Summer of 1982: 15 Classic Films Turn 30

In some years, the summer movie season is packed with a good crop of entertaining, crowd-pleasing blockbusters. Then some summers offer nothing but uninspired sequel, reboots, and adaptations of things that were never meant to be movies (board games, for example). But if you ask movie geeks, they'll tell you there was one summer that was greater than any that came before or after: the summer of 1982.

Some of the films released between May and ... more 

In some years, the summer movie season is packed with a good crop of entertaining, crowd-pleasing blockbusters. Then some summers offer nothing but uninspired sequel, reboots, and adaptations of things that were never meant to be movies (board games, for example). But if you ask movie geeks, they'll tell you there was one summer that was greater than any that came before or after: the summer of 1982.

Some of the films released between May and August of '82 were instant critical and commercial successes, and some flopped at the time only to become regarded as classic much later. To celebrate the 30th anniversary, click through this gallery to see 15 of our favorite movies from that unparalleled season. You'll see each film's release date, domestic box office, and the gross adjusted for 2012 dollars. All figures courtesy of BoxOfficeMojo.com

And if you're around the Austin TX area, check out the Alamo Drafthouse's salute to the Summer of '82. They are showing many of the classics on 35mm film prints on the exact weekend they opened thirty years ago.

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