Summer-Themed Movies You Should Watch Right Now

As the scorching heat outside becomes unbearable, one can only dream of getting the full summer experience. There is only so much swimming you can do during the day and not everyone is lucky enough to vacation in the Northern areas of Pakistan, away from the mess of city life in the cool valleys surrounded by mountains, but then there is nothing better than huddling up inside to watch movies that bring back memories of the summers bygone. 

After the last two years spent in isolation, this year seems hopeful in bringing joy around summer-related social activity but with the intense temperature outside it is more convenient to spend the blazing hot months from the comfort of our homes. The time can be spent watching one summer-themed movie after another, reminiscing old summer romances and beach vacations while watching some of the best and classic summer flicks.

Jaws

A perfect summer movie about an American beach community enjoying summer festivities on the shore but, the story became an intense thriller as the plot twist reveals a hidden threat killing innocent people; a shark lurking in the water. This shark was out hunting humans as if it is killing with a vendetta. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie was a blockbuster hit, full of suspense and an impactful soundtrack.

Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants

A story revolving around four girls and the loyal friendship between them that comes out stronger with every test of time, distance, and ambition. Starring Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn, the true portrayal of friendship and life as young adults finding their way in the world. The story involves one lucky pair of pants that seem to fit all four girls and gets passed on between them as they all go their separate ways in life to different locations but remain connected by their love for each other. As each friend moves to a different place, the setting in the scenes is a beautiful reminder of summer of new beginnings.

500 Days of Summer

The rom-com starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Zoey Deschanel, is simply a tale of having loved and lost the one that got away. Although most of the audience romanticised the story of unrequited love, the movie is actually about moving on and reviewing past relationships for lessons. Watching the movie feels like a cool breeze on a calm summer afternoon, daydreaming about a life that could be if the summer fling could have lasted forever.

Mamma Mia

Meryl Streep plays the mother of the bride, played by Amanda Seyfried, as the young girl invites three of her mother’s old flames to find out who her father is so he can walk her down the aisle. The story takes place on the most beautiful island in Greece and makes summer look like the most romantic season, full of hope and chances of making enigmatic memories. The musical rom-com is as entertaining as a film can be, with a memorable soundtrack based on hit songs by ABBA, and a wonderful cast including Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. 

Adventureland

Before Kristen Stewart became popular playing Bella Swan, she played the love interest of Jesse Eisenberg, a college graduate working an odd summer job at an old amusement park before his life begins. The snarky and sometimes inappropriate comedy will resonate with teens and adults alike, also leading to nostalgia for a stress-free life during summer before the responsibilities of adulthood take over. The talented cast including Ryan Gosling and Kristen Wiig makes this underrated movie a comfortable watch for a long summer night. 

High School Musical 2

After a tense year at school for the artists and jocks, an even more exciting time begins as the summer vacations start. It is impossible to think of summer movies and not associate the “Wild Cats” singing around the swimming pool and dealing with the troubles of teenage life. 

The Parent Trap

The one movie that made us all wish we had a twin sibling, or that we could be sent to a summer camp that would lead to events changing our lives forever. Lindsay Lohan plays the iconic twins who are daring enough to swap lives to bring their parents back together. The movie deserves a rewatch especially to find out how many of us now actually sympathise with the step-mom-to-be.

The Motorcycle Diaries

This is a remarkable account of the summer that presumably began the evolution of the Marxist revolutionary leader Che Guevara. The historical biopic about the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara documents the journey he made around the beautiful landscapes of South America with his friend before he was revolutionised with his ideas by connecting with the lives of people he met during his travels. The story is bound to make you emotional as Guevara is shown to be moved by the experiences and suffering of people. His lust for life and the serenity of the surroundings will make you long for an escapade of your own. 

Before Sunrise

The most romantic movie of all time, but it doesn’t just idolise love between two romantic interests, instead it is a love story about learning and growing in life, making real connections, communicating honestly and with feelings, and of course, two young lovers, wandering the streets of Paris on a summer night.

Call Me by Your Name

A visually stunning coming-of-age story about love and loss, starring Timothée Chalamet as a 17-year-old boy living with his parents in Italy where he falls in love with the 24-year-old American intern working with his father, played by Armie Hammer. The movie encapsulates summer in scenes filled with blue skies, and warm and sunny afternoons in courtyards with yellow walls. The film has been critically acclaimed to be a divine portrayal of young love and loss of innocence.

Palm Springs

A modern-day millennial rom-com, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, where the two experience the same day over and over again but with each new ‘same’ day, they discover more about each other and the love between them grows. The sci-fi comedy is absurd at times but then nothing else can be expected with Andy Samberg on the screen. The vibes of the film are as they say “immaculate” and the indie theme blends in perfectly with the script.

Dazed and Confused

The film is about some high schoolers celebrating the last day of school and experiencing the anticipation of the future. Directed by Richard Linklater, the rock-n-roll tale of a few teens from a small town shows the ups and downs of the hippie era as the kids find out it is up to them to save their future by quitting fooling around with smoking and drinking. The talented cast includes some big names like Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck and Adam Goldberg. 

Bridge to Terabithia

The story is about the friendship between two tweens played by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, where they create a safe space for themselves, away from the bullies and adults, as an imaginary land in the woods, full of trolls and monsters. The two kids spend summer afternoons playing together, leaving the world behind them until tragedy falls upon them and the story takes a turn towards grief. Watching the movie will leave you crying but it is undoubtedly a great portrayal of empathy towards humans without knowing the full depths of others’ lives.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The summer break-up movie stars Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Paul Rudd. Peter, played by Segel, goes to Hawaii for a vacation to recover from a devastating breakup with his girlfriend but finds out that she is staying at the same resort. The movie is from a time when rom-com films were way more relatable when it came to facing complications in a relationship before technology took over, except there is humour and drama.

Stand by Me

The movie based on a novel by Stephen King circled the childhood experience of four boys during the summer holidays. The movie is an American classic in terms of ensuing nostalgia, but the story takes a dark turn as the innocent little boys come in contact with a dead body on the beach.

More on the list:

The Kids Who Saved Summer

Cheaper by the Dozen

Camp Rock

Aquamarine

ET

Blue Lagoon

The Descendants

Amzing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *