The Movies That Feel Like Summer

Long days, late nights, and the kind of stories that only make sense when it’s too hot to care.

There are movies that take place in the summer, and then there are movies that feel like summer. The ones that capture the weightlessness of a day with no obligations, the warmth of a night that never seems to end, or the bittersweetness of knowing a season can’t last forever. They aren’t always about beaches or vacations (though, of course, some are). Instead, they hold a certain energy: freedom, nostalgia, possibility. They’re the cinematic equivalent of bare feet on hot pavement, a melting popsicle, a song you only listen to between June and August.

Here are a few films that embody the season, whether you’re craving a breezy escape or something a little more sun drenched and sentimental.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

You can practically feel the heat radiating off the screen in this one. Set in the Italian countryside, it’s all golden light, lazy afternoons, and the kind of romance that unravels at its own slow, indulgent pace. The fruit, the bikes, the water… it’s the kind of summer that makes you nostalgic for a time and place you’ve never actually experienced.

The Parent Trap (1998)

Lindsay Lohan in her twin era, a dream summer camp scenario, and that iconic handshake. What more could you want? Every time I watch this, I convince myself I, too, should be drinking chilled Evian out of a glass bottle. It’s childhood summer distilled: sneaky adventures, new best friends, and the possibility of something magical happening before school starts again.

Before Sunrise (1995)

Not a traditional summer movie, but something about the way Jesse and Céline wander through Vienna at night completely untethered, soaking up every moment that feels deeply seasonal. It’s the ultimate “what if?” story, the kind of connection that can only happen when time doesn’t feel real, and the future doesn’t exist yet.

Aquamarine (2006)

A mermaid movie was always going to make this list. This one has that tween summer energy. Trips to the pool, flip phones, and sleepovers spent dissecting every single interaction with a crush. It’s campy, it’s nostalgic, and it makes me wish I could spend one more summer obsessed with painting my nails a very specific shade of shimmery blue.

A Bigger Splash (2015)

This one is all tension and indulgence. Set on an island in Italy, with long days by the pool and even longer nights full of drama. It’s moody, glamorous, and slightly chaotic, like a vacation where everything is just a little too perfect to end well. Think White Lotus before White Lotus.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

If summer had a universal mood, it would be this movie. The last day of school, the first taste of freedom, the exact point in life where nothing really matters, but everything feels important. It’s all music, warm air, and the feeling of knowing you can stay out as late as you want.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

This one is pure, unfiltered sunshine. An island in Greece, a completely breezy wardrobe, a storyline that makes absolutely no sense but works because of that. It’s everything good about summer, wrapped up in one very glittery, very ABBA filled package.

My Girl (1991)

Summer isn’t all lighthearted fun. It’s also the season of growing up, changing, and realizing that life doesn’t always stay as simple as it once was. This movie is equal parts sweet and heartbreaking, the kind of coming of age story that lingers long after it’s over. It’s childhood, in all its messy, wonderful, fleeting glory.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Beautiful people, beautiful places, and an undercurrent of unease. This is summer with a dark edge. Sun drenched beaches, linen shirts, and a plot that makes you wonder if maybe it’s a little too easy to reinvent yourself when you’re far from home. It’s intoxicating in the best, most unsettling way.

There’s something about a summer movie that just hits differently. Maybe it’s the sense of escape, or the nostalgia, or the way they capture the feeling of a moment that can’t last forever. Whatever it is, these movies understand that summer isn’t just a season, it’s a whole mood, best experienced with the AC blasting and a cold drink in hand.