The Best of Surf Cinema
Surf films have inspired generations of wave riders. From groundbreaking documentaries to pure action, these films capture the essence of surfing.
Classic Documentaries
The Endless Summer (1966)
Bruce Brown's masterpiece follows two surfers around the world chasing summer. The film that introduced surfing to mainstream audiences and remains timeless.
Morning of the Earth (1972)
Australian classic capturing the soul surfing movement. Beautiful footage, iconic soundtrack, pure surf spirit.
Big Wednesday (1978)
Coming-of-age drama following three friends through the 1960s Malibu scene. Captures an era perfectly.
Modern Documentaries
Riding Giants (2004)
Stacy Peralta's epic history of big wave surfing. From the early pioneers to modern chargers at Jaws and Mavericks.
Step Into Liquid (2003)
Dana Brown (Bruce's son) explores global surf culture from Texas to Vietnam to Ireland. Beautiful and inspiring.
Bustin' Down the Door (2008)
How Australian and South African surfers revolutionized professional surfing in the 1970s.
Action Films
Momentum Series
Taylor Steele's series pushed surf film into the modern era with punk soundtracks and cutting-edge surfing.
Campaign Series
Following the WSL tour, intimate looks at pro surfers competing at the highest level.
View from a Blue Moon (2015)
John John Florence's visual masterpiece. Stunning cinematography and progressive surfing.
Feature Films
Point Break (1991)
The action classic. FBI agent goes undercover with surfing bank robbers. Pure entertainment.
North Shore (1987)
Arizona wave pool champion heads to Hawaii. Cheesy but beloved.
Blue Crush (2002)
Female surfer pursues Pipeline dream. Great wave footage and women's surf representation.
Soul Surfer Films
Sprout (2004)
Thomas Campbell's exploration of alternative surf craft and the joy of wave sliding.
Sipping Jetstreams (2006)
Campbell's follow-up. Longboarding, art, and simple pleasures.
Big Wave Films
Chasing Mavericks (2012)
True story of Jay Moriarity learning to surf Mavericks. Emotional and inspiring.
Take Every Wave (2017)
Documentary about Laird Hamilton, big wave pioneer and waterman legend.
Where to Watch
- Surfing streaming services
- Amazon Prime and iTunes
- Surf brand YouTube channels
- Classic VHS and DVD collections