50 Greatest Summer Movies

With summer fast approaching it’s important to remember the 50 greatest summer movies that made growing up so great. Many of us will recall why some of these movies were so memorable.

The Endless Summer

The name of the movie is indicative of what it’s about since one can likely follow the summer up and down the globe if they have the resources. But it’s a dream that’s fun to watch.

The Sandlot

This movie almost classifies as one of those that couldn’t be made today. But as one of the many summer movies, it’s still one of the greats.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Sure, there are a lot of sketchy moments in this movie. But that’s part of what helped to make it great.

500 Days of Summer

Sometimes you’ve got to go through hard times to find the best times, right? That’s what this movie is about anyway.

National Lampoon’s Vacation

Is there any greater hell than taking a family trip cross-country? There might be a few, but it’s a close call.

Dazed and Confused

High school is a mix of different people, feelings, and experiences. This movie just highlights a few of those that were popular once upon a time.

Stand By Me

You don’t tend to have the same type of friends you have when you’re younger. That’s a proven point that this movie makes.

Jaws

It’s a terrifying movie, or it was when it first came out. But it was a blockbuster that pioneered a new type of movie.

Point Break

The search for the ultimate thrill comes with an ultimate price. But as this movie shows, there are always people willing to pay it.

Meatballs

It’s the type of movie that people might gasp at these days. But it’s Bill Murray at his best back in the day.

The Great Outdoors

Sometimes pairing up comedy greats was absolute gold. Dan Aykroyd and John Candy were a great duo in this classic.

Grease

Back in the days when PC wasn’t quite as stringent, this movie was seen as one of the best of its time. Today, people still love it, but with reservations.

Adventureland

It’s always fun to dream of going on a great vacation. But when that dream gets dashed for true love it’s kind of a rough ride.

Friday the 13th

So what if a camp has a notorious reputation for being a murder site? It’s safe to open for the summer, right?

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Yeah, if you kill someone, even accidentally, it’s best to make sure they’re dead. Otherwise, the past has a way of coming back to haunt you.

Call Me By Your Name

Young love is kind of a hard thing to explain. But when it happens in this manner it’s either beautiful or cringe-worthy.

The Notebook

Some people have said there’s no such thing as a chick flick. They must not have seen this movie yet.

Mystic Pizza

It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? A lot of people want the small-town life, while those who live in a small town want to get away from it.

The Parent Trap

Imagine finding your twin by happenstance. What in the world would you do?

The River Wild

There are certain things one shouldn’t do if they’re on the wrong side of the law. Escaping down a river with an experienced rafter is one among many.

Midsommar

Creepy doesn’t quite cover the depths of this movie, especially since there’s so much more to think about. But the general feeling is that yes, it’s creepy.

Clueless

This was the iconic high school movie of the 90s. It was also one of the last times Alicia Silverstone was this great on film.

Independence Day

One thing you don’t do is count humanity out, as the aliens in this movie found out. It was a great cast and a compelling story with one of the greatest monologues of all time.

Caddyshack

When talking about summer movies this one should always make the cut. It was one of those that probably can’t be replicated, but it was a lot of fun anyway.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

So technically, this isn’t a summer movie. But it’s still one of those that people remember fondly as having the same type of freedom within its storyline.

Ghostbusters

No, not the 2016 flop. The original will always be the best since it was allowed more freedom and set the whole ball of wax moving forward.

Dirty Dancing

Some movies make you question yourself as a rational, reasonable human being. And then some tell a great story at the same time.

Mamma Mia!

There are easier ways of finding out who your father is and reuniting your mother with her past. But then, those might not be as amusing.

Charlie’s Angels

From the TV to the big screen, this fan favorite was great in the first movie. The second, well, that’s debatable.

Thelma & Louise

This movie is still seen as one of the greatest of its time for a lot of reasons. The friendship angle is still one of the best.

Weekend at Bernie’s

Yes, it’s goofy. That was the whole point of the movie, wasn’t it?

Wet Hot American Summer

Yeah, it is kind of a giant sex-capade in some regards. But it’s a funny one that a lot of people can probably relate to.

Little Miss Sunshine

There’s all sorts of wrong in this comedy, but somehow it all works out, kind of. In any case, it’s a strange movie to enjoy.

Sleepers

This is kind of a depressing movie all the way through, even during the childhood reenactments. But it carries a lot of power to it despite the negative connotations.

The Goonies

Among classics, this movie is one of those that causes people to smile almost every time. Even if you didn’t grow up in PNW, The Goonies is still a timeless classic.

The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants

It’s a movie about a group of friends who share a pair of pants and tell their own stories. Yeah, it’s a chick flick, but a lot of people remember it fondly.

What About Bob?

When is Bill Murray not at his best? Rhetorical question, no answer needed.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The title kind of says it all, doesn’t it? But the hilarity in this movie is what helps to make it memorable.

Blue Crush

It’s amazing how one’s focus can be lost when one meets the right or wrong, person in life. Getting that focus back is tough, but it’s possible.

A League of Their Own

Thanks to a great story and an outstanding cast this movie is one of the greats for summer. It’s also a part of history that’s highly fictionalized but based on something very real.

Wonder Woman

Hey, it came out in the summer so it counts. Plus, it was one of DC’s greatest movies at that time.

The Way Way Back

This hidden gem is a great one since not only is it one of Steve Carell’s only appearances as an antagonist, but it also shows Sam Rockwell’s great range. Also, it’s just one of the fun, largely unknown summer movies.

Dirty Grandpa

It might not be one of De Niro’s greatest roles, but it was fun. It’s that frat boy kind of movie that doesn’t make you think.

Club Dread

Speaking of not thinking, this movie was enjoyable just for being one of the most ridiculous summer movies. The fact that Bill Paxton was in it is a huge bonus.

White Men Can’t Jump

Did you know that Woody Harrelson could actually ball? Wesley Snipes got pretty good too after plenty of training.

Tag

Imagine, a group of grown men playing tag into their adulthood. Hey, it keeps life interesting.

Revenge of the Nerds 2: Nerds in Paradise

Amazingly, this movie was just as good as the first one. Yes, it relied on crude humor, but so do many summer movies.

Road House

No disrespect to Jake Gyllenhaal, but there’s no topping the late, great Patrick Swayze. He was THE cooler of his time.

Boyz N The Hood

Not too far removed from his N.W.A. days, Ice Cube hit a big winner with this movie. It was raw, and brutal, and yet it told a great story.

Menace II Society

You could almost call this a copycat of Boyz N The Hood, but there was a slightly different story here. By the end though, it was a lot more depressing.

Tremors

It was campy and it was over quicker than many realized. But it left a lasting impression, didn’t it?