Are you one of those people that hate winter’s never-ending days, placing all your hope on the summer solstice, but when it’s actually summer you feel this empty summertime sadness accompanied with long, uneventful days?

We’ve all been there. Especially living in 2025’s indoor generation, no matter how many holidays you have booked, there will always be moments where you feel like you should be using these rare, untroubled days you’ve longed for.

I encourage you to gather inspiration from this mixed list of coming-of-age movies, classics, comedies and chick flicks. I also urge you to then gather the courage to venture outside and use these fleeting summer days to your advantage.

1. Aquamarine (2006)

“Love the is the closest thing we have to magic”

Whilst I will be including classics and more “grown up” movies, Aquamarine’s care-free storyline and mermaid theme has to undeniably place number one this year. We all have to admit that the mermaid and tropical girl aesthetic will never go out of trend when it comes to summer. 

This fun Disney chick flick is all the inspiration you need for putting on some sunscreen and heading to the pool or beach (whichever is closest to you) with your girlfriends. 

Aquamarine, a real-life mermaid who is on the quest to prove to her father that love exists, makes a deal with two teen girls. 

Although we get a lot of cute and romantic scenes as well as an amazing summer soundtrack (e.g. Wheezer’s “Island by the sun), the movie’s surprising end reminds us of the importance of friendship.

Where to watch: Disney+, Google Play Movies & TV from £3.49, Apple TV From £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, Amazon Prime Video from £3.49

2. Stealing Beauty (1996)

“It’s all about ideals and passion”

As the quote suggests, Stealing Beauty is probably the most aesthetic summer watch out there. Shortly after her mother’s death, Lucy Harmon, played by the ethereal Liv Tyler, visits her relatives in Tuscany on the dual quest of finding out who her father is and, in the process, finding herself too. 

Although this coming-of-age story is slightly male-gazey, with almost every character’s strange obsession over Lucy’s virginity, its perfect encapsulation of Italian Summer, along with its artistic shots, is what makes it score so high. 

P.S. the iconic song “Glory Box” by Portishead is a big thing in this movie.

Where to watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and the Microsoft Store (all to purchase or rent)

3. Mama Mia (2008)

“Typical isn’t it. You wait twenty years for a dad and then three come along all at once.”

If you haven’t watched Mama Mia, no offence, but what boulder have you been living under? 

Filmed in the breathtaking islands of Skopelos and Skiathos in Greece, main character Sophie invites three of her mother’s summer flings to her wedding in the hope that one of them is her biological father.

This all-time favourite musical blockbuster is all you need to lift up your mood and turn on the summer vibe. Be prepared to find your head filled with catchy ABBBA songs. You either love it or hate it!

Where to watch: NOW (premium subscription), Google Play Movie from 7.99, Amazon Prime Video from 7.99, Sky Store from 3.49, and Apple TV from 7.99.

4. Virgin Suicides (1999)

“It didn’t matter in the end how old they had been, or that they were girls, but only that we had loved them, and that they hadn’t heard us calling, still do not hear us, up here in the tree house, with our thinning hair and soft bellies, calling them out of those rooms where they went to be alone for all time, alone in suicide, which is deeper than death, and where we will never find the pieces to put them back together.”

Apologies for the long quote but this summer movie will destroy and then recreate you in the short span of an hour and a half. If you’re a Sofia Coppola groupie like me, then you would know that summer depression, whimsical summer and summertime sadness blend into one when you watch this movie.

Based on one of my all-time favourite books by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides explores both the pain and euphoria of being a teenage girl as well as the mystery of girlhood. Suburban America turns into a dreamy hell that suffocates the Lisbon sisters whose transgressive behaviour annihilates their girl next door innocence.

Although a bit on the heavier side, The Virgin Suicides is definitely a worthwhile watch this summer. If you’re not convinced by the deeper message (I don’t get you), at least watch it for its beautiful cinematography and nostalgic atmosphere.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (premium subscription), Google Play Movie from £2.49, Apple TV from 3.49, Sky Store from £3.49 and Curzon from £4.00.

5. Monte Carlo (2011)

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

On a lighter side, this romantic comedy starring Selena Gomez, Blake Lively and Katie Cassidy combines all the summer themes you could wish for. With three fun love stories and a cheeky plot, the girls ditch their “crappy” bus tour in Paris and steal a rich socialite’s identity. They lounge in Montecarlo’s sunny beaches in the mornings and twirl in ballgowns at night.

There’s a little something for everyone, so I don’t think it’s possible to truly hate on this movie. If you’re looking for a bourgeois fantasy escape, travelling, or a romantic plot, Monte Carlo combines all these tropes into one.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (subscription), PLEX (free of charge), Disney+, Google Play Movie from £3.59, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £7.99.

