Best Surf Films for an After Session Chillout

You've ridden the waves, your arms are jelly, and the salt is still in your hair. Now it's time to sink into the sofa, grab a cold one, and let someone else do the surfing. Here are the best surf films to keep the stoke alive long after you've hung up your board.

1. The Endless Summer (1966)

The original surf road trip. Bruce Brown follows two surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave. Shot in stunning 16mm, this timeless classic captures the pure joy and freedom of surfing before it became a global industry. Essential viewing for any surfer.

2. Morning of the Earth (1972)

A deeply spiritual and visually poetic film set in Australia, Bali, and Hawaii. With a legendary folk-rock soundtrack and breathtaking cinematography, this is less a surf film and more a meditation on living simply and in harmony with the ocean. Pure soul.

3. North Shore (1987)

A cult classic that blends drama with some genuinely incredible Pipeline footage. A young Arizona pool surfer heads to Hawaii to prove himself on the North Shore. Cheesy in the best possible way, and the surfing — featuring real pros like Laird Hamilton — is absolutely legit.

4. Point Break (1991)

Keanu Reeves. Patrick Swayze. Bank-robbing surfers. FBI agents. Big waves. Director Kathryn Bigelow's action thriller is pure adrenaline and somehow makes surfing look even cooler than it already is. A must-watch, no questions asked.

5. Step Into Liquid (2003)

Dana Brown (son of Bruce Brown) picks up where his father left off, travelling the globe to capture surfing in all its forms — from massive Jaws in Maui to a tanker wave in the middle of the ocean. Joyful, inspiring, and endlessly watchable.

6. Riding Giants (2004)

Stacy Peralta's definitive documentary on big wave surfing. Tracing the history from the early pioneers of Malibu through to the fearless chargers tackling Jaws and Mavericks, this film is gripping, emotional, and utterly awe-inspiring. One of the greatest surf documentaries ever made.

7. Blue Crush (2002)

Often underrated, Blue Crush features some genuinely impressive Pipeline surfing and a solid story of a young woman fighting to compete at the highest level. Kate Bosworth holds her own, but it's the wave footage — shot by legendary cinematographers — that really steals the show.

8. Chasing Mavericks (2012)

Based on the true story of Jay Moriarity, a teenage surfer from Santa Cruz who trained to ride the legendary Mavericks break in Northern California. Heartfelt, dramatic, and featuring some jaw-dropping big wave sequences. Bring tissues.

9. View From a Blue Moon (2015)

The first surf film ever shot in 4K, following John John Florence across some of the world's most beautiful and powerful waves. Visually stunning doesn't even begin to cover it. The cinematography is on another level, and Florence's surfing is simply otherworldly.

10. Momentum Generation (2018)

An HBO documentary following the legendary group of surfers — Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Taylor Knox, and others — who grew up together in Cocoa Beach and went on to dominate professional surfing in the 1990s. Raw, honest, and deeply moving. A must-watch even if you're not a surf fan.

11. Soul Surfer (2011)

The inspiring true story of Bethany Hamilton, the teenage surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and fought her way back to competitive surfing. Emotional, uplifting, and a genuine testament to the power of the ocean and the human spirit. A brilliant watch for the whole family.

12. Surf's Up (2007)

Don't let the animated penguins fool you — this mockumentary-style film has more genuine surf culture in it than many live-action efforts. Funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly accurate in its portrayal of the surfing world. A perfect after-session watch if you want something a little lighter.

13. Breath (2017)

Based on Tim Winton's acclaimed novel, this Australian film follows two teenage boys who discover big wave surfing in 1970s Western Australia under the guidance of a mysterious older surfer. Beautifully shot, deeply atmospheric, and one of the most thoughtful surf films ever made.

14. Endless Summer II (1994)

Bruce Brown returns 30 years after the original to follow two new surfers on a fresh lap of the globe. The spirit is the same, but the waves are bigger and the world has changed. A worthy sequel that stands on its own as a celebration of surf travel and adventure.

Got a favourite surf film we missed? Drop it in the comments below — we'd love to hear what's on your after-session watchlist.