With summer now in full swing, viewers are searching for those feel-good seasonal vibes that saw many fans tune into Jenny Han’s latest creative release: The Summer I Turned Pretty, which released on June 17, 2022. This coming-of-age series left many viewers craving a summer glow-up, while others were planning their next beach-themed holiday due to the show’s coastal setting and sun-kissed feel.
The promised release of more summer-themed movies and shows sparked Redditors to share their own recommendations that feel just like summer. Whether it’s a 2000s teen drama about a mythical mermaid or a flick focused on a disastrous family road trip, here are 10 movies guaranteed to get everyone in the mood for both sun and fun!
Aquamarine (2006)
Aquamarine has all the makings of the perfect summer teen flick and the movie clings to its 2000s vibe by containing many pop culture references relevant to the time. This fun movie tells a story similar to the childhood favorite, The Little Mermaid, when a tropical storm sees best friends Claire and Hailey with a new addition to their duo, in the hope of a wish.
The characters are often seen in neon bikinis or sundresses and are usually sporting beach waves or a messy bun, something synonymous with the beach. With the movie taking place on the coast, many fans felt immersed in the story as they could hear the waves crashing. Redditor susubeansu shared that “the beach-lust always hits so hard” when watching Aquamarine, due to its embodiment of summer, making many fans long for those relaxing beach days.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
The Griswolds have become a well-known name in many households, especially in the ’80s, when the National Lampoon films dominated movie theaters. The family may be known for their unfortunate luck, and National Lampoon’s Vacation is no stranger to that, but it still provides viewers with that feel-good summer comedy that might make them choose to stay at home.
The movie captures that famous family road trip many fans can relate to, where the car is jam-packed, the parents are more stressed than relaxed, and everything goes wrong. The Griswolds perfectly represent the preparation that goes into planning that perfect summer vacation through its clever references and desire to make it perfect, resulting in many viewers, like sldarb1, suggesting that “it reminds [them] of that feeling” of vacationing with the family, including the good, the bad and the ugly.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name will make viewers want to pack up their entire lives, as it explores not only sexuality but also the stunning views of Italy, whether it’s more rural areas or towns littered with captivating architecture. The movie utilizes visual storytelling to create a wholesome summer romance of exploration and intimacy that warms fans’ hearts before breaking them in the final scene.
This romantic flick perfectly captures what is meant by summer, with both men often wearing loose-fitting clothing and shorts, or hanging out by the pool. It provides a sweet storyline of summer romance, complimented by constant sunshine and the desire to let go of one’s inhibitions during those long summer days and nights, and Redditor Practical_Cat_2276 was “reminded of a lovely movie” with this title.
The Florida Project (2017)
The Florida Project perfectly sums up the sunshine state through its vibrant coloring and a warm orange glow over the camera. The movie follows a live wire called Moonee as she seeks to make her own entertainment alongside her two best friends. The Florida Project is a hilarious yet thought-provoking watch that captures the warm, carefree feeling associated with summer.
Whilst the movie highlights many important topics like poverty, it also showcases how children can adapt and make their own fun, especially when faced with a whole summer to explore and the need to cause havoc for unsuspecting tourists. The movie’s vibrant color palette creates a similar vibe to toy adverts, whilst also highlighting the carefree childhood adventure Moonee and her friends are on, resulting in many fans, like hardavocados3, “craving that feeling [they] can only describe as ‘summer.'”
Midsommar (2019)
Midsommar may be a slow-burn horror movie, but the imagery and setting also make it a great summer drama. The movie stirred up a lot of conversation, with many fans considering it one of the scariest horror movies to date due to its colorful summer setting that juxtaposed the dark, moody vibe commonly associated with horror.
Instead, fans were given a summertime thriller that toyed with viewers’ ability to sense when something was wrong. The movie’s hazy sepia tones provided fans with a landscape that mirrored the pollen seen floating around in summer. Midsommar used an obscene amount of flowers to intensify its summer countryside vibe, with many Reddit users stating how the “place they lived low key looked relaxing.”
The Kings Of Summer (2013)
The Kings Of Summer is a somewhat underrated coming-of-age flick that hones in on young friendships and has a similar vibe to The Goonies and Stand By Me. The movie’s trio moves to the woods and begins creating their home away from home, abandoning technology and returning to those freeing woodland days many viewers can relate to, especially when reminiscing about their youth.
The Kings Of Summer captures that summer freedom where teens are encouraged to get outside and make the most of their time, and Redditor heymossy shared that they were “glad someone suggested it” as it is full of nostalgia and summer vibes.
Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springs is one of the best Hulu original movies to date and combines romance with fantasy to create not only a great onscreen love story but also a unique time loop storyline. Whilst the movie doesn’t exactly take place in summer, it embodies the very essence of sunshine, holidaying, and summer romance, with its notably good soundtrack getting viewers pumped for those warm months ahead.
The movie sees the two main characters armed with their sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, and the infamous pool float that seems to become a staple within this fun flick, resulting in Reddit users asking “where [they] can get a giant inflatable pizza pool raft.” The movie is fun, flirty, and fiery, with the desert heat very much being a prominent factor in this bizarre summer romance.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Little Miss Sunshine is a charming portrayal of family life whilst also shining a light on some deeper topics, making it a sweet but poignant watch that has garnered a lot of support from viewers.
The movie utilizes bright coloring, costumes, and a yellow camper van to mirror the sunshine showcased through both Olive’s smile and the film’s title. Little Miss Sunshine also represents that period of transformation many seek to undergo over the summer break, whether that be physical or emotional, resulting in fans like symonalex labeling it as “amazing.”
Dazed And Confused (1993)
Dazed And Confused not only perfectly captures the 1970s experience, but also that feel-good summer vibe that goes hand in hand. The movie takes part on the last day of high school and captures the immediate relief that school is over just in time for the chaos of summer to begin.
The characters ditch their school-approved clothes for cropped tops, mini skirts, and shorts before saddling up with some tunes and getting their hands on booze, drugs, and each other. Through a multiple-person POV, the movie encapsulates the freedom many teens face by showcasing the sunny seventies and the promise of summer free from responsibility, with many Reddit users’ stating it is their “go-to movie to start summer with.”
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Wes Anderson has a reputation for creating movies that allow viewers to escape to that familiar childlike state many viewers know and miss. Through the use of sepia, dreamlike tones and playful costumes, Moonrise Kingdom tunes into that childhood freedom many viewers associate with that period of summer, sunshine, and adventure.
With much of the movie taking place in fields, islands, and small seaside towns, the fun flick emanates the same vibes as summer, encouraging many Reddit users to reminisce about their own summer acts of rebellion. LauraPalmersMom430 shared that Moonrise Kingdom “is the answer” guaranteed to get you ready for summer due to its playful representation of youth.
