1 Grease (Randal Kleiser, 1978)
As recommended by: Slothboy, JezKeen, sifrLXXXVI & mrskite
Although, we do not see the racy summer romance between young Sandy and Danny (we just hear about it in the song Summer Nights), readers were outraged it was not included in the original 10 best summer romances in film list: “No Grease?! For shame!!” says mrskite.
2 Dirty Dancing (Emile Ardolino, 1987)
As recommended by: sifrLXXXVI, JezKeen & jodave
One of the best known film quotes, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” comes from Dirty Dancing. It is your typical boy-meets-girl story – high temperatures, disapproving parents and vigorous dancing included.
3 Body Heat (Lawrence Kasdan, 1981)
As recommended by: GhostWiper, sifrLXXXVI, MysteriousSpok & FurtivePygmy
More desire and danger than romance, Body Heat is a top pick for readers. The dramatic score is one of film composer John Barry’s most popular and contributes to the popularity of the film. A happy ending and riding off into the sunset don’t feature, but as reader sfrLXXXVI reminds us: “No one said romance has to turn out well!”
4 Japanese Story (Sue Brooks, 2003)
As recommended by: bigkidsmademedoit
Set in the Australian desert, Japanese Story follows a quick yet intense fling between a brash geologist and a Japanese businessman. Toni Collette’s performance is regarded by bigkidsmademedoit as “blistering”.
5 The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola, 1999)
As recommended by: ID3334123
Adapted from the Jeffrey Eugenides novel of the same name, and set in the suburbs of Detroit in the 70s, Sofia Coppola’s film follows the obsession four boys had with their neighbours, the mysterious Lisbon sisters. Narrated by one of the boys as an adult, The Virgin Suicides focuses on first loves, the awkwardness of adolescence, and eventually tragedy and grief.
6 Stealing Beauty (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1996)
As recommended by: WinterNow & RedF
Serene Italian landscapes dominate Stealing Beauty, as it follows Lucy (Liv Tyler), who escapes to Italy after her mother’s suicide desperate to renew acquaintances with an old flame and find her estranged father. WinterNow says: “I always just want to be Liv, just sauntering around the Italian countryside.”
7 The Night of the Iguana (John Huston, 1964)
As recommended by: MysteriousSpok & neko99
MysteriousSpok describes this adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play as including “Mexican heat, sunshine and booze”, and that it does. It also has an alcoholic ex-minister, and a tour bus of American schoolteachers. Sexual tensions run high in the 1964 passion-filled classic, and neko99 describes it as “Richard Burton and Ava Gardner at their drunken, uninhibited best”.
8 My Summer of Love (Pawel Pawlikowski, 2004)
As recommended by: crayonfire & Abdias
Pawlikowski’s My Summer of Love is perfectly titled for this list, and stars Emily Blunt and Natalie Press. Two teenage girls spend an unusually hot Yorkshire summer together, and learn tolerance, trust and love.
9 Roman Holiday (William Wyler, 1953)
As recommended by: KellerCC & Oliver2014
Roman Holiday is a timeless romance about a princess on the run for a day that won Audrey Hepburn an Academy Award for best actress. KellerCC recommends it highly: even 61 years after release, it’s still “as good as ever”.
10 West Side Story (Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise, 1961)
As recommemded by: safeasmilk
West Side Story is one of the most famous tales of fierce romance and even fiercer tragedy. Set in New York City in the mid-50s, it features Maria and Tony from rival gangs, who are forbidden from even looking at each other, and so there are huge consequences when they fall in love. While not certain if it is set exactly in summer or not, safeasmilk does suggest that “it certainly seems jolly warm”. Summer it is.
