The 10 Sweaty, Summer Movies I Frequent

by Liz Heather in


I will always be into lists. I keep them in my purse, around my house, on my laptop, on my phone - it's a sickness.

I also happen to enjoy theme movies when watched during their appropriate time-of-year. You know what I mean - scary movies in October, Christmas movies in December, high school movies in June and the following movies listed below in the summer months. Why these particular films? Well, most of them are on here 'cause they take place in the heat, but some are on here because of how much I was entertained by them when I binge-watched them on summer break when I was a kid out of school for the season.

Anyway, they're really just listed here on the off-chance that you're looking for something good to watch. (Oh! And on every single rainy day from the years 1993 to approximately 1999, I had to watch Clue. It was a must because it's the perfect movie to watch when it's raining and IT'S MAGICAL it's so good. Everyone who knew me during those years saw this movie.) List time!

Marilyn Monroe's ass & some guy

1. The Seven Year Itch (1955)

Is it feminist to say LOOK AT THAT ASS? Yes, yes it is. Is the movie actually any good? I think it's all right - actually no, it's terrible. I've only seen it a few times and while I hate the storyline more than a smidge, I love watching her in it. I feel like it puts me in a bit of a trance, she's so lovely to look at. Her clothing, the way she moves. You think that it's stupid to hate this movie and still put it on the list? Well, what can I tell you. Take it up with consumer affairs.  

Jen Lindley & an oven

2. Take That Waltz (2011)

Anything that Sarah Polley gets her hands on will be good. That should just be a known sentiment. It's hard to describe why I liked this movie so much, I've only seen it twice. I love the way it shows how grossly in love and embarrassingly unbearable a couple can be with one another. Also, the nudity was great. And how it touched a bit on the expectations of marriage and relationships - loved all that.

A wink & clarinets

3. Some Like It Hot (1959)

I know, I know. I'm sorry that two of her movies are on here. This one made the list mainly because this was the first movie of hers I'd seen and I really loved the whole story. I feel like kids would really like this movie, am I wrong? I'm gonna make one of my nieces watch it and I'll update you.

White men & more white men

4. 12 Angry Men (1957)

I know this looks boring. Or was it just me who thought that? I'd been putting off seeing this for YEARS and finally saw it last night. It inspired this post! Such a good movie! "At the beginning, the cameras are all positioned above eye level and mounted with wide-angle lenses to give the appearance of greater distance between the subjects and as the film progresses the cameras slip down to eye level. By the end of the film, nearly all of it is shot below eye level, in close-up and with telephoto lenses to increase the encroaching sense of claustrophobia." - IMDB - Is it just me or is that cool as hell? Such a great movie.

Aerosmith's daughter & Italy

5. Stealing Beauty (1996)

I will always love this movie. It's about a 19 year old girl (Liv Tyler) who goes on a trip alone to Italy, hoping to lose her virginity. Ummmm, best synopsis ever? Or at least that's how it sounded to me (and still does?) when I first read the back cover at Rogers Video fifteen years ago. It still holds up over time. Also, nudity. I feel like teen girls are way more into nudity than teen boys. Just me?

Iowa & Ray Liotta

6. Field of Dreams (1989)

"They should have stopped making movies after they made this movie. Nothing will ever be as good." - my dad, about Field of Dreams. Now even if I don't feel as strongly as he does, this movie is fantastic and beautiful and everything you could want in a movie. Am I overselling it? No way, man. If you haven't seen it yet? Yikes. Delete my number.

Cheaters & sex

7. Little Children (2006)

There are so many instances in this movie that made me repeatedly think, "Ugh, that's so wrong," and yet I still purchased and still love watching it. I think it might have something to do with Kate Winslet finally being so unlikable in a movie. I love her when she's likable, but this side of her is just fun as hell to watch. Also, all the sex. OH! And the pedophilia storyline? Memorable as hell.

Girlhood & Brendan Fraser

8. Now and Then (1995)

There's a moment in this movie where you can press pause and (for a split-second) see Devon Sawa's junk. I know this because I've done this many times. You do things like this when you're a kid. It blew my mind. He was such a babe in Casper so discovering a gem like this? C'mon. You're not gonna look? Get off your high horse. It grossed me out, but I still watched it endlessly.

Boyhood & weird feelings down there about the one on the left

9. The Sandlot (1993)

I always wished I could play sports well after watching movies like this one and Little Giants. I wasn't fast (in the daylight) and I wasn't tall, so I pretty much decided to stick with band when I was younger. That doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy movies like this one, though. And boy howdy, did I ever. 

Television & Jeffrey Jones

10. Stay Tuned (1992)

This is John Ritter's finest piece of work. I've seen it over a hundred times. It's about a man who watches too much television and then him and his wife get sucked into it and have to go through different kinds of (not regular, but hell-inspired versions of) shows to get out. It is amazing. 

Well, that's the list. Don't care for it? That's weird. 'Cause they're all great. 'Except number one, remember.