There’s nothing quite like a good summer beach movie to get you in the spirit of warmer weather – even if it has taken a while to arrive in the UK. Whether it’s on the tropical shores of Hawaii or the stone-laden, cloudy shores of Eastbourne, a beach movie is a must for summer viewing. From feel-good to frankly quite terrifying, here are 16 of our favourites for your watch list.
Hot Milk (2025)
Set in the scorching heat of a Spanish summer, the film follows Rose (Fiona Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Emma Mackey) as they travel to the seaside town of AlmerÃa to consult Gómez (Vincent Perez), an enigmatic healer who may hold the key to Rose’s mysterious illness. But Sofia, trapped by her mother’s condition, begins to shed her inhibitions as she is drawn to the magnetic charms of a free-spirited traveller, Ingrid (Vicky Krieps).
Hot Milk will be available to stream on Mubi on 22 August
The Beach (2000)
It’d be rude not to start with Leonardo DiCaprio’s iconic early 00s movie. Set in Thailand, it follows the story of backpacker Richard and his discovery of a secret island and its inhabitants. Grim and dark at times, but the scenery is truly idyllic.
Watch The Beach on Disney+
Mamma Mia! (2008)
One of the most iconic feel-good romcom musical movies, Mamma Mia! doesn’t just provide iconic Abba singalongs, but the gorgeous backdrop of the Greek islands Skopelos and Skiathos. It centres on Sophie and her upcoming wedding, plus the return of her three potential fathers, much to her mother Donna’s shock.
Watch Mamma Mia! on NOW TV
Jaws (1975)
OK, so this isn’t exactly feel-good summer vibes, but you can’t discuss beach movies without mentioning Spielberg’s iconic Jaws, set on the beautiful Cape Cod coastline. We follows police chief Martin Brody (Roy Schneider), a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw) as they track a human-eating great white shark that’s causing chaos on the town’s beach.
Watch Jaws on Netflix
The Last Song (2010)
The movie that began the long-term romance between Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, The Last Song is set in the quiet seaside town of Tybee Island in North Carolina, and sees teenager Ronnie Miller (Cyrus) spend the summer reconnecting with her estranged father, while subsequently falling in love with talented volleyball player Will Blakelee (Hemsworth).
Watch The Last Song on Disney+
Just Go With It (2010)
Adam Sandler is the king of feel-good summer romcoms, and Just Go With It one of his finest. Sandler stars as a plastic surgeon who has convinced his assistant, Jennifer Aniston, to play his soon-to-be-divorced wife on a bizarre family trip to Hawaii. With a great cameo appearance from Nicole Kidman, this is one of those slob out on the sofa kind of movies.
Watch Just Go With It on Netflix
50 First Dates (2004)
Another Sandler classic, this time with his other on-screen ‘work wife’ Drew Barrymore. Also set in Hawaii, the story follows marine vet Henry Roth and his love interest Lucy Whitmore, who suffers from a form of amnesia that means every day is the same.
Watch 50 First Dates on Netflix
Blue Crush (2002)
Another Hawaii-based beach movie, Blue Crush stars Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake as three friends determined to get Anne Marie (Bosworth) back competing as a rising star in women’s surfing.
Watch Blue Crush on Apple TV
Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021)
This feel-good comedy written by and starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (who also co-wrote Bridesmaids together) follows the friendship of Star and Barb, two friends who leave their life in Nebraska for a sunny holiday on the Florida coast. They find themselves embroiled in a potential crime committed by Sharon Fisherman (also played by Wiig), who plans to unleash killer mosquitoes on the beach resort.
Watch Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar on Apple TV
On Chesil Beach (2010)
In 1962, two newlyweds – Edward Mayhew (Billy Howle) and Florence Ponting (Saoirse Ronan) – meet and fall in love quickly. Both virgins, they have a disastrous first honeymoon night together at Chesil Beach in Dorset, with Florence declaring she just wants to be a platonic wife. A heartbreaking story of love.
Watch On Chesil Beach on Prime Video
The Lost Daughter (2021)
This debut directorial from Maggie Gyllenhaal has a stellar cast including Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. Set on a Greek island, university professor Leda Caruso (Colman) becomes fixated on young mother Nina (Johnson) and her daughter Elena in this psychological drama that takes twists and turns into Caruso’s past life.
Watch The Lost Daughter on Netflix
Fire Island (2022)
This 2022 romcom starring Bown Yang, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully and Margaret Cho is based on Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice and follows a group of friends heading to Fire Island, off of the coast of New York, known for its LGBTQ+ nightlife. The film is a celebration of Fire Island’s history as a queer hotspot where people could socialise without fear of judgment or prejudice.
Watch Fire Island on Disney+
The Beach Bum (2019)
This comedy stars Matthew McConaughey as lead character Moondog, a substance-abusing poet living a nomadic lifestyle around the Florida Keys as he works on his new book. His lifestyle is funded by his wealthy wife Minnie (Isla Fisher), who is having an affair with his friend, the R&B singer Lingerie (Snoop Dogg). Other guest appearances include Zac Efron, Jonah Hill and Martin Lawrence.
Watch The Beach Bum on Amazon Prime
About Time (2013)
The Richard Curtis classic stars Domhnall Gleeson a time traveller who tries to woo his love interest, Rachel McAdams. It’s set among the picturesque backdrop of St Austell, Cornwall. A classic.
Watch About Time on Channel 4
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
A psychological thriller set in sun-drenched 1950s Italy stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, who has been sent to Italy by the father of Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), who wants his playboy son’s dolce vita lifestyle to end and for him to head back to the USA. However, twists and turns make this film a lot darker. Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jack Davenport also star.
Watch The Talented Mr. Ripley on Netflix
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)
One of the most perfect teenage romcoms ever to exist, this movie follows the life of Georgia Nicolson (Georgia Groome) as a 14-year-old teen enamoured with new boy Robbie Jennings (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). The feel-good film is set against the backdrop of sleepy Eastbourne.
Watch Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging on Channel 4
Images: Courtesy of the films, Adobe and Getty
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