There are few things more enchanting, relaxing and memorable than private movie screenings in your own backyard. This summer, skip the blockbusters playing at the multiplex and keep it simple with a projector-and-screen setup showing one of these essential summer classics.

The Setup:

There are outdoor TVs that you can permanently install on your patio – however a bit pricey – or you can kick it old school with a professional projector and screen available at your local electronics retailer, like Best Buy, or online at Amazon. You can skip the screen altogether and hang a white sheet on which to screen the movie, and in lieu of a projector you can turn your smartphone into a home cinema for as low as $1 using online resources.

The Snacks:

I prefer fresh-popped corn – from a machine, not the microwave (the former is just as quick as the latter, by the way) – and theater-style candy to nosh on during my summer movies. Your local convenient store will carry boxes of the good stuff for $1 or less, or you can stop by a nearby warehouse club if you have a membership and pick up bulk candy for as close to wholesale as you can get. Sharing is caring, after all.

The Movies:

Jaws

There’s still something in the water – and it’s still scary as hell. Especially if you’re on the East Coast this summer.

Wet Hot American Summer

Critically panned upon its release in 2001, Wet Hot American Summer has somewhat of a cult following – so much so that Netflix debuted a series based on the film on July 31. Plus, Bradley Cooper and Michael Ian Black bang – just in case you needed more convincing.

An American Summer

So few people have seen An American Summer, starring a very young Brian Austin Green and my adolescent crush Michael Landes, that there’s no Wiki page or Rotten Tomatoes rating for it. But there are shirtless dudes, and beggars can’t be choosy.

Summer School

All you slackers out there will rejoice in (or resent?) reminiscing about your summer days spent in class. Though I doubt it went down anything like it did under Mr. Shoop’s watch.

The Sandlot

There wasn’t a kid in the ’90s who didn’t want to be part of this team of baseball-playing misfits. Equally, we all had nightmares about “the Beast,” too.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

A worthy entry in the teen-slasher renaissance of the late 1990s, I Know What You Did Last Summer made us look at fishermen and Ryan Phillippe’s abs in a whole new light.

The Endless Summer

This seminal surf documentary put South Africa’s Cape St. Francis on the map, and subsequently earned a place in cinema history when the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

The Parent Trap

The Hayley Mills original – not the one with that little red-haired girl.

Dirty Dancing

Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Except a shirtless and sweaty Patrick Swayze.

American Graffiti

This 1973 coming-of-age dramedy asks, “Where were you in ’62?” Hopefully having the summer of your life like this crew.

Stand By Me

Be honest – how long were you afraid of leeches after seeing this for the first time?

National Lampoon’s Vacation

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Clark: Can I do your back, honey?

Ellen: I’ve already done my back.

Clark: Could I do your front?

Ellen: Go do your own front.

Do the Right Thing

Brooklyn was burning hot in the summer of 1989, and racial tensions were high. Spike Lee’s joint is just as relevant today as it was a quarter-century ago.

The Broken Hearts Club

The first gay film I saw, and it made me feel like there was place in the world for me. It also introduced me to “Meanwhile…” and the beauty that is Andrew Keegan.

Grease

Danny and Sandy go together with summer like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong.

Back to the Future

This film mostly takes place in November 1955, but it was the biggest blockbuster of summer 1985. Today it’s a summer staple of free outdoor movie screenings in communities across the country.

The Goonies

Mikey and Bran were cute enough, but bad-boy Troy could get it.

Dazed and Confused

Frankly, it baffles me how much my pothead friends know about this stoner comedy starring a young Matthew McConaughey.

The Great Outdoors

Bats, bears and the Old 96’er (plus hilarious turns by John Candy and Dan Aykroyd) make this raucous-but-mixed-reviewed comedy deserving of a spot on this list.

Summer Rental

John Candy sure knew how to bring the laughs to a summer vacation. Even with the worst. sunburn. ever.

American Pie 2

Though not as refreshing as its predecessor, at least we get some man-on-man make-out action in this still-comical sequel.

Friday the 13th

It was a warning to us all: Never mess with a momma’s boy.

Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead

An entire summer without any parental supervision? My house probably would’ve been burned to the ground, but we’d have had a blast.

Weekend at Bernie’s

Basically me on the beach on a hungover Sunday. #Dead

Independence Day

Widely considered the best entry in the alien-invasion genre. It made Will Smith a movie star and Harry Connick Jr. a heartthrob.