The 6 Movies I Love to Watch Every Summer
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Corp., Patron, Inc.
I love watching movies in the middle of a summer day. It’s not because of the air conditioning, although obviously that’s a perk. Nor is it because I desperately need to watch the latest blockbuster — truth be told, I mostly snuck off to watch the one new release that never drew much of a crowd. When I started freelancing full-time, this was my so-called “field trip,” which ended with a late lunch and a glass of wine at a bar. (If you think that this plan sounds fun, I fully support doing it, too. Whoever said eating alone is scary didn’t know what to order.)
I make a point to watch a movie on a sunny afternoon because shutting myself away in darkness and sprawling out when so much bright outdoor activity abounds feels innocently devious. If I’m at home, I’ll watch something familiar with a Popsicle in hand, and maybe some candy I grabbed from around the corner. I can’t get enough of these lately.
When it comes to the movies I love to watch this time of year, most of them have summer as the backdrop. And even if I’ve seen them a thousand times, they each put a smile on my face for their clever one-liners, solid montages, or just plain good storytelling. These are the six I recommend, including some alternatives. If you’re trying to make the most of what’s left of summer, perhaps you should cue one up after lunch. I promise, it’ll be fun.
Thriller: The Talented Mr. Ripley
There’s so much to take in when you watch this movie, which is a tale of murder and mistaken identity, that I wanted to put it first on this list. The beautiful Italian setting, or the oft-referenced wardrobe of the cast, makes it a worthwhile watch. Then there’s the fact that the plot is intense, but not so intense that you’re bound to jump out of your skin (speaking for a friend, of course). But the best detail is perhaps Jude Law’s face. That last reason is reason enough.
Other option: River Wild
Drama: Almost Famous
When I first watched this movie about a teenage journalist covering an emerging rock band in 1970s America, I was a kid who thought it was so cool that the main character got paid to write a big story in a magazine. It’s a shocker that I ended up in the career I’m in. I love that my understanding of the characters has changed as I’ve grown up — I fully support the mom’s side, even if she’s a buzzkill, thank you — and how the depiction of California is pretty spot on, even if I’m a few decades removed. That final scene between the lead guitarist and the writer in his bedroom is so satisfying, too, every time I see it.
Other options: Summer of Soul (I know, documentary, but I’m going off the music vibes), The Worst Person in the World
Vintage: Rear Window
Cranky movie critics will say that Psycho is Alfred Hitchcock’s best movie, but my money is on Rear Window. Sure, the story generally takes place in one room, and the villain isn’t exactly as in-your-face terrifying as a lonely dude with mommy issues. But the conversations between Jimmy Stewart, the main character who’s held up in his apartment with a broken leg, and the people who visit him are quick-witted, and the neighbors he spies on all have their entertaining quirks. Grace Kelly plays his girlfriend, and her entrance scene is basically the 1950s starlit version of Jude Law’s face (who knew I was so enamored by blondes?).
Other options: The Graduate, Roman Holiday
Blockbuster: Armageddon
Yeah, I’m going to recommend that you watch Armageddon, a Bruce Willis movie about the end of the world. It has some horrifically fantastic lines, some pretty improbable action scenes, and an impressively awkward scene between Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler involving animal crackers. I love it so much.
Other options: Jurassic Park, Speed, Jaws
Family: The Parent Trap
Yes, the remake of The Parent Trap was destined to be on this list. I’m pretty sure when I watched this movie as a preteen, the montage of Hallie touring London imprinted on my brain. I absolutely had to find a way to live there as soon as I grew up, and when I did, I thought, “Where the heck was that driver taking her? He went all over the place.” There are movies that feel like a warm hug whenever you watch them, and this is one of them for me. Even if the twins’ parents make poor choices and their plan to get them back together ruined a sassy P.R. agent’s life, I will never stop watching this movie.
Other options: My Girl (watch at your own risk), Now and Then, Little Giants
Romance: Dirty Dancing
Again, you think I’d make a list about summer movies and not include Dirty Dancing? This movie has everything: sweaty dance sequences, forbidden love affairs, relevant political statements, after-hours partying, that one Hungry Eyes montage…I can go on. And yes, as I’ve gotten older, I also side with the dad on this one — geez, Baby. Still, way to nail that footwork and get your man.
Other options: Grease, Crazy Rich Asians, Something New
Comedy: Vegas Vacation
This movie has become a part of my family’s lexicon. If we win a bet, it’s “I won the money.” It’s never just a tour, it’s “the damn dam tour.” We also can’t go on a road trip without listening to “Holiday Road.” I’ll take this Griswold movie over all the others, but just know that I am clearly biased.
Other option: Dick
What movies do you love to watch in the summer? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
