Summer might just be the most magical time, perfect for taking bold steps and falling in love.
But if you want to beat the heat and enjoy the season vicariously, all cozied up under the AC, here are the 20 feel-good summer romance movies you need to binge.
20. People We Meet On Vacation (2026)
When free-spirited Poppy, who is always chasing adventures, meets the introverted Alex, who prefers staying home with a good book, chaos is undeniable. Yet, after a single shared car ride, they unexpectedly find a connection.
For the next decade, they will spend one week together every summer. Over time, their friendship grows into something more, and they realize they were always meant for each other.
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19. Monte Carlo (2011)
Need a chaotic rom-com that will whisk you away to a beautiful summer in Paris? ‘Monte Carlo‘ follows Grace, whose only dream is to go to Paris with her friend Emma. When their waitressing tips fall short, Grace’s parents agree to chip in on one condition: they must take her uptight stepsister, Meg, along.
After sneaking into a luxury hotel in Paris, Grace is mistaken for a spoiled British heiress. On a whim, the three girls fly to Monte Carlo in Cordelia’s place to have the time of their lives while trying to maintain the lie.
18. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
This one unfolds like the kind of summer romance you’d stumble upon in a dreamy European getaway; sunlit palaces, blooming gardens, and just enough royal chaos to keep things interesting. Fresh out of college, Mia Thermopolis trades her San Francisco life for the golden warmth of Genovia, where her crown awaits, along with an unexpected rule: she must find a husband within 30 days.
What happens next feels less like a duty and more like a whirlwind summer adventure, filled with royal balls, candlelit dinners, and moments that blur the line between obligation and genuine connection. At the heart of it all is a classic summer love triangle.
17. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Need a classic rom-com to watch next to a toasty bonfire? ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ is your pick. After getting dumped by Sarah Marshall, his girlfriend of five years, Peter heads on a vacation to stop his moping.
The moping does not stop until he finds company in Rachel, a thoughtful hotel clerk who invites him to hang out. Drama starts when Sarah and her new beau, Aldous, arrive.
16. Gidget (1959)
Surfing is the essence of teenage summers, and ‘Gidget’ is the initiation to California surf culture that you need this summer. While all her friends have eyes on the young men on the beach, 16-year-old Francie just wants to learn what they are doing: surfing.
Ultimately, she is taken under the wings of the young surfers and given the nickname Gidget, short for “girl midget.” Over the warm and shining ocean water, romance is bound to bloom.
15. Mystic Pizza (1988)
A classic female coming-of-age movie is always a must for summer. ‘Mystic Pizza’ follows sisters Kat and Daisy and their friend Jojo.
The three girls work at this titular pizza parlor in the charming seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut. The rom-com charts their lives as they pursue different careers and love lives, learning to deal with the trials and tribulations of life.
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14. About Time (2013)
Having one of the most beloved movie posters, ‘About Time’ is the perfect watch if you want to lose yourself in the magic of summer rain. At the age of 21, Tim discovers his inherited power to time-travel.
With the power to change and make his life better at his fingertips, Tim heads out to find a girlfriend. But there are great limits and dangers to time travel that Tim realizes a little too late.
13. Say Anything (1989)
Summer is the best time to take the next bold step. Having no idea what to do next, Lloyd Dobler is preparing for his high school graduation.
Determined to fulfill his one wish, he summons up the courage to ask out the most popular girl in his class and the school valedictorian, Diane. The problem is that Diane hardly even knows this secret admirer exists. And if that wasn’t enough, her overprotective father thinks she deserves someone way better.
12. The Way, Way Back (2013)
14-year-old Duncan’s summer is off to a rocky start when he is forced to spend it with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and his daughter, who wants nothing to do with him. He expected to finally get over his shy demeanor, but is still having a rough time fitting in.
One day, he finds his way to the nearby water park and finds unlikely company that finally allows him to be himself. Duncan gets a chance to blossom this summer and face the challenges of life head-on.
11. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
No summer is complete without a wedding and family drama. After dating for a year, Rachel Chu finally travels to Singapore with her totally normal boyfriend, Nick Young, for his best friend’s wedding.
