We can all relate that summer is a beautiful time to lounge around, swim on the beach, and eat ice cream along the side. But summer would never be complete without blockbuster adventure movies and romantic love stories. That only means that there are plenty of choices regarding summer films.
So, we stepped back a little and listed all the movies with fantastic storylines. Are you ready to beat the summer heat? Here are the 20 Best Summer Movies worth watching.
1. Adventureland (2009)
English 1h 47m IMDb
Director: Greg Mottola
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds
Securing a spot on the list of best summer movies, Adventure Land is a 2009 American film released on April 3, 2009. You can find the movie’s setting during the summer season of the year 1987. James Brennan (starring Jesse Eisenberg) just graduated from college.
His only dream was to have an epic adventure in Europe. But his circumstances do not go the way he wanted them to. Soon, James landed himself a summer job at Adventure Land.
And that fateful summer, he learns valuable lessons of life which would prepare him for the real world.
2. The Notebook (2004)
English 2h 3m IMDb 
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Stars: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams
Of course, our list of movies would never be complete without this top-rated summer romantic movie, The Notebook. This summer film is about the fierce and passionate love story of a poor but ambitious man and a wealthy young lady.
During the summer of 1930, Allie Hamilton decided to vacation in Seabrook, where she met a local worker, Noah Calhoun. Would their love survive the norms of society? If you want to fall in love during the summer, you should never miss The Notebook.
3. Jaws (1975)
English 2h 4m IMDb
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Featuring a blast of thrillers and adventure, Jaws takes us into the blazing heat of summer on Amity Island. It all starts when the town’s new sheriff, Martin Brody, uncovers the body of a shark attack victim.
With the ongoing chaos in the beach community, the sheriff, marine biologist, and the old sheriff must join their forces to take the beast down.
Having won three Oscar awards, this summer movie, Jaws, would not let your expectations down. So, watch this movie if you’re up for something exciting and engaging!
4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
English 1h 59m IMDb
Director: Ken Kwapis
Stars: Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera
Get ready to follow the story of four best friends as they spend their first summer away from one another. However, a little wonder begins when these girlfriends share a magical pair of pants. While they are drifted apart, they keep in touch and make a way to bond with each other.
So, if you like the story of solid sisterhood and friendship over the summer season, add this movie to your “must-watch” list. This movie could be your sign to cry, laugh, and love during the summer season.
5. The Last Summer (2019)
English 1h 49m IMDb
Director: William Bindley
Stars: K.J. Apa, Maia Mitchell, Norman Johnson Jr.
Admit it or not, a splice of comedy and romance would be one of the best genres for summer movies. The Last Summer follows high school graduates as they navigate relationships and encounter lessons during their final summer wave before going to college.
Starring K.J Apa and Maia Mitchell, The Last Summer features several life stories of high school graduates that are way connected. Follow them as they face lost love and form new friendships.
6. Dazed and Confused (1993)
English 1h 43m IMDb
Director: Richard Linklater
Stars: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey
Here’s another classic film that features the end of the 1976 school year, paving the way for the summer break. Dazed and Confused is a 1993 summer movie that follows high school students’ adventures and discoveries during their last day.
With one hour and forty-three minutes running, this movie will make you feel the nostalgic summer vibe of your high school days. There’s no other word to capture this summer film but fun and thrilling.
7. The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)
English 1h 52m IMDb
Director: Vince Marcello
Stars: Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi
Hitting the theater’s box office on August 11, 2021, The Kissing Booth 3 is the awaited sequel of The Kissing Booth and The Kissing Booth 2. Now, let’s follow Elle as she makes the most significant decision of her life the summer before her first year of college.
Wanting to make the most of her final summer, Elle gives her best by crafting the ultimate bucket list. She finds out as she paves her way on what’s coming next in her life.
If you’re up for a fun and thrilling summer romance, The Kissing Booth 3 is the perfect movie to watch.
8. Do the Right Thing (1989)
English 2h IMDb
Director: Spike Lee
Stars: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee
It’s the hottest summer day in Brooklyn when a simple complaint burst into the most explosive violence of all time. Directed and written by Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American movie that perfectly portrays the cruel reality of discrimination through the lens of a light-hearted comedy.
And the most incredible breakthrough happens during the blazing heat of the day. If you’re fond of movies that want to get away and fight off the strong norms of society, you’ll enjoy this summer film.
9. Friday the 13th (1980)
English 1h 35m IMDb
Director: Sean S. Cunningham
Stars: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor
Friday the 13th revolves around camp counselors who try to reopen and revive a summer camp known as the Crystal Lake. This summer camp has a dark, haunting, and mysterious past.
In 1957, a young man was killed. Later, murders followed. Despite the threat, the camp counselors finally reopened Crystal Lake. However, once again, killings ensued. What is the dark secret behind the summer camp, Crystal Lake? Would the counselors survive?
Are you one of the people who would agree that horror and thriller could go well in the summer? Sounds exciting, right? If you agree, never forget to add Friday the 13th to your list.
10. Summer Catch (2001)
English 1h 44m IMDb
Director: Michael Tollin
Stars: Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, Fred Ward
Summer Catch follows the story of Ryan Dunne as he meets Tenly Parrish in summer in Cape Cod. Starring Jessica Biel, Tenly plays the role of a daughter coming from a wealthy family. Despite the odds and their parent’s objections, Ryan and Tenly fall in love.
This 2001 American film is perfect for hopeless romantics, featuring passionate summer love. Suppose you’re up for some fairytale and romance blossoming during summer. In that case, you’ll find this movie catchy and exciting.
