received a tame and inappropriate PG-rating is something of a my$tery, as was the release date (June 20), and people’s innate fears. Yet the movie went on to shatter all box-office records and set a new standard for thrills and chills.
‘Grease’ (1978)
Far better as a sing-along precursor to karaoke than a traditional movie, this romantic musical comedy, a movie adaptation of the 1972 stage play, succeeded mostly because of the recent popularity and chemistry of its two leads. John Travolta was still riding high from “Saturday Night Fever” the year before, and Olivia Newton-John, the “It” pop girl of the moment, made for an undeniably cute couple.
The movie’s runaway popularity, of course, led to the obligatory sequel (“Grease 2,” 1982). Apart from marking the feature debut of Michelle Pfeiffer, it, like many others of its ilk, is a colossal waste of time.
‘Breaking Away’ (1979)
In many ways, this is the best of all 15 titles on this list. “Breaking Away” is also one of the greatest coming-of-age movies ever produced.
Set and shot in Bloomington, Indiana, the story centers on Dave (Dennis Christopher), a recent high-school grad who’s developed an obsession with all things Italian. At the top of his list is competitive bicycle racing, which initially catches his buddies (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, and Jackie Earle Haley) off guard.
The four friends end up competing in the “Little 500,” an annual (nonfictional) Bloomington bike race regularly won by an Italian team. Want to take a guess at which team ends up winning?
Offering superb support are Paul Dooley and Barbara Barrie as Dave’s parents. His dad is perplexed, almost angered, at Dave’s Italian fixation, while his mother’s reaction is guardedly supportive.
‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987)
In a manner not dissimilar to “Grease,” “Dirty Dancing” relies heavily on the chemistry of the two leads (Patrick Swayze as Johnny and Jennifer Grey as Baby) and was benefited by an enormously popular soundtrack album.
While her family is on their annual vacation in the Catskills in 1963, Baby is attracted to Johnny, a waiter and dance instructor at their resort. The pair end up meeting during a secret “dirty dancing” party organized by the resort staff and develop an immediate attraction.
From this point until the start of the third act, the movie morphs into something of a high-end soap opera but is salvaged in a big way by the show-stopping set piece between Johnny and Baby. Set to the Oscar-winning song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” this became one of the most memorable dance sequences in movie history.
Making all the other titles on this list look like mere posers, this movie was followed by a short-lived TV series, a stage adaptation, a made-for-TV remake, an announced but still not produced sequel, and the not-so-horrible 2004 prequel “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” For his cameo appearance reprising Johnny, Swayze received $5 million.
