There’s something about summer that always makes me want to slow down, romanticize my life, and fully step into my soft girl era. Not the performative version, either. I’m talking real softness, curled up on the couch with a nostalgic movie, hair wrapped, snacks on deck, heart cracked open just enough to let the healing in.
That’s the energy I’m claiming this summer.
Rewatching these movies in the summer just hits different.
There’s something about the sunshine, the slower pace, and the freedom of this season that brings me back to those childhood moments, when I’d curl up on the couch with snacks and let these characters raise me a little.
Girlhood was absolutely a genre. A vibe. A full identity. And these stories? They didn’t just pass the time. They helped me feel.
Whether you’re healing, glowing up, or simply reclaiming your peace, this soft girl summer rewatch list is for you. These movies and shows hold pieces of our girlhood, our growth, and our gentleness. They remind us who we’ve always been—even if we forgot.
Soft Girl Summer Starter Pack:
- Silk pajamas or a worn-out hoodie
- Something pink (lip gloss, candle, drink)
- A cozy throw blanket
- One nostalgic snack (Dunkaroos? Cosmic Brownie?)
- Your favorite journal or Notes app open for sudden epiphanies
Here are 12 nostalgic picks that feel like a warm hug and a personal renaissance.
1. The Hunger Games
Katniss gave quiet strength—but make no mistake, she was that girl. Watching The Hunger Games as a teen? Peak era. Rewatching it as an adult? Hits even harder.
Yes, there’s romance. Yes, there’s survival and tension and love triangles. But there’s also something sobering about seeing how much this story mirrors real life—the spectacle, the control, the rebellion. It makes you think… like really think. And somehow, that depth doesn’t take away from the vibes—it enhances them.
It’s got action, iconic quotes, emotional growth, and just enough drama to keep your heart invested without draining your soul.
This is the movie for your emotionally guarded soft girl era—the one where you’re healing, but also noticing everything a little clearer.
2. Teen Wolf (MTV)
Teen angst, supernatural drama, and entirely too many abs for a high school setting—but we ate it up every single week.
Teen Wolf was messy, dramatic, and so unserious in the best way. This one’s for the girls who lived for a love triangle, had a crush on at least three characters at once, and lowkey wanted to sprint through the woods with glowing eyes and unresolved trauma.
Rewatching it now? Still elite. It’s nostalgic, unhinged, and perfect for a late-night binge when you want drama, suspense, and a little supernatural chaos. Light some candles, grab a fuzzy blanket, and text your bestie about how you’re still not over that one scene. You know the one.
3. The Princess Diaries
For the girls who grew up feeling invisible, awkward, or a little too much of a mess—this is your glow-up origin story.
The Princess Diaries reminded us that becoming “that girl” isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about realizing you were her the whole time.
This is the perfect summer rewatch when you need a reminder that growth can be messy, funny, and a little dramatic (with a great soundtrack). Throw on a hair mask, cozy up in your oldest hoodie, and pretend your grandma just told you you’re royalty.
Bonus points if you dramatically whisper “me? a princess?” in the mirror while doing your skincare. You’ve earned it.
4. Clueless
The blueprint.
Clueless gave us Cher—pretty, privileged, a little out of touch, but always trying to do better. She made mistakes, had growth arcs, and still managed to serve a full fashion moment in every scene.
This movie reminds us that you can be into lip gloss and leveling up. Femininity and growth? Yeah, they go hand in hand.
If you’re building your soft girl summer rewatch list, this one deserves a top spot. It’s the ultimate girls’ night comfort movie—fun outfits, iconic one-liners, and a reminder that figuring it out doesn’t mean losing your sparkle.
Think pink drinks, pajama sets, and a group chat full of chaotic commentary. Add to cart: hot girl nostalgia.
5. Aquamarine
Mermaidcore meets friendshipcore. This movie is peak glittery summer girlhood, the sleepover energy, the “we’re in this together” vibe, the magic of believing in something bigger than ourselves.
It’s playful, sparkly, and surprisingly emotional in that best friend soul-tie kind of way.
If you’re curating your soft girl summer rewatch list, this one is non-negotiable. Watch it with your childhood best friend or just reconnect with your inner tween who once believed a mermaid could totally show up in a pool.
6. A Walk to Remember
If your heart needs a soft reset, this is it. This isn’t the movie you throw on in the background—it’s the one you sit with. It’s quiet, emotional, and tender in a way that stays with you long after the credits roll. It holds space for grief, growth, and love that’s both beautiful and bittersweet.
It’s the kind of story that doesn’t rush. The pacing is gentle, the performances are raw, and the emotions are layered, never forced. It gives you permission to feel your feelings without judgment. To reflect. To slow down. If you’ve been carrying stress or emotional heaviness, this is the kind of film that lets you exhale.
For your soft girl summer rewatch list, it’s a reminder that softness is strength. That letting yourself cry or sit in stillness is just as powerful as laughter or romance. And if you’re someone who connects deeply with storytelling, this one will speak to you.
If you’re in the mood to lean in even further, The Notebook makes the perfect follow-up. It’s a different kind of heartbreak, but it taps into those same emotional places. Just be prepared to feel a lot—and maybe keep a cozy blanket nearby.
