They each start pulling pranks on the other until they’re stuck alone with each other as punishment. First and foremost, you should know that this film does have a well-deserved ‘R’-rating, and it’s not for children under the age of 16, maybe older. | Disney rebooted the series in 2018, but it wasn’t quite as popular then. Vincent Van Patten, Of course, chaos and hilarity ensue, and each boy learns a lot about living life on the other side of the economic divide. Set on the last day of camp, in the hot summer of 1981, "Wet Hot American Summer" follows a group of counselors who are each trying to complete their unfinished business before the day ends. Tell us what you think about this feature. Stars: It’s a good family movie. It’s a fun, music-filled camp movie that’s based on the writer/director’s own childhood experience with theater camp. Wes Anderson is mostly known for his odd, cerebral-type films, so it may surprise you to know he once made a summer camp movie – a really great one, in fact. | Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle. That honor goes to Christopher Lloyd, the man the kids blackmail into pretending to be their camp counselor. Anna Kendrick is the only big name to come out of this film about dedicated kids devoting their summers to musical theater camp, but all the performers were hugely talented. Still, despite all that, it made a huge impression on me as a kid, and I think most kids would still appreciate its humor, which was admittedly crude at times, even today. | Stars: | Moonrise Kingdom is about two 12-year-old campers who fall in love and, after a year of being pen pals, decide to run away together at camp the next summer. | Mike Diamant, Not Rated It has all the good plot devices of a good summer camp film, so I say it qualifies. It was the 90s, so there’s some serious stereotyping with the cast members that wouldn’t fly in a show today. | Seth Jones, R Still, the three words used most often to describe the film are “raucous,” “raunchy” and “irreverent,” and I think that sums it up fairly well. In addition to Keegan, there are probably a few other names you’ll recognize scattered among the large group of kids (Jessica Alba, Jonathan Jackson and Allison Mack) but the real star of the show isn’t one of the kids at all. Horror, Thriller. It’s a camp that strives to empower young women to do what they love while also teaching them a little about what it takes to become successful musicians. Four American counsellors at a European summer camp must deal with the outbreak of a rage-inducing plague that starts in the animals. They get to spend their days connecting with other rock aficionados, playing various instruments including the drums, guitar, bass, etc. Ivet Corvea, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. Director: Troop Beverly Hills (1989): I know, I know, they don’t even go to camp, so how can this be the best … Horror. Leah Ayres, There’s the traditional group of misfits, an unqualified den mother who really only signed on to connect with her daughter, a coming together of the whole troop (and den mother) over the course of the film and a rival who doesn’t mind cheating to win. It was around that time that they starred together in this adorable movie that actually shares quite a few similarities with The Parent Trap, only in this movie, the two identical girls aren’t actually long-lost sisters. That’s when they find out they’re twins and that their now-single parents were once married. | They started with Stranger Things, which is, in my opinion, one of the best shows on television today, and just kept rolling out hits. This was one of my son’s favorite movies as a child, and now that he’s a teenager who’s growing up way too fast, I really miss the days when he was overcome with laughter at the crude potty humor that runs rampant in this film. These summer camp horror movies will chill you to the bone. It’s Disney, so it’s pretty clean, and it’ll remind you a lot of High School Musical, only at music camp instead of high school. Director: | Votes: 205,412 | Gross: $0.62M. 94 min and singing. I take no credit for the list. The original Bug Juice was Disney’s early attempt at trying to create a reality TV show. | | I absolutely don’t like Camp Rock, and my son maintained that it was “too girly” for him; however, despite being born eight years after its premiere, my niece still thinks this is the best movie ever made. 99 min A group of campers revolt against their strict camp director and take over the camp for themselves. Drama, Horror, Thriller. Ah, the 90s, the era of grunge and movies about kids trying to trick their parents… Camp Nowhere is the perfect example of both. Leif Garrett, Instead, it takes a broader view of what goes on at the camp, the types of kids who attend it, the hard work they put in each summer and things like that. It takes place at Camp Kikiwaka. Tim Sullivan, Larry Joshua, R | This list is ordered by popularity, so only the greatest movies about summer camp are at the top of the list. How to Play Clue: The Classic Mystery Board Game. It’s a sweet, wholesome movie that’s heartwarming in a way few child/teen movies are today. 