Summer is right around the corner and I love watching movies and shows while I have the time to do so. Here’s 7 of my favorite things to watch during the summer. This will include TV Shows, Movies, and a YouTube series.
Gravity Falls–
I never miss a summer without watching this classic. Gravity Falls is my mom and I’s favorite thing to rewatch during the summer. Set during Dipper and Mabel Pines’ summer break, the twins are shipped off to Gravity Falls, Oregon to live with their Grunkle Stan in a tourist trap named The Mystery Shack. Gravity Falls is anything but a normal town, and the twins have to balance having one of the best summers ever and monster hunting all while secrets lay behind the very foundation of Gravity Falls. This is perfect for binging on a hot summer day or night and imagine that you’re solving mysteries in your own town. This is especially good if you live in a small town where you just know something is happening in the background.
Dazed and Confused–
Dazed and Confused is actually my all-time favorite movie. Set after a high school lets out for summer break, we watch a group of kids in the 70s enjoy their last day of school. Wild parties and hazing are frequent as the soon-to-be seniors torment the upcoming freshman who they eventually form their own bonds with. The vibes of this movie are completely unmatched. This is best enjoyed after the last day of school or on a hot summer day when you want to reminisce on your old school days. Plus, it’s the 70s so most of the characters are high or drunk the entire time which makes it even more enjoyable to watch. This is also Matthew McConaughey’s first movie.
Marble Hornets-
This is actually a YouTube series that is really, really good. This for the horror fanatics and analog horror fans out there. I’ve been rewatching this every summer since I was in 7th grade. This follows Jay Merrick in search of his friend Alex Kralie after he went missing. Alex created a short film called Marble Hornets, where strange things happened and now Jay has to figure out what’s going on… before it’s too late. There’s also a mysterious figure haunting the tapes. It’s really good if you want a scare or are just interested in lost media. This is best enjoyed in one full sitting on a super humid night. Maybe without your windows open because I did that once and was horrified the whole time. You can find the videos here!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days–
This is one of my favorite things to watch with my boyfriend during the summer, though it seems silly. I’ve been a Diary of a Wimpy Kid kid since I was in elementary school. So, in general I just love these movies. Following Greg as summer rolls around. Rowley has a country club membership where Greg’s crush also has one so he spends his summer scheming to spend time with her. At the same time all his dad wants is to spend time with him, but they can’t agree on what to do because of their differing personalities. It’s really good to put on if you have little siblings, children, or cousins. It’s fun and has all the adventures that summer brings along with it.
Stranger Things: Season 3-
Once again, since 2019, not a summer has gone by where I have not rewatched this show. Season 3 of Stranger Things is an awesome 80s fever dream filled with danger lurking around every corner. My favorite part of this season is El and Max, in general. We get to see their relationship grow from hating each other to being best friends. The shopping scene lives rent free in my head 24/7. It reminds me of summers when I was younger. This season shaped the summer of 2019, and it’s clear why. This iconic season is best enjoyed with others at a sleepover after spending the entire day swimming or shopping. I have a fond memory of watching it with my best friend in the dead of summer after a full day of swimming and eating ice cream.
Little Miss Sunshine–
The first time I watched this movie I bawled like a baby. This movie follows the highly dysfunctional Hoover family on a road trip for the youngest girl, Olive, to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in Redondo Beach, California. The family loads up into their faulty Volkswagen and begins the long haul to the pageant. Along the way, they discover things about themselves that they never would have without the help of others. This movie is perfect if you need a good cry, because let me tell you I cried so hard I never thought it would stop. The hope and love in this movie could reach through the screen and grab you if it wanted to.
Teen Beach Movie–
You can’t laugh at me for this one. I’ve always loved this movie. I even remember as a kid trying to win the signed surfboard by counting how many times they say ‘surf’ in the movie. Following Mack and Brady (played by Ross Lynch), as they attempt to spend their last fleeting moments together before Mack is off to boarding school. They somehow get trapped into Brady’s favorite movie and get the protagonists to fall in love with them instead of each other. This movie is great if you want something fun to just put on for background noise. The little songs in it are just so iconic and so much fun. I’ve always loved this movie since I was a kid. It’s always worth a rewatch.
Summer is one of my favorite times for media. It’s always so much fun to be able to settle in with the people you love and enjoy good media. These are just my picks but there are so many amazing things out there. I highly recommend these series and movies but all media set in the summer is typically really good. Because it’s a time for freedom and cool outfits and fun things to do!