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The summer heat is here, and if you’re looking for some chill time in the comfort of your air-conditioned home, we’ve got you covered. Our New to Streaming guide brings you the best (and worst) titles available on platforms like Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+, and more. We also offer watch guides categorized by genres like comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation. But if you’re in the mood for some summer vibes, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 movies across different platforms that will transport you to vacation mode, thrill you with getaway adventures, and maybe even add a touch of steamy romance to your watchlist. All you need to do is sit back, relax, and hit play.
10. The Sandlot (1993)
Looking for a family-friendly movie for a summer movie night? Look no further than The Sandlot. Set in the summer of 1962, this beloved kids’ movie follows the adventures of Scotty Smalls, a new kid in town who bonds with a group of baseball-loving friends. From facing off against a legendary dog to hilarious moments with quirky characters, this nostalgic film is a heartwarming coming-of-age story.
How to watch: The Sandlot is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
9. In the Heights (2021)
Summer isn’t just about vacations; it’s also about love, friendship, and dreamy days filled with music and fun. In the Heights, adapted from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, takes you on a vibrant journey through the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. With a diverse ensemble cast and catchy tunes, this film celebrates community and the immigrant experience in a moving and timely story.
Starring: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits
How to watch: In the Heights is available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.
8. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Experience the iconic summer romance of Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. This nostalgic film set in the 1960s follows the story of Frances “Baby” Houseman and dance instructor Johnny Castle as they ignite a passionate connection through dance. With a sultry soundtrack and themes that still resonate today, this movie is a classic you won’t want to miss.
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, and Cynthia Rhodes
How to watch: Dirty Dancing is now streaming on MovieSphere+.
This is one of those movies that just deserved better. Written and directed by David Twohy, A Perfect Getaway is the kind of summer thriller that’s so twisted and sexy you’re going to want to watch it again immediately. And yet when it came out, it fizzled at the box office and got mixed reviews from critics. But hear me out.
Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich star as newlyweds, flush with cash from their “wedding haul” and giddy to explore the natural wonders of Hawaii on a long hike into its tropical hiking trails. There’s just one problem. News reports say there are a couple of killers on the loose on the island, and they seem to be targeting honeymooners. Several suspects pop up along the trail, like a hippie couple with a hostile edge (played by Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton), or the braggadocio veteran full of tall tales and his hillbilly girlfriend (Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez). Who’s a threat and who’s going to make it out alive?
There’s only one way to find out. Watch and see.
Starring: Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, Chris Hemsworth, Marley Shelton, Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez
How to watch: A Perfect Getaway is now streaming on HBO Max.
5. Dìdi (2024)
Want to feel like a kid again? Are you sure? One of our favorite films of 2024, Dìdi captures what it felt like to be coming of age in the 2000s, capturing the good, the bad, and the AIM messaging.
Set in the summer of 2008, the directorial debut of writer/helmer Sean Wang follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy (Izaac Wang) who goes by several names (Chris/Dìdi/Wang Wang), all the better to code-switch for his family, skater friends, school crush, and beyond. As he looks to make the most of his summer, this eager-to-impress hero lays down little white lies, flirts poorly, alienates friends with off-putting anecdotes, and screams at his devoted mom (Joan Chen). And those of us who’ve lived through such hot, hormonal, and socially awkward days may cringe in recognition every step of the way. Then, on top of all this, the emotionally intelligent filmmaker also captures the heartache and earnestness a generation first poured into MySpace and AIM Instant Messenger. Watching Dìdi is less like taking a vacation and more like time-traveling, because the director and his young cast so superbly recreate this era and its anxieties. It’s not just a good summer movie, or a great coming-of-age movie, it’s an excellent movie that’s an absolute must-see.
Starring: Izaac Wang, Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua, Mahaela Park, and Raul Dial
How to watch: Dìdi is now streaming on Prime Video.
Spielberg not only managed to make a movie that was so wildly entertaining that other filmmakers are still plagiarizing his sequences 30 years later — looking at you Colin Trevorrow! — but also brought together a cast that was as utterly captivating as his jaw-dropping dinosaurs. Neill, Dern, and Goldblum have a hot and chaotic tension that’s launched countless crushes and ships. And while you can also stream this movie’s many sequels, none will hit quite as hard as the first.