What was supposed to be a holiday turns around when she realizes Nick comes from one of Asia’s most wealthy, prominent families. Now Rachel finds herself as the only commoner among the social elites and becomes a target of the women vying for Nick’s attention.
10. Grease (1978)
The perfect drive-in movie to watch under the stars on a warm summer night is definitely Grease. Set in California in the 1950s, it follows greaser Danny Zuko, who falls for the Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson.
Danny and Sandy share a perfect summer romance that ends when they return to school. Sandy finally sees Danny in school and realizes he is totally different from the passionate boy she once knew. They must navigate their differences that keep overpowering their romance.
9. The Notebook (2004)
This love story will always hold a special place in our hearts and deserves a binge every summer. ‘The Notebook’ is narrated by a kind inmate at a nursing home, Duke, who reads from his worn, leather-bound notebook each day.
In the 1940s, teenage debutant and affluent city girl Allie and a poetic local boy named Noah fall in love and spend one passionate, carefree summer together. But after being separated by their different social classes, Allie and Noah struggle with their enduring feelings.
8. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
This sleeper hit rom-com subverts all that we have seen about romance in movies, and that’s what makes it so beloved. After being dumped by the girl he believed was his soulmate, the hopeless romantic Tom reflects on the days he spent with Summer.
After many ups and downs, Tom and Summer finally became more than just friends. But now he must figure out where things went wrong and how he can win her back.
7. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants‘ tells the story of four inseparable friends, Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen, who are about to spend their very first summer apart at sixteen. Before going their separate ways, they stumble upon a seemingly ordinary pair of thrift-store jeans that somehow fit each of them perfectly, despite their different body types.
Taking it as a sign, they decide to share the pants throughout the summer, mailing them back and forth to stay connected. As the girls navigate their individual journeys, the jeans become a thread tying their lives together.
6. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
This Wes Anderson classic is a cinematic gem that captures the innocence and excitement of young love in the summer. Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, it tells the story of two 12-year-old outcasts who decide to ditch life and run away.
Suzy and Sam elope into the wilderness to find answers to the bigger problems in life as their parent and the townspeople set out on a search mission, with a violent storm slowly approaching.
5. Mamma Mia! (2008)
With a soundtrack that we still blast every summer, this 2008 classic rom-com made us believe that it is always summer in Greece. Young bride-to-be Sophie discovers her mother’s diary and finds three candidates who might be her father and her mother’s true love.
As her independent hotelier mother, Donna, prepares for her daughter’s wedding, Sophie invites these three men to the wedding in hopes of finding her father. Mayhem follows as Sophie and Donna try to discover what’s truly in their hearts.
4. Dirty Dancing (1987)
No vacation can be dull when you meet an attractive summer crush to share some steamy dance moves with. In the summer of 1963, 17-year-old Baby braces herself for a bland holiday at a posh resort.
Upon reaching there, Baby sets her eyes on the rebellious and charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. With Johnny, she gets taken into the world of magical rhythms and the passionate heat of dance.
3. Roman Holiday (1953)
This classic rom-com is set during a beautiful summer holiday in Rome, following Audrey Hepburn in the role of Crown Princess Ann. After being overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, Anne takes off for a night all alone.
But because of her prescribed sedatives, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to an apartment. Romance unfolds as Joe learns the girl sleeping on his couch is a princess.
2. Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Based on the beloved novel by André Aciman, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ will take you straight to the beautiful sun-drenched fields of coastal Italy. It is set in the summer of 1983, when 17-year-old Elio is spending the holidays with his family at their villa.
One day, Oliver, a 24-year-old American college graduate student working on his doctorate with Elio’s father, arrives. The two discover the beauty of a summer romance throughout their vacation.
1. Before Sunrise (1995)
This is the perfect watch for those long summer nights. ‘Before Sunrise’ strips off all the drama and just focuses on the two protagonists. It is almost like you are eavesdropping on a date.
American tourist Jesse and French student Celine meet by chance on the train. They instantly find a connection and agree to pass the whole day and night in Vienna together. Though they know that they have limited time together, nothing stops them from falling in love.
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