Favorite movies about surfer and beach culture?

I'm not sure what kind of beach movie you're hoping for, but...

Gidget (1959) It's hard to think of beach movies without thinking of Gidget (Sandra Dee), a tomboy who learns to surf while all the other girls are learning how to catch boys.

Where the Boys Are (1960) George Hamilton and Dolores Hart in a story about a group of teenagers who spend spring break searching for love in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Endless Summer (1966) Not a traditional beach movie, but this surfing documentary is about two California surfers who travel around the world to introduce surfing to new people and to discover coasts they have never been surfed. The title suggests that if you could travel around the world with the seasons, summer will truly never end. Interesting to see how much of the world knew nothing about surfing back then.

I remember this one from my youth because it contained some big names and there was a scene featuring the massive bodybuilder, Dave Draper, sniffling and blubbering like a baby, which I thought was funny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xlrc_r3CkA

Jaws. (Does that count?)


I enjoyed Blue Crush. Watchable.

Puberty Blues
Surf's Up (animation)

I've been looking forever for one called The Girls on the Beach from 1965.

I strongly suggest you check out Big Wednesday from 1978.
Written and directed by John Milius, the film stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt and Gary Busey.

Here's the trailer ... https://youtu.be/BEdOnf1JhF8
See https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077235/ for more details.

"The Horror of Party Beach"

Riding Giants (04) documentary about finding the biggest, most remote and dangerous waves around the world
A thrilling story with tons of great surfing footage

Lords of Dogtown (05) dramitization of the true story of how surfers applied their skills and new technology to create modern skateboarding in Venice Beach during the 70s
Very entertaining