We are thrilled that people are returning to the movies after the pandemic kept them away for so long. Led by "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" (a phenomenon dubbed "Barbenheimer"), the weekend of July 21-23 broke the $300 million mark at the box office for the first time since April 26-28, 2019, when millions flocked to see "Avengers: Endgame," which would become the highest-grossing film of all time at the domestic box office.

Last summer, "Top Gun: Maverick" was the must-see film, and this year "Barbie" is leading the pack. If you're looking to escape the heat and watch summer blockbusters in your air-conditioned home, then check out some of these offerings as we take a look back at the history of the summer blockbuster.

1970s: The Dawn of the Summer Blockbuster

Many consider Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" to be the first true summer blockbuster. Released on June 20, 1975, it was the first film to gross more than $100 million at the U.S. box office, and people lined up around the block to see it. Two years later, George Lucas released a little film called "Star Wars" to kick off the Memorial Day weekend, and the rest is history. A year later, on June 16, 1978 "Grease" showed that films geared toward women could also dominate the box office, while later that summer "National Lampoon's Animal House" proved that R-rated comedies could draw a crowd. Both films topped over $100 million at the domestic box office that year, making 1978 the first year with two summer blockbusters.

1980s: The Rise of the Sequel

The first summer blockbuster of the decade was naturally the highly anticipated "Star Wars" follow-up "The Empire Strikes Back." Released May 21, 1980, the film was the first to hit the coveted $200 million mark at the domestic box office. In June of 1981, two films opened a week apart that would dominate the summer – "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Superman II." While the original "Superman" was released in December of 1978, every sequel was released in the summer.

The next summer Spielberg would return to the top of the box office with the June 11, 1982, release of "E.T. the Extraterrestrial." Several sequels would also fill theaters that summer, including "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "Rocky III." In the following years, sequels and original films that later spawned media franchises dominated, with "Return of the Jedi" topping the 1983 summer box office. A year later, "Ghostbusters," "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Gremlins," and "The Karate Kid" led the way, followed by "Back to the Future" in 1985, and "Top Gun" in 1986. By 1988, most of the highest grossing films of the year were released in the summer, including "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "Coming to America," "Big" and even the Christmas-themed "Die Hard." The decade went out with a bang, with "Batman" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" as the must-see 1989 summer hits.

1990s: Prestige Flicks, Dinosaurs, and Kids' Films

The decade started with a major shift, as the biggest summer blockbuster of 1990 was the romantic drama "Ghost." The film earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but it rarely comes to mind when one thinks about summer box office behemoths. In the next few years, action films would return with a vengeance, as "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" brought in big crowds in the summer of 1991.

In 1993, Spielberg topped himself yet again. That June, "Jurassic Park" raised the stakes for summer filmfare, as it came close to topping a billion worldwide ($978,167,947) and set the standard for future summer releases. A year later, "The Lion King" proved that children's films could draw major crowds around the world, as it became the highest-grossing film of the year grossing over $760 million.

By 1996, audiences were craving more action, as "Independence Day" brought millions back to the theater. The decade would end with more big action blockbusters, like "Men in Black" in 1997, "Armageddon" in 1998, and "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" in 1999. The decade also, however, saw many critically acclaimed films compete and dominate the summer box office, including Best Picture winner "Forrest Gump" (1994) and nominees "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) and "The Sixth Sense" (1999).

Come back next week for a look at summer blockbusters from 2000 onward!