10 summer movies to watch on streaming today

The summer months are finally upon us! In order to celebrate and get us into the mood for the warm weather, we’re taking a look at some of the best summer movies that streaming has to offer.

Whether this means a picture released during the summer of previous years, or one with a perfectly summery theme/vacation-based storyline, each movie is available to stream today. And, we’re not just sticking to this century either. There are a few blasts from the past on this list, a favorite modern classics and more! Here’s what you should be streaming this summer as we head into the hottest months of the year.

Summer movies to watch on streaming

1. Midsommar

Released: July 3, 2019

Stream: The Showtime app, Hulu (with a Showtime subscription), and Prime Video (with a Showtime subscription)

Starring Florence Pugh in arguably her most well-known role, aside from Yelena Belova in the MCU, Midsommar became an instant cult classic back in 2019.

A horror thriller from the A24–the studio behind Lady Bird, Ex Machina, and Moonlight (2016)–the story follows an unstable couple and their group of friends as they observe the odd and oftentimes horrifying midsummer traditions and rituals of a remote Swedish community.

Amidst some incredible visuals and directorial work from Ari Aster, Midsommar is powerfully unsettling. This has been confirmed as such by numerous critics, reviewers, and award-givers; Hidden Remote‘s Wesley Lara states that “The story and its execution encourage audiences to actively go ‘What in the hell?’, both at its most humorous and horrific.”

2. Hairspray

Released: July 20, 2007

Stream: Coming to Hulu on June 1

Whilst perhaps not an obvious choice amongst typical summer movies, Hairspray offers musical theatricality and joy that is simply perfect for the brighter weather.

Released a shocking 15 years ago this July, the movie (based on the Broadway production of the same name) follows Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), a plus-sized teenager living in the 1960s with a passion for dancing and her favorite TV program, The Corny Collins Show.

Boasting an incredible cast–Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, John Travolta, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, Amanda Bynes, and Allison Janney to name a few–Hairspray is a summer necessity. The songs are addictive, the humor is evergreen, and the powerful messages of anti-racism, body positivity, and change are interwoven greatly through the 2-hour runtime.

3. Grown Ups

Released: June 25, 2010

Stream: Netflix

A staple of American comedies, Grown Ups stars Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Kevin James, and Rob Schneider as a group of high school friends who reunite for 4th of July celebrations. Maya Rudolph, Salma Hayek, and Maria Bello also star, creating an ensemble cast with great chemistry that allows for one of the funniest, silliest, and yet most heartfelt comedies of the past couple of decades.

From slapstick to improvisational work, Grown Ups has every kind of humour to make it a great, easy summer movie to watch with friends, or to get you giggling in the warm evenings.

4. When Marnie Was There

Released: July 19, 2014

Stream: HBO Max

When Marnie Was There is a touching picture from the minds and teams at Studio Ghibli. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty), the movie follows a young girl named Anna as she meets and forms a friendship with the titular Marnie one summer.

In true Ghibli style, not everything is as it seems. Viewers are made to feel confused and disoriented as they attempt to piece things together and understand who the mysterious Marnie really is. Although not Ghibli’s most fantastical piece–it doesn’t have the magical folklore seen in Spirited Away or the high stakes of Princess Mononoke—When Marnie Was There is a heartfelt tale of female friendship, love, and family, found amidst the setting of a summery coastal town. It makes for a beautiful summer movie choice.

5. Chicken Run

Released: June 23, 2000

Stream: Peacock

With the sequel on its way a whopping 22 years after the original, Chicken Run is a great summer-released stop-motion picture from Aardman Animations and Dreamworks.

The film tells the adventure of a group of British farmyard chickens who meet an American rooster who inspires and encourages their escape from the fate of being made into chicken pies. Chicken Run is a family-friendly movie that often goes forgotten in animation discourse, making it a terrific choice for those wanting something lively to watch this summer.

6. Dirty Dancing

Released: August 21, 1987

Stream: HBO Max, Hulu, fuboTV (with subscription)

As a classic ’80s chick-flick, Dirty Dancing has stood the test of time, remaining an iconic part of pop culture in the Western world. Almost everyone will recognize the famous lift performed by leading stars Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze in the film, which generated a whopping $214 million against a paltry $5 million budget. There’s a sequel confirmed in the works, but it is the original Dirty Dancing you should be watching on HBO Max or Hulu this summer. Despite some cheesiness, the romantic story of a young woman falling for her dance instructor during her vacation at a resort continues to thrill, and it is certainly one of the summer movies worth watching (or re-watching), even if only to sing along to the award-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”.

7. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

Released: July 22, 2021

Stream: Netflix

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a hidden gem amongst Netflix animes and summer movies; this slice of life story sits in the romantic comedy/drama genre, telling the story of an introverted boy who meets a bubbly yet self-conscious girl one summer. The plot itself is fairly thin, but the movie is great to simply sit and soak in some beautiful visuals, immersing yourself in a sun-soaked world of haikus, friendship, and nostalgia. Sometimes simple movies are a necessity, and this Kyohei Ishiguro directed piece is one of them, feeling like the cinematic equivalent of the lo-fi music genre. The movie is available in both Japanese and English.

8. Along for the Ride

Released: May 6, 2022

Stream: Netflix

Although many reviews claim Netflix’s new rom-com to be missing the spark of the successful To All the Boys I Loved Before (2018), Along for the Ride still satisfies the craving for a summery, teenage drama with just the right helping of cringe and ‘finding yourself’. The movie is based on the best-selling novel by Sarah Dessen and was directed by Sofia Alvarez. Predictable, borderline awful, and yet comforting, the protagonist Auden (Emma Pasarow) decides to spend the summer before college in her father’s beach town, where she meets a mysterious boy (Belmont Cameli). If you’re looking for something easy to digest with overt summery tones rather than a masterpiece of cinema, this is an excellent choice on Netflix.

9. Point Break

Released: July 12, 1991

Stream: HBO Max

Another one of the atypical summer movies. Point Break is an action drama directed by the outstanding Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker 2008 and Zero Dark Thirty 2012). It stars action icon Keanu Reeves as an undercover FBI agent tasked with investigating a group of surfers believed to be responsible for recent bank robberies in sunny Los Angeles. Coming up against Patrick Swayze, the protagonist is involved in everything from skydiving, surfing, gunfights, car chases and fistfights, to emotional betrayal and heartbreak. Whilst perhaps not a summer movie that instantly comes to mind, Point Break is a fantastic summer-released showcase of Keanu Reeves’ skill long before his John Wick days, and an excellent action alternative to classic summer flicks.

10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Released: November 25, 2020

Stream: Netflix

Set during a sweltering summer day in Chicago 1927, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is another different take on a summer movie. Starring the late Chadwick Boseman in his final role, alongside the outrageously talented Viola Davis, the movie depicts the real ‘Mother of Blues’, the titular, brassy Ma Rainey as she records one of her soulful albums. The movie is developed from the August Wilson stage production of the same name, and it certainly feels as such; the main set is simple and fairly static, the dialogue is often monologic, and the stakes are seemingly low. However, the tension builds dangerously alongside the temperature, keeping you engaged as you revel in the luminescence of Boseman’s performance and in the rawness of such a rich, Black story that is a vitally unique summer watch.