8 Films To Watch For Gorgeous, Summer Vibes

With warmer days (hopefully) soon approaching, we here at STELLAR have combined a list of beautiful, entertaining and comforting movies to watch on those brighter days.

These eight films bottle up everything we love about the summer months, and we think these films should be added to your watchlist.

Call Me By Your Name

Set in the golden haze of 1980s northern Italy, Call Me by Your Name follows the slow-burning summer romance between Elio, played by Timothée Chalamet, and Oliver, played by Armie Hammer.

Over long days spent in villas, gardens and countryside towns, this film perfectly captures the intensity of one’s first love. The film became famous for its golden cinematography and delicate performances, earning Chalamet an Academy Award nomination. Paired with a nostalgic, piano-led soundtrack, it captures the beauty and heartbreak of a summer you never leave behind.

The Parent Trap

No one romanticises summer quite like Nancy Meyers, and The Parent Trap is the perfect example. The story follows identical twin sisters separated at birth played by Lindsay Lohan, who meet at summer camp and scheme to switch places in an attempt to reunite their divorced parents played by Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid.

From campfires to cosy English estates and California sunshine, it’s packed with idyllic locations, detailed costuming and that comforting 90s charm. It is pure summer perfection and an easy morning watch.

Roman Holiday

This 1953 classic romantic drama stars Audrey Hepburn as a runaway princess who escapes her royal duties and explores Rome with an American journalist, played by Gregory Peck, over the course of a fleeting 24-hour adventure. What begins as an innocent day of freedom quickly unfolds into a bittersweet romance through the city’s iconic streets, cafés and landmarks.

Although filmed in black and white, Roman Holiday still radiates the warmth and escapism of a sun-drenched European summer, capturing a sense of longing, freedom and emotional weight that lingers long after. Critically acclaimed upon release, the film earned Hepburn an Academy Award for Best Actress and remains one of cinema’s most enduring depictions of romantic escape and old-world summer fantasy.

Grown Ups

This movie follows a group of childhood friends who reunite after the death of their beloved basketball coach, staying together in a lakeside cabin for a summer weekend of chaos, nostalgia and laughs. Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Salma Hayek lead this ensemble comedy as adult life collides with old friendships in the most ridiculous ways.

A classic early-2010s Adam Sandler comedy, Grown Ups is an easy, feel-good watch that will make you laugh and might even have you calling your own childhood friends for a reunion.

Before Sunrise

This 1995 romantic drama stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as two strangers who meet on a train and impulsively decide to spend one night wandering through Vienna together. What unfolds is a beautifully simple story told almost entirely through conversation, capturing intimacy, curiosity and emotional honesty in real time as they move from sunset to sunrise through the city’s streets.

There is something deeply romantic about wandering through an unfamiliar European city with someone new, even when the connection is fleeting and will never be repeated. Romance is woven into every moment of the film. Before Sunrise is the first instalment in Richard Linklater’s acclaimed ‘Before’ trilogy, followed by Before Sunset and Before Midnight, making it perfect for a summer binge-watch.

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo is the epitome of a teenage dream and captures the early 2000s chick flick genre impeccably. The film stars Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy as three friends whose summer trip to Paris takes an unexpected turn when one of them is mistaken for a wealthy heiress.

Set between Paris and Monte Carlo, this adventure unfolds into a glamorous European escape filled with luxury hotels, sun-drenched beach days and high-society mishaps. At its core, the film follows three intertwined storylines, with each of the girls experiencing their own romantic journey as they navigate love, friendship and identity abroad. It’s light, playful and the ultimate feel-good fantasy of a European summer.

Little Miss Sunshine

A chaotic family embarks on an epic three-day summer road trip from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Redondo Beach, California in a beaten-up van so their youngest daughter, Olive, can compete in a children’s beauty pageant. Featuring standout performances from the ensemble cast, particularly Alan Arkin, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the film balances sharp humour with deeply emotional storytelling.

Although Little Miss Sunshine tackles complex themes such as failure, ambition and family dysfunction, the familial bond makes it unexpectedly comforting and heartwarming. The journey becomes a messy, meaningful exploration of resilience and acceptance, as this unconventional family learns to support one another. It’s funny, touching and quietly uplifting – a summer watch that lingers long after it ends.

Mamma Mia!

And finally, Mamma Mia! follows Sophie as she invites three men from her mother Donna’s past to her wedding in search of her father’s identity. Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, what unfolds is a vibrant mix of ABBA classics, chaotic revelations and pure musical joy.

Anchored by a stellar cast including Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, it’s one of the most iconic feel-good films ever made. With turquoise waters, dancing on rooftops and emotional singalongs, it’s chaotic, glittering, endlessly rewatchable and completely unhinged in the best way. No film captures summer joy quite like this one.

Words by Robyn Jane Lawlor