25 Spectacular Summer Movies for Kids

Shhh, the movie’s starting!

Two images of fun summer movies as an example of fun last day of school activities
We Are Teachers

Crank up the air-conditioning, pop some popcorn, and watch a summer movie in the heat of the afternoon. Or wait until the evening and project a movie onto a movie screen or sheet in your yard. However you plan it, summer is a time for movies about beaches, camp, and stories that take us on a journey. Here are our favorite summer movies for kids.

Be sure your movie choices are age-appropriate for your kids!

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

Best Summer Movies for Kids

The Parent Trap (1998)

Movie promo image for Parent Trap

Set in summer camp, Annie and Hallie discover that they are twins separated at birth. They make a plan to bring their parents back together in this funny, lighthearted movie.

Watch it: The Parent Trap on Amazon

The Goonies (1985)

Goonies movie cover

By now, The Goonies is essential kid viewing. It’s a throwback to a time when summer was spent searching for pirate’s treasure, and it features classic characters like Chunk and Data.

Watch it: The Goonies on Amazon

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Toy story 4 cover- summer movies for kids

Set on a summer road trip, this iteration of the antics of Buzz, Woody, and Forky is the final in the Toy Story franchise. The themes of teamwork, friendship, and love come through as the team work to rescue a missing toy.

Watch it: Toy Story 4 on Amazon

My Girl (1991)

My girl movie cover

In this coming-of-age movie, a girl who is on the edge of her teens is turned upside down when she meets an unlikely friend.

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Watch it: My Girl on Amazon

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Because of Winn Dixie movie cover

Every summer should include a movie about the bond between a child and her dog. In this movie, Winn-Dixie, a spunky dog, befriends a girl who is new in town and helps her adjust to her new surroundings.

Watch it: Because of Winn-Dixie on Amazon

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Spongebob Squarepants movie cover- summer movies for kids

SpongeBob SquarePants is an always refreshing visit with a talking sponge who wants nothing more than to run an underwater burger joint. In this movie, SpongeBob leaves Bikini Bottom to track down King Neptune’s stolen crown. It’s a sponge-out-of-water story.

Watch it: The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie on Amazon

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) movie cover

It’s summer for Greg, but he may not have the best summer vacation ever when everything goes wrong.

Watch it: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days on Amazon

Wonder Park (2019)

Wonder Park movie cover

A movie about a magical theme park called WonderLand and how the main character, June, deals with her feelings when her mom gets sick.

Watch it: Wonder Park on Amazon

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Spiderman movie cover- summer movies for kids

This superhero flick puts the standard action-packed scenes in Venice and Prague. High-school-age Spider-Man is on a summer trip to Europe when he has to save the girl from villains.

Watch it: Spider-Man: Far From Home on Amazon

Holes (2003)

Holes movie cover

In this book adaptation, a boy is wrongfully convicted of a crime and sent to Camp Greenlake, a detention camp where he has to dig holes for a mysterious reason. It’s not your typical summer camp, but it does have the summer-movie theme of friendship.

Watch it: Holes on Amazon

Daddy Day Camp (2007)

Daddy day camp movie cover- summer movies for kids

The premise: A dad wants to give his son the best summer camp ever, so he opens his own neighborhood camp, and hilarity ensues.

Watch it: Daddy Day Camp on Amazon

Oceans (2010)

Oceans movie cover

In this Disney documentary narrated by Pierce Brosnan, you’ll go under the waves and see all the mystery, beauty, and wonder of the ocean. Play this documentary on a larger screen to feel like you’re swimming alongside whales and among schools of fish.

Watch it: Oceans on Amazon

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Muppets Treasure Island (1996)- summer movies for kids

Follow along with the Muppets as they journey from place to place on a treasure map, from the Benbow Inn to the port town of Bristol, ending at Treasure Island.

Watch it: Muppet Treasure Island on Amazon

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo is a road trip adventure in the ocean, as a father clown fish sets out to rescue his son who was captured in the Great Barrier Reef.

Watch it: Finding Nemo on Amazon

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)

Pirates of the Caribbean- summer movies for kids

The now iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow works with blacksmith Will Turner to save the governor’s daughter from Jack’s former pirate allies.

Watch it: Pirates of the Caribbean on Amazon

A Goofy Movie (1995)

A Goofy movie cover

Looking for summer movies for kids who love Disney? The Goofy Movie takes us on a road trip that brings Goofy and his teenage son closer together, through all the ups and downs, jokes, and bumps.

Watch it: A Goofy Movie on Amazon

Camp Rock (2008)

Camp Rock (2008)- summer movies for kids

In this Disney Channel film, singers the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato star in a story about a camp for aspiring singers. The story is punctuated by musical elements and the overarching camp-movie theme of friendship.

Watch it: Camp Rock on Amazon

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)

Judy has to move out to California for the summer to help her grandparents, but she is left with her fun aunt. She’s determined to make the most of it and has lots of ups and downs along the way. This movie adaptation captures all the spunk of the book series.

Watch it: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer on Amazon

A League of Their Own (1992)

A League of Their Own (1992)- summer movies for kids

A summer baseball movie with heart and history. Two sisters join the first female baseball team and work to help it succeed.

Watch it: A League of Their Own on Amazon

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

The technology is laughable now, but the premise of a father whose latest invention ends up shrinking his kids and neighbors to bug-size is still funny.

Watch it: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on Amazon

Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975) cover

This is another classic movie that still inspires fear in older kids today. In Jaws, a killer shark creates chaos in a beach community on Cape Cod. A sheriff, biologist, and sea captain team up to hunt the shark down.

Watch it: Jaws on Amazon

Cars (2006)

Cars (2006)

Cars takes place along Route 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles, where a racing car feels stuck in his small town.

Watch it: Cars on Amazon

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)- summer movies for kids

Greg Heffley and his family take a road trip to attend his grandma’s 90th birthday party. It goes off course quickly as Greg tries to reroute the trip to a video-gaming convention.

Watch it: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul on Amazon

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

This is another classic movie with heart. A bulldog puppy, a Himalayan cat, and an old golden retriever travel through the wilderness to get back to their humans.

Watch it: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey on Amazon

What are your favorite summer movies for kids? Share in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE on Facebook.

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Road trips, beaches, summer camp, and more. Here are 25 summer movies for kids that you'll enjoy watching too.