6. To Catch a Thief (1995)

“It takes a thief to catch a thief”

This oldies summer movie is perfect for classical Hollywood cinema lovers who desire an escape to the scenic French riviera and a dangerous liaison.

Ex-thief John, played by the infamous Cary Grant, is framed for stealing guest’s jewels. Along with the help of Frances Stevens, played by the timeless Grace Kelly, John finds himself struggling to solve the mystery of the stolen jewels as well as allowing himself to find love once again.

If you’re a Grace Kelly fan then you’ll absolutely adore her stunning outfits and perfect encapsulation of old Hollywood grace and glamour.

Where to watch: YouTube from £2.49, Amazon Prime Video from £2.49, Sky Store from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £2.49, and Apple TV from £3.49.

7. Dazed & Confused (1993)

“All I’m saying is that if I ever start referring to these as the best years of my life – remind me to kill myself.”

If you’re graduating this year (and I don’t just mean high school) or simply reminiscing your careless teen years, then this movie is a must have on your summer to-watch list.

Set in 1976, the movie places its focus on the last days of school for a group of Texas teens who spend it chasing freshman, trying to host a keg party, and basically not knowing what to do with rest of their lives.

The rebellious teen vibe reminds us all of both the endless possibilities that stretch out after graduation as well as the bittersweet angst that hits us when we walk out of those school gates for the final time.

Where to Watch: Google Play Movies from £2.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, Amazon Prime Video from £3.49.

8. And While We Were Here (2012)

“Time is shiftable”

Directed by Kat Coiro, starring the elegant Kate Bosworth, And While We Were Here is for those who feel the need to travel this summer, find love, and finally break free from past negative cycles.

This Romance/Drama begins to unfold as Jane and her husband arrive in the Amalfi Coast. Both silently losing their love for each other. Both tired of being unable to give each other what they want.

Jane’s meeting with the carefree and young Caleb allows herself to rediscover her love for life and writing. Although you may have your own opinions on love affairs and older women with younger men, this movie is a definite watch for its beautiful landscapes and fun montages.

Where to watch: A bit more tough for UK viewers because it changes from available to unavailable but for those outside of the UK you can use Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fadango.

9. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

“Smells and sounds I’d grown up with and known every year of my life until then but that had suddenly turned on me and acquired an inflection forever colored by the events of that summer.”

This award-winning romance/drama is the perfect mixture of love, lust, heartbreak and obsession. Inspired by the captivating book, seventeen-year-old Elio develops an obsessive crush on his father’s 24-year-old research assistant, and what quickly starts as a secret flirtation develops into a passionate, forbidden love affair.

If that doesn’t convince you then the perfect mise en scènes definitely will. Set in the beautiful countryside of Northern Italy in the early 80’s, you feel yourself relaxing beside Elio in the long summer grass under the cool shade of an oak tree.

Where to watch: Google Play Movie from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49

10. Mr Bean’s Holiday (2007)

“Nothing… nothing… nothing…”

I know what you’re thinking. What is Mr Bean doing in this list? But hear me out. This movie is surprisingly the blueprint of summer adventure and is filled with the most enjoyable comedic scenes.

Mr Bean, the infamous British comedic character, wins a ticket to the idyllic beaches of Cannes. However, as per usual for his character, his short train journey turns into an odyssey. From comedically becoming a wanted criminal to hitchhiking on the roads of France, Mr Bean’s holiday will forever remain a summer favourite of mine.

Where to watch: NOW (Premium subscription|), Google Play Movies from £2.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, Amazon Prime Video £3.49, YouTube from 5.99

11. Sisterhood of the travelling pants (2005)

“The Pants are like an omen. They stand for the promise we made to one another, that no matter what happens, we stick together.”

This summer flick focuses on a group of best friends who spend their summers separately. Starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn and Blake Lively, we follow the girls’ unique storylines in which they start and end together. With impactful themes such as grief, betrayal, love and friendship, Sisterhood of the travelling pants will both make you cry into your pillow and squeal with delight. 

What is so unique about this movie is that it has it all. The different summer experiences are combined into two hours from finding your true love in the beautiful island of Santorini to spending the summer working at target and filming a documentary.

Where to watch: YouTube £2.99, Google Play Movies from £2.99, Apple TV from £2.99, Amazon Prime Video from £2.99, and Sky Store from £3.49.

12. Dirty Dancing (1987)

“I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.”

Nobody puts baby in the corner. Especially when that baby is you bed-rotting in your room all day whilst the summer days pass you by. This movie hits different when you’re a teenage girl on vacation with your parents and your curfew ends hours before the sun sets.

Dirty Dancing is the classic summer movie in which the inexperienced ‘Baby’ (the summer Frances Housemen lets everyone call her that) collides with bad boy dancer Johnny Castle, leather jacket and all, during her family summer camp.

