Summer movie night
15 movies for screen time under the stars
Saturday Morning Serial is the weekend section of Library Binding. It’s a personal corner where I publish short stories, book reviews, and literary musings.
My brother and I were roaming the aisles of Blockbuster Video in Southern California at some point pre-1997. We couldn’t decide what to rent.
There wasn’t much in the New Release section. Remember how they always put the newest movies on the perimeter walls? My brother and I had ventured into the muddy middle—the shelves in the center of the store where the “old” stuff lived.
I fingered a VHS titled The Princess Bride. I flipped it over to read the blurb on the back.
“Have you seen it?”
I looked up to see an elderly man pointing a finger at me with a half-smile on his face. I shook my head, no.
“That is a really good movie,” he said.
We decided to rent it, even though I didn’t have strong feelings about it.
But that nice gentleman was one thousand percent correct. It was a really good movie.
As a child of the '80s and '90s, I loved movies.
When I was 6 or so, my mom bought The Sound of Music on VHS. It wasn’t a cartoon, so I knew it would be boring. Oh, not so. I loved it so much that I spent a great deal of spare time twirling like I was a nun on a grassy Alpine slope.
If you were fortunate enough to live through the Disney animated Renaissance that began in 1989 with The Little Mermaid and ended with The Lion King in 1994, then you know what a fine time it was for 7-year-olds.
Maybe movies are getting worse, or maybe I’m just getting older, but I haven’t had a great time at the movies in forever.
Books are my preferred form of entertainment, but sometimes, when you a have a warm summer evening at your disposal, and you just want to laze around with your family, a movie is just the ticket.
In a rare deviation from my norm, I thought I’d share some of my favorite movies for summer. I did try to limit this list to movies that are either set during summer or feel like summer.
Naturally, this list is loaded with nostalgia, and, as you’ll see, I have very conventional taste. Most of these movies are light watching, but there are a few tear-jerkers mixed in.
I hope you enjoy this tiny break from booklists and rediscover an old film—you know, back when they were good.1
Movies that feel like summer
What About Bob? (1991) A psychiatrist and his patient experience a hilarious role reversal over Labor Day weekend. A comedic masterpiece that automatically earns the top spot on any summer movie list.
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) What’s more summery than the circus? Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston play supporting roles in this Cecil B. DeMille classic that enthralled me as a young person. Fun fact: It was the first film Steven Spielberg ever saw.
That Thing You Do (1996) A talented band cuts a hit record in the 1960s. I saw this with a gaggle of friends because one of them happened to be an extra in the talent show scene. You’ll be humming the soundtrack for days—sorry.
Overboard (1987) A hilarious and heartwarming hillbilly retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are perfection. Now, go eat your checkers.
Jurassic Park (1993) If you saw this in the theater growing up, then it’s probably a core memory. Never had I been more terrified. It still holds up even after all this time.
Only You (1994) Set over (I believe) Labor Day weekend, this rom-com traipses you across a sun-drenched Italy in search of the elusive Damon Bradley. Perfect for armchair travel and fans of Downey, Jr.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Even though this movie was sequeled to death, the original is pure adventure on the high seas, and I will not be convinced otherwise. Johnny Depp is good, but Geoffrey Rush is great.
Paradise (1991) A young Elijah Wood must spend the summer with a young married couple grappling with grief. Thora Birch’s performance will tug on your heartstrings.
The Way Way Back (2013) A coming-of-age summer story that will make you cringe and cheer at turns. It’s one of those movies that makes you smile with the corners of your mouth pointing downward.
The Parent Trap (1961) What if you met your twin at summer camp? This sweet story of parental manipulation is one of my all-time favorites. The camping sequence at the end pulls it all together like a gift.
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (1991) This bad-taste comedy features a crew of grungy siblings, led by Christina Applegate, who must fend for themselves over the summer when the babysitter croaks.
The War (1994) If you enjoy the idea of Kevin Costner ripping your heart out of your chest and watering it with his tears, then please watch this. You’ve been warned.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) This goofy comedy has aged quite well. Even though it’s popcorn all the way down, there is solid interpersonal conflict to keep the story feeling real.
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) Possibly the best buddy movie in the Disney catalog? Plus, it features one of Disney’s greatest moms.
Finding Nemo (2003) This sweet story is still as entertaining as ever. The water, the coral reef, the sunken ships, the aquarium—the perfect movie to watch after swimming all day.
What are some of your favorite summer movies?
I’d love to know!
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. –Ecc. 1:10
I’ll leave you with one irresistible indulgence—for the ladies.
Your devoted,
Michelle
The Novel Envelope, Vol. 2: Laughter and Regret coming July 1
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Slow down. Savor a story. Write something by hand.
I am being sarcastic. I think most people realize that films have perceptibly devolved over the years. Nothing is new. Just remakes and spinoffs with established audiences. But, on the other hand, I am an old crotchety lady who hasn’t seen many movies in the past fifteen years, so I know I’m not one to talk.
So many great titles on this list! I’ve seen most of them. My hubby (fiancé at the time) and I loved Jurassic Park so much that we saw it twice in the theaters. I’m surprised to not see The Sandlot here. And The Goonies, of course. I would have to add Independence Day. We rewatch it every 4th of July.
This a great list, with tons of titles I've never seen! I have to admit that while I do enjoy the original Parent Trap, it's the Lindsay Lohan version that holds my heart. My kids love it now, too, it's one of their favorites. How funny to think that the "new" Parent Trap is just as classic to them as the Hayley Mills version was for me when I watched it at their age!