A classic summer movie set in the 1960's about a group of kids on a baseball team who take a new kid in town under their wing. It will give your family all the classic American summer feels! This is a favorite of my husbands, and he was so excited last summer when we finally watched it as family. Spoiler: my kids loved it too! 

Age Recommendation: older kids-teens  

This remake of a classic is one of our favorites when we need a good laugh. I'd watch any Steve Martin movie, but in this family comedy he really shines as a dad juggling his dream job and family. Bonus: Bonnie Hunt co-stars as his wife and mom of their star-studded cast of 12 children. 

Age Recommendation: young children-teens   

Part 2 of the "Cheaper By the Dozen" millennium franchise, this hilarious movie is the epitome of summer. It's an absolute must for my family to watch every summer since it's set at a cabin on the lake, especially if we're taking a family road trip to one of the Great Lakes in my state of Michigan. Tip: This is one of our favorites to watch before Labor Day weekend, since the movie features a Labor Day contest! 

Age Recommendation: young children-teens 

Another remake of a family classic, this movie about twin sisters (a double role played by Lindsay Lohan) also takes place during summer break. In fact, it even starts out in a summer camp. Parents, grandparents, and kids will love watching this together, since it's one of those millennial childhood classics that remakes an even older version spanning generations. 

Age Recommendation: older kids-teens 

This hilarious and adorable book about a group of dads who run a summer camp will have your entire family rolling off the couch with laughter. Here is another one of those that automatically gives us the summer vibes due to the summer camp setting. It's full of summer related activities and humor! 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-teens 

If your kids have ever read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, then they are going to love this movie! (And if they haven't this is a great time during summer break to get them to start which you can purchase by clicking the link here!) This is one of my kids' favorite books series, and the movies are just as hilarious. In this one it details Greg and his family's shenanigans during summer break. It will have you wanting a lemonade to go with that popcorn, and will have your family rolling in laughter! 

Age Recommendation: young kids-teens 

Yet another movie in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series, this one is about the Heffley family's hilarious adventures as they go on a summer road trip together. We love watching this movie in the summer as it gets us excited for our annual summer road trip! 

Age Recommendation: young kids-teens 

The third installment in the "Hotel Transylvania" series, this movie is about the Dracula family taking a summer family vacation on a cruise. We love the Dracula family from their first two movies, cruising with our family, and extended family vacations, so this movie is always such a hit for us to watch together! 

Age Recommendation: young kids-tweens 

Another movie about a summer road trip, it will make your kiddos glad is school is out as soon as it starts! That's because it kicks off with a musical song about summer break, and breaks into the characters plans to spend time with family and friends. A true Disney classic, any Disney fan will recognize Goofy and his son Max, and will love seeing their family road trip play out. 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-tweens 

I'm sure many of you can remember this movie franchise from our childhoods! This classic movie is always fun to show my kids since it was one of my favorites as a kid, and now one of our favorites to watch together for family movie night. The outdoor setting and missed family vacation makes it one of our favorite summer movies for kids! 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-tweens 

A follow up to the previous movie, "Honey I Shrunk the Kids", this also makes one of our top choices for summer movies for kids. There's just something about all those awesome '90's movies that gives me all the nostalgic feels. Some of them were definitely wholesome family movies, and this is one of them. It takes place during summer vacation, when the family's toddler gets accidentally giant during a science experiment gone wrong. This movie is funny, adorable, and if your kiddos haven't watched it yet, definitely add it to your summer family movie night rotation! 

Another millennial generation classic show, my kids adored the "Recess" series from the first time I ever showed it to them. They loved everything about it, and again as a mom, I loved how wholesome it was. This movie is about the class convening for summer break, just like the title implies. Your kids will love seeing all the adventures they get into! 

A reminder of a good old fashioned summer road trip from start to finish! "Cars" is one of our favorite summer movies for kids. In fact, the theme song "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts is usually what plays in my head during every summer road trip, thanks to this movie. Another reason why we adore this one is that it's appropriate for every age group and member of your family—from the babies all the way to the grandparents. It's likely your family will fall in love with it as mine did, and luckily there are two sequels after it which should fulfill your family's movie night quota for a couple weeks. You're welcome. 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-teens 

It's very likely both you and your kids have already read this classic book by Louis Sachar at some point. If not you can purchase it here. We love this book, and the movie even more. We always love seeing our favorite books come to life onscreen (which you would already know if you'd also read about the time we baked a birthday cake for Harry Potter after beginning the series). It's not only a great way to your kids to read more, but it can start great comparisons between books and movies. While "Holes' is not a summer vacation movie, the vibe is definitely one of a summer camp feel.    

