The Top 10 Summer Camp Movies of All Time
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1. Wet Hot American Summer
​It’s the early ’80s and the first day of camp at Camp Firewood. The counselors are all young and ready to take on the summer. They’re also ready to party.
We meet our main characters: Coop (Paul Rudd), a counselor who’s in love with Katie (Marguerite Moreau), a camp director who’s in love with Andy (Janeane Garofalo), a counselor who’s in love with… well, himself.
There’s also Beth (Michael Ian Black), a counselor who’s secretly in love with Coop; Susie (Amy Poehler), a counselor who’s constantly trying to seduce Coop; and finally, there’s Mark (Bradley Cooper), a counselor who’s in love with… well, no one, really. He’s just kind of there.
The counselors spend the summer trying to hook up with each other, avoiding work, and generally just goofing off. But when a dangerous situation arises, they have to put their differences aside and work together to save the day.
“Wet Hot American Summer” is the perfect summer camp movie. It’s funny, raunchy, and full of heart. If you’re looking for a movie to watch with your friends on a hot summer day, this is the one for you.
2. Indian Summer
​Summer camp is a time for making new friends, trying new things, and having lots of fun. Indian Summer is a classic summer camp movie that captures all of those things perfectly.
The film follows a group of friends who attend Camp Tamakwa in Ontario, Canada. They have all been coming to the camp for years and are now teenagers. The film follows them as they experience all the ups and downs of adolescence, from first love to teenage angst.
Indian Summer is a coming-of-age film that will resonate with anyone who has ever been to summer camp. It captures the feeling of nostalgia and longing for those carefree days of childhood. It’s a film about friendship, first love, and discovering who you are.
If you’re looking for a summer camp movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, then Indian Summer is the perfect film for you.
3. Sleepaway Camp
​Sleepaway Camp is one of those classic summer camp movies that everyone knows and loves. It’s a coming of age story about a group of friends who spend their summers at a sleepaway camp. They learn about friendship, love, and life during their time at camp.
Sleepaway Camp is a great summer camp movie because it captures the spirit of what it’s like to be a teenager. It’s funny, sweet, and full of adventure. It’s a film that everyone can relate to, whether you’ve been to sleepaway camp or not.
If you’re looking for a summer camp movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel nostalgic, then Sleepaway Camp is the perfect film for you.
4. Moonrise Kingdom
​When I was younger, my favorite films were always the ones that took place at summer camp. There’s something about the freedom and independence of being away from home that just appeals to kids, and the movies always captured that feeling perfectly. Whenever I watch a summer camp movie now, it takes me back to those carefree days and I can’t help but smile.
So when I heard about Moonrise Kingdom, a new film from director Wes Anderson, I was intrigued. Anderson is known for his quirky and offbeat films, and I was curious to see how he would tackle the summer camp genre.
I’m happy to report that Moonrise Kingdom is a charming and delightful film that perfectly captures the magic of summer camp. The story follows two young outcasts, Khaki Scout Master Ward ( Bruce Willis) and local girl Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), who fall in love and run away together.
As they journey through the woods, they are pursued by a host of colorful characters, including Khaki Scout troop leader Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton), Suzy’s concerned parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), and a sinister social worker (Tilda Swinton).
While the story is rather low-key, Anderson’s stylized visuals and deadpan humor give the film an offbeat charm that is all its own. The cast is excellent across the board, with special mention going to Norton and Swinton, who are hilariously menacing as the Scout Masters.
But at its heart, Moonrise Kingdom is a sweet and heartfelt film about young love. It’s a perfect summer camp movie that will leave you with a smile on your face.
5. Camp Rock
​The Jonas Brothers star in Disney’s “Camp Rock”! This is a fun summer camp movie for the whole family.Rock-a-Bye-Baby Productions Inc. and Disney Channel’s “Camp Rock” is a summer camp movie for the whole family. The movie features the Jonas Brothers as Shane Gray, a talented singer who teaches music at a prestigious summer camp. When Mitchie (Demi Lovato) tries to attend the camp, she is told that she can only do so if she works in the kitchen. Determined to follow her dreams, Mitchie finds a way to work for her idol Shane and learn everything she can about music. The movie also features Meaghan Jette Martin as Tess Tyler, A. J. Trauth as Jason, Alyson Stoner as Caitlyn Gellar, and Maria Canals-Barrera as Connie Torres. “Camp Rock” is a feel-good movie about following your dreams and staying true to yourself.
6. The Parent Trap
​There is something about watching movies about summer camp. There was something about the idea of spending a summer away from home, making new friends, and experiencing all kinds of new things that just sounded so appealing to me. We enjoy watching them and even now gets us all excited about the idea of going to camp.
One of our favourite summer camp movies is “The Parent Trap.” the team here at Camp New York just love the story of twin sisters who are separated at birth and then end up meeting each other at camp and plotting to get their parents back together. It’s a classic tale of sibling rivalry and sibling love, and it’s just so much fun to watch. I also love the setting of the film, with the beautiful California countryside serving as the backdrop for the girls’ adventures.
If you’ve never seen “The Parent Trap,” we highly recommend it. It’s a timeless summer camp movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel nostalgic for your own childhood summers.
