Summer screenings

Summer Is All About Chill Vibes! Sizzle Down Saturday With These 10+ Summer Movies

Outside is calling, and so is movie night.

by Simone R. Johnson
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Photo by Frank Masi - © 2017 - Paramount Pictures

Summer is made of a million relaxing things to do, and watching summer-themed flicks is definitely on the list. These movies embody all the endearing parts of the season like romance, adventure, and, of course, beaches. So at the end of your own sunny day, come home to these movies.

Vestron Pictures/Great American Films Limited Partnership

Baywatch | 2017

The 1989 Baywatch series gets a cinematic facelift starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. On a new modern adventure, the Baywatch team works together to take down a dangerous crew of criminals — their efforts are both hilarious and gripping.

Paramount Pictures/Uncharted

Independence Day | 1996

Is it really the Fourth of July if you don't watch Independence Day after a night of fireworks? Starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, this duo works together to save the world from a deadly alien invasion. It's a patriotic and heart-pounding adventure!

Twentieth Century Fox

The Parent Trap | 1998

If you thought Lindsay Lohan had a twin because of this movie, you are not alone. Two identical twins who don't know about each other's existence meet by chance at summer camp. The two girls bond and devise a plan to get their separated parents back together by swapping places.

Cinema Vehicles The Meyers/Shyer Company/ Walt Disney Pictures

Mystic Pizza | 1988

Three young women come of age while working at Mystic Pizza, a real pizzeria in Connecticut. As they learn to juggle their love lives, dreams, and independence, they also discover what it means to grow up.

Night Life Inc./The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Dirty Dancing | 1987

This movie takes place in Catskills, New York, where Baby and her family vacation for the summer. During her time there, Baby falls in love with her dance instructor Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze. The pair overcome class differences (and a questionable age gap), but overall this movie captures the essence of a dreamy summer romance.

Great American Films Limited Partnership/Vestron Pictures

In the Heights | 2021

Summer in New York City is unmatched, and in this Lin Manuel musical, Washington Heights comes alive through song and dance. As the cost of living in the city increases, Usnavi questions whether he should start a new life in the Dominican Republic. But his love for the Heights makes it a hard decision.

Warner Bros./5000 Broadway Productions

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial | 1982

A group of kids help a stranded alien return home after it lands on earth. This Steven Spielberg classic is filled with summer adventure, aliens, and major nostalgia. You and your kids will love it.

Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants | 2005

Imagine a pair of pants that fit you and your entire squad perfectly. This happens to four besties who are about to spend their first summer apart. They stay connected by sharing a pair of jeans throughout the summer. And along their various adventures, they strengthen their friendship as young women.

Warner Bros.

Mamma Mia! | 2008

On the day before her wedding, Sophie invites three men she believes could be her father. This throws her secretive mother for a loop and puts added pressure on Sophie’s upcoming nuptials. Through fun musical numbers, Sophie and the rest of the cast deal with the drama, which takes place on the gorgeous fictional Greek island, Kalokairi.

Universal Pictures

Stand by Me | 1986

Stephen King creates an emotional coming-of-age tale that follows four boys on the cusp of an ending summer. They embark on a journey to find a rumored dead body near the edge of their Oregon town and unpack their own trauma and angst along the way.

Columbia Pictures/Act III

The Last Song | 2010

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus stole our hearts with this Nicholas Sparks original. An unruly teen girl is sent to spend the summer with her father. During her stay, she meets a boy and falls in love but faces an unexpected family crisis during her visit.

Touchstone Pictures

Adventureland | 2009

No summer is complete without a visit to the amusement park. So welcome to Adventureland, starring Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, who play teens who are just trying to figure things out before summer ends. While they work at an amusement park, drama ensues, hearts are broken and lessons are learned.

Miramax, This Is That Productions