Jaws
About twelve minutes into this movie I realized why it not only is one of the highest grossing movies ever, but also one of the most referenced and alluded to pieces of film in the following years of cinema. And, simply put, it is because it is a perfect meeting point of technical marvels, and summer blockbusters. It has one of the most impressive animatronics for the time period, some amazing camera work, some beautifully written dialogue, and a while now seemingly formulaic plot, at the time it was fresh feeling and undeniably influential. It is also two hours of horror-drama-comedy fun. I can perfectly imagine how it would feel for a movie like this to come out. To hear about it. To stand in the summer sun in line to go see it. And then to spend two hours transported into the mind of Steven Spielberg for the first time for many. It is just incredible at being a blockbuster. The pacing, the sets, the witticisms throughout, literally everything about it. Not a perfect movie, but in a way, the perfect Movie.
Not to mention, possible the greatest score ever put to film?