As spring shifts to summer, a new range of films come into season.

From skipping school to fleeing great white sharks, a host of films are quintessential summer classics. Consider queuing up one of these picks to celebrate the end of the school year and the newfound sunny days.

Read on to find out which summer films The Bruin considers best.

“Mamma Mia!” (Universal Pictures)

If you’re looking for the perfect summer movie, take a chance on “Mamma Mia!”

The 2008 hit was adapted from the jukebox musical featuring Swedish pop group ABBA’s most iconic songs. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and starring Hollywood icons such as Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, the lighthearted story of a bride-to-be inviting her three potential fathers to her wedding remains a beloved classic nearly 20 years later.

“Mamma Mia!” is the embodiment of an unforgettable summer vacation. Its ocean-blue color palette and picture-perfect views are a feast for the eyes, and the joyfulness of its stellar cast only adds to its playful summer vibes. The charming ensemble famously partied together throughout filming, and their infectious energy shines through onscreen. Watching such a lovable cast sing and dance along the beautiful beaches of Greece, the audience can’t help but join in, embracing the “young and sweet” spirit of summertime.

Audiences are guaranteed to have the time of their lives with “Mamma Mia!”

– Kiara Mack

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (Paramount Pictures)

With charming characters and contagious humor, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is the perfect start to the sunniest season.

On the precipice of adulthood, beloved high school senior Ferris Bueller curates a sick day for the books, embarking on an iconic journey of rebellion and boundless adventure through the heart of Chicago. Alongside his girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, and his best friend, Cameron Frye, Bueller artfully evades his prying principal, who is hot on their trail at every turn. Behind the wheel of a Ferrari stolen from Frye’s father, the trio embarks on a journey as endless as it is exhilarating, bouncing between museums, parades and upscale restaurants.

Released in 1986, this John Hughes comedy has defined the perfect day for generations. The movie is colorful in every sense of the word – uniquely humorous and sharply motivating. As characters clash and evolve in this coming-of-age classic, Bueller’s ingenuity urges viewers to seize the day. The film’s bright energy is intoxicating, indefinitely echoing the spirit of summer.

“Life moves pretty fast,” Bueller says in the film. “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

– Aubrey Wong

“Jaws” (Universal Pictures)

No list of the best summer movies is complete without “Jaws.”

Steven Spielberg’s first summer blockbuster triumph was released in June 1975 and reinvented the box office. The beachfront film – centered on a quaint New England town terrorized by a great white shark with a proclivity for eating humans – became the highest-grossing movie in history at the time of its release. Unlike some box office smashes with middling critical reception, the oceanic thriller won three Academy Awards – for its score, editing and sound – and was nominated for Best Picture.

Despite its marine location, “Jaws” evokes the dramatic scenery of a Western and the momentum of a mystery as a police chief (Roy Scheider), oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss) and shark hunter (Robert Shaw) desperately try to track down the murderous shark before it claims more victims. The shark’s minimal appearances are brief but brilliantly punctuated by John Williams’ scintillating score, which maximizes the lasting thrill of the film more than half a century later.

“Jaws” might have an eerie vibe, but it will always be worth splashing onto a summer movie watchlist.

– Reid Sperisen

“High School Musical 2” (Disney Channel)

It’s time to “bet on” “High School Musical 2” as the best summer movie.

Released in 2007, “High School Musical 2″ follows the Wildcats as they spend their summer working at Sharpay and Ryan Evans’ country club, moving the story beyond East High School. Known for its iconic soundtrack and the summer romance between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, the film highlights how even with the temptations of opportunity and status, the Wildcats remain “all in this together.”

“High School Musical 2” serves as the manifestation of summer’s vast magic and possibility – the ultimate escape from school’s stress. Accompanied by sweet, unforgettable melodies, the plot follows the Wildcats’ journey toward the perfect summer and immerses viewers in a world of adventure that, though unrealistic, still feels attainable. Even as a viewer reaches adulthood, the film’s nostalgic charm brings them back to the idealistic, joyous moments of youth.

From performances on golf courses to a show-stopping talent show victory, “High School Musical 2” never misses a beat.

– Daniela Fogliano