The Long, Hot Summer Movies
Movies that feel like summer in all the best and worst and sweatiest ways.
It’s officially summer, so I put together a dozen of my favorite movies that feel like those long, sun-and-sweat-soaked summer days.
Let’s get to it.
Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
“Life is like foam, so give yourself away like the sea.”
A road movie, a love triangle, a tear-jerking (and the other kind) dramedy. Set in the midst of Mexican political and teenage turmoil the summer before two lifelong best friends go off to college, it’s an unforgettable, sweaty experience directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Roma, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban).
Before Sunset (2004)
My favorite in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, which I wrote about at length here. In this middle installment, Jesse and Celine wander the streets of Paris on a summer afternoon and talk about life, love, and what could’ve been. The real-time element, realistic(ish) conversation (which was all thoroughly rehearsed), and warm visuals make the film feel both lifelike and dreamy.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
A psychosexual noir thriller set on the gorgeous Italian coast that truly channels Hitchcock in look and feel without sacrificing its take on Patricia Highsmith’s twisted yet sympathetic character of Tom Ripley and his identity crisis.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Spike Lee’s modern classic of love and hate in eternal dialogue. It’s heart wrenching, sweat-soaked, funny, clever, and only gets better with time. The film has a unique, warm, hazy look that sets it in a very specific time and place and makes the story, which takes place in one day, feel immediate.
Aftersun (2022)
A young father and his 11-year-old daughter spend their last holiday together on the Turkish coast. The way the film deals with memory and how we fill in the gaps when we become as old as our parents were and we have more questions than answers is one of the most interesting things I’ve seen on screen in years. Deceptively simple and absolutely devastating.
Blue Velvet (1986)
David Lynch’s iconic, elusive thriller that shows a sick and sensual side to suburban life is one of my favorites. A true neo-noir that will keep you on your toes through the shadowy figures and hypnotic music, visuals, and storyline.
Evil Dead II (1987)
A massive improvement on the original and a true horror-comedy feat. Gory, funny, and an absolutely wild ride that clocks in at under just 84 minutes. Highly recommended, if you have the stomach for it.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
The steamy adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, who played the same roles on the stage, and the flow and familiarity translates beautifully on screen. It’s a film and story I think of often, about an alcoholic, ailing former football player mourning the loss of his best friend, among other family secrets.
A Summer’s Tale (1996)
Eric Rohmer’s tales of people adrift, in and outside of cities, never fails to capture me. This one feels like long summer days where you’re waiting for something more interesting to happen, but often settle for a swim or a wander or a coffee. The boredom, sexual exploration (and dissatisfaction), and flowing conversation keep this one afloat.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
A sweaty, stressful crime thriller based on a true story and starring peak Al Pacino. An unforgettable film.
Point Break (1991)
This movie feels like pure energy. People with opposing intentions learning about each other, respecting each other, learning a new way of life and envying it but being pulled back to the person society taught us we should be. A really fun crime thriller with a dash of romance and a lot of surfing.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Few summer movie lists made since 2017 have skipped Luca Guadagnino’s lusty, naive, fresh, sun-soaked coming of age love story set in the 1980s Italian countryside, and for good reason. The Timothee Chalamet’s performance is possibly still his best and most layered, and it’s just transportive. Challengers and Queer from the same director are also worth a summer watch.
What are some of your favorite summer films?
Stills via FilmGrab, Janus Films, AZ Movies, Film Affinity, Rotten Tomatoes.