We’ll definitely be attending our share of backyard parties and patio outings this summer, but we’ll also be spending some serious quality time with our Netflix queue. If you too occasionally need to spend a little me time in the air conditioned confines of your living room (Netflix and DIY facial scrubs, FTW), here are some amazing films and TV shows to mark on your summer calendar.

1. Pretty Little Liars, Season 5: If you’re up to date on all things PLL, you and your friends have probably conjured up some serious, “Who is A?” theories. If you’re a few episodes behind, get caught up with the fifth season (just added June 1!) so you can dive into the summer premiere! (Photo via ABC)

2. The Aviator: Leonardo DiCaprio portrays eccentric tycoon Howard Hughes, who turned a small fortune into a massive one by building Hollywood and aviation empires. If you remember, this movie got major Oscar noms. Don’t remember? Time to watch it again. (Photo via Miramax)

3. Hector and the Search for Happiness: Leaving behind a lucrative career as a psychiatrist, discontented Hector begins a journey across the planet in search of genuine happiness. Along the way, he experiences a succession of unusual adventures that alter his perspective. (Photo via Egoli Tossell Film)

4. On the Road: You read the book back in college, and now it’s time to watch those lovable wayward characters come to life on your TV screen. At the height of the Beat era, New York writer Sal Paradise, his freewheeling buddy Dean and Dean’s wife set out on a journey of self-discovery. Their cross-country quest for answers reflects the American character, attitudes and values of the time. (Photo via MK2 Productions)

5. Grace of Monaco: You won’t be able to peel your eyes away from the story of former Hollywood star Grace Kelly’s crisis of marriage and identity, during a political dispute between Monaco’s Prince Rainier III and France’s Charles De Gaulle and a looming French invasion of Monaco in the early ’60s. (Photo via Stone Angels)

6. Nightcrawler: When Lou Bloom, a driven man desperate for work, muscles into the world of LA crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran. (Photo via Bold Films)

7. Orange is the New Black, Season 3: You’ve been waiting for this day since your one-day binge of season 2 was over. Tune in and see what our favorite cell-block girls get up to in a whole new season. (Photo via Netflix)

8. Scandal, Season 4: Alright, so maybe you already watched every single episode of Scandal when it aired on TV, but when a show is this good, a re-watch is never a bad decision. (Photo via ABC)

9. Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of: Spend your next #TBT with some BSB. This behind-the-scenes look at one of our favorite boy bands is so raw, we don’t think our pre-teen selves could have handled it. (Photo via Pulse Films)

10. Lee Daniels’ The Butler: Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker delivers a powerful performance as Cecil Gaines, who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. His three decades of service unfold against a backdrop of unparalleled change in American history — and addresses issues that we’re still sadly dealing with today. (Photo via Follow Through Productions)

11. A Most Wanted Man: A half-Russian, half-Chechen man, brutalized by torture, arrives in Hamburg, where he seeks a British banker’s help in recovering his father’s estate. But the man may not be all he seems to be in this riveting adaptation of John le Carré’s novel. Watch it and prepare for a twist! (Photo via Lionsgate)

12. Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour: No worries if you missed KP on her tour. Invite some friends over and watch her amazing performances on Netflix later this month instead! (Photo via Direct Management Group)

13. What Happened, Miss Simone?: Music lovers, you’re going to want to see this — a documentary about the life and legend Nina Simone, an American singer, pianist and civil rights activist labeled the “High Priestess of Soul.” (Photo via Netflix)

What will you be adding to your Netflix queue this month? Share with us in the comments!

Allison Wheeler
Allison Collins lives in Denton, Texas with her husband and two dogs. She is a honky tonk connoisseur, Bruce Springsteen enthusiast, and proud member of the West Texas Cloud Appreciation Society.