Summer camp movies. You know you do it. We definitely do. When it’s the offseason and you’ve already stalked all the pictures from last (4) years on facebook and you haven’t been able to have a reunion in a month or so, you turn to media representations of summer camp. Thanks to a trend in the 80’s and early 90’s we have a whole lot of options. Here are some of our favorites:

Heavyweights- Let’s be real, this movie is amazing. Ben Stiller’s first intimidating athletic role before Dodgeball was even an idea scribbled on a napkin. Also, the pure joy of camp is well represented here.

Camp Nowhere- YES! Children recognizing that you can celebrate things you are good at instead of reaching other people’s expectations. I think my favorite thing was the general heathen-esque feel of the bonfire and the symbolic burning of objects. And Christopher Lloyd.

Salute Your Shorts*- This is my life; the annoying pranks, the cabin raids, the awkward solid colors in clothing. My favorite episode continues to be the capture the flag/waterballoon game.

Camp Cucamonga- There are SO MANY people in this movie and by that I mean a young Jennifer Aniston and a bunch of other people from television and movies back then. This was definitely for a slightly older crowd and had the characters deal with stronger substance. Don’t worry, people still rock some awesomely colored fashions.

Wet Hot American Summer- Jumping feet first into the “crazy camp shenanigans” genre that has more adult content you get this movie. With no attempt to explain why the college student counselors look 35, or what actually happens to the campers because no one is paying attention to them so we get to witness laughable scenes.

Meatballs- generally referred to as the go to summer camp movie. Also: Bill Murray

Happy Campers- Probably my favorite of the over the top, inappropriate movies with what could be the best breakdown scene in a camp movie. Extreme scenes of campers run rampant and forrest themed chaos make me laugh.

G.O.R.P.- reminds me of Animal House at camp. A full out war is waged between the servers etc. This kitchen staff might just rival WHASummer’s for batshitcrazy awards.

Other notable scenes: Camp beginnings in both of the Parent Trap movies, It Takes Two (aka parent trap with the Olsens), The Addams Family Values.

What are your favorites? 

*Yeah, this isn’t a movie but it deserved being listed.