In lieu of a giant Memorial Day Sale round-up (I think the rest of The Influencer Internet has that covered) I’m going with this: 10 nostalgic (to me) movies that set the tone for the summer season. Without really planning, I find myself revisiting these year after year, especially when those big drenching thunderstorms finally rolls in. Ahh…
1. Rear Window (1954)
This is maybe my favorite movie period. I’ve watched this an incalculable number of times, and I notice a new detail with very viewing. That’s the power of Alfred Hitchcock’s world building for you. He was absolutely insane, but he was a genius. (Bonus points if you notice his iconic cameo.)
The premise is simple and gripping: A bored, wheelchair-bound photojournalist with a broken leg (Jimmy Stewart) gets a little too familiar with the happenings and habits of his neighbors while recovering in his New York City apartment. With open windows (pre-AC) and floors-upon-floors of little slices of life, there’s a lot to see and hear. After he’s awakened by a crash and stifled scream late one night, he begins obsessing over the sudden absence of the bedridden wife he’d noted in the building across the courtyard, and he also notices the odd behavior of her husband.
Roping in his practically perfect fashion buyer girlfriend (Grace Kelly) and sarcastic nurse (Thelma Ritter), together they try to solve the murder they increasingly believe happened right under their noses. It is so delightfully New York without ever leaving a studio apartment. Plus… Grace Kelly. Come on.
2. Now & Then (1995)
This is the story of a summer filled with: Girlhood. Adventure. Crushes. Libraries. Spying. Growing up. A treehouse. The occult. Girls punching boys. This movie has everything!
More importantly, this movie taught me it not only possible but a moral responsibility to tell boys (and ill-behaved adults) to f•ck off when necessary. Thank you, Christina Ricci, Gabby Hoffman, and Thora Birch. Equally captivating and educating: the dynamic of the four main characters both in childhood and adulthood is unexpected and nuanced, and I admire how they embrace their differences whole-heartedly while still showing up for each other. I love friendship stories, and this is truly one of the best.
3. A League of Their Own (1992)
This endearing tale of two competing sisters is positioned neatly into the larger (and very true) story about the formation of the first women’s professional baseball league during World War II. We get to enjoy their growth alongside the larger sport finding its footing as a business worth taking seriously. And guess what? Professional women’s baseball is back in 2026, baby.
Starring Geena Davis as an ace catcher, Lori Petty as her insecure but talented pitcher kid sister, and Tom Hanks as their washed up, alcoholic player-turned-coach, the story strikes an extremely pleasing balance of comedy and low stakes drama wrapped in celebratory, historical packaging. Between the main cast and supporting characters (Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Garry Marshall, Jon Lovitz), there’s a lot to keep you laughing, and maybe even tearing up.
The question is: did she drop it on purpose? We’ll never know. And remember: there’s no crying in baseball.
4. Dirty Dancing (1987)
I think we all know this classic… What has always read to me as an extremely 80s movie, this allegedly 60s-set romance centers on Baby (Jennifer Grey), who joins her family at a resort for the summer. Baby crushes hard on a hot dance instructor (Patrick Swayze), and when his partner has to bow out of an upcoming paid performance for medical reasons (shh!), she volunteers to step in so they don’t lose out on the gig. Everyone is ridiculously hot. The soundtrack is phenomenal. And she carries a watermelon. Har har.
I nominate Connor Storrie for the biopic if there’s ever a Patrick Swayze retrospective. Jesus. He’s a spitting image.
5. Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
It’s me again loving a timeline-hopping, historically-minded story. As a girl who also lost her big brother tragically, it healed something in met to watch spitfire Idgie Threadgood (Mary Stuart Masterson) become a badass independent lady and a fierce friend to meek Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), while decades later inspiring solidly-in-a-rut Evelyn (Kathy Bates) reclaim her own strength and identity. There’s no easy way to recap this story except: TOWANDA! If you’ve never seen it, now is definitely the time.
6. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
“How’s the peeping, Tommy? How’s the peeping.” Absolutely no one is creepier than Tom Ripley (Matt Damon), a parasitical psychopath, who inserts himself into the relatively peaceful life of an unsuspecting rich playboy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) and his adoring girlfriend Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). Set mostly in and around Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Rome and Venice, this visually stunning thriller unfolds slowly as we watch the couple first embrace the new friendship, and later struggle to disentangle themselves from the man’s ambitions. Spoiler alert: It does not end well.
The award for best character intro goes to: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Dickie’s actual best friend Freddie, who immediately begins to dismantle Tom’s façade to devastating consequences. Watch for the expert filmmaking and acting, stay for the stunning visuals and old world fashion.
Also worth checking out: Netflix’s mini series remake Ripley, which is shot entirely in black and white, yet loses absolutely none of the mystery and charm.
7. Twister (1996)
The peak of 90s natural disaster thrillers, Twister tackles meteorological science, divorce paperwork, car insurance, capitalism, and the art of keeping a white tank top almost spotless despite entering the “suck zone” of an F-3 tornado. Cinema!
As he is often bound to do, Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the ensemble cast standout award by turning an otherwise minor supporting role into something entirely endearing and comedically critical. RIP, you absolute legend.
8. The Parent Trap (1998)
We are blessed. We are blessed because this remake exists and—I would argue—improves upon the original. At summer camp in Maine, two separated twin sisters (Lindsay Lohan) meet for the first time and realize they share parents they’ve never known, and decide to swap places after their session ends.
No one was cooler to me as a kid than poker-playing, fencing expert, Napa winery/ranch living Hallie… Not to mention daughter-of-a-fashion-designer, secret handshake mastering, London habitating Annie. This film is just a warm hug. Emotionally, sartorially, geographically: Iconic.
9. Signs (2002)
Signs scratches a supernatural itch I can’t quite explain, but I have it nonetheless. Because it is an M. Night Shyamalan movie, the cinematography is methodical, and the narrative puzzle he weaves together is always interesting to me, if only because of the clear amount of work that went into it. What do you mean she said that??
In rural Pennsylvania, a grieving widower (Mel Gibson) is confronted by another harsh reality (besides, ya know, a spouse dying): something new he can’t control or explain may be unfolding. Crop circles appear in his cornfields, the global news is streaming nonstop evidence of an invasion, and meanwhile he must protect his young children (Abigail Breslin, Rory Culkin) as much as he can with support from his live-in brother (Joaquin Phoenix).
I am by no means advocating for the CGI quality, but practical shots like this will get me every time. Something knocked that swing out of the way as it ran into the field. Creepy! I love it.
10. Disturbia (2007)
(If you have teenagers, this is something you should fire up.) Speaking of Rear Window, this very Millennial homage shifts the story to a teenager on house arrest after attacking his jerk of a Spanish teacher while in a grief spiral. While on lockdown, he keeps tabs on the neighborhood (including a very cute new next door neighbor) and finds himself obsessing over not only her, but a potential serial killer living down the street. How well do we know our neighbors?
Shia Labeouf—one of the truly saddest Generational Talent-to-absolutely-tragic trajectories—is phenomenal in his chaotic but controlled, fast-talking, expressive way. (I so dearly wish he hadn’t crashed out before adulthood, but alas… child actors.) We’ll always have his Twinkie tower.
Honorable Mentions:
There are many: Moonrise Kingdom, Something’s Gotta Give, The Sandlot, Grease, Before Sunrise, The Way, Way Back… etc. I hope you’ll also mention your favorites in the comments. I’m always up for a new cinematic adventure.
Thank you for being here,
Such a good list. Rear Window forever!
The start of summer always makes me want to watch Spielberg’s West Side Story!