Many of us have been cooped up inside for a while now, hoping that things will be back to normal in time for the barbecues, beach trips, and vacations that make summer the best season of the year. As the weather heats up, however, we're starting to accept that summer might be a little different in 2020. But no matter what the next few months look like, there are plenty of movies to stream that can get you into the right mindset. From the classics you grew up with to more modern fare, here are 11 summer movies you can watch right now. And if you need more viewing recs, check out The 17 Best Movie Marathons You Can Stream Right Now.
1 | Jaws
Universal PicturesWhere to watch: HBO
Maybe you don't want to go to the beach after all. You'll certainly have second thoughts after revisiting Jaws, Steven Spielberg's classic thriller about a shark wreaking havoc on fictional resort town Amity Island. Even 45 years after its release, Jaws remains a harrowing viewing experience that will have you afraid to dip your toes in the water for some time. And if you're looking to stay scared, these are The 18 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now.
2 | Do the Right Thing
Universal PicturesWhere to watch: Rent on Amazon or YouTube
Spike Lee's highly acclaimed Do the Right Thing will transport you to a blisteringly hot day in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, where the asphalt is simmering alongside racial tensions in the community. Lee's screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award, and the film as a whole was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
3 | Midsommar
A24Where to watch: Rent on Amazon or YouTube
Imagine a summer day that never ends. Sounds idyllic, but Ari Aster'sMidsommar paints a slightly more unsettling picture. His unnerving horror film—which takes place at a midsummer festival in a small Swedish village where it stays light all day—will get under your skin. But there's also plenty of dark humor and a memorable performance by Florence Pugh. And for other more recent films worth watching, check out these 18 2020 Movies Streaming Right Now and Where to Find Them.
4 | The Endless Summer
Monterey Media, Inc.Where to watch: Tubi
It's hard to imagine a more quintessential summer movie classic than Bruce Brown's 1966 documentary The Endless Summer. So much of surfing culture was defined by this film, which follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August around the world. Brown's movie captured surfing as it was, but also inspired a generation of surfers who followed. It might even have you craving some waves.
5 | Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead
Warner Bros. PicturesWhere to watch: Hulu (with Cinemax)
If you grew up in the '90s, there's a very good chance you found yourself taken in by the fantasy of Stephen Herek'sDon't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, in which the kids in the Crandell family have to fend for themselves all summer after their babysitter—well, you know. Denied a European vacation with her friends, Christina Applegate's Sue Ellen proves surprisingly adept at adulthood in a way that made '90s kids eager to grow up way faster.
6 | The Sandlot
20th Century FoxWhere to watch: Hulu (with Starz)
Nothing beats the nostalgia of David Mickey Evans'The Sandlot, about a group of boys playing baseball in the summer of 1962. It doesn't matter if grew up in the '60s (when the movie takes place) or in the '90s (when the movie came out)—the coming-of-age story and the camaraderie among the kids will take you right back to the summer days of your youth, whenever that might have been. And for more family fare, enjoy these 16 Classic Family Movies to Stream With Your Kids.
7 | The Parent Trap
Buena Vista Pictures DistributionWhere to watch: Disney+
Lindsay Lohan made her film debut in Nancy Meyers'The Parent Trap, taking on the dual roles of Hallie Parker and Annie James, two girls who meet at summer camp and discover that they're twins. Prank wars aside, camp has never looked more fun. And if you're in the mood for something a little more retro, the original 1961 Parent Trap is also streaming on Disney+.
8 | Girls Trip
Universal PicturesWhere to watch: Rent on Amazon or YouTube
Few cinematic quartets have left the impression that Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish did in 2017's hit comedy Girls Trip. While you may not be able to go to Essence Fest this July, Malcolm D. Lee's hilarious movie will have you longing for a summer girls trip of your own. And if you want to keep laughing, check out The 30 Funniest Movies of All Time and Where to Stream Them.
9 | Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Paramount PicturesWhere to watch: Netflix
While it was released in the summer, John Hughes'Ferris Bueller's Day Off takes place during the school year—that's kind of the whole point. But in watching Matthew Broderick's Ferris play hooky and cram an absurd amount of action and fun into one day, we're reminded of a message that's more important than ever: Summer is a state of mind.
10 | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Universal PicturesWhere to watch: HBO
Really, you can't go wrong with either Mamma Mia! movie, but Ol Parker's 2018 sequel is currently available on HBO, and it's one of the most delightful movie experiences you can have. Revisit all your favorite ABBA songs as you watch Lily James, playing young Donna, have one of the most exciting (and romantically complicated) summer trips you can imagine. And for more films guaranteed to lift your spirits, check out these 15 Uplifting Movies You Can Watch on Netflix Right Now.
11 | Adventureland
Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesWhere to watch: Hulu (with Starz)
Greg Mottola's coming-of-age dramedy takes place in the summer of 1987, at an amusement park that's seen better days. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a recent high school graduate forced to skip his planned European vacation and get a summer job instead. While there are plenty of laughs, Adventureland offers a bittersweet look at star-crossed teenage love and nostalgic memories of a time when things were simpler—sometimes at the expense of safety regulations.
