Summers hold some of my best memories—childhood or otherwise. As a kid, they meant no more homework, riding bikes, attending summer camp, and watching nostalgic summer movies. It’s a feeling we all remember and cherish: eating popsicles while sitting on hot pavement, running through the sprinkler, and getting “sun tired.” As an adult, summer may be a little less carefree, but still full of sun, fun, and enjoying some of the best blockbusters of the entire year.
There are so many ways to lean into the nostalgia that summer brings around, from losing yourself in a romance novel to spending an entire day at the beach. But if you’re like me and your idea of a good time on a hot summer day is curling up in the AC with a comfort movie playing, there are plenty of nostalgic summer movies to add to your queue this year. Here are throwback movies that capture the essence of summer break.
READ: The Hobby You Should Try Next, Based on What You Loved to Do as a Kid
1. The Sandlot
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
No summer movie list would be complete without The Sandlot, the 90s classic coming-of-age kids film. Newcomer Scott Smalls attempts to fit in with a group of boys who play baseball down at the neighborhood sandlot. Despite his initial lack of skill, Scott earns his place on the team with the help of their leader, Benny. The boys’ summer is filled with unforgettable escapades. The Sandlot is a heartwarming and humorous look at the bonds of friendship, the joys of summer, and the magic of baseball.
2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants captures the poignant and transformative summer of four lifelong friends—Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget—who are about to spend their first summer apart. To stay connected, they decide to share a pair of jeans that magically fits each of them perfectly despite their different body types. Although it’s a silly concept, the film has a lot to say about growing up, finding yourself, and navigating life’s challenges. Luckily, in these girls’ cases, they have each other and a whole lot of summer firsts (both good and bad) to wade through.
3. It Takes Two
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
If you’re obsessed with The Parent Trap and haven’t seen It Takes Two, you’re seriously missing out. It’s the perfect rewatch if you were Mary-Kate and Ashley–obsessed as a kid. Like The Parent Trap, the film follows two girls who meet at camp and realize they look exactly alike—though in this one, they’re not actually related. Alyssa comes from a rich family, and her father is about to marry a gold digger; Amanda is an orphan worried that her social worker, Diane, will disappear from her life if a horrible family adopts her. The two pull a classic doppelgänger switcheroo to get Diane and Alyssa’s father to fall in love. It’s filled to the brim with ’90s nostalgia, and you’ll fall in love all over again on the rewatch.
4. Summer Catch
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
While actual baseball is about four innings too long for me to truly enjoy, movies about baseball are a summer staple. Set in Cape Cod, Summer Catch is the perfect baseball romance. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr. as a Boston College pitcher and Jessica Biel as the daughter of a wealthy family summering in the area, the cast is stacked. Despite their families’ disapproval, the two fall in love while Ryan (Freddie Prinze Jr.) fights to land a pro baseball contract. It’s all the fun of the ballpark, without the heat!
5. Now and Then
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
In my book, summer is all about adventures with your girlfriends, and Now and Then definitely echoes that sentiment. It tells the story of the friendship between three women, Roberta Martin (Rosie O’Donnell), Samantha Albertson (Demi Moore), and Tina “Teeny” Tercell (Melanie Griffith), in dual timelines. One timeline follows them as adults returning home to support their pregnant childhood friend, Chrissy DeWitt Williams (Rita Wilson), while the other flashes back to the unforgettable summer of 1970 that shaped their friendship.
6. Adventureland
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
Theme parks are a staple of summer vacations, but Adventureland is no Disneyland. This comedy-drama is directed by the same guy who did Superbad (Greg Mottola), so you know you’re in for a wild and crazy ride. Adventureland is a hilarious and touching glimpse into the world of summer jobs and awkward romances. With Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart leading the way, this movie is like an ’80s mixtape come to life. It’s perfect for those who remember their first summer job and all the chaos that came with it.
7. Wet Hot American Summer
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
Wet Hot American Summer is an absolute riot. This comedic gem satirizes 80s teen sex comedies while taking all the chaos and incestuousness of summer camp and cranking up the absurdity. With a star-studded cast, this film is an over-the-top classic that delivers nonstop laughs. From Paul Rudd’s hilariously exaggerated sulking to Amy Poehler and Bradley Cooper’s fervent yet chaotic production of the camp talent show, every scene is packed with memorable moments. Wet Hot American Summer captures the essence of summer camp in the most ridiculously entertaining ways.
