17 - Superman
You'll believe a man can fly. Well, maybe in the 70s you did. Still, in terms of performance and direction, no Superman adaptation has come close to Richard Donner's Superman. It was really the first proper super hero movie and it is still influencing the super hero films of today. Yes there are some brutal inconsistencies with Superman's speed (can't catch two missiles but can fly around the whole plant in a split second...) and the effects are very dated but film isn't about technical limitations, it is about a vision and Richard Donner had one. The casting of the unknown Christopher Reeve created an instant icon who would forever by synonymous with the character, even lending his time and considerable effort to a cameo in Smallville.
Best bit: John Williams' score.
16 - Inception
If ever a film had a ready made porn title it was Inception. No clever puns required. Still, while the name might bring up images inseminating farm yard animals, the film is bloody awesome. The fact that I'm ranking it over Nolan's Batman films isn't due to me being touched but because, in terms of action, it is unique. Yes there are more standard action sequences but then you get the gravity defying punch ups, the Bondesque snow mobile/skiing shoot outs and the mind bending visuals. Inception is a film that leaves you feeling that you have experienced something unique and since the dawn of cinema, that has been a rare and precious thing.
Best bit: Joseph Gordon-Levitt fighting people in zero G.
15 - Lethal Weapon
Before the racism, the alcohol and the spousal abuse we had a warm place in our hearts for Mel Gibson. This was largely due to his devil may care attitude and his dedication to mullets in Lethal Weapon. The ultimate buddy cop movie is also a fantastic 80s action movie, exemplifying everything we associate with the American blockbuster. Guns, big bangs, big boobs and one liners. Yes yes. What sets the Lethal Weapon franchise aside from the pack is the characters, we come to love Murtaugh and his family and we watch them grow up as the films progress. Even the 4th in the series is worth a watch and there aren't many film franchises you can say that about.
Best bit: The suicide jump scene.