With finals season right around the corner, many of us are likely getting excited for the start of summer. While it’s not too far away, these six movies will hold you over until it’s finally time to take a much-needed break.
Olivia Wilde’s “Booksmart” is the perfect movie for the end of the school year. A coming-of-age story, it follows protagonists Molly and Amy, two best friends graduating from high school.
Determined to have one night of reckless fun after spending their high school years as academic overachievers, the film follows the two as they navigate romantic feelings and a chaotic adventure with plenty of roadblocks in their plan. This film is the perfect start of summer film as it serves as a fun, feel-good movie, while also being a heartfelt story of lifelong friends and growing up.
“Skate Kitchen,” directed by Crystal Moselle, follows Camille, a shy teenager from Long Island who finds friendship and empowerment within a diverse group of female skateboarders in New York City. Watching Camille and her crew skate through the city feels like a love letter to summer, full of new friendships and self discovery.
What makes this film unique is the fact that the cast comprises real-life members of the Skate Kitchen collective, portraying versions of themselves. It’s a touching story of female friendship and standing out in a male-dominated space.
If you are looking for a coming-of-age sapphic film, “My First Summer” is one to watch. Directed by Katie Found, the story follows 16-year-old Claudia, a sheltered girl whose life is turned upside down when she meets Grace, a spirited teenager who appears one day in her garden.
Throughout the film, the two form a connection closer than friendship as we see them grow with each other. The love they find in each other is innocent and playful, making it a wholesome love story everybody must see. Set in Australia, each scene is beautifully colored and shot, fully encapsulating young summer love.
In the mockumentary comedy film, “Theater Camp,” life-long best friends and counselors Rebecca-Diane and Amos aim to revive the magic of camp AdirondACTS after the beloved founder, Joan, falls into a coma. Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, It’s a perfect representation of performing arts summer camps, blending both competition and friendship.
Starring actors like Ben Platt, Molly Gordon and Ayo Edebiri, “Theater Camp” is a comedy you can count on. It’s an excellent choice for family movie night, with a touching story of reviving the magic of theater that, for many, was so present in our youth.
As another coming-of-age story, “The Way Way Back,” directed by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, follows awkward teenager Duncan as he is forced to spend his summer at a beach house with his mother and her boyfriend.
Desperate to escape the family he feels he doesn’t fit into, he decides to get a job at the local waterpark. After finding unexpected friendship in Owen, the manager of the park, the film explores their dynamic, with Owen serving as a role model for Duncan.
Owen is eventually able to break him out of his shell, and Duncan finds the confidence to be himself, even making a connection with local girl Susanna along the way. “The Way Way Back” is a fun, lighthearted film that captures the bittersweet moments of growing up, reminding us that sometimes, the people who truly see us aren’t the ones we’re born into, but the ones we choose.
For fans of horror comedies, “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” directed by Halina Reijn, is one to add to your watchlist. When a friend group decides to throw a “hurricane party” at a remote mansion, a simple party game goes awry when the body of one of their friends is discovered. In this modern day whodunit, the friends try to figure out who committed the murder as they navigate complexities in their friendships and romantic relationships.
With a star-studded cast of comedians like Rachel Sennott and Pete Davidson, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is guaranteed to make you laugh. It’s a playful commentary on Gen Z and misunderstandings that keeps your attention until the very end.
Whether you’re a fan of a wholesome coming-of-age film or in need of comic relief, these films are a must-watch for summer.