Summer is here! And of course, here in Australia, we love having a bit of fun in the sun. It’s part of our national identity. However, for the days when it’s too hot to do much at all, a good TV binge session is in order, and thankfully, there’s a whole world of summer vacation-themed movies and shows to choose from.
Here are ten of the best:
Phineas and Ferb
There’s one hundred and four days of summer vacation, and Phineas and Ferb knew just how to spend them. Over four seasons, the imaginative duo came up with increasingly crazy ways to spend their summer days, staying one step ahead of their suspicious older sister, Candace. All the while, their pet platypus Perry is having his own adventures, foiling the not-so-evil plans of Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
Phineas and Ferb will go down in history as a classic of its era. Fans will be pleased to know that a new movie, Phineas and Ferb: Candace Against the Universe, is currently in development.
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
At the beginning of the first summer they will spend apart, childhood friends Tibby, Lena, Bridget and Carmen find a pair of jeans that magically fits them all. They buy the jeans, using them as a way to stay connected throughout the summer.
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants is a classic coming-of-age tale, heartwarming in some moments and heartbreaking in others. The movie spawned a sequel and a third film has long been rumoured.
The Sandlot
Over the course of a summer, the young members of a baseball team bond through a series of adventures. The summer culminates in future baseball star Benny ‘The Jet’ Rodriguez becoming a legend through his efforts to retrieve a valuable ball from a supposedly vicious dog known as ‘The Beast’.
The film became a cult hit, leading to two direct-to-video sequels.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
During the last summer before they begin high school, Lizzie McGuire and her classmates embark on a trip to Rome. While there, Lizzie learns that she bears an uncanny resemblance to Italian superstar, Isabella. Isabella’s singing partner, Paolo, wants Lizzie to impersonate Isabella, but unfortunately, his motives are not as pure as they seem.
The movie served as an epilogue to the original Lizzie McGuire TV series. With a reboot on the way, now is the perfect time to revisit Lizzie.
Digimon Adventure
After a strange mishap at their summer camp, seven children are transported to the Digital World. They find themselves paired with cute but powerful creatures known as Digimon. They are the Digi-Destined, and the fate of both the digital and physical worlds lie in their hands.
The first season of the Digimon anime, Digimon Adventure and its sequel series, Adventure 02, remain among the most popular seasons of the show. If you’re up for binging a classic kid’s anime with a catchy theme song, it’s well worth a look.
High School Musical 2
“What time is it? Summertime!”
In this popular sequel, Troy, Gabriella and their friends are excited when they all score summer jobs at the country club owned by rich girl Sharpay’s father. Troy sees working together as a chance to spend more time with Gabriella, but Sharpay repeatedly interrupts his plans.
High School Musical 2 was the first film in which Zac Efron performed his own musical numbers. It eventually led him to memorable performances in Hairspray and The Greatest Showman.
Dirty Dancing
While on a yearly summer vacation with her family, Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman meets and slowly befriends dance instructor Johnny Castle. When Johnny’s dance partner is unable to attend an important performance with him, Baby fills in, soon leading Johnny and Baby into a whirlwind summer romance.
With iconic moments and an awesome soundtrack, Dirty Dancing is a film everyone should see at least once. The 2017 remake adds a slightly bleaker ending, so definitely stick with the original.
Gravity Falls
Twelve-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel are reluctantly shipped off to spend the summer with their Great Uncle ‘Grunkle’ Stan in the town of Gravity Falls. It quickly becomes apparent that Gravity Falls is no ordinary town, and every day brings a new mystery for Dipper and Mabel to solve.
Gravity Falls has become a cult favourite, with both seasons earning a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stranger Things 3
“One summer can change everything.”
This was the tagline used to promote season three of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, and it was exactly right. The summer fun doesn’t last long, with Eleven and the gang soon dealing with the return of the Mind Flayer, and a plot by evil Russians.
Some fans claim Stranger Things 3 is the best season of the show so far. One thing’s for sure, you’ll be left champing at the bit to see how the next season unfolds.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
After certain tragic events in Avengers: Endgame, all Peter Parker wants is to relax and take a short break from being Spider-Man. He thinks he’s going to get that chance on a school trip to Europe, but unfortunately, Nick Fury has other plans. Peter is enlisted to help multi-verse traveller Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio, to battle the monstrous Elementals. However, Mysterio is not what he seems, and Spider-Man is left to save the day once again.
Far From Home is the first Spidey film to gross over a billion dollars at the box office, and sets things up for a thrilling conclusion when the MCU’s third and likely final Spider-Man film arrives in 2021.
Special Mention: Oscillating Fan for your Home
In a move that shows the team at Netflix well and truly understand their audience, for their first summer here in Australia they released a “true Aussie alternative” to the traditional yule logs and open fireplaces our North American-based friends tune into each December. Oscillating Fan for your Home is 60 mins of exactly what it says on the tin, an oscillating fan tracking back and forth that really captures the mood and ambiance of a traditional Australian summer.
Happy summer binging, everyone!
