As the unofficial beginning of summer starts this weekend, this is usually when I write a blog post about all the summer movies that are coming to theaters over the next 3 - 4 months... but this year, COVID-19 had other plans...

[Cue the "In a world..." voiceover]

Since the middle of March, the majority of movie theaters (along with almost every other type of arts and entertainment venue) have been closed. Some theaters are planning to reopen soon,  while others still have no idea when or how they will begin to screen films again. In the meantime, Hollywood has flipped the switch on streaming first-run movies from home with⁠—no surprise⁠—a great deal of success (confession time: my household totally rented the new Scooby-Doo movie, Scoob!, and loved it!) Even drive-ins have become an option again!

Even though we may all still be at home right now, you can still get in a sunny holiday weekend mood by checking out some summer-themed streaming movies from our Digital Media offerings—the only ticket you need is your Free Library card!
 

Summer of 84 (2018)
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Starring: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery
Serious Stranger Things-meets-Stephen King retro '80s vibes in this thriller about a crew of teenage friends who suspect one of their neighbors might be a serial killer.

The Endless Summer (1966)
Genre: Documentary
Starring: Robert August, Michael Hynson, Lord James Blears
Classic documentary about Southern California surf culture as it expands around the globe in search of the perfect wave.

Ping Pong Summer (2014)
Genre: Dramedy
Starring: Marcello Conte, Judah Friedlander, Amy Sedaris, Lea Thompson, Susan Sarandon
A fun, coming-of-age, summer vacation story about a shy 13-year-old kid who's obsessed with two things: ping pong and hip hop.

The Dog Who Saved Summer (2015)
Genre: Family Comedy
Starring: Dean Cain, Gary Valentine, Elisa Donovan, Patrick Muldoon, Mario Lopez, Martin Kove, James Hong, and William Zabka.
A fun-in-the-sun comedy involving a dog named Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez), a diamond heist, and—as always—wacky hijinx ensue.

Red Hook Summer (2012)
Genre: Drama
Starring: Jules Brown, Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Toni Lysaith
In Spike Lee's 6th installment of his Chronicles of Brooklyn series is the story of a boy from Atlanta who finds his worldview changed as he spends the summer with his deeply religious grandfather in the housing projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Summer Days with Coo (2007)
Genre: Animated Adventure
Starring: Kazato Tomizawa, Takahiro Yokokawa, Naoki Tanaka
An animated Japanese summer vacation adventure about a 4th grader named Kôichi who finds a baby Kappa (a Japanese mythical water creature) named Coo. As Coo struggles to adjust to life in suburban Tokyo, and begins to miss his family, the two friends embark on a road trip in search of other Kappa.

Summertime (1955)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi, Isa Miranda
Part of the Criterion Collection available on Kanopy, this Technicolor classic stars Katharine Hepburn as an American spinster who falls into a complicated love affair while vacationing in Venice.

Edge of Seventeen (1999)
Genre: Romantic Dramedy
Starring: Chris Stafford, Tina Holmes, Andersen Gabrych
Teenager Eric is terrified and exhilarated by his sexual attraction to Rod, a college student and co-worker at a local fast food joint. But, Eric's sexual awakening is also complicated by his new romance with his best friend Maggie. Also featuring Lea DeLaria (Orange Is the New Black) and an upbeat '80s soundtrack that includes the Eurythmics and Bronski Beat.

Piranha (1978)
Genre: Monster Movie
Starring: Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy, Dick Miller, Keenan Wynn, Barbara Steele
Move over Sharknado, there's a summer spawning of a different kind taking over the water! In this comedic b-movie, mutant piranha escape from a secret research station and head downstream on a feeding frenzy towards a summer camp and lakeside tourist attraction.

Camp Camp (2016)
Genre: Animated Comedy
Starring: Michael Jones, Elizabeth Maxwell, Miles Luna
The story of Max, a jaded ten-year-old, who finds himself stuck at a dysfunctional summer camp filled with a weird cast of campers, counselors, and bizarre surprises.
 

Hoopla is available to use on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV, as well as on your computer, and mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Kindle).
Limit: four checkouts per month with your library card.

Kanopy is available to use on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV, as well as on your computer, and mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Kindle).
Limit: four checkouts per month with your library card.

What new or new-to-you movies are you looking forward to streaming this summer? Let us know in the comments below!