At the height of summer’s heat, what could be better than a day at the beach? Even if you can’t go today…these movies can transport you to beautiful sandy beaches from the cool comfort of your living room. There are movies for adults and kids on this list, so go ahead and skip the sunscreen and just enjoy!
Aquamarine (2006)
If you’re in charge of kids who are clamoring to be taken to the beach, a viewing of Aquamarine might be the next best thing. In this family friendly film starring Joanna “JoJo” Levesque, Sara Paxton and Emma Roberts, two best friends uncover a local mermaid on their beach vacation and endeavor to keep her secret – and find her love with a handsome lifeguard.
Blue Crush (2002)
Nothing comes between Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth) and her surfboard. She lives in a beach shack with three roommates including her rebellious younger sister, and she is up before dawn every morning to conquer the waves. Anne Marie has all she needs in the adrenaline-charged surf scene…until pro quarterback Matt Tollman (Matthew Davis) comes along.
Dolphin Tale (2011)
While swimming free in the ocean, a young dolphin gets caught in a trap and severely damages her tail. Though she is rescued and transported to Clearwater Marine Hospital, her tail cannot be saved, and the prognosis is dire. What the dolphin, now named Winter, needs is a miracle. She gets that miracle in the form of a marine biologist (Harry Connick, Jr.), a prosthetics designer (Morgan Freeman) and a devoted boy (Nathan Gamble) who find a way to help Winter swim again.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
This movie tells the story of Kya, an abandoned girl who raised herself in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina. For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, isolating the sharp and resilient Kya from her community. Drawn to two young men from town, Kya opens up to a new and frightening world; but when one of them is found dead, she is immediately cast by the community as the main suspect. As the case unfolds, the verdict as to what happened becomes increasingly unclear, threatening to uncover the many secrets that hide within the marsh.
Point Break (1991)
After a string of bizarre bank robberies in southern California, with crooks wearing masks of former presidents, Federal Agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves), is tasked to infiltrate the suspected gang. However, this is no ordinary group of bank robbers! They are surfers, led by the charismatic Bodhi (Patrick Swayze), and they are all addicted to the rush of thievery. When Johnny Utah falls in love with a female surfer, Tyler (Lori Petty), who is close to the gang, it complicates his sense of duty.
The Beach (2000)
A young traveler in search of his next adventure in southeast Asia discovers something more than paradise in this thriller. The desire to find something real is what drives Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young American backpacker who arrives in Thailand with adventure on his mind. With a secret map in hand, Etienne (Guillaume Canet) and Francoise (Virginie Ledoyen) join him on an adventure to “The Beach,” a mystical paradise which turns out not to be the paradise they were hoping for.
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) thinks he’s dying, and this is good news to him since he doesn’t feel he has much to live for. In an odd twist of fate, a strange millionaire (Lloyd Bridges) offers Joe a way to die with meaning and dignity – by hurling himself into a volcano. With plenty of spending cash and the finest new luggage, Joe embarks on a journey to his demise, guided by two sisters, and he learns what it means to truly live.
Gidget (1959)
Teenager Francie Lawrence (Sandra Dee) couldn’t care less about boys until she goes to the beach one day and meets surfer Jeffrey Moondoggie Matthews (James Darren) and his friends. Now, Francie, whom the boys call Gidget, wants to learn how to surf. She buys a used board and dives into the sunny world of the southern California surfing lifestyle.
