10 summer-themed movies and TV shows to transport you to warmer days

As we enter the peak of the dreary monsoon season, we can't help but feel nostalgic for the days that have passed us by. Especially as our feeds are full of summertime gladness, it's easy to be pulled into the idea of a summer romance, endless days in the sun and lush island hideaways with a touch of mystery. So it's a good thing that these 10 Hollywood movies and TV shows can get the job done instead of you booking a plane ticket to soak in those vibes. From coastal vibes to thrills lined with palm fronds, HELLO! lists the movies and TV shows which will bring summer fun back to your screens, regardless of the season it is.

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)

Currently on its third season, this is one summer-loving TV show that's all over the internet. Based on the eponymous trilogy of novels by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty will transport you a period of teenage love stories, the complexities of romantic triangles and a much more simpler time, when the physics final was all there was to worry about. Think beach houses, barbeque parties, dips in the sea at midnight, and having such a memorable summer with your bestie, you'll go on to tell your kids about it someday.

2. Outer Banks 

Now this one is for the old-fashioned thrill seekers. Outer Banks revolves around a group of treasure-hunting teenagers who search the world; Indiana Jones-style, for the world's most renowned riches which humankind had spent centuries looking for. A unique summer-themed TV show with a fresh concept, it's the perfect watch for those who envision themselves as old-world explorers in a modern world.

3. The OC

The OC revolves around a group of troubled kids and their dramatic, wealthy lives in a flashy pin code. Based in the high-class world of Newport Beach, the show follows the life and times of a group of early 2000s famous teenagers; from Seth to Marissa, and the trials that come with teenage life while living in a beach town.

4. Baywatch

Baywatch is a drama about the lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii. The red monokini swimsuits emerging from this show went on to become iconic lifeguard uniforms and gave birth to the stars, Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhof went on to be. The TV show's huge success led to many spin-offs and movies around its premise.

5. The White Lotus

Transporting you to summer holidays in Maui, Sicily, and Koh Samui throughout its three seasons, The White Lotus is another TV show about wealthy guests (with often dark backstories) who holiday at a five-star hotel and whose summer vacations often take a deadly turn. The drama-thriller serves as a fashion and lifestyle mood board for any summer vacation. With a widely-followed audience from across the globe, the show has managed to blend crime and emotion effortlessly against the background of a dreamy holiday.

(Also read: The White Lotus’ moodboard is style inspiration for a tropical summer vacation)

6. Palm Springs 

Light-hearted rom-com energy and existential dread combine in this time-loop adventure, which is set against a sun-drenched desert wedding as a backdrop. The Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti-starrer doesn't rely on its sunny landscape though, as the movie dabbles with physics and romance to turn this into an interesting watch for science-lovers and drama-enthusiasts, alike.

7. Mamma Mia! 

Singing on top of one's lungs to ABBA's legendary tunes, impromptu beach parties, boat rides across sparkling waters, and dancing barefoot along the shoreline—Mamma Mia! has it all. In this iconic film, Amanda Seyfried's character embarks on a journey to find who her biological father is before she ties the knot, with the joys and sorrows the journey brings. Set on a idyllic Greek island, the movie celebrates love, family, and music in an unabashedly happy, liberating way. The massive success of the film around the world resulted in a sequel in 2018, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again with a third part in the works.

8. The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants

Exploring the landscapes of Hawaii, Mexico, and Greece, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is a heartfelt coming-of-age story where four friends; who are separated by their respective paths on summer vacation, stay tethered through a magical pair of jeans. Brimming with joy, laugher, occasional tears and female friendship, it's a watch you'll want to add to your list long after summer goes by.

9. Dirty Dancing 

This 80s romantic drama takes you on a nostalgic summer journey where Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle. The movie is filled with nights at the resort, dance lessons by moonlight, secret lake dips, as well as passionate lifts that define what became one of the most iconic dance moves to emerge from a movie and turned this film into a cult classic.

10. I Know What You Did Last Summer

Set against the backdrop of the American Independence Day holiday weekend, the movie; which is based on a 1973 novel by Lois Duncan, transforms seaside fireworks and bonfire parties into heart-stopping thrills and terrifying suspense. Following a group of teenagers on the brink of college life who end up tied together by a deep, dark secret, the slasher flick found cult horror status for its premise and plot. Followed by multiple sequels, a TV show spin-off in 2021 and a new movie this year, I Know What You Did Last Summer remains one of the best horror movies of all time. 

(Also read: Bollywood's idea of romantic love through the decades)

Edited by Dayle Pereira-Alemao