For a lot of kids,summeris considered the favorite season becauseit means no school, more time with friends and family, and adventures that will become great stories. For many adults, summer is the time to be with family and enjoy the warm weather outside. Water parks, bonfires, and late nights with friends are just a few of the things that make the season so great. When creating a movie based on either kids or adults having a fantastic summer, writers know how to make even a simple night out on the town seem like the most fun adventure.
As the season comes to a close, you may be itching for one more fun thing to do. Whether that betraveling to an incredible destinationor spending another night walking on the sandy beach with a summer crush or good friend, this list is compiled of films that inspire audiences to get out into the warm weather and have fun.
Check out the 20 movies you need to watch before the season is over.
20Dazed and Confused
It seems like seniors hold all the power in high school inDazed and Confused, so when an upper classman, Pink, takes pity on a freshly hazed freshman, Mitch, an unlikely friendship emerges. Pink and his buddies want their first night of summer to be epic, so when the first house party of the season gets shut down, they make sure to still have a good time.
Teenagers cruise around town, chat up their crushes, and get into some minor trouble. In the end, the younger kids realize that there are some cool people at their school, and the first night of summer marks the start of a great vacation.
19Grown Ups
If lake houses could talk, there would be endless stories to tell. For Lenny and his three buddies inGrown Ups, they decide to celebrate the Fourth of July together with their families down at the lake house that holds many memories. The dads get their children to play outside, the families hit up the local water park, and most importantly, everyone has a good time despite a lot of initial hesitation about the trip. Even after people have grown up and gone their separate ways, reliving the glory days and including new family members and friends can make for fun experiences.
18High School Musical 2
The singing and dancing Wildcats return inHigh School Musical2,where everyone gets a summer job at the local country club — that is, everyone except Sharpay and Ryan, who are members of the club. While everyone does their best to earn money and have a fun summer, Troy constantly finds himself being pulled away by Sharpay. The film is fun, the soundtrack is upbeat, and in the end, everyone learns a bit about themselves and is better for it.
17Just Go With It
Sometimes people just have to go with the flow, and when that “flow” results in a free trip to Hawaii to keep a ruse going, everyone is all in. In order to get things sorted out with a woman inJust Go With It, Danny ends up down a rabbit hole of lies. He gets his office assistant to pose as his soon-to-be ex-wife, but when her children and a few others get involved, things get messy. Thissummer romantic comedyis adorable and heartwarming, and it will have fans planning their next vacation.
Related:Why We Love Summer Romance Movies
16The Last Song
InThe Last Song, Ronnie and her brother are sent to stay with their father one summer, and for Ronnie, this beach vacation is the worst thing she could think of. At first, she either ignores her father or simply argues with him, but after letting herself open up to some new people, Ronnie realizes that she needs to put her teenage angst behind her to genuinely have a good time. A summer romance takes place, siblings accept one another, and Ronnie learns to forgive a few people including herself.
15Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Family vacations can be hectic, but when 12 kids are involved, chaos is sure to ensue — as seen inCheaper by the Dozen 2. Tom Baker gets all of his children together for a final summer vacation at their favorite cabin, but memories don’t hold up as well as he thought. The cabin, especially in comparison to their neighbors' place, is a bit decrepit, and there is not much for the kids to do on their own.
When several of them make friends with the children of their father’s nemesis, Jimmy Murtaugh, the fun finally begins. Not-so-friendly competitions happen, and forbidden puppy love takes place for one of Tom’s daughters.
14The Parent Trap
Summer camp can be a lot of fun, especially if the campers are willing to show up with an open mind and enthusiastic attitude. For Hallie and Annie inThe Parent Trap, they do more than just follow an itinerary and play games. They discover that they are twins who were separated at birth, and after some consideration, they decide to switch places and go home with their other parent. The girls spend the summer trying to get their parents back together, but that comes with a lot of schemes andsome very helpful staff.
13Adventureland
InAdventureland, James Brennan finds out that he has to work rather than travel during his summer vacation after finishing college, he takes up a position at the local amusement park. James meets some rather colorful characters including a troubled girl named Em who immediately catches his attention.
James does his best to impress Em, and even when he finds out that she is involved with a married man, he continues to pursue her. From the stories told and the advice shared, there is a certain realism and down-to-earth feeling that holds this summer film together.
Related:Why Adventureland is One of the Best Coming-of-Age Movies
Disney does a great job at making certain places look incredible, andMoanais at the top of the charts for depicting one of the most beautiful locations. Set on the Polynesian island of Motunui, Moana has to travel across the blue seas to return Te Fiti her heart so that the islands will not wither away. Between the amazingculture represented in the filmand the magical life below the sea, this movie will have audiences booking their next beach getaway.
11The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Lizzie, her best friend, Gordo, and several of her classmates go on a summer trip to Rome, but for Lizzie, she finds more than good food and beautiful architecture. InThe Lizzie McGuire Movie, Lizzie gets mistaken for a pop star named Isabella, and her signing partner, Paolo, takes advantage of this.
He shows Lizzie around Rome and wins her naive heart, but then he asks her to pretend to be Isabella at an award ceremony. Gordo feels like the heartthrob is planning something, and unfortunately, he is right. The real Isabella returns, confronts Lizzie, and they create their own plan to get back at Paolo.