8. Dazed and Confused
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
One of the quintessential 90s stoner movies, Dazed and Confused is a reminder of the magic that awaited us all on the last day of school before summer break. Directed by Richard Linklater, this cult favorite is a love letter to teenage rebellion and the joy of cruising aimlessly with your friends. The killer soundtrack, filled with rock anthems from the 70s, perfectly complements the film’s laid-back, rebellious vibe. It’s a true nostalgia trip that reminds us to keep livin’ for today and to cherish the carefree summer nights of our past.
9. The Parent Trap
Where to Stream: Disney+
Double the baby-faced Lindsay Lohan, double the fun! The Parent Trap brings us the story of twin sisters separated at birth who, coincidentally, are sent to the same summer camp by their respective parent. After figuring out they’re twins, they hatch a plan to get their parents back together, and hilarity ensues. The film has all the charm of a 90s Lindsay Lohan romp and is definitely one of her best roles. Between the summer camp hijinks and the privileged lives the girls lead, this movie will make you wish you had a long-lost twin to reunite with this summer, too.
10. Blue Crush
Where to Stream: Peacock
Blue Crush is an inspiring surf movie set on Hawaii’s North Shore. It follows Anne Marie, her little sister Penny, and friends Eden and Lena as they balance working as maids to pay the bills with doing what they really love: surfing. If you like surfing, there’s plenty to go around in Blue Crush, including waves caught by famous pro athletes. But even if you’re not a surfer, the locations alone in the film are enough to make you want to book a summer trip to the beach.
11. Mamma Mia!
Where to Stream: Hulu
Cue the ABBA! Mamma Mia! is a joyful, sun-soaked musical inspired by the Swedish pop group’s music, set on a gorgeous Greek island. The story follows a young bride-to-be, Sophie, who invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding, hoping to discover which one is her father. The film offers a delightful mix of romance, comedy, and all the ABBA sing-alongs you can handle. With an incredible cast led by Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, alongside Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård, this movie radiates pure, unadulterated fun. Perfect for a summer girls’ night in or any time you need to feel like a dancing queen.
12. The Way Way Back
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
There’s nothing quite as nostalgic as a summer coming-of-age film, and The Way Way Back captures the awkwardness of your teenage years in a hilarious, heartwarming way. Duncan is forced to spend the summer at a beach house with his mom (Toni Collette), her boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent’s annoying daughter. To escape the tension at home, Duncan gets a job at a water park, where he forms an unexpected bond with the park manager, Owen (Sam Rockwell).
13. The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Where to Stream: Disney+
This movie gave me the most unrealistic expectations for what my high school summer vacations would look like (it’s the Euro girl summer blueprint), but it’s an absolute classic nonetheless. Watching Hilary Duff head to Rome, meet Italian music sensation Paolo, and fill in for his feuding duet partner, who just so happens to look exactly like Lizzie (they really loved the doppelgänger plotline back in the day) hits just as hard in adulthood as it did as a kid. But fair warning: you’ll walk away with an insatiable need to ride on the back of a Vespa with a hot Italian.
14. National Lampoon’s Vacation
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
National Lampoon’s Vacation is the ultimate road trip comedy from the 80s, filled with hilarious mishaps and unforgettable moments. Chevy Chase leads the way as the well-meaning but hapless head of the family, Clark Griswold, who is determined to give his family the best vacation ever — at all costs. Will they ever reach Wally World? Who knows?! But it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters, right? Vacation is a riotous reminder of all the things that can go wrong on a family trip, making it a perfect way to reminisce about your own dysfunctional summer family vacations.
15. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Where to Stream: Hulu
Sometimes, summers are full of heartbreak. But hey, at least you didn’t run into your ex and her new boyfriend while trying to forget her in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Forgetting Sarah Marshall follows Peter, who does just that after his breakup with Sarah. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt journey of self-discovery and healing, with a stunning tropical backdrop and a hilarious cast that in addition to Jason Segel and Kristin Bell also includes Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, and Jonah Hill. If anything, it will make you feel better about your own life, and is perfect for a summer movie night in when you need a good laugh and a little Hawaiian escapism.
16. Aquamarine
Where to Stream: Disney+
Aquamarine appeals to that mermaid-loving little girl in all of us. Who wouldn’t want to find a real-life mermaid? This is the perfect film for that kid in all of us who wanted to be a marine biologist when we grew up. Besides the beautiful mermaid, Aquamarine is also a heartfelt story about friendship, first crushes, and the challenges of growing up. It will make you miss summers with your childhood best friend, and those sun-soaked beach days of pre-teen adolescence when you had your whole lives ahead of you.