7. As Told by Ginger
Cartoon therapy. Period.
If you ever felt like the weird girl growing up, too deep, too sensitive, too artsy, As Told By Ginger will validate your entire existence. This show was ahead of its time. It tackled growing pains, friendships falling apart, emotional chaos, and girlhood insecurity with more honesty than most adult dramas.
Every episode felt like a journal entry. Every lyric hit too hard. And somehow, it managed to be soft and raw at the same time. Watching it now? It still holds up. In fact, it hits even harder when you’re older and realize just how real some of those moments were.
This is a must for your soft girl summer rewatch list, not because it’s comforting in the traditional sense, but because it reminds you of who you were when you first started trying to figure it all out. Put it on in the background while you clean your room, do your laundry, or reorganize your life.
Bonus points if you end up crying during “that one episode” (we all have one). Healing your inner tween never looked so real.
8. Cinderella (1997, Brandy & Whitney)
This is Black girl magic in motion. Brandy as Cinderella. Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. The music, the gowns, the cast, the dream. This wasn’t just a movie, it was a moment. A cultural reset. A visual affirmation that Black girls could be princesses too.
Watching it now, it still feels magical. Not because of the special effects or the fairy tale plot, but because of what it meant, and still means. The casting, the vocals, the elegance… every detail was made with care. It’s one of those rare movies that wraps around your soul and whispers, “You belong in this story, too.”
You don’t just watch this, you feel it. You remember where you were the first time you heard “Impossible.” You feel the softness in Brandy’s voice, the power in Whitney’s presence, the beauty in being seen.
This is a rewatch that feels like coming home. Light a candle. Wrap up in your favorite blanket. Play “Impossible” on repeat and cry a little (or a lot) at how Whitney’s voice still sounds like hope. And yes, wear your satin bonnet like the crown it is. You deserve it.
9. The Little Mermaid (2023, Halle Bailey)
Halle Bailey sang to our inner child—and healed her.
Watching The Little Mermaid with Halle at the center felt like a personal moment for so many of us who grew up loving princesses but never saw ourselves in them. This rewatch is for the girls who once felt invisible.
There’s something sacred about returning to a story you loved as a kid and finally feeling seen inside it. Halle’s voice, her presence, her grace—it all feels like a love letter to the little Black girls who deserved this magic from the very beginning.
Put this on when you need to feel beautiful, grounded, and reminded of your own power. Hair mask in. Candles lit. Let this be your self-love ritual—because you deserve a fairy tale too.
10. Poetic Justice
Braids. Poetry. Healing. And the softest side of Tupac.
Poetic Justice is one of those movies that lingers. It’s tender, layered, and emotional in a way that speaks directly to Black womanhood,especially when you’ve been through some things.
This rewatch is for the girls who have loved, lost, and are learning how to feel safe in their softness again.
Janet’s character felt real, guarded, poetic, trying to move through the world without letting it harden her completely. And Tupac? The way he played Lucky? Gentle, flawed, but trying. Their connection was slow, fragile, and beautifully human.
Put this on when you need to feel grounded. When you’re craving something that understands the complexity of being soft and strong at the same time. Maybe you journal while you watch. Maybe you write a letter to your future self. Or maybe you just let the quiet moments sink in and remind you that healing doesn’t always look loud, it often looks like stillness, poetry, and letting someone in again.
11. Beauty and the Beast (Emma Watson Edition)
Belle was the OG bookish babe.
Before we had romantasy girlies and fairy smut book clubs, we had her, reading by candlelight, asking big questions, wanting more than her small town could understand. This version (yes, the Hermione (Emma Watson) edition) brings that same spirit back with a modern softness that still hits.
This rewatch is for when you’re feeling misunderstood—but still magical. When you want to remind yourself that dreaming big doesn’t make you strange, it makes you you.
Belle taught us it’s okay to want more, to crave adventure, to lose yourself in books, and to find connection in the most unexpected places.
Watch this when you’re romanticizing your life in quiet ways—pouring tea, lighting a golden candle, and getting lost in your favorite story. Let the credits roll, then pick up your current romantasy read and keep the magic going. You were never too much. You were always just right.
If Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid has you craving magical drama, check out my best romantasy books—they’re emotionally devastating in the best way.
12. Tangled
This one’s for reclaiming your life and your freedom.
Tangled might be wrapped in bright colors, funny animal sidekicks, and catchy songs—but at its heart, it’s about breaking free. About trusting yourself. About deciding that your life is yours to live, even if it hasn’t always felt that way.
Rapunzel’s story is tender and empowering. She reminds us that even if you’ve been locked away—by fear, by people, by circumstances—it’s never too late to begin again. Whether you’re in your fresh start era, trying to find your voice, or just need a reminder that joy is worth chasing, this is the perfect comfort rewatch.
Put it on when you’re ready to step into your light again. Belt the songs in the mirror, journal out your next moves, and maybe even start a Pinterest board called “soft girl freedom.” You deserve to feel free, safe, and beautifully yourself.
13. The Cheetah Girls 2
Global girlhood, big dreams, and iconic matching fits.
