The 19 best summer films – according to VOGUE
19 summer movies you absolutely have to see
A Vespa ride to Rome with a couple? A holiday home on the Baltic Sea with friends? Or a father-daughter duo on a resort in Turkey? Below, VOGUE presents 19 summer films that will transport you to the destination of your choice.
The 19 best summer films – according to VOGUE
If ever there was a film that instantly makes you want to quit your job, buy a one-way ticket to Thailand, and live off the beach, it's definitely Danny Boyle's "The Beach." The 2000s classic in which Leonardo DiCaprio looks better than anyone has ever looked before. Anyone who's seen the film knows that it takes a dark turn around the second third—but that's the price of paradise...
One of the most aesthetically pleasing and moving summer films of all time: Eleven-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) and her father Calum (Paul Mescal) are spending a relaxing beach holiday in Turkey. They lounge by the pool, play billiards, go on excursions, eat ice cream, and capture the day's impressions with Calum's new video camera. But viewers become increasingly aware that the carefree atmosphere isn't real and can't last forever...
Sean Baker's "The Florida Project" is set (as the name suggests) in Kissimmee, Florida – a run-down suburb known primarily for its proximity to Disneyland. The film follows single mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) and her fearless six-year-old daughter Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) as they hang out in a motel, trying to make ends meet. Vibrant and colorful, the film is a visual spectacle – but like any truly good summer film, it's sure to leave your eyes watering.
Christian Petzold's German production tells the story of four young people spending a dry, hot summer in a holiday home on the Baltic Sea. However, their seemingly idyllic setting is soon threatened by uncontrolled forest fires – the house is slowly engulfed in flames. In this confined space, the relationship between the four also changes.
There's no better setting for a film than a holiday villa on the Côte d'Azur—especially when the film also features top-notch actors, passion, and intrigue. Romy Schneider in sheer silk blouses and Jane Birkin in simple gingham two-pieces—all designed by André Courrèges—also make the film a fashion highlight. Even when the dramatic tension in "La Piscine" reaches its climax, the mood remains both languid and glamorous.
Aside from Tom Ripley's murderous streak, the Hollywood adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1950s-set novel features scene after scene of the attractive and wealthy 20-year-old (played by Jude Law) sunning himself on the Sicilian coast, hosting dinner parties, and sailing the crystal-blue Mediterranean. What more could you want? If you can't get enough of the story, you can also watch the remake "Ripley" starring Andrew Scott on Netflix.
It's rare for a documentary to transport you so instantly to a specific place and time—but "Dogtown and Z-Boys," directed by the original Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, does just that. Packed with sun-soaked archival footage from the '70s and interviews with everyone involved, "Dogtown" tells the story of the Californian teenagers who skated and surfed simultaneously—and who made skateboarding what it is today.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you simply gave in to a crazy idea? In "Before Sunrise," that's exactly what happens: An American tourist (Ethan Hawke), traveling through Europe for the summer, meets Céline (Julie Delpy), a beautiful French woman. In Vienna, they impulsively get off the train and spend 24 hours together, changing their lives and marking the beginning of the greatest vacation romance of all time. As soon as the credits roll, you'll probably start planning your next trip...
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