Few settings in cinema evoke atmosphere quite like summer. The season’s bright palette—blinding sun, buzzing insects, shimmering water—frames stories of suspended time, restless youth, and emotional awakenings. Whether languid or liberating, summer unlocks a mood that filmmakers return to again and again.
From Eric Rohmer’s breezy coastal conversations (Pauline at the Beach, The Green Ray, A Summer’s Tale) to the sun-drenched longing of Call Me by Your Name, summer is rarely just a backdrop — it’s a character in itself. Takeshi Kitano’s Kikujiro captures childlike wonder on sunlit roads, while Stand by Me turns a dusty hike into a timeless rite of passage. These films don’t just take place in summer — they embody it.
Whether it’s a beach in Brittany, a sunlit road in rural Japan, or a villa in northern Italy, summertime films linger like heatwaves — slow, vivid, and hard to forget. This page explores that feeling: vacations that go nowhere, friendships on borrowed time, and light that stretches everything thin.
El Desafío del Verano is Filmin’s month-long movie challenge: 31 films, hand-picked for each day of the summer stretch. From cult favorites to indie discoveries and festival standouts, this curated selection offers a fresh watch daily — perfect for long, lazy afternoons or late-night escapes. Stay cool, stay curious, and take the challenge one film at a time.
Summer Vibes Movies is a 150-film journey through sun-drenched cinema, arranged by the color of each poster. From the warmth of golden tones to the cool blues of coastal escapes, every hue tells a story — and every title captures a different side of the season. A visual and emotional playlist made for summer days and nights.
Sun-Soaked Coming-of-Age Summer Movies is a Sundance-curated selection that captures the heat, heartache, and hazy freedom of youth in summertime. These films trace the emotional arcs of adolescence — crushes, confusion, rebellion, and revelation — all set against sun-drenched backdrops. Whether quiet and contemplative or loud and wild, each story offers a snapshot of growing up in motion. A season of change, on screen.
Summertime Sadness is a moody, melancholic dive into the flipside of summer — where the sunlight lingers, but something feels off. Curated with care, this list explores the quiet heartbreaks, endings, and emotional drift that often come with the season. From slow fades to sudden storms, each film captures a version of summer that’s tender, wistful, and beautifully blue. Not all heatwaves are warm.
Films That Feel Like Summertime showcases Criterion’s unmatched expertise in curating cinematic masterpieces. Every film on this list has been carefully selected for its unique ability to evoke the spirit of summer — whether through mood, setting, or storytelling. Expect a diverse mix of timeless classics and modern gems, each offering a rich, rewarding experience. With Criterion, every pick is a must-watch.
This Is What Summer Feels Like is a celebration of summer’s visual poetry, where every poster invites you to dive deeper. Curated with a keen eye for aesthetics, this list blends striking imagery and evocative moods, making it impossible not to click and explore. It’s more than a watchlist — it’s a sensory journey through the colors, light, and textures that define the season. Beautiful, immersive, and utterly clickable.
Summer captures the essence of the season through stories of adventure, love, and transformation. This carefully curated collection invites you to experience summer’s highs and lows — from carefree days to moments of introspection. Each film offers a unique glimpse into what makes summer unforgettable. A heartfelt tribute to sunlit memories and fleeting moments.
Horror isn’t usually the first genre that comes to mind for summertime films, but this Horrorville Community Summer Horror list proves the season can be just as chilling as it is warm. From creepy beach days to haunted road trips, these movies bring the scares to sun-soaked settings, mixing heat with horror in surprising and thrilling ways. Summer never looked—or felt—so terrifying.