For those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is so close we can practically smell the nostalgic scents of sunscreen, sea air, and sizzling barbecues. As the days get longer and warmer, and we go to great lengths to spend as much time as possible outdoors, it might seem counterintuitive to retreat to the couch and curl up in front of a movie. But, we’d argue, there are few ways to get yourself in the mood for the season ahead than with a film brimming with summer goodness. So, when you find yourself with a balmy night to spare, kick back and relax with the following nine summer movies that remind us of warmer weather. Thank us later.
Mamma Mia!
Crystal clear water, epic musical numbers, Meryl Streep — is there anything Mamma Mia! doesn’t have? If you’re yet to feast your eyes on the 2008 classic (and it’s sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again), allow us to catch you up. Set to some of ABBA’s biggest hits, the movie charts Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she prepares for her wedding in Greece, which she has secretly invited three men to (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård)— all of whom were her mother’s (Meryl Streep) lovers in the past — in the hope that one of them is her father.
Call Me By Your Name
As far as summer movies go, Call Me By Your Name‘s setting in the unbelievable Italian countryside takes first place. It also marks Timothée Chalamet’s first major movie role, as Elios, a teenager spending his summer with his family at their 17th-century villa in Lombardy, Italy. But his holiday takes a different turn when he meets Oliver (Armie Hammer) a doctoral student, who sparks a sexual awakening in Elios.
Call Me By Your Name is now streaming on Netflix.
The Parent Trap
For a heavy dose of nostalgia, there’s nothing quite like The Parent Trap. Much of the action in this childhood classic takes place at summer camp, where long-lost twins Hallie and Annie (both, iconically, played by Lindsay Lohan) are reunited, and go on a mission to reconcile their parents’ marriage.
The Parent Trap is now streaming on Disney+.
Anyone But You
A little newer—but still absolutely worthy of a place on our list—Anyone But You has all the makings of a classic rom-com. In addition to the insane chemistry of its lead actors, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, the movie was filmed in Sydney over Summer, and spotlights some of the city’s most picturesque locations, from Palm Beach to the harbour.
Anyone But You is now streaming on Binge.
No Hard Feelings
This comedy brought Jennifer Lawrence back from an acting break, and boy are we glad that it did. Lawrence plays Maddie who, desperate to make enough money to retain her childhood home in Montauk, New York, agrees to a job dating a wealthy couple’s 19-year-old son. As to be expected from a plot like this one, hilarious chaos ensues.
No Hard Feelings is now streaming on Binge.
Little Miss Sunshine
In the nearly two-decades since this film first aired, it’s gone from indie comedy to cult classic. It follows Olive (Abigail Breslin), a young girl who embarks on a road trip with her entire family in tow, in the hopes of winning a pageant in California.
Little Miss Sunshine is now streaming on Disney+.
Aquamarine
While we might have come to terms with the fact that we’ll never get to wear starfish earrings that whisper compliments into our ears, we’ll still always have a soft spot for Aquamarine. The film follows best friends Claire and Hailey who, after a dramatic storm in their small beach town, meet a mermaid named—you guessed it—Aquamarine.
Aquamarine is now streaming on Disney+.
Aftersun
This coming-of-age film will have you reminiscing on your favourite childhood holidays. It follows 11-year-old Sophie, who reflects on a father-daughter vacation in Turkey with her father, Calum (Paul Mescal).
Aftersun is now streaming on AppleTV+.
The Talented Mr Ripley
There’s plenty to admire about this late-’90s hit, from the lush landscapes of Positano and Rome, to a young Jude Law. And while the plot is undeniably dark, the mis-en-scene will certainly get you in the mood for some warmer weather.
The Talented Mr Ripley is now streaming on Prime Video.
Lost In Translation
Lost In Translation. Credit: IMDb
Shot across 27 days in Tokyo, this Coppola masterpiece exudes a hazy air of curiosity, exile and stillness – all whirled up into one slow-burning romance. A film that I have watched seven times this year alone. Go on then, sue me. The plot follows two strangers, Bob and Charlotte, who are detached from their routines and find themselves in a state of loneliness in the luxurious Park Hyatt, turning to one another for companionship. Inspired by Coppola’s early trips to Tokyo, a sense of melancholy pervades throughout the film, an all too familiar holiday feeling for the sentimental reader here. We can only hope and pray that you have feasted your eyes on this film. If you haven’t, Lost In Translation feels like long drawn-out days of meandering through unknown streets, resorting back to your hotel room after a concerning step-count, and sitting non-verbal in a jazz bar to absorb the world unfolding around you.
Perfect Days
Perfect Days. Credit: IMDb
This Wim Wenders special resides in the fleeting moments that we all too often skim over. Perfect Days will have you losing track of what day it is, as it follows a Groundhog Day grind of a dedicated cleaner in Japan. With everyday being a rinse and repeat, Wenders turns to championing the joy of simplicity and the blissful analog moments we are all craving. This one will inspire you to romanticise your life.
La Chimera
La Chimera. Credit: IMDb
One of my top four on Letterboxd, and for good reason. This film by Alice Rohrwacher is built around the life of a scruffy-profiled archaeologist, played by Josh O’Connor. Being a tomb raider, naturally, he doesn’t serve up the same kind of heat as Challengers, but the cinematics are impeccable nevertheless. As for the plot, it is accidentally beautiful. Set on the coast of the Tyrrhenian in the ’80s, this one is reminiscent of a Caravaggio painting.
La Piscine
La Piscine. Credit: IMDb
Set on the Côte d’Azur, this 1969 serves up an idyllic slice of summer in Southern France, and builds on dreamy suspended holiday time, until it is disrupted by drama. Think sun-drenched days, long dinners that unwind into the night, along with a healthy amount of tense romance. Jane Birkin makes a warmly welcomed appearance in La Piscine (sans Birkin).
Chungking Express
Chungking Express. Credit: IMDb
A Wong Kar-wai fever dream of two stories that are told in tandem about a few jaded cops. The plot lingers in unspoken moments, romantic gestures and is all told through timestamps of canned pineapple. Chungking Express is a 1994 film that unfolds in the neon-lit backstreets of Hong Kong, particularly in a take-out shop where California Dreamin’ plays on repeat. The city alone sets a backdrop for a holiday; you’ll feel the humidity bouncing off the screen in this one.
On the hunt for more viewing recommendations? If you loved our round-up of summer movies, check out these 15 films that will instantly transport you on a European holiday.
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Feature images via IMDb.
