Best Surfing Movies

We're not sure if there will ever be a more iconic film in your life than this Bruce Brown classic from all the way back in 1963.

The Endless Summer is the ultimate surf adventure on a quest to discover the perfect wave.

It features Robert August and Mike Hynson on a trip around the world to places like Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Senegal, South Africa, and Ghana.

It is an absolute masterpiece and one of the finest surfing films to have ever hit the screen.

Even to this day, this Bruce Brown film continues to inspire surfers from all around the world.

Every surfer needs to watch the full movie at least once in their life.

Morning of the Earth was shot in some of the best surfing destinations across the globe with some of the best waves, including Bali, Australia, and Hawaii.

This surf film was so iconic, as it showcased the spiritual connection between Mother Nature and the surf community. Plus, the soundtrack is top-notch.

Five Summer Stories is somewhat of a cult classic.

The movie stars Eddie Aikau, David Nuuhiwa, Sam Hawk, and Gerry Lopez.

Right away, you'll notice how high-quality the production value is, providing viewers with a spectacular, color, and action-packed surf movie.

There's no doubt you'll enjoy the soundtrack as well, which includes music from Honk and The Beach Boys.

Shortboard riders will dig this extreme documentary that details the shortboard revolution.

Legendary surfers, including Ted Spencer, Bob McTavish, Gary Keys, Chris Brock, and Russel Hughes, surf a number of hidden-gem waves throughout California and South Wales.

Longboarding never died and the Seedling is one of th best surf movies that proved it.

This unique surf film shot entirely in 16mm is a homage to longboarding culture.

Devon Howard, Joel Tudor, Dane Peterson, Kassia Meador, Seitaro Nakamura, Jimmy Gamboa, Skip Frye, Donald Takayama, and Josh Farberow, explore the beauty of longboarding in this hidden gem of a film.

Dana Brown, creator of Endless Summer II, created this cinematic surf movie without the need for Hollywood.

The movie acts as a wonderful introduction to the world of surfing, showcasing everything from Taj Burrow's early years to big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and his big wave tow-ins.

With surfing legend Andy Irons as you're older brother, getting out of the shadows can be quite difficult.

This unique surf film showcases Andy's younger brother, Bruce Irons, one of the greatest big wave surfers of the early 2000s.

He was known to charge big waves without any remorse.

This movie details his re-qualification, which requires him to make the Pipeline final.

Big wave surfing is thrilling to watch, whether you're into surfing or not.

The most iconic scene in Riding Giants is big wave surfer Laird Hamilton riding a wave at Teahupo'o, which would later redefine how limits could be pushed in the world of big wave surfing.

The experience of riding that big wave brought Laird Hamilton to tears.

For fans of Endless Summer who just can't get enough of nostalgic surfing films, there is an Endless Summer II directed by Bruce Brown.

Robert "Wingnut" Weaver and Pat O'Connell revisit all of the spots that Robert August and Mike Hynson visited back in the 1960s.

It's an absolute smash and a very nostalgic surf movie.

If Blue Crush didn't inspire a new generation of millennial surfers, then we don't know what did.

The film is female-driven, which makes it so unique compared to many surf movies.

In Blue Crush, these surfers look to conquer the waves out at Pipeline. While the Billabong Women's Pipe Masters has never actually existed, we can only hope that one day it becomes a thing.

Regardless, this film is one of the best female surf films of all time.

Blue Horizon solidified the place of Andy Irons in history as one of the world's best surfers, showing him charging waves like nobody's business.

It also introduced a new surfing life to us, Mr. Dave Rastovich, an Aussie free surfer.

In it, you'll find a dazzling world of dark blue barrels and incredible surf angles.

Thicker Than Water is a fantastic surfing movie that explores the lives of a number of surfers over 18 months, including Shane Doria, Kelly Slater, and Rob Machado.

If you're looking for some surf flicks that show you the waves as you've never seen them before, then Thicker Than Water, directed by Jack Johnson, Chris Malloy, and Emmett Malloy, is a must-watch.

Directed by Chris Bystrom, Kelly Slater calls Beyond Blazing Boards one of his favorite surf films of all time.

