10 Best Summer Camp Movies That Aren’t Horror, Ranked by IMDb

For many, attending summer camp is a quintessential part of summer break. At least that’s what Hollywood wants audiences to believe. It also seems like Hollywood wants viewers to believe that attending summer camp is the perfect way to encounter serial killers and other paranormal phenomenons.

Even though Hollywood seems to be obsessed with horror-related summer camp stories, there are still a handful of movies that paint camps in a happier, more attractive light. From family-friendly films that emphasize summer camp friendships and the coming-of-age experience to raunchy teen and adult comedies that detail another side of summer camp, there’s something for everyone.

10 American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005) – 5.1

There’s no denying the popularity of the American Pie franchise, which included several sequels and also created a direct-to-DVD spin-off series titled American Pie Presents. American Pie Presents: Band Camp is the first of the direct-to-DVD franchise.

The movie centers on Matt Stifler, Steve Stifler’s younger brother, who is determined to carry on the family’s legacy of inappropriate behavior. However, things go wrong when Matt’s prank lands him at a summer band camp. Matt originally intends to continue his mischievous behavior at camp until he reconnects with his childhood crush.

9 Rim Of The World (2019) – 5.2

Clearly inspired by films from the 1980s, the camp movie Rim of the World premiered on Netflix in May 2016 and quickly became a popular title on the streaming service, particularly in the UK.

Four teenagers think they’re spending their summer break at a normal summer camp, but aliens invade the planet, halting their summer plans. As if that’s not bad enough, these four teens discover they’re the only ones that are able to stop the aliens from destroying the entire world.

8 Camp Rock (2008) – 5.2

Camp Rock is definitely one of the best Disney Channel Original Movies and it is currently the third-highest viewed DCOM of all time. The movie not only helped launch Demi Lovato’s career, but also added to the fame the Jonas Brothers reached.

Set at a fictional musical summer camp, Camp Rock follows Mitchie Torres, a young girl with big dreams who will stop at nothing to reach them. That includes lying about who she really is and befriending the popular girls – at least at first.

7 Camp Nowhere (1994) – 6.1

Camp Nowhere might not be the most esteemed summer camp movie but it still made an impact in the world. In fact, the movie marked Jessica Alba’s film debut and also starred several other talented actors including Christopher Lloyd and Jonathan Jackson.

Tired of wasting his summer breaks at a computer camp, Morris “Mid” Himmel decides to take control of his summer by bribing an ex-teacher to rent a random campground and pose as a counselor for the summer. The plan works until Mid and his friends’ parents want to visit.

6 Magic Camp (2020) – 6.4

Magic Camp is one of the first feature films to debut on Disney+, making its premiere on August 14, 2020, after being pulled from a theatrical release in 2018.

Institute of Magic is the ideal summer camp for aspiring magicians, as it’s run by Roy Preston, an iconic magician. The camp is so prestigious that it manages to lure Theo Moses, a young boy still mourning the death of his father, and Adam Duckerman, a former magician who is on a bad string of luck, to its door.

5 The Parent Trap (1998) – 6.5

While the entirety of The Parent Trap doesn’t take place at a summer camp, a large chunk of it does. In fact, it’s a quintessential summer camp movie for an entire generation.

Starring Lindsey Lohan in dual roles, The Parent Trap centers on two long-lost twins who encounter each other while attending a prestigious summer camp. It’s at this summer camp that Annie and Hallie devise a foolproof plan that will allow them to meet the parent they’ve been kept from. The Parent Trap brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “camp family.”

4 Wet Hot American Summer (2001) – 6.6

Wet Hot American Summer attempted to spoof popular sex comedies. The movie boasts an incredibly talented cast that includes Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper in his film debut.

Unlike most summer camp movies which center on the campers, Wet Hot American Summer centered on the teen camp counselors. Set on the last day of camp in 1981, the movie follows the counselors as they try to make the last day as epic and memorable as possible so they don’t leave without regrets.

3 Indian Summers (1993) – 6.6

Indian Summers falls in the middle of the pack when it comes to summer camp movies, but what’s interesting about the movie is that it was filmed at a real-life summer camp that the writer, Mike Binder, attended for a decade.

Unca Lou prides himself in being the director of his beloved summer camp where he gets to help kids find themselves over the course of a summer. He loves it so much he decides to hold a 20-year reunion for former campers and he quickly learns that these adults still need his advice just as much as their child counterparts did.

2 Heavyweights (1995) – 6.6

Like many summer camp-centric films, despite starring some brilliant comedy actors like Ben Stiller and Kenan Thompson, Heavyweights wasn’t an immediate classic. But, it did eventually become a cult classic.

Summer camps are supposed to be fun, but attending a camp for overweight boys isn’t exactly what Gerry has in mind for his summer break. However, Gerry is pleasantly surprised at how fun the camp is until the owners are forced to sell it to a fitness-obsessed man.

1 Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977) – 7.3

Charlie Brown may be the best know for his animated holiday specials, but the Charlie Brown franchise is also home to some memorably feature-length films, including the summer camp movie Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown. 

Set at Camp Remote, Charlie Brown and his gang are ready to win the camp’s annual river rafting race. The only problem is that Charlie and his friends are up against a group of mean kids who will do anything to win.

About The Author

Danielle Bruncati
(298 Articles Published)

Danielle Bruncati was born and raised in Southern California and has been a story-teller for as long as she can remember. She is currently a freelance writer for ScreenRant and is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Television Writing and Producing from a top 10 film school. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found binging the latest sitcom or teen tv series with her dog by her side or walking around Disneyland with a Mickey-shaped snack in hand.

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