![L-R: 'North Shore' and 'Dirty Dancing'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Summer-Movies.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1)
Summer calls for surfing, sports, adventure and lazy afternoons in the pool or at the beach. Sometimes though when it won’t cool off outside and all avenues of fun have been exhausted, a summer movie will do the trick. Reflecting the season of no school and maximum outdoor activities, summer movies often incorporate scenes of surfing, beach volleyball or other moments near bodies of water like lakes or the beach.
Others highlight travel, another form of entertainment in the sunny season. While this list only contains 20 flicks, there are several more worth mentioning like Surf’s Up (2007), the Madagascar movies, Summer School (1987), Midsommar (2019), Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), Summer Holiday (1963), The Deep (1977) and more.
Read on for a list to the best summer movies and where they are available to stream.
Justin Kroll and Pete Hammond contributed to this report.
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THE SANDLOT (1993)
Image Credit: ©20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collectionn No movie better encapsules a kids summer vaccation like The Sandlot. It’s not just the scenes of playing baseball at the local park this features everything a kid does as soon as that school bell rings. From its fantastic fireworks scene on the fourth of July to finding that community pool to jump in when its just too hot to do anything, this film has it all when summer vacation comes to mind. The Sandlot is streaming on Fubo, Disney+ and Hulu. – Justin Kroll
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SUMMER RENTAL (1985)
Image Credit: Everett Collection When I think of Summer Vacation trips gone bad, the late, great John Candy is the first to come to mind and this film about a summer rental gone bad is peak Candy. We can all relate to those vacation spots that don’t live up to the billing and Candy’s physical comedy is perfect as he spends a summer stepping into a new issue he wasn’t expecting. Sumemr Rental is streaming on Paramount+. – Justin Kroll
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THE GREAT OUTDOORS (1988)
Image Credit: ©Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Another Classic John Candy summer vacation comedy and this time he’s paired with another legendary comedic talent, Dan Akroyd. The film is filled with classic moments none more funnier then Candy’s character trying to devour a steak so big, the grizzly bear at the center of this story would have trouble taking down. iThe Great Outdoorsis available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+. – Justin Kroll
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NORTH SHORE (1987)
Image Credit: ©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection Summer and surfing go hand in hand, so naturally, North Shore had to make the cut for summer films. Matt Adler plays Rick, who goes to Hawaii with winnings from a wave tank contest in Arizona to pursue his dream of becoming a professional surfer. North Shore is available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
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THE ENDLESS SUMMER (1966)
Image Credit: Bruce Brown Films via Twitter The Endless Summer (1966) can’t be left out either as it documents two surfers in search of the perfect wave. This film shows the communal aspect of surfing as well. The Endless Summer is available to stream on Prime Video, Fubo, Hoopla, Tubi, Vudu and more.
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THE LAST SONG (2010)
Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth starred in The Last Song based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. The pair portray a love story for the ages sparked by Cyrus’ Ronnie Miller going to stay with her father Steve (Greg Kinnear) in a Southern beach town. The Last Song is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
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EAT PRAY LOVE (2010)
Image Credit: Francois Duhamel/©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Julia Roberts brings Elizabeth Gilbert’s book to life when she portrays the author in a film titled the same as the memoir. Traveling to Italy, India and Bali, Liz leaves behind her unhappy marriage to re-ground herself and learn more about the world. Eat Pray Love is available to stream on Netflix.
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LUCA (2021)
Image Credit: Disney /Courtesy Everett Collection Luca involves facing fears as well as summer adventures. When Luca (Jacob Tremblay), a sea creature who can pass for a human on dry land meets Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) who goes onto land all the time, he decides to accompany his fellow creature. The animated feature contains a pasta-eating competition, bicycle race and a heartfelt friendship between Luca, Alberto and Giulia (Emma Berman). Luca is available to stream on Disney+.
