Club Benefits
Summer is in the air. The temperature is climbing and vacation plans are being locked in. And while you could spend the next few months outdoors, there’s a strong variety of seasonal watches on Netflix that will be aiming to convince you to stay indoors instead.
My own summer plans usually revolve around drawing the blinds, switching on the AC (or oversized fan, in my case), and enjoying some great movies that range from blockbusters to sun-soaked romantic comedies and a few enjoyable adventures perfect for the whole family.
I’ve combed through Netflix’s sprawling movie library and picked out five movies that are going straight into my summer watchlist. These films deliver plenty of sun and fun and are good enough to keep you inside.
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ (2026)
One of Netflix’s first original movies of 2026 was a sun-soaked rom-com that offered a dose of escapism during the winter, but now that the summer season has arrived, it feels like an even better time to watch. To be upfront, I had my issues with it (Read my full "People We Meet on Vacation" review for details), but I was seemingly in the minority as viewers and plenty of critics embraced its seasonal charm. So, I’m putting my personal taste aside here and giving it a recommendation.
Based on the novel by Emily Henry, Poppy (Emily Bader) is a free spirit who prefers going with the flow, while Alex (Tom Blyth) is highly strung and obsessed with planning. Nevertheless, these two opposite personalities become best friends and agree to take a summer vacation together every year. Set over multiple summers, their friendship becomes complicated when romantic feelings blossom and romantic rivals arrive on the scene.
Watch "People We Meet on Vacation" on Netflix now
‘The Lost City’ (2022)
“The Lost City” is a summer blockbuster in every sense of the word, from its enjoyable high-concept adventure story to its pleasant mixture of action and comedy. It’s a very easy watch, and the type of movie made for the sunny season. One of its biggest strengths is the chemistry and great comedic timing between its leads, Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. I also want to praise it for being an original movie, swimming against a sea of sequels, reboots and remakes. We need more big-budget flicks that aren’t set in well-established franchises.
Loretta Sage (Bullock) is a successful but reclusive author who’s more interested in writing about grand adventures than experiencing them herself. While on a book tour to promote her latest work, alongside the book’s charming but dim cover model, Alan (Tatum), the pair find themselves living out a story ripped straight from the page when an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) kidnaps Loretta, believing she can lead him to an ancient city housing valuable lost treasure.
Watch "The Lost City" on Netflix now
‘Jurassic World’ (2015)
The “Jurassic World” series screams summer to me. Between the exotic tropical setting of Isla Nublar and the franchise’s ever-popular dinosaur-centric action, the “Jurassic” series is a staple of my seasonal watchlist. I’ll fully admit the latter “Jurassic World” movies are pretty shoddy, but I have a soft spot for the original. It might not reach the heights of “Jurassic Park,” but in the first “World,” we finally get to see a dinosaur park in all its glory.
Set two decades after “Jurassic Park,” John Hammond’s vision of a theme park housing genetically re-created dinosaurs is brought to life, and this time the park is open. But when the InGen Corp breeds a new dino, more fearsome than even the legendary T. Rex, it escapes and sets off a chain reaction of chaos. It’s up to a velociraptor expert, Owen (Chris Pratt), and the park’s operations manager, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), to save the day.
Watch "Jurassic World" on Netflix now
‘Nobody 2’ (2025)
Bob Odenkirk is taking cues from Liam Neeson and quickly becoming a certified action-thriller star. His latest genre effort, “Normal,” is currently in theaters, and last year he starred in the seriously good fun “Nobody 2.” Heck, I didn’t even think that 2021’s “Nobody” needed a sequel, but the final result definitely justified its existence. With a lean 90-minute runtime, and Odenkirk proving once again he can play a likeable (and butt-kicking) action hero, this summer-set thriller is a total blast.
In "Nobody 2," family man and lethal assassin Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk) attempts to get away from his violent profession by taking his family on a much-needed vacation to the rundown tourist town of Plummerville. He promises his wife (Connie Nielsen) he’ll put down his firearms and relax with their two kids, but when he finds himself at odds with the town’s corrupt sheriff (Colin Hanks) and a ruthless crime boss (Sharon Stone), his holiday takes an explosive turn. Watch out for a fun supporting role from Hollywood icon Christopher Lloyd.
Watch "Nobody 2" on Netflix now
‘Paddington in Peru’ (2024)
The third big-screen “Paddington” movie might not quite be in the same quality ballpark as its predecessor, but when you’re competing with movies that scored 96% and 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively, that’s a tall order. It shouldn’t be glossed over that “Paddington in Peru” still managed a very strong 93%, and best of all, this third entry in the series shakes things up with a new setting and a grander sense of adventure than before.
When the always-polite but extremely chaos-prone Paddington bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) learns that his beloved Aunt Lucy has gone missing from her retirement home, he enlists the Brown family on a trip to the jungles of Peru to find her. Once in the tropical setting, Paddington stumbles into a mystery and must help a riverboat captain (Antonio Banderas) locate a treasure hidden deep within the Amazon rainforest.
Watch "Paddington in Peru" on Netflix now
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow Tom's Guide Entertainment on TikTok and Instagram. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less.
More from Tom's Guide