11. Call me By Your Name (2017)
English 2h 12m IMDb
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Stars: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg
Summer would never be complete without a dose of drama and romance. In the summer of 1983, Elio Perlman (starring Timothee Chalamet) spent his vacation in Lombardy, Italy. Time passes, and Elio meets a student, Oliver, who manages to capture his heart.
As summer now comes to its end, the shared love between Elio and Oliver is becoming more powerful than before. In 2018, the film won the Best Adapted Screenplay in the Oscar Awards.
If you want to indulge in a blossoming romance and growing passion this summer, Call Me by Your Name is the film to die for.
12. Mystic Pizza (1988)
English 1h 44m IMDb
Director: Donald Petrie
Stars: Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor
Julia Roberts gets her fantastic breakthrough in this 1988 summer movie filmed in a town, Mystic, Connecticut. During the summer after high school graduation, Daisy and her friend Jojo (played by Lili Taylor) and her sister Kat (played by Annabeth Gish) decided to work in Mystic Pizza.
In that momentous summer, these teenage girls got to encounter passionate love and romance, life-changing decisions, and experiences they will never forget. And yes, it seems their life just began in Mystic.
Do you like combining drama and romance with a slice of comedy for summer? Don’t worry! Mystic Pizza got you covered.
13. Booksmart (2019)
English 1h 42m IMDb
Director: Olivia Wilde
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams
Summer and comedy would be a perfect duo. In this 2019 American film, two best friends and academic superstars, Molly (starring Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (starring Kaitlyn Diver), realize that they should explore more.
They devoted all their time to studying throughout high school and became straight-A students. In their last summer hit before college, the two girls set their minds on enjoying their past four years of fun in just one night. Would the two unleash all their wild energy?
14. Spiderman: Far from Home (2019)
English 2h 9m IMDb
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal
Are you ready for more summer love and laughs with fantastic, action-packed scenes? Follow Peter Parker as his summer plan turns awry when Nick recruits him again for another mission. In a sequel following Avengers Endgame, Spiderman should level up his game once again to save the world.
If you want to escape and beat the summer heat by watching movies, this action, adventure, and sci-fi film are the ones for you. Produced by Marvel Studios, Pascal Pictures, and Columbia Pictures, Spiderman: Far from Home was released on July 2, 2019.
15. The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)
English 1h 34m IMDb
Director: Melanie Mayron
Stars: Schuyler Fisk, Bre Blair, Rachael Leigh Cook
Kristy Thomas, the leader of the Baby-Sisters Club, embarks on a summer entrepreneur project. All her girlfriends agree with Kristy’s brilliant idea. They believed that this would be the best summer of their lives.
However, things turn bleak. Their rivals joined forces and created an alliance to destroy the club. But the girls’ life issues enter the picture. Would the girls give up and back down? Would they let the situation take over and ruin their best summer ever?
The Baby-sitter’s Club is the perfect go-to for summer movies, directed by Melanie Maron. So, if we were you, watch this classic 1995 summer film in your chill time.
16. Along for the Ride (2022)
English 1h 46m IMDb
Director: Sofia Alvarez
Stars: Emma Pasarow, Belmont Came, liLaura Kariuki
Gear up for more summer romance with Along for the Ride. In this coming-of-age film directed by Sofia Alvarez, there’s Auden, who crosses paths with a mysterious young man. The two shares a common ground: they are both insomniacs.
So, while the town of Colby falls into a deep slumber, the two starts to bond with the quest to make Auden experience the carefree and fun teen life in her last summer before college.
Be ready to fall in love and get into nostalgic, happy vibes when you stream this summer movie.
17. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
English 2h 4m IMDb
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Stars: Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg
Next on our write-up is a classic movie featuring summer romance. But this time, it’s not about high school puppy romance or having a love of their life before college. This 1998 American film follows the story of Stella (Angela Bassett).
She is a prominent, successful broker. One day, her best friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) convinced her to have a well-deserved summer rest and vacation on an island. Stella gets tangled in a steamy, hot affair as she explores more.
As vacation closes, Stella is stuck in a lifetime question: Would she return to her everyday life? Or would she pursue love? Find out and watch this film!
18. Superbad (2007)
English 1h 53m IMDb
Director: Greg Mottola
Stars: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
So, here we are again, following teenagers who savor the last week of high school and have a wild summer. Evan and Seth felt like the popular kids at school are leaving them out. Tired of being losers, would the two best friends come to experience a fantastic summer vacation?
With an overall running time of one hour and fifty-three minutes, Superbad is worth your time. Are you up for more high school life breakthroughs with a mix of comedy? What are you waiting for? Add Superbad to your list of movies to watch!
19. The Last Song (2010)
English 1h 48m IMDb
Director: Julie Anne Robinson
Stars: Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear
And yes, we can relate if you feel you cannot get over-summer romance. Casting Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, The Last Song follows the story of a rebellious girl, Ronnie. She is sent to a beach to spend the summer with her dad.
It was not quick when Ronnie met a handsome guy who rekindled her love for music. Would Ronnie get to feel and experience the summer that would change her life forever? We are sure this movie is perfect if you can’t move on with summer love.
20. The Parent Trap (1998)
English 2h 8m IMDb
Director: Nancy Meyers
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson
The lives of two young girls, Annie and Hallie, begin to crumble when they meet at a summer camp and discover they are twins. Since their mom and dad live on different sides of the world, the two begin to swap identities to spend quality time with their other parent.
Are you up for a movie that will get you twice the fun? Double up the trouble and watch The Parent Trap. Promise, you’ll enjoy every piece of it!
Wrap Up
In this write-up of 20 Best Summer Movies, you’ve got to find all you will love and enjoy for the season. Whether you’re up for fierce summer romance or geared up for summer thrillers and adventure, it’s all in our lost. So, there’s nothing left but to start watching and streaming these 20 Best Summer Movies. Enjoy!
