Underrated Surfer Movies You Need To Watch

There aren't a ton of unforgettable surfer movies out there. In fact, for those unfamiliar with the genre, Kathryn Bigelow's "Point Break" with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze might be the only noteworthy entry. One possible reason could be that it's not easy to capture or recreate that cool, easy-going, carefree vibe — and limitless freedom — that surfers represent. The lifestyle can't be summed up by showing a bunch of tanned, athletic folks partying all the time while a classic track from The Beach Boys is banging in the background. Yet, that's often how Hollywood often treats these movies, building them on familiar, tired cliches.

At its center, "Point Break" beautifully encapsulates the mentality and lifestyle of Bodhi (Swayze) and his friends, riding stellar swells in California since they were kids. Nothing matters more to them — not women, not family, not a career. They live for the feeling they get from surfing, and are willing to do anything to never have to stop (even risking their lives and freedom). It's not a coincidence that it was the most charming, relatable aspect of that feature. But there are other, lesser-known gems that also offer a similarly effective experience.

The 10 films below include some visually breath-taking documentaries, as well as biopics, and a few features that might be flawed on some level but still deserve appreciation for how they attempted to capture the essence of surfers.

The real-life story of Bethany Hamilton (a professional surfer, wife, and mother of three) is such an inspirational, uplifting tale that even an unbalanced adaptation can't ruin it. Despite its various storylines, Sean McNamara's "Soul Surfer" never loses sight of Hamilton's motivation and love for the sport.

The plot picks up Hamilton at the age of 13, her family living a peaceful life in Hawaii. She's a lively, goodhearted Christian girl, but besides going to church every week, her true passion is the ocean and surfing. As a teen, she participates in competitions and aspires to become a professional surfer. However, due to a shark attack, she loses her left arm and nearly dies of blood loss. Miraculously, she survives, and through a long recovery and rigorous training, she keeps pursuing her dream to compete with the best in the world.

The movie's mixed critical reception can't be blamed on its stellar cast. Besides AnnaSophia Robb in the lead, "Soul Surfer" features Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Craig T. Nelson, and more. Although it was a commercial success in 2011 — making over $47 million on an $18 million budget — critics didn't like it as well as the viewers. Currently, "Soul Surfer" holds a 44 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 percent on Metacritic.

A Hollywood flick starring Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch playing skater dudes in 1970s California feels like it could be filled with cliches, but Catherine Hardwicke's "Lords of Dogtown," despite being bashed by critics and underperforming at the box office, deserves to be remembered for more than those poor reviews and low numbers.

Essentially a narrative re-telling of Stacy Peralta's 2001 acclaimed "Dogtown and Z-Boys" documentary, Hardwicke's "Dogtown" is far from being as bad as its reputation suggests. It follows Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Peralta (John Robinson), Jay Adams (Hirsch) and Skip Engblom (Ledger), telling the tale of how the so-called "Z-Boys" made skateboarding a phenomenon. 

Sure, it's technically more of a skateboarding film than a surfer one, but the vibe and the lifestyle have so much overlap that it will fit all your surfer movie needs. The feature showcases the minting of an urban culture, one forged in backyard swimming pools rather than on swelling waves. Despite its reputation, "Dogtown" is an entertaining flick featuring a transformative performance by Ledger worth remembering.

John Stockwell's 2002 romantic drama might be a proud, middle-shelf B movie with a plot all over the place, shallow characters and actors struggling to transcend their limitations — but as far as surf films go, there's a low-key appeal to it.

The scenes on land are mildly amusing at best; out on the water, however, "Blue Crush" doesn't hold back. Its vivid depiction of dangerous, brutal swells — which can smash even the best surfers underwater — is simultaneously scary and fascinating. Without illusions, the viewer gets an accurate comprehension of how difficult and physically demanding this sport is, even for the most ripped athletes.

The flawed plot follows three friends — Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth), Eden (Michelle Rodriguez), and Lena (Sanoe Lake) — who live, work, and ride waves together in Hawaii. The most skilled out of the three is Anne Marie, whose dream is to become a professional. Besides working as a maid in the local hotel, she trains hard to be able to compete in an upcoming competition taking place at the infamous North Shore of the island. Performing well at the Banzai Pipeline could be her ticket out of poverty and a difficult life. However, her plans turn complicated once she gets fired from the hotel and begins dating an American football player there on holiday.

Although "Blue Crush" wasn't very much liked among critics after its release, it became a decent commercial success, grossing over $51 million worldwide on a $25 million budget.

Peter Hamblin's documentary is as unconventional in the genre as it gets. Instead of following a linear, more familiar structure — such as "View From a Blue Moon" or "Scratching the Surface" — the filmmaker blends fiction into reality to an extreme degree. He invents myths and urban legends about the pro-surfer Frank James Solomon, telling them with a Guy Ritchie-like approach. "Let's Be Frank" is full of gimmicks — a mix of slow-motion punches and rapid cuts — that make the project look more stylish and cinematic. To be frank (sorry), it totally works.

Clearly, this is a mock-doc that gives its viewer an embellished reality of who the infamous Frank Solomon is. Though he's indeed a professional, highly gifted surfer, he's a much more humble and ordinary fellow — according to his website — than this project would suggest. "Let's Be Frank" is a reinvention of how far these surf movies can push the medium.

According to its director (who was interviewed by Variety in 2016), he pushed the envelope and came up with inventive ways to reach a broader audience. His project focuses on distinctive storytelling rather than simply showing us where Frank traveled around the world to ride the scariest waves. Of course, there is some of that, too, for those looking to see his skills in the water.

If you're eager to check out what Hamblin and Frank made together, "Let's Be Frank" is available to watch on Red Bull's website.

Sunny Abberton and Macario De Souza's documentary "Bra Boys" is hands-down one of the most controversial surf films ever made. 

It documents the story of the infamous Australian surf gang named in the title and is made by them, so it's unabashedly one-sided, which hindered it during release. Nevertheless, "Bra Boys" can be a moving story about a group of lost, poor, and hopeless kids saved by a kind-hearted grandmother, who provided them with a home and a sense of belonging. They might have been associated with crimes, localism, and gang wars, but their loyalty, bond, and love for each other deserve some respect.

Russell Crowe (a New Zealand-born Australian himself) narrates the doc, which adds a layer of prestige. Yet, perhaps the film's greatest accomplishment is that it doesn't glamorize criminal behavior and instead shows a raw insight into the Australian surfer community. It's not a coincidence that some of the biggest names in the sport reference these guys as one of the heaviest bunches as far as professional surfing goes.

"Bra Boys" holds a rating of 59 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 29 reviews, but it deserves better. If you want to put yourself in the surfer mind space, it's a solid pick.