88 min 90 min If you’re looking for a movie about a musical summer camp and can’t sit through Camp Rock one more time, convince your kids to give this documentary a try. Joanna Suhl, The plot isn’t very complex, but there are plenty of instances of Ernest getting himself into one misadventure or accident after another, and your younger children especially will be rolling with laughter throughout the whole thing. If your children are performers or are thinking about heading to a drama, musical, dance or theater camp this summer, this is a great documentary that really provides a realistic idea of what those types of camp cultures are like. I never cared much for it myself, but then, I also dislike reality TV of any kind. The plot is pretty standard: Kids are sent to a summer camp they think will be fun and then forced to “make a plan” and turn things around when it turns into something horrible. I hid them way down here at the bottom of the post and put the title in red so you would not inadvertently add them to your Netflix que and show them to you 6 year olds! Done in the vein of Scary Movie or Not Another Teen Movie, this one is a satirical parody of everything that’s usually involved in a traditional summer camp film. Salute Your Shorts. After all, summer camp is supposed to be fun and lighthearted! 25+ Movies Like Jumanji – Action-Packed & Awesome. Summer Camp (8) Blood (7) Murder (7) Death (6) Independent Film (6) Violence (6) Woods (6) American Horror (5) Backwood Slasher (5) Bare Breasts (5) Blood Splatter (5) Camp (5) Evil (5) Female Nudity (5) Forest (5) Gore (5) Grindhouse Film (5) Kiss (5) Lake (5) Mass Murder (5) Serial Murder (5) Slasher Killer (5) Stabbing (5) Teenager (5) Axe (4) Bare Chested Male (4) Bikini (4) Camp Counselor (4) All three of these films are pretty good, and if you’re looking for movies that actually show you (and your children) what the summer camp experience is really like, you might want to check them out one night. Gorp came out a year after Meatballs and is more or less the forgotten film of the late ’70s, early ’80s run of summer camp movies. A group of cheerleaders become the targets of an unknown killer at a remote summer camp. Jonathan Tiersten, Plus, it has a killer soundtrack, which I really wasn’t expecting. We are planning for Creative Video Day Camp 2021 to the best summer yet! Tony Fish, Caroline London, Still, if you’re looking for another semi- accurate portrayal of camp life, either of these would be okay. | Okay, so I know this movie has probably one of the worst ratings of all time. With Michael Abrams, John F. Goff, Kashka Bartisick, Bud Bogart. Jim Varney’s various portrayals of Ernest P. Worrell were a staple of my childhood, and although all the movies – this one included – are ridiculous, cheesy and over-the-top, they’re also a lot of fun and pretty clean. Robert Hiltzik Netflix has really been on a roll lately when it comes to creating great kid-centric, “feel good” movies with obvious throwbacks to the 80s. The Best Summer Camp Movies for Kids Whether or not your child has experienced the bug repellent-filled and campfire-scented days of summer camp, kids resonate with what camp stands for: freedom, outdoor adventure, friendships forged and foes identified, and, of course, crushes and kisses. Note: This list is geared more towards fun, lighthearted kid-friendly camp movies. 3. It premiered in 2020 and is one of Disney’s cheesier films, but despite the cheese, I actually really liked it. I’ll even admit that most parents aren’t going to get a lot of enjoyment out of it. The kids aren’t the entire focus of the film, though. https://www.outsideonline.com/2395135/best-summer-camp-movies-all-time Adam Carl, R Director: CAMP DAZE takes you back to the days of tube socks, bongs hits and short shorts, throws in a quiet summer camp full of blood and mayhem and watches the fun unfold. In a letter signed by nearly … Despite that, I have a huge soft spot for it. 95 min Lucinda Dickey, Okay, so calling this one a “summer camp movie” is a bit of a stretch. It’s got a lot of catchy music and stars a few mid-2000s teen icons like Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. If you have the kind of kids who enjoy watching true stories and documentaries, they might enjoy these summer camp documentaries instead. | Kyle Lupo, The fun thing about summer camp movies is that there are camps for everything – theater, dance, cheerleading and more. | It may not be as summer-like as the others on this list, but it’s certainly worth watching. Felissa Rose, When it comes to summer camp movies, though, it’s one of my favorites, despite the fact that it has a tendency towards stereotyping. But this classic family movie will inspire kids to give camp a try as they watch all the fun activities shown on the screen (there’s a great fencing scene) and learn that camp often fosters friendships that will last a lifetime. However, their orgy is interrupted when some Druids find them and decide... See full summary », Director: Projected 2021 Summer Schedule: (Dates subject to change) Creative Video Teen Camp: June 28 – July 9, 2021 (Ages 13-17) Creative Video Day Camp, Session 1: July 12 – 23, 2021 (Ages 8-13) Director: It isn’t a Freaky Friday type of switch. While there is a more recent version of this movie starring Lindsay Lohan as