OK, sure, there are the obvious things we get excited for when Summer rolls around: beach and park days, numerous trips to our local ice cream shop, and many over-the-top picnics with friends. But let's be honest, some Summer days (and nights!) are worth spending on the sofa, binge-watching a Summer-themed movie [1] on Netflix with the fan turned up to the maximum. Why take a trip to the park for the seventh consecutive day in a row when you could vicariously live through someone else doing so on the big screen (sans the heat, sweat, or struggle to find a parking space)?
Scroll through for a binge-watcher's guide to the best Summer movies [2] of 2019, including everything from romantic comedies and dramas to thrillers based on true stories. We promise, there are enough to get you through the entire Summer — you know, when it's just way too hot to make it out of the house.
The Last Summer
KJ Apa, Maia Mitchell and Halston Sage play recent graduates from a Chicago high school in The Last Summer [4]. The teen drama features intersecting stories of love, friendship, and family.
Watch it now [5].
Malibu Rescue
Perfect for family movie night, Malibu Rescue follows a group of junior lifeguards in Malibu Beach, CA, as they compete to become *official* junior lifeguards.
Watch it now [6].
Princess Cyd
Sixteen-year-old Cyd Loughlin spends a Summer living with her novelist aunt in Chicago in Princess Cyd. There, she meets and falls for a girl named Katie. This Indie coming-of-age story speaks to female sexuality and the power in female relationships.
Watch it now [7].
The Perfect Date
As a group of high school seniors near graduation, they have to make big decisions about their future in The Perfect Date. The movie follows Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo), who creates an app to play a stand-in boyfriend to raise money to save up for Yale.
Watch it now [8].
Wet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer is a cult-classic comedy that will leave you laughing straight through. The story follows a group of camp counselors on their last day at Camp Firewood, as they struggle to take hold of all of their unfinished business here at camp — some of which is slightly questionable.
Watch it now [9].
ROMA
Beloved by Barack Obama and practically every movie critic out there, Roma is a Spanish-language drama that, at the heart of it, is about two women who help support one another. The black-and-white film focuses on the complex employer-employee relationship between two women, which is heightened with an emotional beach scene towards the end of the movie.
Watch it now [10].
FYRE
You have to watch this documentary to understand how crazy the Fyre Festival scam really was. What was supposed to be a luxury music festival on the Bahamian Island of Great Exuma turned into an epic fail. Fyre explains it all — from the planning stages to when everything imploded.
Watch it now [11].
Mamma Mia!
Travel to Greece with the cast of Mamma Mia! Meryl Streep [12] and Amanda Seyfried [13] play mother and daughter in the musical rom-com. Bride-to-be Sophie (Seyfried) invites three of her mother's former lovers to her wedding in hopes that she'll meet her father to walk her down the aisle. Haven't seen it yet? It's about time to find out what happened.
Watch it now [14].
Wine Country
A group of five longtime friends take a trip to Napa Valley to celebrate their friend Rebecca's (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday. Perfect for a Summer movie night with your closet friends, Wine Night will have you laughing nonstop. This movie is best paired with many, many glasses of wine.
Watch now [15].
Staten Island Summer
Featuring a cast full of SNL stars and alums like Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan, and Cecily Strong, Staten Island Summer follows a pair of lifeguards as they plan an end-of-the-Summer party with wild intentions.
Watch it now [16].
Solo
Prepare to cling to the edge of your seat in this suspenseful Spanish film. Solo tells the story of a surfer who falls off a cliff and fights to survive while reflecting on his life and past relationships. The movie's inspired by the real-life story of surfer Álvaro Vizcaíno.
Watch it now [17].
Someone Great
Someone Great will have you laughing, crying, and then crying some more over the beauty of friendship. Best friends Jenny (Gina Rodriguez), Blair (Brittany Snow [18]), and Erin (DeWanda Wise) take on one last big adventure in NYC to make Jenny feel whole again after a tough breakup.
Watch it now [19].
You Get Me
For a rom-com that transforms into a psychological thriller, look no further than You Get Me, starring Bella Thorne, Halston Sage, and Taylor John Smith. After Holly (Thorne) meets Tyler (Smith), at an end-of-Summer party, the obsession begins.
Watch it now [20].
To All The Boys I've Loved Before
As we approach the anniversary of when To All the Boys I've Loved Before [21] launched last Summer, it's the perfect time to watch the high school rom-com all over again — or for the first time if you haven't already. In that case, you better hit "play" right now.
Watch it now [22].
Ibiza
Feeling a romantic comedy? Ibiza tells the story of three women who take a spontaneous trip to Ibiza. Harper (Gillian Jacobs) ditches her business trip to get crazy with friends and meet an unexpected someone.
Watch it now [23].
The Package
Teenage friends go on a camping trip over Spring break, but things take a turn for the worst when one of the three friends gets into a painful (yet comical) accident. Watch The Package if you've been thinking of taking a camping trip this Summer — we have a feeling you'll opt for the beach house to play it safe instead.
Watch it now [24].
