Warner Bros. Pictures
Are you looking for a great time this summer? Well, why not pop some popcorn, grab some candy, and throw on a classic summertime flick? From family-friendly classics to hit documentaries, there's a summer film for everyone! So read on to see the best summer movies of all time...
The Goonies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Who doesn't love this family-friendly classic? The Goonies has everything you want in a summer movie: fun, adventure, and plenty of water scenes. In the hit '80s films, a group of youngsters try and find the pirate treasure of One-Eyed Willy to save their town. What follows is an incredible adventure in the caves beneath their northwestern United States city. Not only does The Goonies never fail to please, but it also features performances from a young Sean Astin (Stranger Things and Lord of the Rings) and the iconic Josh Brolin. The Goonies should undoubtedly sit at the top of your summer movies list!
Jaws
Universal Pictures
Looking for a summer classic with a little more...teeth? Well, Jaws should fit perfectly! For those who haven't seen it, Jaws certainly might make you stay out of the water for a while. It all starts when newly hired Sheriff Martin Brody discovers a shark attack victim. Soon enough, Brody finds himself in a battle with not only the shark, but also the local government. After all, the Mayor doesn't want to shut down the beaches on the fourth of July. Packed with scars and laughs alike, there's a reason Jaws remains a classic to this day, nearly 50 years after its release. Meanwhile, the classic film not only became the first summer blockbuster, but also launched Steven Spielberg's career. That's no easy feat!
The Endless Summer
Cinema V
If you like your summer movies a little more educational, The Endless Summer is for you! The first surfing documentary ever made, the film follows surfers searching for that "endless summer." So they criss-cross the globe, always basking in the sun. From the "uncharted waters of West Africa, to the shark-filled seas of Australia, to the tropical paradise of Tahiti and beyond, these California surfers accomplish in a few months what most people never do in a lifetime...they live their dream."
When The Endless Summer was first released in 1965, audiences lined up to see it time and time again. It both provided them with a glimpse into a world they never knew, and was incredibly fun to watch. And it remains so today! One watch, and you'll understand why it became the hit it did.
National Lampoon's Vacation
Warner Bros. Pictures
The best summer movies tell stories that we can all relate to. For instance, who hasn't been through a rough family summer vacation? Still even the worst family vacations cannot compare National Lampoon's Vacation! After planning every single little detail, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his supportive wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), take their two teen kids, Audrey and Rusty, on a cross-country road trip. As you might expect, despite all the planning in the world, everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. Will the Griswolds ever make it to sunny California and the Walley World Theme Park? You can only find out in one of Chevy Chases best movies ever!
Of course, there are plenty of other summer movies that nearly made our list! Want something spooky and R-rated? Check out summer camp slashers like Friday the 13th or Sleepaway Camp. Want something to remember your time at summer camp, but without the blood? Summer camp movies like Parent Trap or Ernest Goes To Camp are fun for the whole family!
Sources: Columbian.com, IMDB, Men's Health Magazine
