35 Best Summer Romance Movies for Your Next Movie Night

I’m convinced summer is the absolute best time of year. 

Between the sandy beach trips and those late-night movie marathons, it’s the perfect season to lean into all the feelings. 

While I’ll always have a massive soft spot for the nostalgia of the 90s and early 2000s, I’ve made sure to include favorites from every era in this list. 

Whether you want a classic black-and-white romance or a modern-day heartbreak, there is something here to make your summer feel a bit more cinematic.

Challengers (2024)

Set against the backdrop of professional tennis, this isn’t your average love story. It’s a high-stakes, sweaty, and intense look at a love triangle spanning years. 

You’ll definitely appreciate the incredible cinematography and the way the tension builds—it’s more of a psychological romance than a fluffy one, which makes it feel fresh and modern. 

Love in the Villa (2022)

When Julie gets dumped right before her trip to Verona, she ends up double-booked in a villa with a cynical wine expert named Charlie. 

It’s got that classic enemies-to-lovers trope we all secretly love. The Italian scenery is gorgeous, though some of the humor is a bit over-the-top. 

Still, the romance-novel vibes are undeniable and perfect for a lazy afternoon.

Grease (1978)

The ultimate summer lovin’ classic. 

We’ve all seen Sandy and Danny’s carnival transformation a million times, but it never gets old. 

It’s colorful, nostalgic, and high-energy. 

While some of the relationship dynamics feel a bit dated now, the soundtrack is still an absolute banger that carries the whole movie.

Along for the Ride (2022)

This is such a specific mood movie. 

It follows Auden, who spends her last summer before college in a seaside town. 

She meets a fellow insomniac, Eli, and they go on nightly quests to experience the childhood fun she missed out on. 

It captures that quiet, blue-toned summer night feeling perfectly. It’s sweet, low-stakes, and very relatable if you’ve ever felt like an outsider.

Roman Holiday (1953)

If you haven’t seen Audrey Hepburn as a runaway princess exploring Rome on a Vespa with Gregory Peck, you’re missing out.

It’s the blueprint for the holiday romance. It’s incredibly charming and witty, though the ending is bittersweet.

Faraway (2023)

Zeynep escapes her unappreciative family to a cottage in Croatia she inherited from her mother.

Finding a rugged man already living there is a bonus. 

What’s great here is that the lead is an older woman finding herself again. 

It’s less about falling in love and more about Zeynep reclaiming her life, which is honestly really refreshing.

People We Meet on Vacation (2026)

The long-awaited adaptation of the Emily Henry book!

Poppy and Alex are total opposites—she’s a wild child and he’s a homebody—but they take a trip every summer. 

This one hits hard because it deals with the fear of ruining a decade-long friendship. 

It’s globe-trotting, funny, and has that cozy Pinterest travel aesthetic we all crave.

The Little Mermaid (2023)

This live-action remake brings a lot of scale and color to the classic tale. 

The chemistry between Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King actually feels more developed here than in the original. 

While the CGI under the sea can be hit or miss, the Part of Your World sequence is genuinely moving. It’s a nice, fantastical summer escape.

Just Go With It (2011)

This is your classic Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston chaos. 

A plastic surgeon pretends to be getting a divorce to land a younger woman and drags his assistant along as his ex. 

It’s silly, the Hawaii scenery is basically a tourism ad, and it’s definitely not high art, but the banter between Sandler and Aniston is always top-tier.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Maybe not a romance in the traditional sense, but it’s a love letter to a bygone era of Los Angeles. 

The relationship between Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth is the real heart here. 

The sun-drenched 1969 setting is incredible to look at. It’s long and meandering, but if you just want to soak in an atmosphere, this is the one.

Princess Diaries (2001)

Total comfort watch. Watching Mia Thermopolis go from invisible teenager to Princess of Genovia is the ultimate makeover fantasy. 

It’s funny, heartwarming, and Julie Andrews is perfection. 

This is the kind of movie that makes you want to move to San Francisco and live in a converted firehouse.

Before Sunrise (1995)

If you want something that feels incredibly grounded, this is it. 

Jesse and Céline meet on a train and decide to spend one single night together in Vienna before he flies back to the States. 

It’s basically just one long, beautiful conversation about life, death, and love. 

I really love how minimalistic it is; it feels like you’re just eavesdropping on a real first date. 

It’s definitely a physical book in a quiet café kind of movie—very thoughtful and intimate without needing a big, dramatic plot.

500 Days of Summer (2009)

A bit of a reality check. It’s a non-linear story about a guy who falls for a girl who doesn’t believe in true love. 

It’s stylish and has a great soundtrack, but it’s also a bit of a warning about projecting your own fantasies onto someone else. 

I can’t lie, it’s  clever, but it might leave you feeling a little cynical.

Tell Me When (2020)

Will is a workaholic who goes to Mexico City to fulfill his grandfather’s bucket list. 

It’s a beautiful exploration of the city, and the romance feels earned. 

This is a great coming-of-age story for someone who forgot how to actually live their life. 

And, the visuals of Mexico City are a huge highlight.

The Notebook (2004)

The heavy hitter. It’s the ultimate summer house romance between Allie and Noah. 

It’s unashamedly dramatic and very paperback romance novel in its execution. 

