2. Home Alone

Mix a "comedy machine" with a novice director. Add a shutdown threat, rotating robbers and terrifying stunts to home in on a ho-ho-ho holiday megahit.

3. Ghostbusters

A rickety script, tight timeline and effects issues almost busted this comedy. But thanks to Dan Aykroyd and company, the slimy shenanigans took off.

4. Die Hard

This box office titan took action movies to the next level, decked out with a relatable hero, a humorous rewrite and a well-played “yippee-ki-yay.”