Summer’s just around the corner for the Northern Hemisphere and while that might mean highlights, tan lines, and beach trips, it also ushers in different attitudes surrounding entertainment. As an anticipated period without responsibility, summer entertainment should feed the imagination—mermaids, friendship, romance, beach-views.
From a small county in Nevada where three friends fall victim to their own antics to the blossoming of an unorthodox couple’s romance in Northern Italy, this collection has the ability to transport viewers to a breezier time. Regardless of the weather outside, these classics will bring summer to your screen.
10Summer House
With inflation on the rise, a virtual trip to the Hamptons might be the safest option for the bank account.Summer Houselets viewers take a front row seat to a gang of New York up-and-comer’s vacation tomfoolery. Each weekend, a core group drives to the Hamptons to unwind after a long work week. As is standard in any vacation, or situations where strangers share close-quarters, drama ensues.
The summer follows the alcohol-soaked shenanigans of the cast as they navigate romances, relationship troubles, and family issues. The reality show will definitely have viewers feeling as though they’ve tagged along on a high-price vacation as a member of the dysfunctional friend group. Needless to say, this option is more for those hoping to have a frat-boy summer.
9Siesta Key
There’s not much toSiesta Keyoutside of its beautiful beaches. A group of young adults living in a residential town in Sarasota, Florida navigate friendships beginnings and endings in the MTV reality TV series. The narrative revolves around Juliette Porter, who is typically at the heart of the show’s drama. Aerial footage of South Florida beaches keeps the audience’s interest and perpetuates the summer vibe.Siesta Keyis a great watch for those vacation hunting or in the throes of seasonal depression.
8The Outer Banks
Fans and viewers everywhere would agree thatOuter Banksis the perfect escape from just about anything—work, school, dreary weather. The series is predominately set in North Carolina’s barrier islands, and the first season stayed relatively true to its setting as filming took place in Charleston, South Carolina. The past two seasons ventured outside of United States territories into more tropical settings. The second season places its characters in the Bahamas, where John B (Chase Stokes) and Sarah Cameron (Madelyn Cline) have followed stolen treasure. Although the story is set in the Bahamas' capital city, there are no reports of filming actually taking place there. It’s reported that the beautiful beaches actually belong to Barbados, where Season 3 partially takes place and was filmed. Regardless of the show’s setting, the action-packed series will have its viewers forgetting all about everyday life.
Outer Banks’plot sees to it that main characters are void of responsibility outside of treasure hunting, hurling them all into a perpetual summer state which is quite fitting amidst palm trees and sunshine—makingOuter Banksa great addition to this list.
Related:Best Moments from Outer Banks
What would a summer watch list be without this unconventional coming-of-age movie? As high school winds down, three underdogs hope to redefine their school experience through attendance at an end of the year rager hosted by Seth’s (Jonah Hill) crush Jules (Emma Stone). Seth convinces his two other friends Evan (Michael Cera) and Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) to not only attend, but supply the booze for their peers. In hopes of promoting popularity with their crushes, the co-dependent best friends set off on a mission to procure alcohol for the party. Although their quest’s motives are questionable, and filled with comedic antics,Superbadturns into a sentimental story about growing up and fitting in—perfect for audiences in the summer between high school and college.
6Dirty Dancing
In the misty hills of the fictional Kellerman Resort, viewers circle back to New York State where a drama-romance unfolds. The well-to-do Houseman family takes a trip up to the Catskill Mountains for the summer where privileged daughter Frances, affectionately nicknamed Baby, (Jennifer Grey) develops a crush on the resort’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), and begins to examine her surroundings as well as her place within them.
In an effort to assert independence from her parents’ over-bearing idea of her future, Baby begins to spend her time with Johnny and the other resort employees. When her new group of friends faces a dilemma, Baby offers her help which ultimately drives her relationship with Johnny forward. In the end, Baby’s faced with a choice: her pristine, pre-determined future or love?
