5 Summer-Themed Movies to Enjoy This Season
Summer is always the season for blockbuster film releases. With this year's heat, we'll be honest—we're not too interested in stepping outside the house for anything. Thankfully, we have plenty of movies that feel like warm weather and humidity we can watch from the comfort of our homes while we wait for the new releases to hit streaming services.
Below, discover our must-see movies to watch every summer, from cult-classic slasher films to lighthearted family comedies.
Anyone but You
A whirlwind romance always hits differently in the summer, and Anyone but You is evidence of it.
This Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell co-led film follows Bea and Ben, a law student and Goldman Sachs employee who fall in love at first sight. But after a misunderstanding, the two are instantly enemies.
When Bea's sister and Ben's best friend's sister announce their betrothal, a twist of events have the duo plotting a fake relationship at the wedding. Maybe, along the way, the ex-lovers might remember what they appreciated about each other in the first place.
Barbie
The Barbie movie practically screams "summer." Imagine living in this film: you'd be the picture-perfect girl with a vibrant beach house. Your evenings consist of hanging out with your friends at the beach or a party, and the weather is always beautiful and sunny. It sounds pretty awesome, doesn't it?
Beyond aesthetics, this film is also a discovery of womanhood—the highs and lows. It's figuring out what love means to you and understanding the legacy you want to leave behind.
It's feel-good to a T and the ultimate way to capture that feeling of "fun in the sun."
Also read about: These Are the Most Empowering Female Rom-Com Leads
High School Musical 2
Every late millennial and early Gen Z girl has a soft spot for High School Musical. If you ask us, the second one is objectively the best in the franchise.
In this iconic blast from the past, the ensemble cast celebrates their first summer vacation together at a country club. It's got all your favorite dynamics, from Troy and Gabriella's timeless love to Sharpay's seething sass. And, of course, the music is top-tier, too.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
We've seen an influx of Summer-ween (Halloween in the summer) posts on TikTok, and they've convinced us that horror is almost better when the weather's warm. A prime example is I Know What You Did Last Summer. This chaotic slasher film will have you on the edge of your seat as you watch one spooky serial killer hunt after four friends. And it doesn't end there—the saga continues with I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer.
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia, here we go again. It's another year of watching our favorite musical-to-film adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried and more. This story finds Sophie Sheridan (played by Amanda) on an island in Greece searching for her birth father before she gets married. It gets messy after her mother, Donna (Meryl), finds out—but you'll have to watch to see what unfolds.
Are you planning to go to the movie theater? Click HERE to watch the trailers for the biggest films arriving in summer 2024.