Ever since “Jaws” terrified audiences back in 1975, summer has been the go-to season for event-level filmmaking. And in many cases, extinction level events like asteroids and malevolent aliens are the focus.

From May through August, there’s at least one new, expensive blockbuster every week. Not all are created equal. Many make money, but only one or two truly enthrall the moviegoing public for months at a time.

So we break down the best blockbusters, year-by-year, since 1990. The measure of criteria is threefold: Thrills, Fun and Buzz. These movies aren’t necessarily the “best” from each summer, just the ones that best embody the term,“blockbuster.”

Meaning this is the only list where “Armageddon” will ever rank above “Saving Private Ryan.”

2012 – The Avengers
Apologies to the Caped Crusader. “The Avengers” brought fun back into the superhero epic.
2011 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
There were better movies last summer (“Super 8”), but EVERYBODY had to see if the boy wizard could stick the (broom) landing. For the most part, he did.
2010 – Toy Story 3
Just edges “Inception” for being the quality, must-see for ages 2-102. The complicated plot of “Inception” might slice decades off each side of that scale.
2009 – Star Trek
The nerds griped about how it deviated from the source material, but everyone else had a blast.
2008 – The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger as The Joker was the highlight of Christopher Nolan’s epic second installment in his Batman trilogy.
2007 – The Bourne Ultimatum
In a year of disappointing trilogy cappers (“Spider-Man,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Shrek”) Matt Damon punched and kicked his way to the top of the heap.
2006 – Mission: Impossible 3
2005 – Batman Begins
The last “Star Wars” was OK, but nobody expected Batman to return to such form after the disastrous “Batman & Robin” in 1997.
2004 – Spider-Man 2
2003 – Finding Nemo & Pirates of the Caribbean
Too close to call. They’re both water-centric, so a tie seems appropriate. (more…)