7. Little Darlings
​If you’re looking for a summer camp movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, then look no further than Little Darlings. This coming-of-age tale follows two best friends, Fifteen-year-old Angelique and thirteen-year-old Darling, as they navigate the ups and downs of summer camp.
For Angelique, summer camp is a chance to finally escape her overbearing mother and experience some freedom. She quickly becomes the most popular girl at camp, and starts to learn what it means to be a young woman. But when she sets her sights on the camp’s handsome swimming instructor, she starts to realize that she might not be ready for everything that comes with being popular.
Darling, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Angelique. She’s shy, awkward, and doesn’t fit in with any of the other girls at camp. But when she befriends a group of boys who are also outcasts, she starts to come out of her shell. And as she does, she starts to realize that she might have a crush on one of them.
As the summer progresses, both Angelique and Darling experience the ups and downs of first love, friendship, and growing up. They learn that life isn’t always perfect, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. And they realize that no matter what happens, they’ll always be best friends.
If you’re looking for a feel-good summer movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, then be sure to check out Little Darlings. You won’t be disappointed.
8. Meatballs
​It’s that time of year again! Summer camp movies are always a classic, and one of our favorites is “Meatballs.” This film follows a group of teens as they head to camp for a summer of fun. There’s plenty of comedy, romance, and of course, drama.
We love watching “Meatballs” because it’s such a relatable movie. We’ve all been through the ups and downs of teenage years, so we can relate to the characters’ experiences. This film also reminds us of our own time spent at summer camp.
nostalgic summer camp memories. It’s the perfect movie to watch on a lazy summer day.
9. Heavyweights
​If you had asked me a few months ago what my favourite summer camp movie was, I would have said “The Parent Trap” without hesitation. But now, after having rewatched “Heavyweights” for the first time in over 20 years, I can say with complete confidence that it is, without a doubt, the best summer camp movie ever made.
“Heavyweights” tells the story of a group of overweight teenage boys who are sent to Camp Hope, a weight loss camp run by the eccentric Tony Perkis (played by Ben Stiller). At first, the boys are resistant to Tony’s demanding regime and his “tough love” approach to weight loss. But eventually they come to realize that Tony’s methods are helping them not only lose weight, but also become happier and more confident people.
There are so many things to love about “Heavyweights”. The cast is amazing, with Stiller giving an unforgettable performance as the camp’s maniacal leader. The kids are all perfectly cast and are incredibly likable. The film is also funny, heartwarming, and even a little bit poignant.
But what really makes “Heavyweights” such a special film is its unending optimism. No matter how bad things get at Camp Hope, the boys never lose faith that things will get better. They never give up on themselves or each other, and that’s what makes “Heavyweights” such an inspiring film.
If you’re looking for a feel-good movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel good about yourself, then “Heavyweights” is the perfect film for you. It’s a timeless classic that deserves to be appreciated by new generations of moviegoers.
10. Adventureland
​Adventureland is a 2009 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola, co-produced by Kristie Macosko Krieger, and produced by Jonathan Stern and Stephen J. Cannell. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. It is set in the summer of 1987 in an amusement park in Pennsylvania.
The film’s plot follows James Brennan (Eisenberg), a recent college graduate who is tempted to sell marijuana, but takes a minimum-wage job at an amusement park after his parents refuse to finance his post-college backpacking trip. There he meets Emily Lewis (Stewart), a fellow employee with whom he develops a quick bond.
Many of the park’s employees are teenagers, including Joel (Martin Starr), the head mechanic, and his slacker friend Mike Connell (Ryan Reynolds). Also working at the park are Sue O’Malley (Paige Howard), the park owner’s daughter; Bobby Moynihan as Frigo, a lifeguard; and Aaron Quest (Matthew Bush), Emily’s ex-boyfriend who now works as a handyman at the park.
One night, Joel and Mike take James to a party hosted by Emily and her friends. James and Emily kiss and begin a tentative romantic relationship. Joel, shitty about Mike potentially getting with Emily, tells him that she is out of his league because she is rich and pretentious. Joel and Mike later find out that Sue is having an affair with Connell.
In the meantime, James’ relationship with Emily grows. One night, Emily asks James to come into New York City with her, but he declines because he has to work the next day. Joel finds Connell and Sue hooking up in the park bathroom, leading him to confront Connell about his actions. The next day, Connell quits and is fired by John, much to James’ dismay.
Later that night, Emily comes to visit James at work. They share a kiss on Adventureland’s ferris wheel, but James breaks off the kiss because he doesn’t want to cheat on her. Emily tells him that she is going back to New York for good and is leaving the next day. James decides to quit his job and goes home to say goodbye to his parents.
The next day, James goes back to Adventureland to say goodbye to his friends. Joel gives him money to help him out, and Mike offers him his van to take on his trip. James says goodbye to Emily, and they share one final kiss. He then embarks on his road trip.
Adventureland is a charming coming-of-age story that captures the nostalgia of growing up in the 1980s. The film’s strong cast brings the characters to life, and the story is both funny and heartwarming. If you’re looking for a feel-good film to watch this summer, Adventureland should definitely be at the top of your list.
Do you agree with our list of the Top 10 Summer Camp Movies of all time? If you want to check out being a Summer Camp Counsellor then apply for Camp New York today!