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DIRTY DANCING (1987)
Image Credit: Artisan Entertainment/ Courtesy: Everett Collection. Nobody puts baby in a corner, especially when it comes to including Dirty Dancing (1987) in this list. A summer fling takes Francis “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) by surprise when she stays at a Catskills resort with her family and meets the camp’s dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Their triumphant routine at the end of the film marks a highlight in cinema. Dirty Dancing is available to stream on Fubo.
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NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION (1983)
Image Credit: Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection The Griswold family’s drive to the Walley World theme park packs a summer vacation of chaos and antics. Come for Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold and Beverly D’Angelo as Ellen Grisworld and stay for Eugene Levy’s car salesman and John Candy’s Walley World guard. National Lampoon’s Vacation is available to stream on AMC+.
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MAMMA MIA! (2008)
Image Credit: ©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection Mamma Mia! combines music and mystery in a joyful summer flick (with a sequel) as Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) aims to figure out which of three men — Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) or Harry (Colin Firth) is her true father. Her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) left clues behind in her diary. Mamma Mia! is available to stream on Max.
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THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE (2003)
Image Credit: Walt Disney / Courtesy Everett Collection Hillary Duff goes on a school trip and summer adventure to remember in The Lizzie McGuire Movie as Lizzie discovers Italy and true love as well as her voice. This is what dreams are made of, and the whole experience can be streamed via Disney+.
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GREASE (1978)
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection One summer romance that makes its way into high school is that found in Grease (1978) when Sandy Olsson (Olive Newton-John) and Danny Zuko get a chance to rekindle their summer lovin’ when school gets back in session. Grease is available to stream on Fubo and Paramount+.
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(500) DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)
Image Credit: ©Fox Searchlight. All rights reserved/courtesy Everett Collection Despite having a sunshiney title, this film goes into some sad territory as Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom pines after his ex-girlfriend Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Summer can be blue sometimes, as shown by writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. (500) Days of Summer is available to stream on Hulu.
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JAWS (1975)
Image Credit: from left: Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw Of course the events of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws are not desired for the summer, but one can’t help but think of this thrilling film when it’s time to go to the beach. Jaws is available to stream on Peacock and Starz.
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BIG WEDNESDAY (1978)
Image Credit: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection Big Wednesday provides another look into California surfers from the early 1960s until the Vietnam War interrupts their lifestyle in the 1970s. Big Wednesday is available to rent on Prime Video, YouTube, Fandango at Home and more.
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BLUE CRUSH (2002)
Image Credit: (c) Universal, Courtesy Everett Collection Kate Bosworth’s Anne Marie Chadwick takes surfing more seriously than school in this adrenaline-filled action film. Matthew Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake, Mika Boorem and more star. Blue Crush is available to stream on Prime Video and Starz.
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THE PARENT TRAP (1998)
Image Credit: Everett Collection Lindsay Lohan doubles as Hallie and Annie Parker, twin girls separated at birth when Hallie went with dad Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Annie went with Elizabeth James (Natasha Richardson). The twins reunite at summer camp where they realize they’re related after some crazy pranks and other camp shenanigans. The Parent Trap is available to stream on Disney+.
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AQUAMARINE, (2006) T
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved. Starfish earrings and all, Aquamarine is a must-watch summer film. Mermaid Aquamarine changes Claire (Emma Roberts) and Hailey’s (JoJo) last summer together when they discover the mermaid in their beach club pool. Aqua trades her tail for legs for three days because she falls in love with a boy, but the true love story is between the three girls as they forge friendship. Aquamarine is available tos tream on Disney+ and Hulu.
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WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S (1989)
Image Credit: © 20th Century Fox Film Corp./courtesy Everett Collection Andrew McCarthey and Jonathan Silverman play Larry Wilson and Richard Parker, two men who pretend that their murdered boss Bernie (Terry Kiser) is alive. This ruse gets them into some hilarious situations. Weekend at Bernie’s is available to stream on AMC.