Yardbarker
x
20 movies that will get you excited for summertime
MovieStillsDB

20 movies that will get you excited for summertime

Ah, summer. The word alone makes you think of sunshine, beaches and vacations. No matter where you live, the season comes with a vibe that can't be described in words, but sometimes can be described in film. Movies have a way of bringing summer to life, whether it be through shots of sunsets or shots of waves lapping aginst the sand. Our list is here to give you the best of those escapes. 

 
1 of 20

Amarcord (1973)

Amarcord (1973)
The Criterion Collection

Federico Feillini's vivid and vibrant movie is my Desert Island film. The director's hometown is brought to life by many seasons, adventures and characters who wander the town's beaches and courtyards. It's one of those movies you don't so much watch as experience. It's a chance to live in a Tuscan village, brought to life by a director who turns ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

 
2 of 20

Summertime (1955)

Summertime (1955)
The Criterion Collection

90% of summer movies take place in Italy. It's not a real statistic, but it does feel like it when you look at our list. It's certainly the case with David Lean's Summertime, which sees Katherine Hepburn find love in Venice. 

 
3 of 20

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Universal Studios

Can anyone have a bad time in Hawaii? It's still a blast when your ex-girlfriend shows up with her rock star boyfriend. Jason Segal is at his most charming in this rom-com, playing a character who exposes naked truths about what it means to be heartbroken. Luckily there's hope for Segal in the form of Mila Kunis, a server who works at the resort. 

 
4 of 20

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Sony Pictures Classics

Another Italian getaway! Timothee Chalamet plays a lonely teenager who finds love where he least expects it. While this may not be a happy romance, the movie has all the Italian scenery you could ask for--and then some. 

 
5 of 20

The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies (1985)
Warner Bros.

Hey, you guuuuys! We've got the perfect summer movie for the whole family. This 80's classic follows a group of kids who set out on a treasure hunt and end up in a cave under San Francisco. The real treasure comes from the actors, who make these characters as quotable as any on our list. 

 
6 of 20

The Endless Summer (1966)

The Endless Summer (1966)
Cinema V

Grab the surf wax, brah, cause we're going to go check out some waves. In The Endless Summer, we follow two surfers as they travel the world searching for new breaks, which takes them from Africa to Australia to California. It's basically the movie equivalent of a travelogue and we're here for it. 

 
7 of 20

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005)

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (2005)
Warner Bros.

The only thing greater than one vacation is four vacations! You can have four vacations for the price of one in this movie about BFFs who discover a pair of magic pants before they set off on their summer trips. Along the way, they mail the pants to each other and discover their true calling. 

 
8 of 20

Mafioso (1962)

Mafioso (1962)
The Criterion Collection

Nothing says summer like a trip to Italy...to join the mob. Watch as a man gets roped into the mafia when he visits his hometown of Sicily. It's the main inspiration for Barry, another story of a guy who gets roped into being a hitman, only this time, the story takes place in a beach town. 

 
9 of 20

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953)

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953)
The Criterion Collection

Movies about summer holidays need a great location, and Hulot's Holiday more than delivers. While the jokes may not be up to par (are they even jokes?), show us someone who doesn't get swept away by the French Riviera and we'll show you a liar. 

 
10 of 20

Roman Holiday (1953)

Roman Holiday (1953)
Paramount Pictures

If the beach doesn't do it for you, head over to Rome for some of the best views on Earth. That's where you'll find Gregory Peck, a tourist who spends the day with an undercover princess (Audrey Hepburn) who is trying to get him under the covers. It's a rom-com that is best served with wine, of course, and a bowl of cacio e pepe. 

 
11 of 20

Mama Mia! (2008)

Mama Mia! (2008)
Universal Studios

Parties, beaches, and a wedding that takes place on a Greek island.  What more could you want from a summer movie? One of the best summer movies of all time, this 2000s musical seems to have been made for our list.  

 
12 of 20

The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot (1993)
20th Century Fox

If you're feeling nostalgic for summers spent playing sports with friends, then this is the movie for you. Scott Smalls (Tom Guiry) has trouble making friends when he moves to a new town but is soon taken into the fold by a baseball team. The result is a home run for comedy and grand slam for anyone who spent their afternoons at the park. 

 
13 of 20

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Touchstone Pictures

Summer is the perfect time to hop on a plane and go somewhere on a whim. Who knows, maybe you'll even buy a house. If you're Diane Lane recovering from a divorce, you'll not only buy a house, but you'll move there permanently without knowing the language. In Nora Ephron's rom-com, the prospect of leaving your worries behind makes for a breezy escape. 

 
14 of 20

How Stella Got Het Groove Back (1998)

How Stella Got Het Groove Back (1998)
20th Century Fox

Everything about this getaway will have you feeling summertime fine. From the costumes to the location, the movie was made to give you a break from work. When a stockbroker (Angela Bassett) quits her job, she finds a young man on the shores of Jamaica and the two spend a lot of time together. It's not a masterpiece, but it's a nice escape from our daily schedules. 

 
15 of 20

Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975)
Universal Studios

Just because it's a horror movie doesn't make it any less summery. The setting in Jaws is every bit as scenic and wonderful as the shark is savage and terrifying. A resort town gets more than it can handle when a shark arrives, and the only chance at stopping it is the police chief (Roy Schieder), the marine biologist (Richard Dreyfus) the drunk guy with a boat (Robert Shaw). 

 
16 of 20

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing (1987)
Vestron Pictures

If you're feeling nostalgic for summer camp, look no further than Dirty Dancing, which is both a great romance and a great adventure. With an A-list cast that includes Patrick Swayzee and Jennifer Grey, there's a reason this movie has been called a classic--it's about as sexy as summer camp gets. 

 
17 of 20

The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap (1998)
Walt Disney Pictures

Speaking of summer camp, is there anything more fun than watching two sisters discover they are related at camp? I'm waiting... Odds are you can't think of anything more fun than this story of twins meeting at camp or anything more impressive than Lindsay Lohan's performance as both twins. It's one of the best child performances of all time! 

 
18 of 20

Luca (2020)

Luca (2020)
Walt Disney Pictures.

Fishing for something a little different? Try this animated film about a fish who becomes a human when he washes up on shore. It's the story of two pals who try to find their way in the world, even if they are both considered a little strange. 

 
19 of 20

Ponyo (2008)

Ponyo (2008)
Studio Ghibli
The movie that inspired Luca. Ponyo is the story of a fish who escapes her family and falls for a boy on land. It's made by the director of such classics as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro and has a similar style to those movies. That means colors that burst off the screen, vistas that deserve to be in a museum and a story that unfolds as gently as a cloud and as softly as a breeze. 
 
20 of 20

Dazed and Confused (1993)

Dazed and Confused (1993)
Gramercy Pictures

Richard Linklater captures the vibe of high school better than anyone else. Thanks to a chilled pace, a relaxed tone and a cool breeze, he takes us on a ride that we will never forget. The movie follows a group of high schoolers on the last day of school as they drink, party, cruise and hangout. The cast brings their day to life, with actors like Ben Affleck, Jason London and Mathew McConaughey delivering performances that don't even feel like performances. They feel like people living in the moment. 

Asher Luberto is a film critic for L.A. Weekly, The Playlist, The Progressive and The Village Voice.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.