Why are ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Jaws’ topping the box office decades after release?

It may be 2020, but that hasn’t stopped two Steven Spielberg classics from surging back to the top of the box office charts.

Over Father’s Day weekend, “Jurassic Park” roared to the No. 1 spot on the weekend box office charts for the fourth time in the film’s history, including a three-week stint in the top spot immediately following its release, Deadline reported.

The movie, released in 1993, pulled in about $517,600 from 230 locations over the weekend, according to Deadline.

“Jaws” snagged the No. 2 spot, with about $516,300 in ticket sales from 187 sites, Deadline reported. It was released in 1975.

Other Spielberg films also landed in the top 20, with 1982’s “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” landing in the No. 7 spot and 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at No. 18, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The resurgence of “Jurassic Park” also set a new record for the length of time between chart-topping weekends for a live-action film, with 27 years between showings, Forbes reported.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” topped the charts in 1983, 46 years after its initial release, according to the outlet.

So what’s the deal?

The majority of theaters that reported sales were drive-ins that either remained open during the coronavirus pandemic or were able to quickly reopen, per the Hollywood Reporter.

As cities slowly reopen, theaters are aiming to draw moviegoers back to the cinema with beloved blockbusters, Forbes reported.

Other classics hitting screens across the country include “Footloose”, “Back to the Future” and “The Goonies”, according to Hollywood Reporter.

This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 1:45 PM with the headline "Why are ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Jaws’ topping the box office decades after release?."