10 best summer movies - Filmustage Edition

Finally, the light and warm season have arrived, so now, more than ever, it's time to talk about the 10 most summer movies. Without further ado, here we go!

Disclaimer: our blog has no academic purpose behind it, because we are viewers just like you. Filmustage does not aim to educate, but to gather a close-knit film community around us. We can be wrong about certain statements - and that is fine. We are open to discussion and criticism. The main thing is to love cinema and talk about it.

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Woody Allen

This is probably one of the funniest films of the second part of the 2000s and it was directed by Woody Allen, which means that it will be hilarious even before the characters say or do anything.

Many viewers point out the similarity of this picture with a novel: the lighthearted narration, the creation of an inexpressible atmosphere of Spain, and an extremely fascinating story of tangled relationships. The capital of Catalonia is beautiful: the sunlight falls on the historic streets of Barcelona; the incredible architecture; the enchanting sound of the guitar and the lush greenery - with little touches, Allen has created a delightful portrait of the city that makes you fall in love immediately and forever.  This is all "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"!

Extraordinary freedom reeks from the film that makes you want to repeat the journey of Vicky and Cristina yourself after watching it. We wish you a pleasant viewing experience and sincerely envy those who will watch the film for the first time.

(500) Days of Summer (2009), Marc Webb

Marc Webb's film is typical, at first glance, rom-com that is made according to the laws of the genre and ends up being something opposite and makes you wonder what love is.

And what is love? We all have our answers, but what is the difference between love in movies and real life? You'd probably never ask yourself that, but Tom and Summer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel) aren't shy about acknowledging it.  It turns out that "(500) Days of Summer" is not a romantic comedy but a psychological drama that examines how different concepts of love get in the way of mutual understanding.

Stealing Beauty (1995), Bernardo Bertolucci

The daughter of a famous poetess and tom-model is sent to Italy after the death of her mother.  She has to spend the summer at the villa of old family friends and find her father. But there is another, perhaps the main motive for this trip: the desire to find the solution to an obscure entry in a diary left by her mother…

This is the synopsis of the film by the brilliant Bernardo Bertolucci. Full of awkward seductions misunderstood misunderstandings, and half-imagined memories, the film's plot tells of how the present becomes the past.

The provocative movie from the Italian master doesn't so much speak of beauty, but embodies it. In addition, the entourage of picturesque Tuscan hills only emphasizes the beauty of Italy's summer landscapes.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith's fun and madcap comedy are like nothing else to hold a grasp on life. The plot, as is typical of Smith, is a little crazy: pals Jay and Silent Bob stand outside a store in New Jersey all day, until one day they learn that a comic book about them has been made "Bluntman and Chronic". The comic book will be adapted, but no one is going to pay royalties to the friends. The restless couple goes to the studio Miramax to restore justice.

By the way, if you haven't yet read our blog dedicated to Kevin Smith, we advise you to read it as soon as possible. Otherwise, we have nothing more to say other than "enjoy watching it," as “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is so absurd and dumb in its way that we don't have enough emotion to describe it.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Joseph Kosinski

There's not much to say. One of the biggest premieres of the summer, which revived the niche of "summer blockbusters." Tom Cruise is back as Maverick and now, 30 years later, he must confront his deepest fears and the ghosts of his past, which threaten to derail a mission requiring extreme dedication.

The film has already grossed over $500 million at the box office and is a huge success for both director Joseph Kosinski and the entire team behind the project. What we can say is that “Top Gun: Maverick” is a smashing movie with incredible camera work and dynamics that makes it one of the greatest blockbusters of recent years.

The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Alexandre Aja

Traveling across America in a motorhome, the Carter family, after an accident, find themselves in a mysterious nuclear zone cut off from civilization. Over time, however, the Carters discover that this seemingly deserted area is inhabited by a bloodthirsty family of mutants who begin to hunt them down…

Of course, our selection couldn't do without a horror movie. More accurately, we should point out that “The Hills Have Eyes” is more of a slasher inspired by the iconic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. Accordingly, expect liters of blood and horror before bloodthirsty and ruthless monsters who try to tear apart the protagonists in the most gruesome ways.

Mad Max Fury Road (2015), George Miller

This film has been in development since the mid-90s, over 100 unique vehicles were designed for it, George Miller changed studios several times, and clashed with lead actors and producers - but in the end, “Mad Max Fury Road” was nominated for 10 statuettes, of which the film won 6!

Miller's epic film boasts not only thrilling action but also expressive cinematography and acting. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron added emotional intensity and drama to the film. It seems that George Miller took a chance and brought his life's main character, Max, back to the big screens, which may finally give the director peace of mind and a chance to stop thinking and live this project. In "Mad Max Fury Road" was able to realize his idealized violent and fierce outlook on life, which is felt immensely through the screen - and it's awesome!

A Bigger Splash (2015), Luca Guadagnino

"A Bigger Splash" can be called a classic representative of European auteur cinematography, which with its picture and plot plunges the viewer into a trance. And since Luca Guadagnino is the director of this film, you can always expect a trick. His "Suspiria", for example, is the same: slow and dragging, which keeps the viewer nervously waiting for that very splash.

What makes this film a perfect choice for a summer evening is its atmosphere and setting: rock star Marianne Lane and her boyfriend are vacationing in southern Italy, but the idyll is suddenly broken by Marianne's former lover and his adult daughter. Guadagnino turns each dialogue into a frivolous game: flirtation, passion, and all-consuming jealousy. It all leads to an unexpected climax that leaves one in involuntary silence.

"A Bigger Splash" is a very distinctive and stylish movie that can hardly leave you emotionless.

Midsommar (2019), Ari Aster

This is the second horror film in our selection, but we couldn't leave out director Ari Aster.

Together with the characters of Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor, you will go on an anthropological expedition to a Swedish settlement. Summer Midsommar is a special ancient holiday that in all cultures is shrouded in mystical mysteries. Soon after their arrival, however, the friends discover that the local rituals are far from harmless, and they find themselves cut off from civilization.

"Midsommar" is a unique representative of its genre and has no contemporary analogs. With his film, Ari Aster challenged the traditional notion of horror and created a genuinely creepy movie in blinding sunlight. Our score is a"must-watch"!

Yesterday (2017), Danny Boyle

Jack was just a regular guy a month ago. In movies, they say "loser" about such people. However, suddenly everything changes: now he is a superstar, millions of people listen to his songs, and concert tickets are sold out in a second. What's the secret? It's simple. Jack is the only person in the world who remembers that The Beatles exist.

The film has a completely insane, yet childishly silly, but very curious idea. And thanks to Boyle's vision and directing, at one point the film turns into a very dynamic dream. One begins to feel as if the entire plot is a hallucination, a child's fantasy that has been realized as an adult. The screenwriter also does not forget about human relations: all the evil has disappeared from the world of "Yesterday", and all the negative characters of the tape are perceived and presented rather as live caricatures of the commercial world of art turned into showbiz. Thus, Danny Boyle has made a very bright and kind movie which is so good to watch in summer.

Afterword

Well, our list of summer movies has come to an end. What do you think? What would you like to argue or add? We will be waiting for your feedback/recommendations, and we wish you a pleasant viewing experience!