Even if you find the plot a bit cliché, the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is legendary for a reason.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Pure, unadulterated joy and this is actually my favorite movie of all time.

A daughter invites three potential fathers to her wedding on a Greek island, all set to ABBA songs. 

It’s chaotic and some of the singing is questionable (looking at you, Pierce Brosnan), but the energy is infectious. 

It’s the cinematic equivalent of a summer cocktail.

Say Anything (1989)

The movie that gave us the iconic boombox over the head scene. 

Lloyd Dobler is the ultimate 80s boyfriend—he just wants to be there for Diane. 

It’s a very sweet, genuine look at first love after high school graduation. It’s got a bit more grit than modern teen movies, which I think you’ll appreciate.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

This movie is a visual feast—the food, the fashion, and the parties in Singapore are stunning. 

It’s a classic meeting the family story but turned up to eleven. The mahjong scene is a masterpiece of tension. 

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

This is a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused. 

It follows a group of college baseball players hanging out in Texas during the last weekend before classes start in 1980. 

It’s very dude-centric, but it’s incredibly nostalgic and captures that specific feeling of summer freedom and aimless fun.

Cheaper by the Dozen (2005)

More of a family comedy than a romance, but there’s a lot of love in the chaos of the Baker family. 

It’s a fun, lighthearted watch about balancing a career and a massive family. 

I recommend this for when you want something nostalgic and easy that doesn’t require too much deep thought.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

This is honestly such a peak 90s summer vibe. 

It’s a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, following new kid Cameron as he tries to date the popular Bianca.

The catch is that her dad won’t let her date unless her antisocial older sister, Kat, does too. 

I’ve always appreciated that Kat stays true to her sharp, feminist self even when she starts falling for the bad boy Patrick. I

It doesn’t do that annoying trope where the girl changes her whole personality for a guy. 

Plus, that scene with Heath Ledger singing on the bleachers is totally iconic.

The Kissing Booth (2018)

Now, this one is a bit of a guilty pleasure. 

It’s about Elle, whose secret crush on her best friend’s older brother, Noah, gets messy when they end up at a carnival kissing booth. 

To be honest, some of the bad boy tropes are a little much and can feel a bit cliché, but there’s something undeniably fun about the summer carnival energy. 

I didn’t love all the drama between the brothers, but for a lighthearted, easy watch while you’re hanging out, it hits the spot.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

This movie is a total visual dream. 

It follows two quirky twelve-year-olds, Sam and Suzy, who run away together on a New England island in the 60s. 

I really appreciated how it treats young love with a lot of respect instead of making it feel silly. It’s whimsical and a bit weird in the best way possible.

Dear John (2010)

This is a classic Nicholas Sparks tear-jerker. 

John is a soldier on leave who falls for Savannah over a whirlwind two-week summer. When he has to go back to Germany, they keep things alive through letters. 

I’ll admit, the misunderstandings can be frustrating to watch, and I have mixed feelings about the choices Savannah makes later on. 

But the beach scenes and that initial spark they have was really well done and felt very authentic to a summer fling that turns into something more.

In a Relationship (2018)

This one looks at two different couples over the course of one summer—one that’s potentially breaking up and one that’s just starting. 

I liked that it didn’t try to sugarcoat how messy relationships actually are. 

It’s not your typical happily ever after movie, which I actually appreciated. It feels very real life, even if it’s a bit less cozy than the others on this list.

Chasing Liberty (2004)

This is such a fun European summer fantasy. 

Mandy Moore plays the President’s daughter, who just wants to be a normal teenager. 

She escapes her Secret Service detail in Prague and ends up on a road trip with a guy named Ben (who is secretly an agent, of course). 

It’s definitely a bit predictable, and the secret identity trope is one we’ve seen a million times, but the scenery is gorgeous. 

It makes me want to pack a bag and head to Europe immediately.

Endless Love (1981)

This one is intense. 

It’s about the obsessive, all-consuming love between Jade and David. Her family is bohemian and open, while his is a bit more distant. 

Their passion starts causing some major friction, especially with Jade’s dad. 

I’ll be honest, the level of obsession in this movie is actually a bit scary. While I can appreciate the us against the world vibe, it definitely leans into the too much category for me. It’s a wild ride, though.

La La Land (2016)

A total masterpiece for the eyes and ears. 

Mia is an aspiring actress and Sebastian is a jazz pianist, both struggling to make it in LA. 

The summer montages are stunning, and the City of Stars vibe is so strong. 

What I appreciated most is the ending—it’s bittersweet because it shows that sometimes you can love someone and still have to go your separate ways to achieve your dreams. 

It’s beautiful, even if it makes me want to cry every time.

The Last Song (2010)

Another beachy Nicholas Sparks story! Ronnie is a rebellious teen sent to live with her dad for the summer, where she meets Will. 

I’ve always liked the focus on her reconnecting with her dad through the piano—it adds a lot of heart that isn’t just about the romance. 

The chemistry between Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth was obviously very real back then, which made the romance part feel effortless. 

It’s the quintessential summer at the beach movie.

Whether you are cooling off after a day in the sun or just looking for a cozy night in, these movies are essential summer viewing. 

Grab a cold drink, get comfortable, and let these stories sweep you away. 

If you’re looking for more recommendations, definitely check out my related posts below for even more seasonal favorites!