It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means summertime is officially here. This year’s activities are going to look different, as many public pools or beaches will remain closed to enforce social distancing efforts. However, while you might not get your picture-perfect beach day in the months ahead, you can turn to the best beach moments on film as the next best thing. Losing yourself in summery cinematic settings—with a tropical cocktail in hand, hopefully!—can still channel the joyful spirit of the season.
In honor of summer, Vogue rounded up the best pool- or beach-side movie moments to dive into. In addition to the dreamy summer landscapes, these 21 flicks particularly got stylish swimwear right, too. Should you be in the market for a new one-piece or two-piece, these films offer warm-weather ensembles that are still iconic years (or decades) later. Consider it inspiration for a sunning session in the backyard, should you be lucky enough to have green space.
Highlights on the list include Halle Berry as a Bond girl in Die Another Day. Who could forget her first scene, when she emerges from the ocean in a perfectly-cut orange bikini? Femme fatales seem to prefer bikinis: Salma Hayek in From Dusk till Dawn was another deadly temptress, and her high-cut style is equally killer (and no, you don’t need to carry around a snake like she does).
As for more classic styles, Elizabeth Taylor’s clean white one-piece in Suddenly, Last Summer is a timeless silhouette that will never go out of style. Nor will the famous red bikini that Phoebe Cates wore in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, an unforgettable suit that remains a sizzling piece of pop culture.
Below, more of the 21 best on-screen swim moments.
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection1/21Halle Berry in Die Another Day
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection2/21Raquel Welch in Fathom
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection3/21Elizabeth Hurley in Bedazzled
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection4/21Salma Hayek in From Dusk till Dawn
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection5/21Ursula Andress in Dr. No
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection6/21Pam Grier in Coffy
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection7/21Brigitte Bardot in A Very Private Affair
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection8/21Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection9/21Elizabeth Taylor in Suddenly, Last Summer
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection10/21Gloria Hendry in Live and Let Die
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection11/21Denise Richards in Wild Things
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection12/21Romy Schneider in La Piscine
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection13/21Angela Bassett in How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection14/21Marilyn Monroe in Something’s Got to Give
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection15/21Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection16/21Jessica Simpson in The Dukes of Hazzard
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection17/21Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection18/21Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection19/21Demi Moore in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection20/21Kate Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez in Blue Crush
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection21/21Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, and Selena Gomez in Spring Breakers
