1. The Empire Strikes Back
   Star Wars
2. Return of the Jedi
   Attack of the Clones

This movie changed everything about science fiction films. The score, the creatures and the epic sweep of the space battles were like nothing else ever seen on the big screen

1. THX 1138
   American Graffiti
2. Radioland Murders
   Strange Magic

Lucas wrote this animated tale, based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was produced by Lucasfilm but distributed by Disney, and didn't do very well at the American box office.

1. The Force Awakens
   Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. The Empire Strikes Back
   Star Wars

This one's the favorite of a lot of old-school "Star Wars" fans (like me). The humor among the cast members, the fast-moving plot and the introduction of Yoda make it unforgettable.

1. Howard the Duck
   Labyrinth
2. Willow
   Body Heat

If you watch Marvel movies, you know not to leave the theater until the end credits finish. In "Guardians of the Galaxy," Howard made an appearance in a post-credits sequence.

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
   Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
   Jurassic Park

The '80s pretty much belonged to Harrison Ford. First there were the "Star Wars" films, then "Blade Runner," then the "Indiana Jones" movies. You couldn't escape him!

1. Hook
   Radioland Murders
2. Labyrinth
   Willow

There are still daughters of fantasy fans being named Elora, thanks to this movie. It's a fairly middling fantasy flick, but in classic Lucasfilm style, it managed to break new ground in special effects technology and change the industry.

1. American Graffiti
   Kagemush
2. More American Graffiti
   Body Heat

This film is considerably darker than the original, depicting the lives (and ends of lives) of most of the original main characters. It's set on a series of New Year's Eves, and each of the four storylines is shot in a different filming style.

1. Body Heat
   Tucker: The Man and His Dream
2. American Graffiti
   Beverly Hills Cop III

This is a favorite movie among the car-nut crowd, but it's really a great film for anyone interested in how the economy developed in postwar America. Jeff Bridges gives one of his best performances ever, and he's not even playing a stoner.

1. Star Wars
   Return of the Jedi
2. Revenge of the Sith
   The Empire Strikes Back

This film provided one of the most meme-worthy moments of them all, when Han cut open a dead beast and stuffed Luke inside to keep him warm. "I thought they smelled bad on the outside" has been used millions of times for various situations.

1. Inside the Labyrinth
   Willow
2. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
   Jurassic Park

This TV effort took a behind-the-scenes look at how "The Labyrinth" came together. It's of interest to puppet fans, special effects nuts and people who really dig documentaries.

1. Attack of the Clones
   Return of the Jedi
2. The Phantom Menace
   The Clone Wars

This is at turns the most thrilling and most annoying of the original three films. Luke's battle with the Emperor, and rescue by his father, is an outstanding sequence, as is the fight on Jabba's sail barge. Everything involving the Ewoks, however ... ugh.

1. More American Graffiti
   Body Heat
2. Gimme Shelter
   American Graffiti

Remember when radio DJs actually worked the mic instead of pre-taping shows for dozens of stations? Wolfman Jack plays himself in this movie, helping one character find a mysterious blonde in a white car by giving out a phone number on the air.

1. Kagemusha
   The Rain People
2. McKenna's Gold
   Jurassic Park

Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola went to bat for Kurosawa when the original studio, Toho, home of the "Godzilla" franchise for decades, couldn't afford to finish the movie. Thus, they became executive producers and 20th Century Fox got the international rights.

1. The Phantom Menace
   Revenge of the Sith
2. Star Wars: Clone Wars
   Attack of the Clones

The movie was a lead-in to the long-running animated series. There was much fan joy when "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" contained many references to "Clone Wars" characters and events.

1. Jurassic Park
   The Land Before Time
2. Willow
   THX 1138

Talk about some high-powered upper management! This animated hit, which has spawned more than a dozen direct-to-video sequels, listed Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall as executive producers.

1. The Phantom Menace
   Labyrinth
2. Willow
   Howard the Duck

While the movie itself is absolutely worthless, it contains enough glimmers of humor to have turned it into a cult classic. It's often shown at sci-fi conventions, usually late at night when the adult beverages are flowing freely.