Dirty Dancing’s rebellious atmosphere and killer dance moves is all you need to wake you up from your summery slumber.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (Premium subscription), Google Play Movie from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, and Sky Store from £3.49.

13. Parent Trap (1998)

“Oh, don’t do this to me. I’m already seeing double”

Parent Trap is ideally watched on a cosy summer night (yes summer nights can still be cosy) with a tub of ice cream. This Disney favourite starring the one and only Lindsay Lohan (x2) is filled with childhood nostalgia.

Two young girls discover that they’re identical twins during summer camp and decide to switch places once their time at camp is over. One twin ends up finishing her summer with her mother in London whilst the other faces her potential stepmother in Napa Valley, California.

Where to watch: Disney +, YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movie from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49.

14. Bride and Prejudice (2004)

“Five star comfort with a bit of culture thrown in? Well, I don’t want you to turn India into a theme park.”

You may have heard of Pride and Prejudice, but for me, Bride and Prejudice came first. The vibrant summer colours as well as the beautiful backdrop of the Indian ocean is the epitome of a summer movie. Not to mention the catchy summer songs that rival even Mama Mia’s soundtrack, dare I say.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s classic, Lalita Bakshi is happy with her single life in Amritsar until the rich bachelors, Balraj and Darcy, arrive, sending the eager Mrs Bakshi after them. A heaty haters to lovers romcom, Bollywood’s Bride and Prejudice is the summer rival of British adaptation’s spring-inspired Pride and Prejudice.

Where to watch: YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49, and Apple TV from £3.49.

15. Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

“The truth is, I gave my heart away a long time ago, my whole heart, and I never really got it back”

Starring America’s Sweetheart Reese Witherspoon who plays Melanie, a New York fashion designer who returns to her hometown in Alabama to finally settle a divorce from her high school sweetheart. 

Melanie finds herself reminiscing on her past summers in the South and is faced with the tough decision of choosing between her first true love and her current fiancé who happens to be New York’s most desired bachelor.

This summer movie is very much focused on a cowboy summer as it romanticises America’s small-town vibes in the South filled with blazing days in the field and romantic kisses stolen away in the barn on a stormy summer night.

Where to watch: Disney +, Apple TV from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49 and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49.

16. It Happened One Night (1934)

“Perhaps you’re interested in how a man undresses. You know, it’s a funny thing about that. Quite a study in psychology. No two men do it alike. You know, I once knew a man who kept his hat on until he was completely undressed.”

It Happened One Night is arguably one of the best Romantic Comedies ever to have come on the big screen with its old Hollywood glamour, exciting enemies to lovers and adventurous escapades.

Ellie Andrews, a young heiress, runs away from her father’s care in order to marry a sleezy fortune hunter. On her runaway travels she bumps into journalist Peter Warne who soon finds out her secret identity and plans on making a great profit at her expense. As the two travel longer together, their sizzling hatred blossoms into something more.

Just the idea of running away with a mysterious stranger defines the very concept of summer love for me. The spontaneity and anonymity are what makes it so exciting.

Where to watch: Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, Amazon Prime Video from £3.49, YouTube from £7.99, and Google Play Movies from £7.99

17. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

“Only unfulfilled love can be romantic,”

Although I for one do not agree with this quote, it does give a general sense of what kind of romantic drama this movie is. The movie focuses on two close friends Vicky (played by Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (played by Scarlet Johansson) who, evidently, travel to Barcelona for the summer and (surprise!) have an affair with the same artsy Juan who is played by Javier Bardem.

Although the title does mention both Vicky and Cristina, a majority of the movie focuses on the love triangle between Cristina, Juan and his ex-wife Maria (played by the doe-eyed Penelope Cruz).

This love triangle quickly escalates into a “throuple” as Maria and Juan believe the only reason their relationship is finally working is due to Cristina’s involvement. They literally call her “the missing ingredient”. Talk about complicated relationships.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (premium subscription), YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49 and Apple TV from £3.49.

18. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)

“Some people, when they come to Rome, they want to find adventure.”

The Lizzie Mcguire Movie is all about finding your summer love in a foreign country. When teenager Lizzie Mcguire goes on a school trip to Rome, she’s mistaken to be her Italian celebrity lookalike and meets Paolo, an Italian popstar.

As all Disney summer movies, Lizzie ditches the rules and restrictions and finds true adventure in Rome à la riding on the back of a Vespa and eating gelato by the Trevi Fountain.

Where to Watch: Disney+, YouTube from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Amazon Prime Video from £3.49 and Google Play Movies from £3.49.

19. High School Musical 2 (2007)

“There you are! Thank goodness you’ve come to your senses! Plug in the volcano.”

After watching High School Musical 2 for the first time in like 12 years I have to admit that it is a must-watch summer movie with insanely fun songs and the best green screen canyons known to man.

