LIST-O-RAMA: The Most Anticipated Movies of the Past Decade

With Revenge of the Sith coming out on Thursday, there's been an extra hop in my step this week. Not that I'm a Star Wars geek or anything, but I can't help but get caught up in some good 'ol fashioned summer movie buzz. There's always a good deal of hype surrounding a Star Wars release, and even though the first two prequels were disappointments there's still considerable Revenge of the Sith hype due to the bevy of positive reviews being generated. It got me thinking: which movies in recent history have generated the most fan excitement leading up to the opening weekend? Keep in mind that many movies that turned out lousy had tons of buzz beforehand, and not all blockbusters generated lines around the block when they debuted (Titanic only made $29 million its opening weekend). Herewith:

1. The Phantom Menace (1999)

Fans of the original Star Wars trilogy had been waiting 16 years for a new installment, and the 1997 re-release of episodes IV-VI whetted appetites for a new generation. In the weeks beforehand, conventional wisdom said that The Phantom Menace box office would undoubtedly set the record for biggest the opening weekend, possibly even crossing the $100 million mark. I remember reading a story quoting some moviegoers saying that they would avoid the theaters on opening weekend because the cineplexes were sure to be sold out for days on end. This mentality was likely the cause of the more down-to-earth $65 million opening weekend that resulted. However, it was the lukewarm reviews from disappointed audiences and critics that killed the buzz and started a mini-backlash against the Star Wars empire.

2. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

In terms of sheer hype, this one takes the cake. Audiences adored the first Matrix and the promise of not one, but two imminent sequels had fans foaming at the mouth. The massive scope of the production actually caused Reloaded to be pushed back a full year from its original 2002 target date, giving the media extra time to pump up the masses with "Matrix Secrets Revealed!!" articles. But alas, with stratospheric expectations, a letdown was inevitable. But hey, at least Reloaded looked Oscar-worthy compared with Revolutions, the abysmal final installment.

3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Another highly successful blockbuster, another sequel with hyped-up fans. The only notable aspect of this stinker (easily Spielberg's worst film) was the $90 million opening weekend, which set a record that would last a good five years.

4. Independence Day (1996)

This is the movie that really ushered in the era of the July 4 event movie. "iD4" was marketed to the hilt, as everything, including the the title and setting of the film, was geared towards the Fourth of July. The hype machine famously began with a Super Bowl ad featuring the White House being blown to smithereens. The good news was that Independence Day was actually one of the few movies on this list that turned out to be as enjoyable as the hype promised.

5. Goldeneye (1995)

People forget how much excitement there was for Pierce Brosnan's first Bond movie. After two forgettable Timothy Dalton bombs in the late '80s, the entertainment world was dying for a return to the era when James Bond was the coolest man in moviedom. Bond is one of the few franchises thats' truly driven by its international (rather than U.S.) following and Pierce Brosnan was the popular choice to step into the role. Goldeneye ended up saving the multibillion dollar Bond franchise, which will produce its 21st edition (Casino Royale) next year.


Rounding out the list:

6. Spider-Man (2002)
7. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
8. Attack of the Clones (2002)
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
10. Men in Black (1997)