The 20 best movies about summer flings

Hollywood's fascination with summer flings is an age-old storyline that has had audiences swooning for decades. It's a dreamy escape for many moviegoers, many of whom have had their own summer love.

From Audrey Hepburn to Armie Hammer, through Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, countless characters have made millions dream of experiencing the love that movies portray as within reach. And sometimes, those dreams come true. So, if you're into the genre, here's a look at the 20 best of all time!

Photo: Focus Features

In case you've forgotten, Richard (Tom Ewell) is torn between his vacationing family in Maine and the temptress living upstairs. Tough call because his neighbor is none other than Marilyn Monroe, and it's the hottest day in New York summer. Know the iconic scene of her dress blown upward from a subway grate? Yep, this is the film!

Who would've guessed that Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg would make such a sweet pair? They share a surprisingly tender and complex relationship, all set against the backdrop of 'Adventureland,' a struggling amusement park.

Photo: Miramax Films

Before all the controversy around Armie Hammer, he gave us Oliver, a character who won over millions, including Elio, the son of the archaeology professor he works for one summer in 80s Italy. Their love might have been forbidden, but Guadagnino tells their story with majestic grace.

Photo: Sony Pictures Classics

Danny and Sandy, aka John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, famously sing about summer love… in, well, the song 'Summer Lovin.' Although they thought it would be gone in a flash, the movie shows what happens when you meet your summer fling in highschool in the fall!

A cheeky romantic comedy where friends Angel (Kristy McNichol) and Ferrys (Tatum O'Neal) place a bet to see who can be intimate with a guy first. Who would've thought such a wager would lead both on parallel paths to love?

When Zooey Deschanel's character is named Summer, you kinda know where this is headed. Summer and Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are on a roller-coaster of a romance, but things take a turn when Autumn (Minka Kelly) enters the scene.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) embark on a summer Barcelona vacation filled with art, wine, and the charismatic artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). But it's the unexpected entrance of his fiery ex-wife, María Elena (Penélope Cruz), that truly turns up the heat. Love, desire, and self-discovery intermingle under the Iberian sun, proving that summer flings can be as unpredictable as they are unforgettable.

For many, the idyllic summer dream involves a love triangle, and Randal Kleiser turned this fantasy into reality with Peter Gallagher, Valérie Quennessen, and Daryl Hannah. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Aegean Islands, its gorgeous all around.

What starts as a one-sided summer romance blossoms into one of the most epic love stories in film history. Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Ellie (Rachel McAdams) exude pure chemistry, proving that a summer love can indeed transform into eternal passion.

Photo: New Line Cinema

Sam and Suzy's love story unfolds against the perfect summer setting: a Boy Scout camp. And, can we just talk about the all-star cast? Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel... The list is incredible.

Photo: Focus Features

A summer's day in Rome was all it took to catapult Audrey Hepburn to Hollywood stardom. Her character Ann, a princess on a tightly scheduled European tour was the perfect match for the American journalist Joe, played by the ever-impressive Gregory Peck. A must-watch.

A whirlwind summer romance leaves Donna (Meryl Streep) pregnant with her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). Fast forward two decades, and as Sophie prepares for her wedding, Donna attempts to find out which of her three past lovers is Sophie's real dad. It sure was a busy summer for Donna. And, with the three potential dads being Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), there really is no wrong choice.

Photo: Universal Pictures

So French, so elegant, and oh-so-chic. In this movie, young Pauline (Amanda Langlet) faces a relatable summer dilemma: stick with her boyfriend her age or be swept away by an older man seeking to savor life's moments.

Amid the scorching heat of a Brooklyn summer, the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood boils with tension. While it's not a love story in the traditional sense, it includes one unforgettable summertime love scene where Rosie Perez's character is cooled off with an ice cube. The streets sizzle and emotions run high, with Mookie (played by Lee himself) at the epicenter of racial tensions that mirror real-life struggles.

Image: Do The Right Thing, Criterion, Universal Pictures

It was real and pure love between Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal). Their unexpected and forbidden romance brought more hardships than happiness, yet they held onto it till the very end.

Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) cross paths in Vienna and decide to spend the only summer night they have together getting to know each other. A masterpiece with a supremely elegant script, it showcases the blossoming of love almost in real time.

A bevvy of beauties grace this film, where Ripley (Matt Damon) impersonates Dickie (Jude Law) after refusing to return with him as his boss had asked. In between, there's the mesmerizing Marge, played by the equally magnetic Gwyneth Paltrow, all set against sun-soaked 1950s Italy. The whole movie feels like a Dolce & Gabbana perfume advert.

This classic shows a delightful parallel between adult love, represented by Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis, and that budding pre-teen love, where it's hard to tell if it's friendship or real romance, beautifully played by Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky. Oh, and those darn bees.

Possibly the quintessential summer love story. The romance that defined a generation featured Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) dancing together against the standards of the day and falling for each other. Millions then dreamt of finding their soulmate at a holiday resort. Some even got lucky.

The relationship between Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) and Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) and her daughter Elaine (Katherine Ross) might not exactly spell love, but it certainly showcases the allure of experience and how family vacations can get very, very complicated.