The movie was shot throughout Australia, Bali, California, and Mexico, showcasing some of the world's best surfers of the time, like Simon Law, Tom Currren, Ronnie Burns, Kong Elkerton, and Mark Occhilup.

Point Break, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, might just be one of the most successful surf movies of all time.

FBI agent Johnny Utah, played by none other than Keanu Reeves, investigates a number of bank robberies led by surf gang leader Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze.

For all your surfing and action needs, Point Break has got you covered.

Crystal Voyager is an undeniably important part of surf culture that follows the life of George Greenough as he rides through barrels strapped up with waterproof camera housing.

If the beauty of the surfing cinema doesn't strike you enough, you might love the fact that the music used in the movie is from Pink Floyd.

Directed by Taylor Steele, Castles In The Sky is an absolute masterpiece with an incredible soundtrack and a number of secret surf spots throughout the world.

Watch to see a number of pro surfers ride waves across the world, including Rob Machado in Peru, Dane Reynolds in Iceland, Jordy Smith in Africa, Dave Rastovich in India.

In North Shore, Rick Kane has a dream of becoming a pro surfer.

He travels to the North Shore of Oahu from Arizona, following his heart into the realm of surfing.

In North Shore, you'll see tons of pro surfers make appearances, including Gerry Lopez, Laird Hamilton, Ken Bradshaw, Derek Ho, and Mark Occhilupo.

Surfers should never forget that, at one point in time, a surfing Championship Tour did not exist for live streaming across the globe. A most, a surfer could earn some money for beer by winning a local contest.

When Michael Tomson, Peter "PT" Townsen, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew, Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards, and Ian "Kanga" Cairns came from both South Africa and Australia to the North Shore during the 1970s, that all changed.

This epic surf flick documents an important time in surf culture when the development of the sport as a profession was in its early stages. The film also shows how the foundations for what would become a world tour were laid down.

After losing her left arm to a shark attack, Bethany Hamilton rose to prominence after continuing to surf, even with such tragic circumstances.

 The story was so big that even Hollywood decided to turn her story into an epic surf film known as Soul Surfer, which was a box-office hit.

Her latest surf film, Unstoppable, is a more of a vulnerable look at the triumphs and tribulations of Bethany Hamilton and her surfing journey.

Not often do films touch on surfing in the Bay Area, but this unique documentary, directed by Mark Gunson and starring Jack O'Neill, Michael Ho, and Jack LaLanne, details the roots of surfing culture in San Francisco.

It is a wonderful documentary for those who love San Francisco history and an even better documentary for those who want to learn about odd surfing destinations.

Momentum: Under The Influence, directed by Matt Beauchesne, took the first look at a new generation of surfers during the years of the shortboard revolution.

There are so many great surfing scenes in this movie that it's hard to watch only one time.

Some of the surfers seen in this real-life surf flick include Bruce Irons, Dan Malloy, CJ Hobgood, Dean Morrison, Andy Irons, and Kelly Slater.

View From A Blue Moon, directed by John John Florence, marked the first time that a surf film was ever shot in full-on 4k.

John John spent three years making this larger-than-life movie, capturing some of the most incredible swells on the planet.

The film, shot-by-shot, is an absolutely masterpiece from start to finish.

For shots of waves in high-def, this flick can't be beat.

Gidget was the very first time Hollywood ever put out a movie about surfing and it was an absolute hit.

In fact, it was probably the main catalyst for all of the surf movies that would appear in years to follow. This story follows Gidget, played by Sandra Dee, who falls for two surfers while hitting the beach during her summer vacation.

While the surfers make fun of her at first, they eventually teach her how to ride the waves.

The movie was the first of many sequels and television series and brought surfing to the big screen in an entirely new light. Every surfer needs to watch this movie at least once.

Many regard Banzai Pipeline as one of the deadliest waves in the world. Riding the pipeline can turn a surfer into a legend overnight.

However, years before riding the wave at Pipeline was ever a thing, Phil Edwards and Bruce Brown took on the beast in Surfing Hollow Days.

Edwards, who is widely regarded as the first surfer to take on the Pipe, breathed new life into the world of surfing, paving the way for tube seekers to come.