Age Recommendation: older kids-teens 

Based on the popular Judy Moody book series, this movie will be beloved by your whole family. Like some of the other movies in this list, if you're wanting your kiddos read the book first you can purchase them here. This movie, although newer than the books, gives a fun summer update to these quirky children's novels. 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-tweens

This adorable movie about parents who give their kids a 'Yes Day' is filled with family fun! From the beginning all the way to the end, your family will be laughing together, and possibly get a few ideas for your very own 'Yes Day' this summer. 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-teens 

Beloved for generations, this beautiful Oscar-winning movie will make your family feel every single emotion. This is actually my personal favorite movie of all time, and the first time I showed it to my kids was the sweetest memory. Of course they loved it, as I knew they would. But they also learned a lot about World War 2 and world history while we were watching it as well. The summer setting of this movie makes it a perfect summer movie for kids. And good luck not singing along with the Von Trapp family! 

Age Recommendation: young childhood-teens 

How many good things can I say about this adorable movie? This was one of my family's favorites for family movie night since I was a teen living with my parents, and I have fond memories watching it in the summer months as a favorite summer movie for years. Now it's one of mine and my children's favorite summer movies for kids, and if your family hasn't seen it yet, it will quickly become one of yours. It's hilarious, sweet, heartwarming, and a good time for your entire family from start to finish. 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-teens 

The sequel to "Finding Nemo" this adorable and hilarious movie will give your family all the summer and beachy vibes during the entire thing. Since this one is also partly set in an aquarium it also reminds my family of all our summer travels to Sea World. 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-teens 

This movie will make your family want to be on the beach in front of summer the moment it starts. Or maybe have you guys craving a trip to Hawaii. At least that's how we feel every time we watch it because the setting takes place in the ocean in Polynesia. In fact, here's a fun fact: the word "moana" means "ocean" in the Hawaiian language! The songs are great, characters are unique, and watching it will help you get excited for the second installment of the series coming out this November. You're welcome for this great summer movie for kids recommendation. (If you have no idea what that means, you will after you watch it!) 

Age Recommendation: young children-tweens 

This favorite summer movie for kids is one of my kids all time favorite movies, period. Like "Moana" it also takes place in Hawaii, and has the capacity to be completely transformative. It will make your o'hana feel like they're on a beach, although Stitch's alien vibes will also make you feel like they're out of this world! Stitch has become super popular lately, and for good reason. Watch this movie for your next family movie night and discover why everybody loves this adorable alien! 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-tweens 

While this isn't technically a summer movie, the adventure will take your family on a journey to warmer destinations and feels! This is personally one of my favorite movies of all time, and for all the right reasons. It's filled with adventure, travel, sweet moments, love, good music, humor, and everything that a great movie needs. In fact the soundtrack for this movie even won an Oscar for best film score because it's that good!   

Age Recommendation: young children-teens 

A hilarious movie about a road trip, this movie remains one of our favorite road trip movies of all time. We especially love pulling this out in the summer time in honor of our favorite summer road trips. Here's hoping your family's summer road trips goes smoother than their road trip does! 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-teens 

Sequel to "Are We There Yet?" this movie was one of our family's personal favorites to watch during the summer months for a very specific reason. We spent a few years fixing up our current home in order for it to be move-in ready, and it finally was in the middle of a summer season. So we loved watching this movie as we were preparing to move into our new home, as we watched the family onscreen fix and get ready to move into their new home. Just like them, we were constantly asking "Are we done yet??" And like many family moves around the country, there's also takes place during the summer, like ours did. It's a hilarious must-watch when your family is looking for a good laugh! 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-teens 

Much like "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory" this film will give your family the summer feels due it's ocean setting. It'll make you feel like your swimming in an ocean, or make you crave a trip over to one! And much like it's Disney produced oceanic fish film friends, it also contains an all-star cast which makes this film full of talking sea creatures a hilarious and entertaining summer movie for kids! This is one your family will probably rewatch over again! 