Following High School Musical’s first movie, high school sweethearts Gabriella and Troy decide to start summer jobs at the country club with all their friends. Although what seems as mere fun and games at work, Sharpay Evans seems to have an ulterior plan that pulls the two lovebirds apart.

P.S. Enjoy the video of Trisha Paytas singing Troy’s solo! This really shows how big an impact High School Musical has on pop culture.

Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube from £7.99, Google Play Movie from £7.99, Apple Tv from £7.99, and Amazon Prime Video from £7.99

20. My Fault London (2025)

“I never believed in happy endings. London was supposed to be a fresh start, but it turned out to be the end – the end of my pain, of blaming myself for things that weren’t my fault.”

Although this definitely doesn’t compete with most of the other blockbuster movies I’ve included in this list, it’s still a fun guilty pleasure and for your younger self who used to obsess over cringey Wattpad fiction (don’t be ashamed we’ve all been there).

18-year-old Noah and her mother move to London to live with her new wealthy stepfather and stepbrother, Nick. As she settles into her new busy London life, her first impressions of Nick are more than sour. However, just like the Spanish version ‘Culpa mía’, what seems the most forbidden becomes the most appealing and the two slowly develop feelings for one another.

I mainly added this one for our ovulating teen girl readers and those trying their best to romanticise a London summer. Plus, there’s a fun party trip to Ibiza!

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (subscription)

21. Leap of Faith (1992)

“What did the doctors tell you about your legs? … The doctors have nothing to do with my legs. I’ll walk if it’s God’s will.”

This Steve Martin movie is less of a romance and more of a drama, in which the main plot is all about Jonas, a supposed “faith healer” who travels around with his personal gospel group of con artists and thieves.

With the summer in true heat, the town of Rustwater is facing poverty and a drought, becoming the perfect victim to Jonas’ blasphemous manipulations. However, dynamics quickly change within the group, and he comes to realise that religion is not just a means to exploiting the vulnerable.

Leap of faith raises serious and thoughtful questions about the plausibility of miracles, the strength of faith, and the moral ambiguity of con artists. The movie finishes with a touching ending that surprises both theists and atheists.

Where to watch: YouTube from £2.49, Google Play Movie from £2.49, Apple TV from £.49, and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49

22. Splash (1984)

“There is a mermaid in New York city”

Whilst many of us grew up watching mermaids in H2O: Just add water, we were sleeping on this 80’s mermaid romcom. 

Splash stars Tom Hanks and the alluring Daryl Hannah who meet each other briefly as kids. Daryl plays the mermaid Madison, who ditches her tail for legs and goes in search for Allen in the hopes of spending one romantic sex-filled week with him in New York.

I have to admit that this movie is very male-gaze centred, with Madison’s whole life surrounding Allen’s existence as well as her lack of lines and nymphomaniac personality.

However, the ending was pleasantly surprising with (spoiler alert!) Allen deciding to change for Madison and live with her underwater until the last of their days. 

I suggest watching it for its mermaid and island girl vibe rather than the plot, although there are some pretty comedic lines and scenes.

Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49, and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49

23. State Fair (1945)

“I’d say that I had spring fever,/ But I know it isn’t spring”

Another oldie, I know, but this one is just so much fun!

Set in Iowa, the smalltown Frakes family arrive in the annual summer fair that is filled with jam competitions, theme park rides and romantic flings. Both Margy Frake and her brother Wayne Frake go through a roller coast journey with their summer crushes.

The movie is accompanied with vibrant colours (I recommend watching the coloured version) and whimsical songs- my favourite is It Might As Well be Spring as quoted above!

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video from £2.49, YouTube from £3.49 to own but there is also the full version posted for free, Google Play Movie from £3.49, and Apple TV from £3.49

24. Two For the Road (1967)

“I was never sure if I was married to a man or a building.”

Starring the one and only Audrey Hepburn, Two For the Road centres around a married couple who reflect on their years together through a series of flashbacks, particularly on their exciting road trips through the French countryside.

Although their love has turned more on the sour side, the married couple explore the reasons as to why their love has become so distasteful and reminisce on their honeymoon phase during the peak of summer.

Their constant love and hate for each other is both realistic and captivating, making one feel as if they are an unhappy child in the backseat of their 1965 Mercedez-Benz.

Where to watch: YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49

25. Before Sunrise (1995)

“But isn’t everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?”

Focusing on the last days of summer, this movie is a perfect end to our list. Ethan Hawke plays Jesse Wallace who on his way back home meets student Celine (played by the spirited Julie Delpy) and, together, they decide to spend one adventurous day in Vienna.

Although they have less than twenty-four-hours together, an undeniable spark ignites between the two. They share deep philosophical dialogues and simply have fun being young for one final night before they have to face reality.

Where to watch: YouTube from £3.49, Google Play Movies from £3.49, Apple TV from £3.49, Sky Store from £3.49 and Amazon Prime Video from £3.49