MovieChat Forums > Little Darlings (1980) Discussion > Great summer camp movie. Any summer camp...

Great summer camp movie. Any summer camp movie fans out there?


This was a great movie. I think what I liked best about it though was the fact it was set in a summer camp.

I'm a major sucker for summer camp movies! Funny ones, heartwarming ones, scary ones... I love em all! I spent alot of time at camp growing up, so I don't know if it's nostalgia or what, but camp movies to me are the best!

As far as a top 10, probably too hard to determine for me. But Indian Summer may be my favorite. How cool would it be to go back 20 or so years later and re-live those fun times, just for a week?

Also ranking up there at the top would have to be Meatballs, also Wet Hot American Summer. All the fun and hijinx brings back memories and hits home... in a good way. Little Darlings (of course) and Poison Ivy probably fall in close behind.

I think over the years I've managed to accumulate just about every film out there that summer camp is either what the movie is about or is the setting for the movie. Probably not all of them, but I immagine most anyway. Some are great, some are real cheesey, but I love em' all.

They are: American Pie Presents Band Camp, The Burning, Bloody Murder, Bloody Murder II, Camp Cucamonga, Camp Nowhere, Camp, Camp Slaughter, Cheerleader Camp, Confessions From A Summer Holiday Camp, Ernest Goes To Camp, Family Plan, Friday the 13th parts 1,2, and 6 ( these were the ones of the series that took place in a summer camp, although I have all of them up to the Manhattan one ), Happy Campers, Heavyweights, Indian Summer, Little Darlings, Looking For Miracles, Madman, Meatballs, Meatballs 2, Meatballs 4 ( Meatballs 3 was not about summer camp, but I have it and it was a decent movie ), The Nightmare Room - Camp Nowhere, The Parent Trap, Party Camp, A Pigs Tale, Poison Ivy, Sleepaway Camp 1 through 3, Summer Camp, Summer Camp Nightmare, and Wet Hot American Summer.

I have seen He's A Bully Charlie Brown with my nephews, which is set in a summer camp. Will have to pick that one up for my collection. I was informed that there are 2 other Charlie Brown movies set in summer camps too. Yeah, I'm a Peanuts fan too, so that's cool! :-D I was also informed that part of Addams Family Values takes place in summer camp. I have yet to check it out though. Probably will one of these days.

Told ya I was a summer camp movie fanatic! Kinda out of control, yeah, I know. But what can I say. :-D

I think people tend to lean toward movies that remind them of the good times in their lives. Camp was one of those times for me. Well, that and playing football, so needless to say I am a football movie fanatic too! I hope you enjoyed my list. So, if there are summer camp movie fans out there like myself, which ones are your favorites? Also, if anyone out there can think of any I forgot, please let me know. Take care everyone! :-)

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It is great to see so many people share my liking of summer camp movies too. Definitely my favorites! Yeah, I was pretty lucky to grow up around that kind of stuff and there's a camp within a few miles above my home actually. I'd say those have been my best memories growing up and even today. I met my best friends in the world there, and even met my wife ( my absolute best friend )there too, so how cool is that?! I'd definitely like to share some stories with you sometime when I get some extra time. There are a TON of them! Stay in touch and I'll talk to you again sometime.

BTW, I may possibly rank Little Darlings withing my top 5 favorite camp movies. Still gotta give Indian Summer the top prize there.

:-) Take care!!

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I also love summer camp movies, esp cheesy horror movies bloody murder's sleepaway camp's, and im very excited about the new sleepaway camp movie, with the orginal angela and ricky. I also have all the Friday the 13th but the first couple ones are my faves. Now that I think about it I really like any camp movie, esp little darlings and camp nowhere, but if you like cheesy horror movies I suggest Camp Slaughter, I just watched it and I thought it was pretty good















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Wet Hot American Summer. A new classic.

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I remember this one raunchy summer camp movie where its a rundown camp with a crooked owner. I remember there being a tank in it and a scene where they feed jewish kids pork because they didn't have anything else to eat there and they just covered it with extra sauce so the kids wouldn't know. Anyone have any idea what this movie is?

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David-1938, I think that one was Oddballs. I just picked it up a few months ago. I remember renting it years back and just came across it on ebay. Was the camp director played by Foster Brooks?

BTW, did anyone see Daddy Day Camp yet? I did, and I enjoyed it. Good movie to take kids to. Didn't see too many good reviews on here about it though. But, everyone is entitled to their opinion. As for me, I thought it was decent. Not great, but entertaining nonetheless. Plus it was a camp movie, so it was cool in my book.

Hope the info helps. Take care!

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I have oddballs but there wasn't a tank in it. I'll still keep searching.

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Holy Crap! I found it. The movie is GORP

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Great list! Let's not forget Summer Camp Nightmare with Chuck Conners!

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I'm a big summer camp movie fan! They just bring back so many memories! Little Darlings is definitely my favorite, but I also love Camp Cucamonga (big guilty pleasure!)

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How about Happy Campers? Lol. and I don remember Poison Ivy being about summer camp at all.

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I know this is an old post - but i feel the same exact way!
I think a big part of it is, like you said, nostalgia! and again, like you said - i do not care what genre is, i will watch it!! ahah
I loved ernest goes to camp when i was a kid but i haven't seen it in years. and I would have to say my favorites are Indian Summer, Wet Hot American Summer, and Sleepaway Camp.
And i'm sure you've probably seen it by now - but the summer camp scenes in Addams Family Values are great! how could they not be?
Have you seen the show Bug Juice? it used to be on disney, it was a reality show about pre-teens at camp, and this was like before reality tv was a thing. It was really charming though and really addictive. There are some episodes on youtube. i think it was on for like 3 seasons.
oh and thanks for including the list!! ^_^
oh and a sidenote: this summer the camp i went to closed down - with the real estate listing directed at developers!! all i can say is they can't take my memories!


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EXCELLENT summer camp movie

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