1. Dirty Dancing

Price: $9.07 at amazon.com
I think this is definitely one of the best summer movies of all time. It’s all about summer romance – what could be better than that? I’m including it rather than, say, Grease, because in Grease, there was only a small snippet about summer at the beginning. Baby and Johnny fall in love right in the heart of summer, amidst a lot of steamy dance numbers.

2. The Sandlot

Price: $6.99 at amazon.com
This flick is everything summer’s supposed to be about when you’re a kid. Well, if you’re a boy. In spite of being a girl who can’t play baseball, this has always been one of my favorite flicks. The Better Half is still known to randomly say to me, “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” I’m short, see.

3. Now and then

Price: $5.58 at amazon.com
Oh em gee. I really, really love this movie. I love the flashbacks to the little girls and the adult bits. Really, as a girl, this movie speaks to me, because I remember having similar conversations with my friends. Am I ever going to get boobs, do you think he likes me, my parents are arguing a lot, what do you think will happen? Great actresses, great movie.

4. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Price: $5.98 at amazon.com
I love this movie. It didn’t do justice to either the novel or its prequel, Little Altars Everywhere, which I also love, but I still love it. All those flashbacks take place at the height of summer, making me remember what it was like to spend those three, endlessly stretching months down south. Bliss!

5. Mamma Mia!

Price: $11.98 at amazon.com
Actually … does this take place in the summer? I don’t know, but it looks like it does, and that’s enough to make it one of the best summer movies for me. Sun, sand, sea … singing – this is all about summertime fun! Besides, Amanda Seyfried’s rocking a killer tan in the film.

6. It

Price: $5.98 at amazon.com
What? I didn’t say every movie on the list was happy go lucky! The portions of It where the stars are young took place in summer, and in spite of the horrific ordeal of dealing with Pennywise, they still indulge in a lot of summer activities. It makes the movie scarier, really, to know that the same preteens who are playing games in the Barrens are charged with saving the town from a monster.

7. The Great Outdoors

Price: $5.99 at amazon.com
Then again, some of the best summer movies are wonderfully cornball. Although I prefer the combination of Steve Martin and John Candy (without this duo, David Spade and Chris Farley would have never existed), Candy and Aykroyd are awesome, too. Roman is just a horrible guy, and frankly I want to marry Chet. But that steak eating scene … brrr! I felt like that at the Outback last week, and all I had was a 6 ounce!

8. What about Bob?

Price: $9.99 at amazon.com
And then we have Bill Murray. He’s been in dozens of great summertime movies, but I love this one best. With Richard Dreyfuss (who I’d marry today, I don’t even care) as his straight man, it’s just magical. Bob is so awkward – and yet, I’d love to have him on vacation with me!

I hope your favorite flick made my list of the best summer movies. If it didn’t, don’t be afraid to sound off and tell me what I’m missing. I’m always happy to check out a new movie about summertime fun. What are some of your favorites?