the twins, in my opinion, it doesn’t hold a candle to the original starring Hayley Mills. Bert L. Dragin Furthermore, according to my students, it’s a hit, so I guess my son and I are in the minority on this one. Camp Tournesol, the leader in French summer camps throughout the GTA, offers a multitude of exciting programs including French day summer camps, French overnight camps, and out-of-province trips.Since 2001, we have provided campers with a unique language-learning experience that enhances and maintains their language skills outside of the classroom. Drama, Horror, Thriller. If you extend your definition of summer camp to include detention camps for troubled teens, Holes definitely fits in with the rest! It’s actually more of a Girl Scout movie, but it just feels like a camp film. Votes: 3,180 | Gross: $3.22M. Is there anything that exemplifies an American childhood more than summer camp? 35. Director: Ben Stiller’s camp counselor character is also uproariously funny. | Chuck Connors, This movie has some sexual innuendo and other aspects that make it most suitable for older teens, but despite that, it’s a fairly decent movie. Stars: This movie is about a very special kind of camp – magic camp. Through an odd series of events, the kids are actually launched into space on a rocket and have to use their brains and wits to fly themselves back to Earth. (I know; it’s ridiculous, but that’s part of its charm!). Thomas Edward Keith This sequel sends Wednesday and Pugsley off to an upbeat, ‘chipper’ summer camp called Camp Chippewa. Comedy, Horror. Before Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were successful fashion designers, they were just a pair of adorable twins with big blue eyes and gorgeous smiles. Common Sense Media gives the movie props for tackling topics like divorce, cliques and the perils of growing up. I was actually a really big fan of this book. Their camp experience may not include elaborate Disney musical numbers or finding a long-lost twin,but they'll get an idea of the fun — and occasional angst — that are part of the camp experience. Furthermore, some of the jokes definitely fall into the ‘potty humor’ category, but it’s fun, lighthearted and not a bad flick overall. This made-for-TV movie didn’t get a lot of press when it premiered, and a lot of people have never even heard of it. Director: It’s not something you, as a parent, are likely to enjoy, but your kids will probably dig it. Peggy McIntaggart, This is an old-school Nickelodeon show that only ran for two seasons, but I loved it so much that I can still sing the entire theme song – which was the camp anthem – from beginning to end. Alex Pucci Betsy Palmer, | Angela Baker, a traumatized and very shy young girl, is sent to summer camp with her cousin. Horror. Find dance camps or summer camps offering dance activities here. | If your kids are into movies that are a little off-kilter, they’ll probably really enjoy this one. Lorie Griffin, R 91 min The 10 Best Horror Movies of the Last 10 Years. Evil invades a children's spiritual retreat. Reggie Bannister, Director: 101 Best Family Adventure Movies Your Kids Will Love. All-in-all, it was worth the watch. Rim of the World is one of these hits. https://www.glamour.com/gallery/10-summer-camp-movies-we-love Gaylen Ross, It featured kids adjusting to camp life at Camp Waziyatah. Salute Your Shorts is a series that ran for two seasons on Nickelodeon and is all … I don’t, however, recommend watching it with your children before you’ve previewed it yourself. As you search through the listings for below, note that specialized dance camps are listed foremost (perhaps even taking place in a studio) while other camps further below might only offer dance lessons as part of the broader curriculum in a kids' summer arts camp. It’s also pretty heartwarming, which isn’t surprising considering it’s Disney. Guys, this movie is just plain fun. A young Andrew Keegan and some of the other boys at camp are totally rocking the grunge look, and the whole plot of the movie follows a group of kids’ scheme to create their own fake summer camp to avoid going to the computer, military and fat camps their parents have planned for them. Comedy, Horror. I was a little disappointed in it, but my son absolutely loved it, and it was full of mystery, adventure and misfit kids saving the day, so it definitely wasn’t all bad. Harold Pruett, Then they begin to devise a plan to try to get their parents back together. The movie’s packed with big name talent, and the lesser-known child actors are excellent as well. These could also be good to watch if you’re considering sending your kids to camp for the first time and want to give them a feel for what it’s going to be like. 50+ Best Easter Books for Kids of All Ages! It’s really quite good. Director: Brian Matthews, It’s set at a real life rock ‘n roll music camp for girls. My son and I read it together, and we were both really excited to watch the movie when it came out in 2003. Charlie Stratton, Despite those things, this movie is hilarious. She and her son enjoy going to nerd conventions like Comic*Con, and one of the greatest moments of their lives was meeting the legendary Stan Lee. 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