**Starring:** Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, B.D. Wong, Ariana Richards, and Joseph Mazzello
**How to watch:** *Jurassic Park* is now streaming on Peacock.
### 2. *Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar* (2021)
You might have missed this comedy gem, as the COVID-19 pandemic led to a serious Hollywood shake-up that pushed *Barb and Star* to a VOD release rather abruptly in Feb. 2021. But it was *the* summery friendship cocktail we craved in a dark time, and still do, over and over. Written by and starring *Bridesmaids’* scribes Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, *Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar* is a madcap buddy comedy that balances a tale of middle-age besties looking to get their groove back on a joint vacation to a bubbly beach town *with* an Austin Powers-worthy supervillain who’s looking to annihilate the titular destination. Mumolo and Wiig headline as Barb and Star, roomies who are seeking tit-flapping fun in the sun — and maybe romance! And they find both when they meet a handsome hunk (*Fifty Shades of Grey’*s Jamie Dornan), who is secretly doing the bidding of the wicked, villainous Sharon Fisherman (also Wiig).
**Starring:** Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Jamie Dornan, Damon Wayans Jr., Andy Garcia, and Reba McEntire
**How to watch:** *Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar* is now streaming on Hulu.
### 1. *Jaws* (1975)
The historical blockbuster is a summer tradition for good reason. When it came out 50 years ago, it scared a generation into being afraid of sharks and the ocean. Since then, it’s spawned three sequels (also all streaming) and an array of imitators. Some were good (*Deep Blue Sea, 47 Meters Down, The Shallows, Dangerous Animals*) and some were very, very bad (*Under Paris, Sharknado, Shark Night*). The original was helmed by Steven Spielberg, who feared his unreliable robot shark Bruce would be the end of his burgeoning career. Spoiler: It was not. Instead, *Jaws* launched Spielberg and became one of the most iconic movies of all time. Roy Scheider stars as Sheriff Martin Brody of Amity Island, a place that absolutely depends on tourists’ dollars come summer. When a swimmer turns up chewed to bits on their picturesque beach, the money-hungry mayor (Murray Hamilton) demands the beach stay open on the 4th of July. More deaths will follow, pushing the thalassophobic Brody into the sea aboard the Orca, captained by the surly Quint (Robert Shaw) and aided by the smug shark expert Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss).
Sure, on the surface, this is a creature feature, rich with blood, scary attack sequences, and an epic final showdown. But beneath this splashy spectacle, *Jaws* is also a tale of greed, masculinity, and family. Fifty years later, it’s still making a big splash.
**Starring:** Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss
**How to watch:** *Jaws 1-4* are now streaming on Peacock.
**Wild Card:** *Copycat* (1995)
A solid box office success in 1995, this serial-killer thriller somehow flew under the radar pop culture-wise until recently. I say this as someone who’s been low-key obsessed with *Copycat* since I first saw it back in 1995, when I was definitely too young to be watching this R-rated movie, which features graphic scenes of sexualized violence against women. But hey, parenting was a lot different before everyone had the internet on their phones. Anyhow, *Copycat* has hit Netflix, sparking new interest and audiences. And it’s about time. Sure, some things about this ’90s thriller feel a bit dated. But the core story is about true crime obsession and being maybe *too* online. So, it fits pretty well into our modern moment.
Sigourney Weaver stars as a criminal psychologist who has developed agoraphobia after being violently attacked by a stalker. Though he’s been imprisoned, she’s under threat once again when a new serial killer begins teasing cops by meticulously re-enacting the crimes of notorious serial killers like the Boston Strangler, the Hillside Strangler, and Jeffrey Dahmer. On the case is the unassuming inspector M.J. Monahan (Holly Hunter) and her flirtatious partner Reuben Goetz (Dermot Mulroney), who chase down every lead — including the captured stalker played by a Southern-fried, dirty-talking Harry Connick Jr.
Deranged, sexy, and surprising, *Copycat* is a juicy watch, whether you’ve seen it before or not. Weaver is riveting as a devastatingly intelligent woman whose fear of the outside world has chased her to live chiefly online through chat rooms. (Oh, the ’90s!) Hunter and Mulroney have a crackling will-they-won’t-they chemistry, while Connick (and his secret cohort) offer a chilling portrayal of villainy. It’s not strictly a summer movie, but it is hot, sticky, and exciting — kind of like a rollercoaster!
Cast
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney. William McNamara, Will Patton, John Rothman, J. E. Freeman, and Harry Connick Jr.
How to Watch
How to watch: Copycat is now streaming on Netflix.
