Surf Movies, Books & Music: A White Belt Guide

A curated starter guide to the films, books, and sounds of surf culture, from Gidget and The Endless Summer to Barbarian Days, Dick Dale, and Jack Johnson.

You don’t need to be in the water to soak up surf culture. Some of the best ways to understand surfing are through the stories people have told about it on screen, on the page, and through music.

This guide is a starting point, not a final list. Pick one, settle in, and enjoy the ride.

Films

Classic Hollywood and Cult Favorites

Gidget (1959) Based on the real-life Malibu summers of Kathy Kohner, this sunny Hollywood film starring Sandra Dee introduced surf culture to mainstream America and helped kick off a nationwide surfing boom. Read more in Women in Surfing.

Big Wednesday (1978) Directed by John Milius, this film follows three Southern California friends through the 1960s and early 1970s as surfing, friendship, and the world around them change. It has become a beloved cult classic among surfers.

Point Break (1991) Kathryn Bigelow’s action thriller pairs an FBI agent played by Keanu Reeves with a charismatic surfer played by Patrick Swayze. It’s more crime story than surf film, but its big-wave scenes and surf-gang mythology made it a pop-culture favorite.

Blue Crush (2002) Set on ʻOʻahu’s North Shore, this film follows a young woman preparing to surf a contest at Pipeline. Its real big-wave footage and focus on female surfers made it an inspiration for many girls who picked up a board afterward.

Soul Surfer (2011) The true story of Bethany Hamilton, who returned to surfing after losing her arm in a shark attack on Kauaʻi at age 13. It’s a story about faith, family, and resilience that works for all ages.

Documentaries

The Endless Summer (1966) Bruce Brown followed two young California surfers around the world in search of a perfect wave and an endless summer. Gentle, funny, and full of wonder, it’s often called the most influential surf film ever made and inspired generations to travel.

Morning of the Earth (1972) Alby Falzon’s dreamy Australian film captured the soulful, back-to-nature surf culture of the early 1970s, with surfing in Australia, Bali, and Hawaiʻi.

Step Into Liquid (2003) Directed by Bruce Brown’s son, Dana Brown, this documentary celebrates the many kinds of people who surf, from pros and big-wave chargers to everyday surfers in unexpected places.

Riding Giants (2004) Stacy Peralta’s documentary tells the history of big-wave surfing, from early Waimea Bay pioneers to the tow-in era. It opened the Sundance Film Festival, a first for a documentary.

Momentum Generation (2018) This documentary tells the story of a tight-knit group of young surfers, including Kelly Slater and Rob Machado, who lived and competed together on the North Shore in the early 1990s. It’s a moving look at friendship, competition, and growing up.

Start with The Endless Summer. It captures the joy of simply chasing waves, and that joy is where every surfer begins.

Books

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan (2015) A beautifully written memoir of one man’s lifelong obsession with surfing, from Hawaiʻi and California to remote breaks around the world. It won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography.

Hawaiian Surfboard by Tom Blake (1935) Often described as the first book about surfing, written by the inventor who introduced the surfboard fin. It’s a window into surfing’s early modern revival in Hawaiʻi.

Surfing: A History of the Ancient Hawaiian Sport by Ben Finney and James D. Houston A respected history of heʻe nalu that explores surfing’s place in traditional Hawaiian society, religion, and daily life. A great companion to our article on The History of Surfing.

Gidget by Frederick Kohner (1957) The short, lively novel based on the author’s daughter Kathy’s summers at Malibu. It launched the Gidget film and TV franchise.

Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku by David Davis (2015) A detailed biography of the Olympic champion and father of modern surfing. Pair it with our Duke Kahanamoku feature.

Tapping the Source by Kem Nunn (1984) A dark, gripping novel about a young man from the desert who goes looking for his missing sister in the Huntington Beach surf scene. Not a light beach read, but a memorable one.

Breath by Tim Winton (2008) An award-winning Australian novel about two teenage boys on the coast of Western Australia who are drawn into risk-taking in big surf. It was later adapted into a 2017 film.

The History of Surfing by Matt Warshaw (2010) A big, thorough history from one of surfing’s most respected historians. Warshaw’s Encyclopedia of Surfing is another essential reference.

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton (2004) Bethany’s own account of the shark attack, her recovery, and her return to surfing. It’s an inspiring read, especially for young surfers.

Music

The Surf Rock Era

In the early 1960s, Southern California gave birth to a new kind of music inspired by surfing.

Dick Dale Known as the “King of the Surf Guitar,” Dick Dale played fast, reverb-drenched, staccato guitar meant to capture the power of riding a wave. His 1962 recording of “Misirlou” found a new generation of fans when it opened the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.

The Ventures This instrumental band from Washington State scored a hit with “Walk, Don’t Run” in 1960. Their clean, twangy guitar sound influenced many surf bands that followed.

The Chantays and The Surfaris Two Southern California bands behind some of the most famous surf instrumentals: “Pipeline” by The Chantays and “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris, both hits in 1963.

The Beach Boys From Hawthorne, California, The Beach Boys turned surf culture into bright vocal harmonies with early songs like “Surfin’,” “Surfin’ Safari,” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” Drummer Dennis Wilson was the band’s real surfer, and his stories helped inspire their songs.

Jan and Dean This duo had a No. 1 hit in 1963 with “Surf City,” co-written with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Their songs captured the fun-loving California beach image of the era.

Modern Beach Sounds

Jack Johnson Raised on ʻOʻahu’s North Shore, Jack Johnson was a talented surfer before an injury at Pipeline ended his competitive plans. He made surf films before turning to music, and his relaxed acoustic songs, starting with Brushfire Fairytales in 2001, became a soundtrack for beach days around the world.

Many surf films have also introduced audiences to great music, so when a soundtrack catches your ear, follow it. That’s half the fun of exploring surf culture.

Make It Your Own

Surf culture isn’t something you have to earn. You can enjoy these films, books, and songs whether you’ve surfed for decades or never touched a board.

Watch a classic, read a chapter, put on a record, and then go find some water.

When you’re ready to paddle out, our Learn to Surf guides and Surf Lingo dictionary will help you get started.