1. American Graffiti
   More American Graffiti
2. Kagemusha
   Gimme Shelter

The talent pool in this film is truly awe-inspiring. In one cast, you've got Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and a guy named Harrison Ford who did a little work with Lucas in later years.

1. The Empire Strikes Back
   Return of the Jedi
2. Star Wars
   Revenge of the Sith

In the prequel films, Yoda was a CGI character, but here he was a Muppet creation. His jerky movements and somewhat stiff face actually fit with his centuries-old character, though.

1. Star Wars
   Jurassic Park
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
   The Empire Strikes Back

I've been a huge fan of the "Star Wars" series since I saw the original at age 9, but there's one thing that's always bothered me. A parsec is a unit of distance, not speed ... so what does Han's brag about making the Kessel run mean?

1. Star Wars
   Revenge of the Sith
2. Attack of the Clones
   The Phantom Menace

In a plot point that ties in with the original trilogy, at one point Obi-Wan travels to an ocean planet where a clone army is being created. The son of the man being cloned, Jango Fett, is introduced as Boba.

1. Powaqqatsi
   Willow
2. Hook
   Jurassic Park

Warwick Davis, who stars in the movie, later worked with Lucas again as the Ewok named Wicket in "Return of the Jedi." Potter fans will recognize him as both Professor Filius Flitwick and Griphook, the goblin at Gringotts bank.

1. The Land Before Time
   Strange Magic
2. Willow
   Twice Upon a Time

Before viewing this movie, take some deep, cleansing breaths, find your center... and then whack yourself between the eyes with a rubber mallet. The resulting disorientation will make the odd animation, jerky storylines and garish colors make a bit more sense.

1. Twice Upon A Time
   Strange Magic
2. Gimme Shelter
   The Land Before Time

This film has a wild commixture of mythical characters. There are fairies, bog creatures, imps, elves and all manner of forest animals. Naturally, all of them seem to have near-human intelligence and most of them talk.

1. Willow
   Kagemusha
2. The Land Before Time
   Strange Magic

"Willow" has been compared many times to "The Princess Bride" in terms of being a cult film, but I don't quite get it. "Willow"'s nice and all, but it doesn't have Mandy Patinkin or Andre the Giant!

1. Willow
   Strange Magic
2. Attack of the Clones
   Labyrinth

While this is now one of the '80s most beloved films and a total classic for fantasy fans, when it came out it was a flop, earning back only half the money spent to make it. It is a bit cheesy, but you can't deny Bowie's magnetism as the Goblin King!

1. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
   Attack of the Clones
2. Return of the Jedi
   Willow

This made-for-TV movie sought to capitalize on the cuteness of the Ewoks and added some humans just for grins. Character names sound like random letters.

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
   Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
   Hook

This movie should have worked, with Sean Connery playing Indiana Jones' dad. However, most of the scenes between them come across as very stiff, and I found myself waiting for the next chase scene to begin.

1. Strange Magic
   Hook
2. Labyrinth
   The Phantom Menace

One of the main characters in the movie is the Bog King. It's impossible to see him and not think of the Goblin King in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

1. Strange Magic
   Hook
2. Attack of the Clones
   Willow

This movie was unique for its time in that it had a little person who was the hero and main character, rather than a sidekick or henchman. Warwick Davis turned in a tremendous performance, and it boosted his career.

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
   Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
2. Hook
   Raiders of the Lost Ark

The second film in the series upped the ante on both the action and the gore. In one memorable scene, dinner guests are served an entree of chilled monkey brains... still in the skulls.

1. Hook
   The Land Before Time
2. The Phantom Menace
   Willow

Jar Jar Binks is easily the most polarizing figure in "Star Wars" history. Actually, "polarizing" implies that there were differing opinions on him... and he was universally despised.

1. Return of the Jedi
   The Empire Strikes Back
2. Attack of the Clones
   The Phantom Menace

I've never read specifically if the way Luke beats the cavern beast was a direct homage to "Land of the Lost," but it sure looked that way. How many times did the humans keep the T-rex at bay with a stick in the jaws?

