With the summer heat in full swing, sometimes the best escape is staying indoors, settling onto the sofa and letting a good film transport you somewhere sunnier. Romance feels especially irresistible at this time of year, whether it unfolds through a spontaneous encounter, a faraway getaway or a relationship that burns brightly before the season ends. From a joyful Greek-island musical to a wistful love story in the Italian countryside, these seven films offer romance, escapism and plenty of sun-soaked atmosphere

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Few films capture the carefree spirit of summer quite like Mamma Mia!. Set on a dreamy Greek island, the musical follows bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she secretly invites three men from her mother Donna (Meryl Streep)’s past to her wedding, hoping to discover which one is her father. With sparkling seas, tangled romances and ABBA’s biggest hits, it is an unapologetically joyful escape that practically transports you straight to the Mediterranean.

Anyone But You (2023)

For a glossy modern rom-com, Anyone But You delivers all the right ingredients. After a promising first date ends badly, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) unexpectedly reunite at a destination wedding in Australia, where they agree to pretend to be a couple. Naturally, things soon get complicated. Their playful chemistry, paired with harbour cruises, beachside parties and sweeping coastal scenery, makes the film an easy, sun-soaked summer crowd-pleaser.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Romance gets a seriously glamorous upgrade in Crazy Rich Asians. Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), only to discover that he belongs to one of Asia’s wealthiest families - and that winning over his formidable mother will not be easy. Packed with luxurious parties, tropical locations, mouth-watering food and an unforgettable destination wedding, the film delivers all the escapism of a five-star holiday with plenty of heart.

Palm Springs (2020)

A wedding in the desert sounds romantic - until you are forced to relive it forever. In Palm Springs, Nyles (Andy Samberg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) become trapped in a time loop, waking up to the same chaotic day again and again. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti turn the clever sci-fi premise into something funny, fast-moving and unexpectedly heartfelt. Between the poolside mischief and absurd adventures, it becomes a surprisingly sincere story about taking emotional risks.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Paris is already romantic, but Midnight in Paris makes the city feel almost magical. While visiting with his fiancée, aspiring novelist Gil (Owen Wilson) begins wandering the streets alone at night and mysteriously finds himself transported to the city’s artistic golden age. Meeting figures such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald soon leaves him questioning his relationship and his obsession with the past. Dreamy, whimsical and visually irresistible, it is pure armchair-travel escapism.

Before Sunset (2004)

A chance reunion unfolds into one of cinema’s most compelling conversations in Before Sunset. Nine years after their unforgettable night in Vienna, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) meet again in Paris, with only a few hours together before Jesse must catch a flight. As they wander through the city, old feelings and unresolved questions gradually return, while Hawke and Delpy’s effortless chemistry makes every exchange feel intimate, spontaneous and emotionally charged.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

If summer romance had a visual language, it might look like Call Me by Your Name. Set in northern Italy in 1983, the film follows teenager Elio as his initial uncertainty around visiting graduate student Oliver slowly develops into an intense first love. Bicycle rides, afternoon swims and leisurely outdoor meals create a beautifully hazy atmosphere, but beneath the sunshine lies a deeply moving story about desire, discovery and the heartbreak of knowing summer cannot last forever.

Also see: 5 Christopher Nolan classics to revisit before "The Odyssey"