10 Great Films About Summer
Whether it’s sun-drenched nostalgia, sweltering tension, or carefree escapism, summer has long been a backdrop for memorable cinema. From coming-of-age tales to chaotic getaways, here are ten brilliant films that capture the heat, freedom, and sometimes the heartbreak of summer.
Call Me by Your Name (dir. Luca Guadagnino)
Set in the hazy heat of northern Italy, Luca Guadagnino’s lush romantic drama follows the slow-burning connection between Elio and Oliver over one transformative summer. With its sun-bleached landscapes, lazy bike rides, and sensual pacing, it captures the languid intoxication of first love.
The Parent Trap (dir. Nancy Meyers)
Lindsay Lohan plays both long-lost twins in this endlessly rewatchable Disney comedy set in a Californian summer camp. Packed with pranks, poolside plotting and emotional reunions, it's pure sunshine and sibling hijinks.
Summer 1993 (dir. Carla Simón)
In Carla Simón’s autobiographical debut, a six-year-old girl is sent to live with relatives after the death of her parents. Set in rural Catalonia, this quietly powerful film evokes the stillness, confusion, and fleeting joy of childhood summers touched by grief.
Withnail & I (dir. Bruce Robinson)
A gloriously shambolic British cult classic, this follows two out-of-work actors on a disastrously rainy holiday to the Lake District. Soaked in irony rather than sun, it's a hilarious ode to British eccentricity, friendship, and the kind of summer that doesn't quite go to plan.
Aftersun (dir. Charlotte Wells)
Charlotte Wells’ intimate debut explores the quiet beauty and emotional undercurrents of a father-daughter holiday in a Turkish resort. Through flickers of memory and sun-soaked stillness, it becomes a moving meditation on love, memory, and the unknowability of those closest to us.
A Room with a View (dir. James Ivory)
This Merchant Ivory classic begins in a sun-drenched Florence and blossoms into a tale of love, self-discovery, and personal freedom. With sweeping landscapes, summer frocks, and plenty of repressed Victorian yearning, it’s a period piece full of warm weather and romantic awakenings.
Y Tu Mamá También (dir. Alfonso Cuarón)
Alfonso Cuarón’s breakout road movie sees two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a spontaneous summer road trip through Mexico. Funny, sexy, and ultimately heartbreaking, it captures both the thrill and inevitable transience of youth.
Shirkers (dir. Sandi Tan)
In this wildly original documentary, director Sandi Tan revisits a lost summer of her youth spent shooting a punky road movie with her friends—only to have it stolen by their mysterious mentor. It’s a film about creativity, friendship, betrayal, and the vibrant possibilities of youth.
Beach Rats (dir. Eliza Hittman)
Set in the sticky heat of a Brooklyn summer, Eliza Hittman’s moody coming-of-age drama follows a teenager struggling with identity, masculinity, and desire. Visually intimate and emotionally raw, it’s a portrait of a summer where everything simmers just beneath the surface.
The Kings of Summer (dir. Jordan Vogt-Roberts)
Three teenage boys run away to build a house in the woods and live off the land in this quirky, joyful take on adolescent rebellion. It's a love letter to that moment of teenage freedom before adulthood kicks in.
From sunburnt escapades to emotional awakenings, these films show just how rich and varied summertime storytelling can be. Whether you're chasing nostalgia or confronting uncomfortable truths, there's a summer film for every mood.
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