11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Grease” (1978): Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) come from very different backgrounds, but they enjoyed a summer romance before being reunited unexpectedly at school, singing the duet “Summer Nights,” where they share very different memories about the romance quotient of what transpired between them. Of course, the complications, breakup and making up follow, but oh, those summer ni-ights.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“The Notebook” (2004): Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) sizzled on screen in this tear-jerking love story that made the actors America’s sweethearts for some time, an accomplishment that should be lauded if only because both of them are from Canada. The rain kiss MVP of the early aughts, “The Notebook” was a love story we vowed never to forget — and haven’t been able to because it’s always airing on cable TV.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Dirty Dancing” (1987): Frances “Baby” Houseman heads on a summer vacation with her family, where she falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), carries a watermelon (if you know, you know) and perfects the lift with practice in the lake. Baby grows up this summer and probably never ever sits in the corner again.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Jaws 2” (1978): OK, not technically a summer romance, but it does have summer and lots of teens dealing with relationships, crushes and feelings, a process complicated by the fact that a giant Great White Shark is waiting to eat them if one of the boys’ dads, who happens to be the police chief (Roy Scheider), can’t save them. If nothing else, it is memorable for one of the great movie poster taglines ever, “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…”
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Say Anything” (1989): John Cusack’s underachiever Lloyd Dobler falls hard for valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye) in director Cameron Crowe’s teen romance, which seemingly, comes with an expiration date, since she’s destined to go off to England at the end of the summer. Raise a boombox over your head and enjoy.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Sweet Home Alabama” (2002): Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey vie for the affection of Reese Witherspoon in this not-quite summer release (I’m allowing it!) about a Southern belle who gets a ring and has to unring a bell from her past. Making the perfect rom-com, like going home, is never easy, but heck if Witherspoon doesn’t always make it look like a whole lotta fun.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Coming to America” (1988): In what may have been the last time the public overwhelmingly rooted for the royals, golden-hearted Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) sets out on an American adventure to find true love in this comedy. Lucky for him, his queen (Shari Headley) was waiting for him in Queens, and lucky for us, this classic remains highly rewatchable.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Crazy Rich Asians” (2018): New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is invited to the wedding of the best friend of her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding), in Singapore. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family is beyond rich and their lifestyle is filled with excess. In Singapore, Nick is also an eligible bachelor, and no one really understands why he’s dating Rachel, especially Nick’s mother. This colorful rom-com has it all — humor, high-class family drama, ex-girlfriends and gorgeous locales.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“The Proposal” (2009): Two rom-com vets (Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds) teamed up for this tale that invites us all to put away our 2020 glasses and ignore the problematic power imbalance that drives the initial fake romance agreement between the two main characters — a boss and her assistant — and instead enjoy Betty White being a scene stealer. As long as we acknowledge it, we can we still enjoy it, right?
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“My Best Friend’s Wedding” (June 1997): We will love this Julia Roberts classic, forever and ever. Also, writing about it is great because it’s all in the title.
11 movies to spark your summer lovin’
“Out of Sight” (1998): The charming Jack Foley (George Clooney), who just happens to be the most famous bank robber in the country, has feelings for Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez), a federal marshal on his tail. Set in steamy Miami, its worth a watch for the sexual tension in the trunk scene alone. Also, it’s directed by Steven Soderbergh, so you know it’s good.