28th Mar 2020
Hollywood Surf Movies
Most Hollywood movies (and TV shows) that feature surfing are so ridiculously bad they make real surfers cringe! #facepalm
But there have been a few fun Hollywood films to which surfers threw a shaka 🤙(a surfer’s thumbs up). This does not mean that they are good movies – but just that the surfing and surf subject matter was portrayed better in these films than many other attempts.
Here is a list of our favourite big screen Hollywood movies that feature surfing:
1. Point Break (1991)
This film is awesome! It’s dated but still good! So good they tried to update/remake it in 2015 (but failed). Check out Keanu Reeves learning to surf! Also features cameo appearances of 90’s pro surfers and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
2. Big Wednesday (1978)
Matt Johnson, Jack Barlow, and Leroy Smith are three young California surfers in the 1960s. The epitomize the carefree surfers lifestyle at the time – but this is disrupted by the Vietnam war..
This classic film gives us a fantastic glimpse of the California surfers’ lifestyle towards the end of the 60’s.
IMDB RATING: 7.2/10
3. Chasing Mavericks (2012)
When young Jay Moriarity discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it.
Fun movie with great big wave surfing footage.
IMDB RATING: 7.2/10
4. Soul Surfer (2011)
The true story of Bethany Hamilton and how she dealt with losing her arm and returning to the ocean after being attacked by a tiger shark in Hawaii. This film has a Christian faith theme.
IMDB RATING: 7.0/10
5. North Shore (1987)
An Arizona surfer, laughed at by the veteran boarders in Hawaii, finds a mentor – and a girlfriend – and prepares to ride the giant waves of Oahu.
Enjoy this fun film and have a laugh at the 80’s surf style/fashion trends.
IMDB RATING: 6.5/10
6. Blue Crush (2002)
Nothing gets between Anne Marie and her board. Living in a beach shack with three roommates including her rebellious younger sister, she is up before dawn every morning to conquer the waves and count the days until the Pipe Masters surf competition. Until she finds herself falling for a football player..
This movie caused an explosion in the number of girls surfing around the world!
IMDB RATING: 5.6/10
7. Blue Crush 2 (2011)
Haunted by the memory of her deceased mother, Dana leaves Malibu behind and heads to South Africa to fulfill her mother’s dream of surfing Jefferys Bay.
A low budget sequel that is still fun to watch.
IMDB RATING: 5.4/10
8. Point Break (2015)
A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists.
The poor-attempted remake of the 1991 classic. It’s entertaining to watch loads of stunts performed by the world’s top extreme sports athletes at the time. But at times it feels like you watching a Go-Pro promo video on YouTube than a movie with a decent storyline.
IMDB RATING: 5.3/10
9. Blue Juice (1995)
JC thinks surfing is everything. His girlfriend Chloe wants him to settle down. When he decides to go surfing one night with friends from London, she throws JC out. Surfing or Chloe?
Not a great movie, it didn’t do particularly well in cinemas. But it’s got a surfing theme and it’s funny to check out Ewan McGregor & Catherine Zeta-Jones in their younger years.
IMDB RATING: 5.3/10
Are any of your favorite surfing films missing from the list?
Please let us know who else should be included by emailing us here: blogtips@learn2surf.net
ENJOY THE MOVIES!!
Hope you’re back in the surf soon! 🙂