20 Movies To Watch This Summer

Summer is the sun-soaked season of nostalgia. There’s something about the long, hot summer days that bring me right back to my youth. When I was a teenager, summer was almost painful in its mundanity. Every day felt like an endless loop of lazily reading by the pool while eating too many sticky watermelon popsicles. Now, as an adult with two children, those languorous days are long gone (and seem too good to be true). To fulfill that craving for a carefree summer, I rely on films. Even though I consider myself a bit of a film buff, I hardly make time for movies. With the little free time I have, I prefer to read. Plus, my husband and I don’t often share the same taste in films. But during the summer, our film choices tend to coincide. Many of the films that give us that old summer feeling are crowd-pleasers. But, if you know me, you know I’m not one to give you a list of films that are equivalent to chick-lit beach reads. Yes, there are many of those in this list, but I’ve also included a few that you may have never heard of. So kick up your sunburnt feet and enjoy my picks for the 20 films to watch this summer!

summer movies

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983)

The satire of everyday life in the “National Lampoon” movies always makes me laugh so hard. Every summer, I watch “Vacation,” especially now as a parent of two kids. If you’ve embarked on a summer vacation with your children, you know it’s hardly ever as you imagined. In this film, everything that could go wrong does go wrong and in the most over-the-top way, yet it’s relatable. I can see myself a little in each character. Especially in the father Clark Griswold’s blind optimism. He continues to insist that it will be their best vacation ever despite the endless obstacles.

“Real Women Have Curves” (2002)

This indie film is a true gem. It was America Ferrara’s break-out role. I love its depiction of Mexican-American women — especially teenage Ana (Ferrara). It’s a coming-of-age story about how difficult it can be when your teenage dreams come into conflict with your family’s expectations.

“Do the Right Thing” (1989)

The first time I watched Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” I felt moved. I was very emotional. It’s got the look of a quintessential New York summer movie, but it’s an important story about race. One that, sadly, still feels relevant today. Spike Lee does a tremendous job portraying the nuances of the culture and various sides of the story. It’s an important film to watch, especially with everything happening with Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police.

“(500) Days of Summer” (2009)

This is not a love story, and that is why it’s such a great one. I love how this film does not follow the typical Hollywood script. Tom and Summer are not going to get together, we know this, yet we feel emotionally invested in their relationship. It’s clever how it makes you believe in their story even when we know how the story ends.

“Something’s Gotta Give” (2003)

Sometimes, I’m completely fine being cliché — like being a millennial woman who loves Nancy Meyers movies. They just make me feel good: the locations, the interiors, the costume design, all of it! In “Something’s Gotta Give,” two mature singles (Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson) have zero interest in each other but end up stuck together for the summer, and we get to see their relationship blossom. It’s hilarious. You really can’t go wrong with these two superb actors.

“Summer With Monika” (1953)

This isn’t one of renowned filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s well-known films, but it’s gained recognition and praise over the years. I was drawn to its anti-hero Monika. She’s feisty, ambitious, promiscuous — a bit of a recluse — but you can’t help but feel sympathy for her even when she does terrible things. It’s a tricky balance to make us care about unlikeable characters, but Bergman does it beautifully. It feels really bold for a movie made in the early 1950s for its portrayal of sex, infidelity and a bit of metafiction.

“How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (1998)

After Stella gets divorced, she heads to Jamaica for a summer vacation and ends up in a hot and steamy relationship with a younger man. It’s a bit of an old-fashioned plot but still feels entertaining, and you can’t help but root for Stella as she gains confidence in this new relationship.

“Mystic Pizza” (1988)

This was Julia Roberts’s first major role in a movie. “Mystic Pizza” is about three women falling in and out of love while working at a pizza joint. It’s got everything I love about an ’80s movie. It’s worth watching for Roberts’s amazing hair alone!

“Dirty Dancing” (1987)

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve watched “Dirty Dancing.” I’ve watched so many times it’s like it’s become a fiber of my being. It’s a simple movie, but sometimes that’s what I want from a summer film. Watching Johnny Castle and Baby sensually touch and dance all summer never gets old. I tend to use the line, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” for all kinds of irrelevant situations after watching it.

“Under the Tuscan Sun” (2003)

When Frances learns that her husband is cheating on her, her life unravels. Her best friend gifts her a trip to Italy in the hopes it will lift her spirits. While there, she ends up buying an abandoned, old villa. The story is about her rebuilding this home that ultimately rebuilds her life. It’s a pretty clichéd plot, but it’s likable, and the Italian landscapes leave me yearning for a summer in the Italian countryside.

