Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- energetic
- romantic
- summer movie night
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film energetic and stylish with strong lead chemistry, but unevenly written, tonally muddled, and overly dependent on nostalgia.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Daniel's summer of romance, partying, and drug dealing becomes a destabilizing descent rather than a clean maturation arc.
The film is set in 1991 and foregrounds period youth culture, summer rituals, and a prominent era-specific soundtrack.
Cape Cod's affluent summer-residence environment provides the backdrop for Daniel's temporary freedom and expanding marijuana operation.
Daniel's first love with McKayla develops alongside his increasingly dangerous involvement with Hunter and Dex.
Films like Hot Summer Nights, and why
The Place Beyond the Pines
Shared coming-of-age crime story, romantic volatility, youthful ambition, and heightened summer atmosphere.
Alpha Dog
Shared teenage criminal enterprise, illicit drug economy, energetic style, and descent into danger.
The Spectacular Now
Shared nostalgic 1990s setting, first love, outsider adolescence, and emotionally unsettled tone.
The Bling Ring
Shared sun-soaked youth culture, drug dealing, romance, and escalating consequences beneath a carefree surface.
Movie Details
- Director
- Elijah Bynum
- Release Date
- 2018-07-26
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (840)
Cast
- Timothée Chalamet
- Maika Monroe
- Alex Roe
- Maia Mitchell
- Thomas Jane
- Emory Cohen
- William Fichtner
- Jack Kesy
- Thomas Blake, Jr.
- Kimberly Battista
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Hot Summer Nights about?
- A sheltered teenager's intoxicating Cape Cod summer turns first love and a lucrative marijuana scheme into a dangerous crash course in consequence.
- What is Hot Summer Nights like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hot Summer Nights as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Hot Summer Nights violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hot Summer Nights as mild.
- What did critics think of Hot Summer Nights?
- Critics broadly found the film energetic and stylish with strong lead chemistry, but unevenly written, tonally muddled, and overly dependent on nostalgia.
- Which films are like Hot Summer Nights?
- Films with a similar feel include The Place Beyond the Pines, Alpha Dog, The Spectacular Now, and The Bling Ring.
- How long is Hot Summer Nights?
- Hot Summer Nights runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hot Summer Nights?
- In United States, Hot Summer Nights streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
