We’re celebrating summer with fun summer movies and movies about life changing vacations. A little summer romance, some shenanigans, coming of age, and dealing with changing family dynamics make this collection of films a perfect way to beat the heat when the temperatures climb too high to enjoy the great outdoors.
Escaping the heat for a few hours in a cool dark theater sipping a cool drink and eating buttery popcorn was a rare summer pleasure when I was growing up. The movies they showed during the afternoon matinees weren’t new, but nobody really cared. The tickets were cheap, and the air conditioning was included in the price. When I lived in Texas, I introduced my young sons to the pleasures of afternoon matiness in August.
If your local movie theater doesn’t offer low-priced summer matiness, grab a cold drink and some popcorn, head for the basement where it’s nice and cool, turn off the lights, and stream one of these movies. Streaming information is subject to change at any time. Enjoy!
Wine Country - Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Jason Schwartzman are probably the most recognizable names in this talented cast. Longtime friends get together for a Napa Valley birthday getaway. Abby (Poehler) plans the trip to celebrate the 50th birthday of her friend Rebecca (Dratch). Instead of the six friends relaxing, Abby wants them to follow a rigid activity-packed itinerary which eventually causes them to rebel and reveal the challenges each woman has been hiding. Funny situations mixed with serious moments are endearing. Available to stream on Netflix.
Pauline at the Beach – Fifteen-year-old Pauline (Amanda Langlet) goes on vacation with her adult cousin, Marion (Arielle Dombasle) to the Normandy coast to help take Marion’s mind off her divorce in this French romantic comedy from 1983. Marion foolishly tries to jump back in the dating pool looking for Mr. Right. Pauline, who has never had a serious relationship, is temporarily swept along in the chaos. It’s interesting to see how our concepts of age-appropriate behavior/romance have changed since the 80s. Available to stream on Google Play or Amazon and on platforms like the Internet Archive for borrowing or streaming
Dirty Dancing – What is summer without a little Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey? Available to stream for free on Sling TV or Philo. Watch with a subscription to Hulu, YouTube, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, or YouTube TV. Rent for a fee on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
Call Me by Your Name – Seventeen-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) is summering with his family at their villa in Lombardy, Italy. He reads, swims, and parties with his friends. Life changes when he meets his father’s new intern Oliver (Armie Hammer). Oliver is a doctoral student. He’s a few years older than Elios, devastatingly handsome, mysterious, and captivating in a way Elios finds irresistible. Available to stream with a subscription to Paramount+, YouTube, Hulu, fubo TV, Amazon Prime Video, or YouTube TV. Available for a fee on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
The Sure Thing – We’re throwing in a Christmas time college road trip from New England to Los Angeles to keep things frosty. John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Vivica Lindfors, and Nicolette Sheridan star in this 1985 romantic comedy. Walter (Cusack) and Alison (Zuniga) are looking for love, but not with each other. Walter tried unsuccessfully to put the moves on many girls at school including Alison, but she has a boyfriend. When his friend calls from Los Angeles offering to set Walter up with a beautiful “sure thing” over the holidays, Walter is anxious to end his dry spell. Alison wants to go home and see her boyfriend. They unknowingly book the same ride share. Their constant bickering gets them left by the side of the road. What happens after that is pure 80s Cusack. Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
Now and Then – In this cut classic, three women Roberta (Rosie O’Donnell), Samantha (Demi Moore), and Tina (Melanie Griffith) reunite with their childhood friend, Chrissy (Rita Wilson) to help her through the end of her first pregnancy. They reminisce about the summer of 1970 and share their coming-of-age stories of how they became lifelong friends. Available to stream for a fee on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
Theater Camp – Eccentric staff members at an upstate New York theater camp are forced to work together after their camp director, Joan (Amy Sedaris) slips into a coma after an accident. Joan’s son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) a business influencer reluctantly takes over the camp only to discover his methods and his personality don’t mesh well with the campers or the staff. Can Troy save the camp from its financial woes and still give the campers a unique theater experience? Available to stream with a subscription to Disney+ or Hulu. Available for a fee on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
Roman Holiday – This is one of my all-time favorite films about a trip. Crown Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) is on an exhausting regimented tour of European capital cities. After a long day in Rome, her physician gives her medication to help her relax and advises her to take time to relax and enjoy herself. Ann sneaks away to enjoy a quiet moment in the city, but the medicine kicks in and she falls asleep. Joe (Gregory Peck), an American reporter, finds her and thinks she’s just a drunk tourist. Not wanting to leave her to the dangers of the city, he takes her to his apartment where she can safely sleep it off. Joe oversleeps and misses his assignment to cover Princess Ann’s scheduled press conference, but tries to lie about it to his editor, Hennessey. When he learns it was canceled and sees a photo of the princess, he realizes she’s the woman in his apartment. Joe pitches the idea of getting an exclusive interview with the princess complete with photos. Ann wakes up and pretends to be Anya. Joe plays along to get the interview. It’s magical to watch the chemistry between them as they fall in love touring the ancient city while having an adventure. All good things must come to an end when duty and country call. The bittersweet ending still makes me cry. Another thing I love about movie is that Gregory Peck insisted Audrey Hepburn, a lesser-known young actress, receive equal billing and recognition for her role. Available to stream for free on Pluto TV. Watch with a subscription YouTube TV. Rent for a fee on Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
The Way, Way Back – Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward teen forced to spend the summer at a beach house with his mom, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent’s obnoxious daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). To get away from Trent and Steph, Duncan gets a summer job at a local water park where he makes friends and finds a much-needed father figure. Available to stream with a subscription to Hulu, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. Rent for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or Fandango at Home.
American Graffiti – On the last day of summer vacation in 1962, friends Steve (Ron Howard), Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), John (Paul Le Mat), and Terry (Charles Martin Smith) cruise the streets of a small California town listening to a mysterious radio disc jockey (Wolfman Jack) and savoring their final adventures before they officially begin their adult lives. This film is over 50 years old, and it brought us Happy Days, which brought us Laverne and Shirley and Mork. What a way to end the summer! Available to stream on Netflix with a subscription. Rent for a fee on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, or Fandango at Home.