17. The Baby-Sitters Club
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
This movie is instant nostalgia for anyone who grew up reading The Baby-Sitters Club books. It’s like a whole bunch of the books rolled into one, with the girls getting into all kinds of adventures together during one long summer. This movie also has plenty of angsty tumultous family moments, crushes on boys, and 90s fashion to go around, too. Whether you ever babysat or not (or read the books or not), The Baby-Sitters Club movie makes you wish you did and were as cool as Kristy and her friends.
18. Dirty Dancing
Where to Stream: Peacock
Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Dirty Dancing is the quintessential summer romance featuring Patrick Swayze as Johnny and Jennifer Grey as “Baby.” Funny enough, it’s based on writer Eleanor Bergstein’s own childhood, as she vacationed in the Catskills with her family. The movie gets a little more scandalous than reality as Baby navigates classism, misogyny, a friend’s abortion, and her budding romance. It’s really more soap opera than musical. But with its iconic dance scenes and a soundtrack that defined the 80s, Dirty Dancing is truly a timeless classic. Maybe this is the summer you learn to dirty dance from a hot dance instructor at a vacation resort. Time to practice those lifts!
19. I Know What You Did Last Summer
Where to Stream: Netflix
Not all nostalgic summer movies are romances or comedies; a summer horror movie night can be just as fun. I Know What You Did Last Summer is the perfect horror flick for when you want to be on the edge of your seat without straying too far from the summer vibes. The story begins a year after four friends, Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Barry (Ryan Phillippe), Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.), accidentally run over a fisherman and dump his body in the water. Julie receives a terrifying letter letting her know their secret isn’t so secret after all. As they investigate, Barry is run over by a man with a meat hook, setting off a string of murders as the killer stalks the friend group.
20. The Last Song
Where to Stream: Disney+
We all know how Miley and Liam’s love story turned out, but despite the IRL ending, The Last Song is still a flawless movie in my opinion. After years of not speaking to her father, Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) and her younger brother are sent to the beach to spend the summer with him. There, she meets a local boy who makes her summer far better than she expected.
21. Jaws
Where to Stream: Peacock
I wouldn’t recommend watching this one right before a beach trip if you’re already a little wary of the ocean, but otherwise, it’s a fantastic summer rewatch. After a young woman is killed by a shark off Amity Island, the police chief insists that the beaches be closed for safety. However, the mayor, concerned about the impact on tourism, refuses. So the police chief, along with ichthyologist Matt Hooper and ship captain Quint, sets off on a mission to capture and kill the shark.
22. High School Musical 2
Where to Stream: Disney+
I don’t want to ruffle any feathers among my fellow High School Musical stans, but the second film is by far the best. The songs alone are top-tier, but the summer country club setting really puts it over the edge. The HSM crew heads to a resort after Troy gets a job through Sharpay’s dad, unaware that she has her own plans for how his summer will go.
23. Vicky Christina Barcelona
Where to Stream: Peacock
There’s nothing like a girls’ trip, and in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) head to Spain to spend the summer at their friend’s home in Barcelona. At an art gallery, they meet painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), who invites them on a steamy weekend getaway. But when his fiery ex (Penélope Cruz) shows up, things get complicated.
24. Letters to Juliet
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
Visiting Verona, Italy, has been on my bucket list ever since I first saw Letters to Juliet, and every rewatch confirms why. In the film, a young woman named Sophie visits Verona with her fiancé and stops by the famous wall where tourists leave notes to Juliet. After discovering a letter from 1957, she decides to write back to its author, Claire. Claire receives it and, joined by Sophie and her skeptical grandson, decides to search for the ex-lover she wrote about.
25. Mystic Pizza
Where to Stream: HBO Max
An adorable young Julia Roberts stars in Mystic Pizza, where three waitresses savor one last summer in their small town after graduating high school. Their adventures in and out of the local restaurant create a season they’ll never forget. Even if it’s been decades since your own graduation, you’ll relate to the excitement and nostalgia of that summer before adulthood begins.
26. My Girl
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
My Girl is one of my favorite movies to watch during the summer, but fair warning, you may end up bawling by the end. This coming-of-age story follows 11-year-old Vada after the death of her mother. Vada feels like an outsider: her father runs a funeral home out of their house, the neighborhood kids avoid her, her best friend is a boy, and she’s hopelessly in love with her English teacher.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.
Liana Minassian, Contributing Entertainment Writer
Liana is an LA-based writer, editor, and photographer with over 12 years of experience in digital content creation. She specializes in entertainment and lifestyle content and especially loves it when the two subjects overlap. Aside from The EveryGirl, her work has been published with ScreenRant, TheThings, Thought Catalog, The Mary Sue, Food Revolution Network, Travel-Wise, and the Daily Meal, among others.
