Essential Pandemic Summer Viewing
The movies that pair well with another summer in a pandemic
I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been feeling temperatures climb higher and higher. We’re in the middle of summer, when the air is hotter and harsher than ever, and the blessed respite of rain comes rarely.
It’s another pandemic summer, which can only mean that we’ve either watched everything we’ve added to our to-watch list, or we’ve barely made a dent in it. Times are crazier than ever, so I personally like to escape to the contained and timed chaos of a two-hour film. Below, 10 movies that are essential pandemic summer viewing.
Summer Movies
Summer Movies
Charlie’s Angels
It’s only a matter of time before the 2000 Charlie’s Angels becomes a full-fledged classic. The action film stars Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Billy Murray, and is an absolute treat to watch: It’s funny, it’s entertaining, it’s a quick 98 minutes, and it holds up. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the soundtrack is pretty awesome, too. Charlie’s Angels will soon arrive on Netflix.
Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold
Joan Didion reminds me of Californian landscapes and the sun. The Center Will Not Hold, a documentary about her life and work, chronicles her rise in the literary world, from her career beginnings to her current stature. It’s an easy watch, enlightening and personal; perfect for summertime ruminations. Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold is available on Netflix.
Mamma Mia! films
There is nothing more essential to summer than the Mamma Mia! movies. Even as I prefer the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again—an opinion I know isn’t all too popular—both films are so joyous and bright that they function as pick-me-ups, especially when the mood is low after a particularly tiring day or week. There’s no way you won’t still be blasting the cast recording even a couple days after viewing. Mamma Mia! is available on Netflix.
Definitely, Maybe
Definitely, Maybe doesn’t remind me of summer, per se, but I wouldn’t be so opposed to watching it soon (especially since it’s leaving Netflix very shortly). It’s a light rom-com about Will Hayes and how he met his daughter’s mom, while telling the story of his early years in New York City. Definitely, Maybe is available on Netflix.
The Karate Kid films
It wouldn’t be a summer watchlist without an 80s classic or two. The Karate Kid follows Daniel Larusso, the new kid at a high school in Los Angeles, who learns karate to stand up to bullies. If you, like me, have been basking in Karate Kid nostalgia since the release of Cobra Kai on Netflix, then this is required summer viewing. The Karate Kid (and its sequel, The Karate Kid II) is available on Netflix.
My Cousin Vinny
Another Ralph Macchio flick (no bias intended), My Cousin Vinny is about two high school graduates who accidentally get arrested for murder, and must now depend on a relative—newly-minted and not-yet-practicing lawyer Vincent “Vinny” LaGuardia—to win their court case. My Cousin Vinny is available on Apple Movies.
Dirty Dancing
If we’re talking about summer movies, Dirty Dancing has got to be on the list. In the summer before she goes to college, Frances “Baby” Houseman and her family vacation at a resort upstate. There, she meets the resort’s dance instructor, resulting in sparks flying between the two of them. Dirty Dancing is an ultimate summer classic, I think: It’s romantic, it’s sweaty, it’s sensual, it’s funny, and it’s got great music. Dirty Dancing is available on Apple Movies.
Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch is a weird little Disney film, but it’s got a huge amount of heart. I watched it a lot as a kid, and have always had fond memories of the Elvis songs, the beachscapes, and the song “Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride.” The film follows an orphan named Lilo, who lives with her sister and wishes for an “angel.” Enter: Stitch, an alien. Lilo & Stitch is available on Disney+.
Photos from IMdB
Top Stories
Metro Beauty Picks Of The Week
BEAUTYMar 14, 2023