4. "Pacific Rim" and "The Avengers"
Why "Pacific Rim"?: Guillermo Del Toro's latest, a criminally under-appreciated blast of a movie, does just about everything right. It's that rare summer blockbuster that has a great script, fascinating characters, and visuals that blow pretty much everything else out of the water. Marketing would have you believe that it's just "Godzilla vs. Transformers" - don't buy that for a second. While the visuals are literally breathtaking (and how could they not be, this is Del Toro), there's way more to appreciate here than just giant jaegers slugging it out with massive undersea monsters. Not only does the story put a unique spin on the white male hero trope, it also features major POC characters (male and female), a soundtrack featuring the riffs of Tom Morello - and Ron Perlman. So really, you can't go wrong with this pick.
Why "Avengers"?: Joss Whedon's 2012 unification of Marvel's heroes in one of the biggest tentpole features ever is another summer blockbuster that has a whole lot more to offer than just explosions and snark (although both of those are present in spades too). This movie did what most people considered to be nearly impossible, and made it look easy. It's fun, it's action-packed, and we finally get to see Bruce Banner done right. Also, Tom Hiddleston.
Why Double Up? If you're looking for a couple of movies that restore your faith in Hollywood (and really, humanity at large), look no further than Pacific Rim and The Avengers. This double feature is for the nights when you need to remind yourself about the real magic movies hold within them, and the power of underdog stories in a world that oftentimes feels like it doesn't care anymore. If you're not thrilled when Gipsy Danger lands a punch, or when Loki faces off with The Hulk, then I don't know what to tell you.