This might be the most unhinged of the Cheetah Girls movies—and we love it for that. The Cheetah Girls 2—aka the superior Cheetah Girls movie (don’t fight me on it 😭).
It’s the one where they go to Barcelona, chase their music dreams, have lowkey a friend breakup, and then come back stronger, more stylish, and more sparkly than ever. The drama, the choreography, the emotional growth? Chef’s kiss. Plus, the song “Strut” had no business being that good—it was a banger AND a confidence anthem.
Rewatch this when you need a reminder that you’re allowed to take up space, be extra, and chase your passions loudly. Perfect for solo dance breaks and reminiscing about your childhood girl group era.
If these movies have you in your feels, you’ll want to check out my Summer Romance Reading List—it’s full of slow burns, second chances, and main character moments you can carry poolside.
14. Lizzie McGuire Movie
This movie was the definition of a glow-up. Lizzie went from middle school awkward to international pop star by accident—and it still feels iconic. The European setting, the Paolo drama, the “This Is What Dreams Are Made Of” finale? Elite teen movie status.
But beneath the glitter and chaos, it was really about stepping into your power. Lizzie didn’t need a makeover—she just needed a moment to shine. Watching it now is like rereading your middle school diary and realizing you were always that girl, you just didn’t know it yet.
15. Legally Blonde
Elle Woods gave us blueprint-level main character energy. She was underestimated, dismissed, and doubted—but never lost herself while proving everyone wrong. And she did it in a pink outfit with perfect highlights.
This movie still hits because it reminds you that softness and ambition can co-exist. You don’t have to change who you are to be taken seriously—you just have to believe in your own magic, even when no one else does yet. It’s light, fun, and sneakily empowering in the best way.
16. Girls Trip
This one’s for the grown girls who’ve been through it, held it together for everyone else, and need a reminder that joy, freedom, and a little wildness still belong to you, too. Girls Trip is chaotic, hilarious, and full of real friendship moments—the kind that hold you up when everything else is falling apart.
Watching it again hits different when you’re older and realize how much Black women carry—and how much we deserve to let go, laugh, and just live. It’s not just about wild stories and zipline scenes (though, iconic)—it’s about reconnecting with your girls, and more importantly, with yourself.
Put this one on when you need to laugh until you cry, text your best friends for no reason, and remember that healing doesn’t always have to be quiet. Sometimes, it shows up in matching outfits, messy dance floors, and bottomless mimosas.
Soft Mentionables for our soft girl summer rewatch list (Because I Couldn’t Leave These Out)
Okay but real quick—can we pour one out for the forgotten queens of soft girl cinema? These movies and shows shaped our drama, our daydreams, and our deeply unserious yet deeply emotional girlhood.
Here’s a little bonus list of Soft Mentionables—because not every main character moment needed to be epic to be iconic:
- The Parent Trap – Twin magic, camp chaos, and the ultimate ‘clean girl’ aesthetic before TikTok even existed.
- Raise Your Voice – Hilary Duff crying while singing? Healing. Artistic. Timeless.
- Cadet Kelly – Soft girl joins ROTC, survives bootcamp with a bedazzled belt, and gives resilience.
- A Cinderella Story – “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” IYKYK.
- New York Minute – Mary-Kate & Ashley said ✨twin chaos, city dreams, and early 2000s fashion✨.
- Mean Girls – Because even the soft girls had a Regina George phase (or at least wanted her closet).
- Herbie Fully Loaded – Soft girl energy in a race car. That’s range.
- Just My Luck – Lindsay Lohan navigating bad luck and messy romance? Relatable. Chaotic. Classic.
- Freaky Friday – Mother-daughter healing arc meets grunge band fantasy. An era.
- Life-Size – Tyra Banks as a sentient Barbie teaching emotional intelligence? We ate.
- Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen – Musical theatre girl delusion at its finest.
- Kim Possible – Not a movie, but soft girl icon behavior. Fashion, action, and a full-time job saving the world.
Rewatch Mood: Hair clips in, fuzzy socks on, popcorn popped, and your inner 2000s icon fully activated.
Final Thoughts: Your Soft Girl Era Is Not a Trend—It’s a Reclamation
This soft girl summer rewatch list isn’t about aesthetics for the algorithm. It’s about memories, emotion, and the comfort of characters who carried us before we could carry ourselves.
It’s about sitting with our feelings. Letting go. Coming back to ourselves.
So light a candle. Press play. Let these movies and shows wrap around you like a weighted blanket for your soul. And remember: softness is not weakness. It’s your power. It always has been.
So if you’ve been craving that carefree, main character energy again… this is your sign to start the rewatch. Let the nostalgia wash over you like a warm breeze. You deserve to live like the soft, emotional, radiant girl you’ve always been.
Watching soft girlhood shows always inspires me to slow down and romanticize the little things. If you’ve ever finished a cozy series and thought, “I want that life,” I actually broke down how to create a soft life routine in real life—one that feels dreamy, doable, and deeply aligned with who you are.
And if you need something to binge after movie night? Dive into my romance anime pairings post—because crying over fictional characters is a lifestyle, not a phase.
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More on Summer…