Summer has a way of making everything feel more alive – colours look brighter, feelings run deeper, and even the most ordinary moments hold a quiet kind of magic. It brings back that sense of anticipation, of looking forward to something – much like we once did with summer vacations as kids, full of hope and possibility.

The quiet afternoons, the almost-love stories, the ache of summertime sadness, the high of a hot-girl summer, and those fleeting versions of ourselves that only seem to exist in that golden light – pretty much sum up the season for us.

And if there’s one place that holds these feelings just a little longer, it’s cinema. On screen, summers linger differently. They soften everything, they sharpen everything. 

Here is a list of films that will have you laugh, cry, wonder and most importantly, leave you feeling just a little lighter.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Set in the Italian countryside, this film unfolds with a quiet sensuality that feels inseparable from summer itself. Starring Timothée Chalamet, the film captures the idea of first-love in its most innocent form, where desire lingers in glances and silence says more than words ever could. What starts as a curiosity transforms into something intimate, defined by long afternoons and unspoken tension. And this is what makes the heartbreak that follows deeper and more profound. It’s a summer that feels infinite while you’re in it, and impossibly distant once it’s gone.

LUCA

Pixar’s animated movie Luca is set in a picturesque seaside Italian town, with a young  sea monster named Luca venturing onto the land due to his fondness for it. Chasing the thrill of a Vespa dream along with his newly formed, high-spirited friend Alberto, their summer becomes one of discovery, risk, and belonging. Beneath its playful narrative lies a deeper story about acceptance and the quiet courage it takes to be seen. It captures the kind of summer where freedom feels infinite – until reality gently finds its way back in.

ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA

A visual representation of how adult friendships actually look like! The film follows Arjun (Hrithik Roshan), Imran (Farhan Akhtar), and Kabir (Abhay Deol) as they travel together, moving through a series of planned summer adventures – diving into the ocean, racing through open roads, and confronting their fears one after the other. On the surface, it’s a sun-soaked holiday marked by laughter and spectacle. But beneath it lies a quieter shift, as old tensions surface and unspoken emotions find their way into the open.

MAMMA MIA!

Mamma Mia! plays out like a sun-soaked, musical escape rooted in one of the purest bonds – that between a mother and daughter. Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce Brosnan, the story follows Sophie as she secretly invites three men from her mother Donna’s past to her wedding, hoping to discover who her father is. The film doesn’t aim for subtlety – instead, it leans fully into the spontaneity and exuberance of summer.

THE PARENT TRAP

A defining childhood classic, The Parent Trap follows twin sisters Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan), who meet at summer camp and discover they were separated at birth. What begins as rivalry quickly turns into a plan to reunite their estranged parents (Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid). The film captures the magic of summer camp – pranks, friendships, and the thrill of reinvention – while grounding it in a story about family and belonging. It’s a version of summer that feels expansive and full of possibility, where even the most ambitious plans seem within reach.

KARWAAN

Set against the landscapes of South India, an unexpected road trip unfolds into something more reflective than eventful. The film follows Avinash (Dulquer Salmaan), who, after a sudden loss, sets out to return his father’s body, accompanied by Shaukat (Irrfan Khan) and Tanya (Mithila Palkar) along the way. What begins as a journey defined by circumstance gradually softens into something more meditative – marked by long drives, fleeting encounters, and quiet, often awkward conversations. The film lingers in its pauses, allowing grief, humour, and connection to coexist.

AFTERSUN

In Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, a simple holiday becomes something far more layered. The film follows Sophie (Frankie Corio) and her father Calum (Paul Mescal) as they spend time together at a Turkish resort. On the surface, it’s an ordinary summer trip – poolside moments, shared meals, quiet conversations. But beneath it lies an emotional complexity that only reveals itself over time. Told through memory, the film captures the gaps between what is seen and what is understood, making it less about the events of the summer and more about how they are remembered.