Timothée Chalamet stars in this 2017 crime drama alongside Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, and Maia Mitchell. Daniel, an awkward teenager, spends the summer with his relatives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While there, he's swindled into an underground drug-dealing trade and falls in love with his business partner's mysterious sister.
The movie is set in the early 90s, which makes for some nostalgic costuming and set design. The summery setting adds to the nostalgic feel, as does the soundtrack. Timothée Chalamet has since starred in similar projects, such as Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name. Here are ten movies and TV shows that fans of Hot Summer Nights are sure to love.
The Half Of It (2020)
The Half of It is set in the modern-day but uses so many anachronisms that it's sometimes hard to tell. Ellie Chu is an academically gifted student who writes her classmates' papers for money.
One day, Paul Munsky asks her to write a love letter for him to give to Aster Flores. What Paul doesn't know is that Ellie is also in love with Aster. Being raised by a religious family, Paul finds this hard to accept. The film has a very distinct color palette, and the characters spend a lot of time outside in nature, cycling, or driving in antiquated cars.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Based on a Charles Forsman comic, I Am Not Okay with This is another teen drama set in the modern-day - presumably. The characters wear 80s inspired clothes, drive cars that belong in a period drama, and almost never use their phones.
Sydney Novak develops strange superpowers that become apparent when she's feeling anxious, angry, or upset. Like Daniel, Sydney is thrust into a new, dangerous world of adventure that she isn't sure she wants to be a part of.
The End Of The F***ing World (2017-2019)
The End of the F***ing World is also based on a Charles Forsman comic and is actually connected to I Am Not Okay with This. Though the show doesn't feature any superpowers, it does center around an epic road trip and adventure, much like Daniel's in Hot Summer Nights.
Alyssa and James are two angsty teens who run away from home. James thinks he's a psychopath and plans to kill Alyssa, who thinks she's in love with James and plans to have sex with him. However, their plans are thrown down the drain when something goes horribly wrong and police start following their trail.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)
One of the most memorable aspects of Hot Summer Nights is its atmospheric setting. The nostalgia is one of the most enjoyable things about it, which could also be said of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
With an epic soundtrack including David Bowie's "Heroes" as its feature song, the movie is rooted in its early 90s setting, just like Hot Summer Nights. Like Daniel, Charlie is an introvert, only he's grieving a friend who recently committed suicide. He befriends a group of seniors, all misfits, and starts living a life he didn't believe he ever could.
The Last Song (2010)
For those who enjoyed the summery setting and teen romance of Hot Summer Nights, The Last Song is a film worth checking out. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, the film stars Liam Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus, and Greg Kinnear.
Veronica and her father Steve have a troubled relationship, but they find something to bond over when she visits him for the summer. They both share a passion for music, but Ronnie also has a desire to protect the local sea life, which is how she meets Will.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley star in this adaptation of Tim Tharp's 2008 novel. Released in 2013, the film was praised by critics as a unique and authentic representation of coming-of-age.
Sutter is an alcoholic who stumbles into a romance with Aimee, a prudent classmate planning ahead for her future. Brie Larson stars as Sutter's ex-girlfriend, who he thinks he wants to get back together with.
Riverdale (2017-)
For those who like the mystery element of the movie, Riverdale is a great series to watch. Again, set in the modern-day but rife with anachronisms, Riverdale is a town plagued by crime and murder.
Drugs are also prevalent in some plotlines. Other similarities include the distinct cinematography, set design, nostalgic costuming, and the wild, colorful romances. The main characters are teens, like in Hot Summer Nights, dealing with adult troubles.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Timothée Chalamet also stars in this movie, which is based on André Aciman's popular novel. Chalamet portrays the young Elio, an Italian-Jewish seventeen-year-old living in northern Italy in 1983. His father is a researcher who invites a doctoral student to assist him over the summer.
The twenty-four-year-old Oliver arrives at the Perlman residence and immediately makes Elio sour. But as the summer progresses, they find themselves repeatedly drawn towards one another. This Academy Award-winning film is defined by its beautiful cinematography, which makes the setting even more palpable.
As You Are (2016)
Like Hot Summer Nights, As You Are is set in the early 90s. Three teenagers become friends despite their wildly different personalities and backgrounds. They also end up engaging in a few illegal activities that lead to a police investigation.
One thing they have in common is that they don't fit in anywhere. Amandla Stenberg's Sarah is one of the few people of color living in a backward town, Owen Campbell's Jack is an awkward outsider, while Charlie Heaton's Mark isn't the kind of boy people want to be friends with.
Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird is set in the early 2000s, when Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is planning her future at college. This causes some tension between her and her mother, portrayed by Laurie Metcalf.
Timothée Chalamet portrays Kyle, a snobby student from a nearby school who always has his nose in a book. He and Christine share a strange, fleeting relationship that means a lot more to her than it does to him. The Oscar-nominated film is produced by A24, the same company behind Hot Summer Nights and many other aesthetically pleasing, boundary-pushing films.