Chronicles in film

Theater Camp in UK Cinemas now, read our Summer camps in cinema
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Films about or set in Summer Camps

Summer might be over soon, with Autumn about to knock on the door. Let’s take a look at films set in or about Summer camps. Out now, (25th August), 20th Century Studios will release “Theater Camp,” a comedy starring Molly Gordon and Nick Liberman. This list celebrates the upcoming film by highlighting some of the…

Paul Devine
3–5 minutes
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Summer might be over soon, with Autumn about to knock on the door. Let’s take a look at films set in or about Summer camps. Out now, (25th August), 20th Century Studios will release “Theater Camp,” a comedy starring Molly Gordon and Nick Liberman. This list celebrates the upcoming film by highlighting some of the best films based in or about Summer camps.

As always, this is not a comprehensive list, but rather a sampling of what has come before…

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)


If you’re looking for a hipster camp, Wes Anderson has just the thing with his 2012 film. In this one, we follow two youngsters, Sam and Suzy (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward), who fall in love and run away together. Sam is from the picture-perfect Camp Ivanhoe, the home of the Khaki Scouts. The film is characterized by Anderson’s signature quirkiness, and if you’re familiar with his style, you know what to expect. When compared to his more recent works, this film stands out as one of his better ones.

Friday the 13th (1980)

This is likely one of the first films that some of you might think of when considering movies set in camps. It gave rise to a plethora of spin-offs and memes, with Camp Crystal being terrorized by the iconic killer Jason Voorhees. The terror begins with a young couple murdered in the 1950s and extends to a camp counselor who disregards advice and finds herself as the next victim 20 years later. This classic teenage slasher horror teaches us that it wasn’t exactly Jason who killed the promiscuous young couple, but rather his mother, who lost her son in a drowning accident.

Indian Summer (1993)

Starring Alan Arkin, Diane Lane, Kevin Pollak,Vincent Spano, Bill Paxton, and Elizabeth Perkins, this film portrays former campers returning as adults to celebrate the retirement of the camp’s beloved ‘Unca’ Lou (Arkin). It’s a nostalgia-driven comedy that delves into the lasting impact the camp had on the children and how it shaped their lives. Though it may not have been frequently discussed, it stands as one of the solid films for those who have watched it.

The Parent Trap (1961, 1998)

Hayley Mills and Lindsay Lohan portray identical twins in both versions of the film. They take on the roles of Susan and Sharon, who were separated due to their parents’ divorce when they were younger. Fate brings them back together when their parents send them to the same camp. Initially, they harbor animosity towards each other, and the camp becomes a battleground for their pranks. However, their relationship transforms when they jointly execute a major trick on their parents by switching places.

For their respective target audiences, both films are considered favorites.

Wet Hot Summer (2001)

A ‘sex comedy’ set in the 1980s, featuring an ensemble cast including Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, and Paul Rudd. This is one of those films that underperformed; not even the revived Netflix series could achieve much. Over the last two decades, however, the film has earned cult status.

Meatballs (1979)

In his first role, the wisecracking Bill Murray shines in what some consider one of the best summer camp comedies. He portrays Tripper Harrison, the senior counselor at Camp North Star, overseeing a group of enthusiastic yet inexperienced counselors-in-training while also vying for the affections of senior counselor Roxanne.

Heavyweights (1995)

Judd Apatow scripted this family comedy starring Ben Stiller, which revolves around a summer camp designed for weight loss for boys. Gerry (Aaron Schwartz) and his friends anticipated a fun summer, only to discover that the camp was more of a boot camp led by Stiller’s fitness guru character, Tony Perkis Jr. The story follows their journey as they learn the importance of friendship and self-confidence, making it a tale of growth and personal development.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

This one isn’t exactly a camp in the same way as the other films; it’s a holiday resort. Starring Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman, who is initially reluctant to spend her time at the Kellerman resort. However, her perspective changes when she encounters the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze. Together, they have the time of their lives.

Notables – Sleepaway Camp (1983), Ernest Goes To Camp (1987), Addams Family Values (1993), Camp Nowhere (1994) Camp (2003) Camp Rock (2008)

Theater Camp is in UK and Irish cinemas now.

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