1. Willow
   The Land Before Time
2. Strange Magic
   Jurassic Park

This was not your ordinary animated kid's flick. The characters faced real danger, cruel and unfeeling adult dinosaurs and discrimination... pretty heavy stuff for young ones.

1. The Phantom Menace
   Star Wars
2. Revenge of the Sith
   Attack of the Clones

Poor Natalie Portman! She's got a stunning amount of talent, yet in this trilogy she's pretty much limited to looking pained, looking concerned and looking frightened. It seems that every third sentence begins with, "Anakin ..."

1. Kagemusha
   Body Heat
2. Hook
   Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

This movie is an insanely twisted, complex murder/heist flick with tons of sex. It launched Kathleen Turner's career, and didn't exactly hurt William Hurt's, either.

1. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
   Kagemusha
2. American Graffiti
   Herbie

Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, having helped Kagemusha get to the screen, worked their financial magic again with this film. The title character was a novelist and odd fellow who ended up forming a private army and proclaiming that the emperor is again the head of the Japanese state.

1. American Graffiti
   Tucker: The Man and His Dream
2. More American Graffiti
   Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Many modern pundits have compared Tesla genius Elon Musk to Tucker. Musk has faced much of the same opposition Tucker did, but he's far better funded and seems to be gaining traction in the market.

1. Willow
   Strange Magic
2. Jurassic Park
   The Land Before Time

The types of dinosaurs in this movie are divided into groups, such as Swimmers, Flyers, Longnecks and Spiketails. This nomenclature makes it easier for kids to understand the themes of discrimination.

1. Attack of the Clones
   Star Wars: The Clone Wars
2. The Phantom Menace
   Strange Magic

The great thing about animated movies is that any character, no matter how outlandish-looking, can come to life. In this movie, we learn that Jabba the Hutt had a son... and he's called a Huttlet.

1. American Graffiti
   More American Graffiti
2. Kagemusha
   Howard the Duck

Every few years, there's a movie on the same theme as "American Graffiti," and they often have talent pools just as deep as this one. Look at "The Breakfast Club" and "On The Mat" for proof.

1. The Land Before Time
   Jurassic Park
2. Willow
   Strange Magic

Remember Val Kilmer? He plays the bumbling, boastful warrior Madmartigan in this movie, and you can see the promise that so many '80s directors and producers did in him.

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
   Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
2. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
   Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

This film takes place during the Cold War, with Indy battling Soviet agents instead of Nazis. Karen Allen is back as Indy's love Marion Ravenwood, and Shia Le Beouf plays their son.

1. The Empire Strikes Back
   Star Wars
2. The Phantom Menace
   Attack of the Clones

Did Han shoot first? This is a debate that has divided the geek community for decades now. Was he a quick-draw artist who eluded a shot and killed his assailant, or did he decide to neutralize Greedo in cold blood?

1. Star Wars
   Return of the Jedi
2. Revenge of the Sith
   The Phantom Menace

We finally get to meet the Emperor in the flesh in this movie, and he's one of the most evil characters in sci-fi history. He heartlessly tries to get Luke to kill his father, but pays the price in the end.

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
   Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Hook
   Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Cate Blanchett, whom Lord of the Rings fans will recognize as Lady Galadriel, plays a villainous Soviet agent in this one. Apparently, she's not allowed to play unaccented roles.

1. Willow
   Strange Magic
2. Return of the Jedi
   Labyrinth

Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, a 15-year-old who unwittingly wishes her baby brother away to the Goblin King. Haven't we all had times like that? It stings a bit for every older brother or sister who might have made such a wish.

1. Willow
   Howard the Duck
2. The Land Before Time
   Strange Magic

The concept of this movie is great: A talking duck from Duckworld ends up transported to Cleveland by a mysterious space ray and tries to get home. Then it gets really weird, with the addition of sexual innuendo and duck kung fu.

1. Revenge of the Sith
   The Phantom Menace
2. The Empire Strikes Back
   Attack of the Clones

This film is very dark from start to finish, and you might want to think twice before showing it to your kids. There's the slaughter of children, general violence and a brutal last fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin that leaves the latter mutilated.