Age Recommendation: young children-tweens 

This adorable movie about a mermaid will make your family feel summer vibes from the moment it starts. I would especially recommend this movie for any kids who are mermaid and beach lovers, and any mermaid loving kids in the 9-12 age range. 

Age Recommendation: older childhood-teens 

I would actually recommend any movie from "Alvin and the Chipmunks" franchise for your family movie night. But this third installment–"Chipwrecked" is about the chipmunks going on a family cruise. It's hilarious, adorable, and one of our favorite summer movies for kids. 

Age Recommendation: toddlers-older childhood 

A favorite movie from my own childhood, I remember watching this during our family movie night as a tween and loving it! It's a super cute movie about an American girl who travels to London, England. It will give your family all the summer travel feels! 

Another favorite from my own childhood, I remember watching this one over and over with my family during summer break. There are so many classically great actors in this movie, including the Olsen Twins, which makes this movie not only a great way to introduce them to your kids, but a great summertime movie for kids! 

This movie quickly became a Disney classic, due to it's family-oriented theme and gorgeous animation. Set during the summer months in seaside Italy, "Luca" will make your family add "Italian Summer" to their travel bucket list! My family watches and rewatches this adorable movie every summer! 

A true classic from our own childhoods (maybe even some of our parents!), "Flipper" screams summer movie list. Although not a modern one, there's still so much to love about this classic dolphin tale! 

The "Ramona and Beezus" by series by Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite book series as a kid. I also bought them for my own kids, and now they love reading them as well. If your kids haven't read them yet you can purchase the complete collection here. It remains one of all our favorite book series, and the movie is just as fun to watch! Based on the book series, it features all of Ramona and her big sister Beezus's hilarious adventures . My kids especially love it because as an older sister and younger sister, they can absolutely relate to some of the sister rivalry. Bonus: the age ranges of the characters in the movie make it a perfect "all age" family movie! 

Age Recommendation: young childhood-teens 

"Despicable Me" isn't technically a summer movie. But some of the setting takes place in the summer, Plus there's a brand new installment of the film coming out in theaters this summer! My kids love watching all 3 of the existing movies in the "Despicable Me" series as well as the spinoff "Minions" series. They're hilarious, as any Steve Carrell film would be, and although animated, has the capacity to entertain both kids and adults alike. Plus if you're planning a trip to the Universal Studios theme parks with your family this summer (or at any time during the year) watching it will help get you ready to explore their brand new Minions Land! 

Age Recommendation: young childhood-teens 

A classic summer movie about a group of musician kids who go to a musicical summer camp. Not only is this movie classic Disney Channel from our childhoods, but it's a classic summertime movie for kids. Your family will be singing along to some of these catchy songs sung by some of their favorite singers from today! 

Age Recommendation: young childhood-tweens 

I remember when the first installment of this series came out as a kid, and I remember watching it over and over. So when the second installment came out, and it was set during a summer camping trip, I adored it as a favorite summer movie! I also remember singing along to Michael Jackson in both films. So of course I showed it to my kids during one summer, who also fell in love it. They preceded to ask about Michael Jackson and that sparked their interest in the great King of Pop. This is a favorite film series to learn about killer whales and my kids always want to read more about marine biology after we watch it. As explanation for my age recommendation below: there are a few language instances in the film that might only be appropriate and understood by older kids-teens. 

Age Recommendation: older childhood-teens 

The amount of nostalgia this movie gives me fro my childhood cannot even be measured. It was a favorite when I was a kid, and is now a favorite my family's as well. The premise of the movie is about a family who adopts a puppy. The movie does take place over a period of time—including the summer months— and will not only make your family nostalgic for these ongoing summer nights, but cherish every sweet family moment together as it's also portrayed onscreen by this sweet family. 

Age Recommendation: middle childhood-tweens    

A follow up to the first installment in the series, this movie follows the family through their later years with Beethoven, a few years after they adopt him. Beethoven has a family of puppies of his own, and the shenanigans continue with his own pups! Since the kids have now grown a little, they are now also dealing with some teen related issues such as dating, friendship, and relationships which is the reasoning for my recommending this particular installment for older childhood and beyond. 

Age Recommendation: older kids-teens