The 14 best beach movies you can stream right now

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• Though many beaches have opened for the season, those with COVID-related concerns are looking for summer entertainment from the safety of their homes, including films available for streaming.
• We compiled a list of award-winning and cult-favorite movies from a diverse range of directors and actors to replicate the experience of visiting the beach and inspire new bucket list travel destinations.
• Picks include coming-of-age dramas, queer love stories, and family-friendly animated films set on beaches and coasts around the world, all available for streaming across Amazon, Disney Plus, Hulu, and more.
• For more streaming recommendations, check out our guide to the best streaming services you can sign up for online.

With strict travel guidelines and the continued need for social distancing, planning a relaxing vacation is a daunting task. Now, more than ever, there are considerable risks to enjoying normal summer activities, like dining out, traveling, and even going to the beach. If your summer getaway has been cancelled and you've been longing to feel the cool ocean breeze again, consider simulating the experience through film.

Our picks for the best international beach movies will allow you to marvel at some of the most alluring shorelines in the world from the comfort and safety of your home. Buckle up for a road trip to a secluded Mexican beach with a young Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal in "Y Tu Mamá También," or sing along to an ABBA tune in Greece with the cast of "Mamma Mia!" These beloved and award-winning features are sure to impress with coastal sites you'll soon add to your own travel bucket list.

Aesthetics aside, some of the beaches and coastal settings in our top picks also help represent central themes, reflect emotional states, and even personify their own characters. With a mix of comedy and drama, including important work from queer and BIPOC storytellers, these lively narratives deliver strong performances while transporting us to different corners of the globe. Whatever your preference, we recommend you make a refreshing drink to enjoy as you watch and let your mind drift to one of these on-screen oases.

Note: Mild spoilers ahead.

For more armchair travel, check out these additional articles:

• The best travel movies to stream right now
• The best travel TV shows to stream right now
• 18 travel books to take a global voyage without ever leaving home, including coffee table books, fiction and nonfiction reads, cookbooks, and coloring books
• 18 hotels and Airbnbs around the world are currently offering virtual classes in lieu of their usual on-site activities and events — almost all of them are free

Here are the best international beach movies to stream right now: