7 Nostalgic Drama Movies Like Hot Summer Nights To Warm Your Days!

The movies like Hot Summer Nights (2017) stand out to be way ahead of their time. These coming of the age drama films pave the way for a new brighter future. 

Premiered at South by Southwest in March 2017, Hot Summer Nights is written and directed by Elijah Bynum. The movie cast includes Emory Cohen, Thomas Jane, Rachel O’Shaughnessy, Alex Roe, Maia Mitchell, Maika Monroe, and Timothee Chalamet. 

The story of  Hot Summer Nights is contrary to the misleading title. Sent to the town of Cape Cold in Massachusetts, an awkward teenager, Daniel struggles to cope with his father’s death. After befriending a drug pedlar, he starts having fun dealing with the daily adventures of selling edibles. However, things overturn when he gets attracted to his dealer friends’ sister, all while the hurricane Bob is ready to hit their town. 

7 Heartfelt Movies Like Hot Summer Nights To Keep The Awesomeness Going!

Defined by critics as an easy-to-the-eye film, Hot Summer Nights’ cast outweighs its complicated story. But with a cast and characters up for anything, it made a place for itself as a coming-of-age drama movie. Here are some of our recommendations for movies like Hot Summer Nights that will keep your energy up.

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1# The Perks Of Being A Wallflower ( 2012) 

Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2012, The Perks Of Being a Wallflower (2012) was partially based on Chobsky’s autobiographical notes. 

Charlie’s protagonist is a clinically depressed teenager who was sexually abused by his aunt, Helen. He struggles to let go of his struggling years as he prepares for his first year in high school. However, his life changes after bumping into the sibling duo Sam and Patrick. They make him feel the things he never felt before and help him free himself from his troubled past’s shackles. This movie on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights will leave you with a heavy heart. 

2# The Half Of It (2020) 

Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020, The Half Of It (2020) is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film. This selection on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights is a retelling of a period by Edmond Rostand called the Cyrano de Bergerac. 

A sharp, friendless high school teenager, Ellie Chu struggles to make friends and maintain a social lifestyle. Living in the Squamish town of Washington, she makes some extra money by writing homework papers for her classmates. Dealing with the matters of the heart and ‘closeted’ sexuality, The Half Of It stands out from its peers by giving us a new meaning of love. 

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3# Adventureland (2009) 

Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in April 2009, Adventureland (2009) on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights is a comedy-drama film. 

Set in the summer of 1987, the movie takes us through the life of a recent college grad, James Brennan. He plans on taking a long trip to Europe, but his plans are derailed because of his degrading financial conditions. This forces him to get a summer job in a run-down amusement park in Pennsylvania called Adventuretown. He befriends his co-worker Emily and immediately falls for her. The second half of the movie talks about the ups and downs of their relationship and love life. 

4# The Edge of Seventeen (2016) 

Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2016, The Edge of Seventeen (2016) on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights talks about the struggles of a teenage girl who suffers to get on terms with her reality. 

All of us have been through the awkwardness of our teenage lives. A high school teenager, Nadine struggles to cope with the relationship between her all-star brother and best friend. She feels more alone than ever, but her life changes after an unexpected friendship blossoms into something more beautiful. 

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5# Middle Of Nowhere (2012) 

It was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival of 2012, Middle of Nowhere (2012) long-running independent feature film written by Ava DuVernay. 

The movie starts by introducing a registered nurse, Ruby, living alone in Compton, California. Her quest to become a doctor is hauled as she struggles to manage time between visiting her husband, Derek, in prison. Throughout the film, we get flashbacks of his arrest and the hardships that Ruby had to face. This movie on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights will leave you with heartbreak and despair. 

6# As You Are (2016) 

Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival of 2016, As You Are (2016) is a typical American drama film on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights. It is written by Madison Harrison and Miles Joris- Peyrafitte. 

The movie As You Are is set in the 1990s—the story of three teenage friends caught between the atrocities of life. The film continues their struggle to keep up with a police investigation that prompts some heavy drama and disturbing memories. 

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7# Leaves Of Grass ( 2009) 

This comedy film, Leaves of Grass (2009), on our list of movies like Hot Summer Nights, is written by Tim Blake Nielson. 

Featured at the Toronto Film Festival in April 2009, Leaves of Grass discusses the life of an Ivy League professor. Having been lured by his brother to his hometown of Oklahoma, they plan on taking down a dangerous drug lord, Pug. 

Final Words 

All of these coming-of-age movies like Hot Summer Nights give us insight into relatable scenarios of our daily lives. Focusing on character development with psychological and moral growth, these movies transform our way of life. Go through them and let us know if we missed a few.