“Miss Juneteenth” (2020)

I just recently watched this and was totally in awe. I thought it was an incredible directorial debut for Channing Godfrey Peoples. It’s about a mom who is a former beauty queen preparing her rebellious daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant. The film explores black motherhood, womanhood, race and resilience.

“Before Sunrise” (1995)

The “Before” trilogy is one of my favorites of all time. Although, it’s been *a bit* tarnished ever since I started watching Éric Rohmer’s films. It’s very Rohmer-esque (which a lot of films are, but more on that later). Like the characters in most of Rohmer’s films, these characters do a lot of talking and not a lot of doing. So if you’re not into rambly, extensional chats, this won’t be for you. But I could listen to them talk for hours. It feels genuine. The first time I saw “Before Sunrise,” I was in awe. I still romanticize the idea of a chance encounter like theirs.

“Y Tu Mamá También” (2001)

This is the story of two teenage boys that embark on an adventurous journey with an older woman. It’s about their sexual experiences but also about life and death. It’s raunchy and sexy but has emotional warmth. I admire how Luisa is portrayed not only as the desirable older woman but as wise, funny and complex. It’s a great indie classic!

“My Neighbor Totoro” (1988)

Ah, how I adore this movie. I never saw it as a child. The first time I encountered it was with my daughter. Now it’s a movie we return to whenever our nervous systems are in need of a calming reset. It’s one of Hayao Miyazaki’s creations (we love all his movies!). “My Neighbor Totoro” is visually enchanting. The beautiful landscapes are lush and tranquil. It’s a tiny bit sad, but there isn’t anything too scary or fast-paced— which is what my kids need after a long day of swimming and summer camps. They veg out on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and are transported to this magical world.

“My Girl” (1991)

If you’re a ’90s kid like me, you can’t have a Summer Movie List and not include “My Girl.” I was 9 when this movie came out, just about the age of its main characters. It was the first time I became acutely aware of the harsh realities of life. The film doesn’t shy away from loss and grief. It’s a bit sentimental but not overly so. I cry every time I watch it.

“Dazed and Confused” (1993)

You know when you’re around 12, and you are completely obsessed with teenagers? You think they’re the coolest, most mysterious creatures you’ve ever seen. “Dazed and Confused” captures that feeling perfectly. I was about 14 when I first watched it and felt that tingle in my tummy, that nervous excitement of being a freshman in high school around all those crazy teenagers. I actually had similar experiences to Mitch Kramer as a young kid hanging with the cool kids. It was terrifying and riveting at the same time. I owned this movie on VHS and watched it so many times.  I can recite the movie verbatim.

“Jaws” (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” is a summer movie classic and the film that catapulted him into stardom. Apparently, it’s also the first film to turn summer into a prime season for releasing new movies. After seeing this movie, I never could step foot in the ocean without hearing that famous du dun, du dun in my head. Terrifying!

“Call Me by Your Name” (2017)

I love this movie so much. Embarrassingly, I watched the film before reading the novel (I loved the book, too). However, I’ve become aware of some of its problematic parts and that it feels a little too close to an Éric Rohmer film — specifically “A Summer’s Tale.” I recently watched that film and saw many parallels. I think the CMBYN team was paying homage to Rohmer, but many scenes feel almost like a direct copy of A Summer’s Tale. It made it hard for me to love CMBYN as much as I used to. But it is a beautiful film.

“A Summer’s Tale” (1996)

I’m cheating a bit here and using “A Summer’s Tale” to recommend pretty much all of Rohmer’s films for summer. His films, despite whatever season they’re in, feel like summer movies. The main character Gaspard is a shy graduate on summer holiday who finds himself in a love triangle. It’s funny, and an accurate look at how dramatic and predictable young people can be.

“Now and Then” (1995)

I haven’t seen “Now and Then” since I was 13, but I remember it being a really important movie to me. It’s not a remarkable film; it’s quite gendered and predictable. But, it was like the girl version of “Stand By Me.” My girlfriends and I saw ourselves in the characters and would pick whom we related to most. (I was Samantha.) I also remember it having a truly epic summer soundtrack.

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Author: Taylor Sterling

Taylor Sterling is the founder and creative director of Glitter Guide. When she's not working on all things GG, she can be found reading and sometimes art directing photoshoots for @LolaJayne. She enjoys spending time with her family and eating french fries (not necessarily at the same time, although that's definitely the best combination). Follow her at @TaylorSterling