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Nothing quite evokes the vibe of summer like a trip to the beach. The sand, waves gently (or violently) crashing on the shore, and refreshingly scorching heat. Sunscreen in your eyes optional, no shoes mandatory. Life is peachy when you’re at the beach, so let’s check out the top five beach movies to kick off your summer:
“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954)
Jules Verne’s novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a classic, and the 1954 Walt Disney live-action film is every bit as enchanting as the book. Starring Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, and James Mason, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” stays true to its literary predecessor, but adds some neat Cold War imagery. The giant squid attack was marvelously impressive for its era, and though it might appear a bit corny by today’s standards, the squid scene is still awesome.
“Blue Hawaii” (1961)
The crooning Elvis Presley wasn’t just an auditory hit. His films were hugely successful, and “Blue Hawaii” is one 
of his best. Truthfully, the plot isn’t amazing, but the musical numbers are terrific. Despite the painfully predictable plot, it’s an enjoyable film, aided no doubt by Angela Landsbury who stars as Elvis’ mother in the movie.
“Jaws” (1975)
“Jaws” revolutionized summer as the season of blockbusters, and even at 40 years old, it’s still a classic. Ok, so that mechanical shark hasn’t aged very well, but its legacy lives on. The natural monster subgenre owes its thanks to “Jaws,” which reeled in viewers with its thrilling cinematography, plot, and even score. Plus, Roy Scheider’s memorable line “You’re going to need a bigger boat” was actually improvised.
“Piranha 3D” (2010)
Monster films abound, bolstered by Syfy’s penchant for mass-producing titles like “Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus” and “Sharktopus.” “Piranha 3D” is actually a decent film, loaded with 
hilarious tropes. It’s essentially the monster-disaster flick’s “Scream,” adopting a meta, delightfully self-aware approach to this cheesy subgenre. Oh, and it’s got Ving Rhames as a deputy. Need we say more?
“Weekend at Bernie’s” (1989)
The wacky dark comedy “Weekend at Bernie’s” follows Richard Parker (Jonathan Silverman) and Larry Wilson (Andrew McCarthy) as co-workers at an insurance firm. They discover their boss Bernie Lomax (Terry Kiser) has become involved in insurance fraud, and he puts a hit out on Parker and Wilson. The two must pretend Bernie is still alive while staying at his beach house to avoid certain death themselves. Although it isn’t a perfect film, “Weekend at Bernie’s” is ridiculous and hilarious, and as such has earned itself a righteous cult status.
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