Dirty Dancinganswers all summer fling needs, and what would summer really be without a little romance?
5The Parent Trap
Every summer watch list needs a lighthearted tale with a side of romance, andThe Parent Trapchecks both boxes. Twins separated at birth (both played by a young Lindsay Lohan) coincidentally visit the same summer camp, where they realize they bear a striking resemblance. After spending the first few days butting heads, the twins are thrown together in the same cabin where they realize their resemblance isn’t the only thing they share. A torn picture of their parents lead them to the revelation they’re twins and their long-lost parent isn’t dead, but estranged, and has been raising the other sister the whole time. In hopes of connecting with the parent they’ve never met, the twins decide to swap places.
As their time with the opposite parent passes, they realize this might be the perfect opportunity to bring their parents back together. The movie is filled with hair-brained high jinks that will leave viewers in higher spirits.
Related:The Best Movies About Summer Camp, Ranked
4Eat Pray Love
Sometimes summer means crossroads, and what movie depicts crossroads better thanEat Pray Love? Liz (Julia Roberts) hits a crisis of faith after realizing that, although she has everything she’s ever wanted, she feels unfulfilled. Following her divorce, she embarks on a journey outside of her comfort zone, on a tour of the world. On route for adventure, she realizes her destination is one of self-discovery. Liz’s inspirational and poignant journey is a must-watch for those who have found their summer to be a period of uncertainty.
3The Last Song
The Last Songrolls all of summer’s exciting qualities into one movie. The film is an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks and stays true to the original story throughout the movie’s re-imagination. The film is centered around family bonds, betrayal, love, loss, and heartache. The story begins with a begrudging summer trip to North Carolina to visit Ronnie’s (Miley Cyrus) father (Greg Kinnear). Following her parent’s divorce and the dissolution of her idea of her father, Ronnie rebels and is ultimately sent down to her dad’s house to mellow out, or so it seems. As the summer passes, it becomes clear to Ronnie that her parents might have had other motives.
Volleyball tournaments, boardwalk festivals, and summer garden parties set the laissez-faire summer tone for a paradoxical emotional story.
2Call Me by Your Name
Spend some time in Northern Italy with Oliver (Armie Hammer) and Elio (Timothee Chalamet).Call Me By Your Nameis set in the summer of 1983, in which Elio fills his days with his close-knit family consisting of his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) and mother (Amire Casar) who are both prominent players in academia. Due to his parents' schooling, Elio appears to be very mature for his teenage years, which is what captures the attention of graduate student, Oliver, during his internship with Elio’s father. The Italian countryside is the perfect backdrop for the romance that ensues between the pair, the bittersweet movie made complete in the summer setting.
1Aquamarine
The classic teen drama movie starring everyone’s favorite mermaid,Aquamarine, is widely regarded as an emblem of summer. The movie is an adaptation of a book by Alice Hoffman which originally sets the story further north, but the movie places its characters in Florida at the start of summer. The summer begins with Claire (Emma Roberts) and Hailey (JoJo) sleeping over Claire’s grandparent’s house situated nearby their favorite beach club. Within the first few moments, the audience is introduced to the story’s conflict—Hailey’s impending move to Australia, so her mother can practice her dream job. As the two girls discuss their unwillingness to accept the move and their nearing separation, a storm rolls in, bringing a magic, wish-granting mermaid named Aquamarine with it. Aquamarine (Sara Paxton) tells the two girls of her troubles, that she’s on a quest to prove that love exists to avoid an arranged marriage. If the girls help her, she’ll grant them one wish.
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At this point, their wish seems obvious; that Hailey will stay in Florida and the best friends won’t have to part ways. As the three set off on their adventure to prove the existence of love, the story becomes a fable of friendship and selflessness.
The film is shot in Australia, ironically enough, and the scenery alone is enough to leave viewers yearning for sunshine. But featured sleepovers, block and pool parties will have audiences smelling the sea-breeze in their own living room, reflecting on nostalgic summertime memories of their own.
