27 Greatest Beach Movies for Sun and Sand All-Year Round
You'll practically feel the sand between your toes with these beach themed flicks.
Ask anyone and they likely have fond memories of days at the beach, soaking in the sun, feeling the sand between their toes, and playing in the water. A good walk on the beach can be both invigorating and humbling as the roar of the waves have a way of making you feel small against the mighty ocean. And with all of the nostalgia of building sandcastles, gathering seashells, and exploring tide pools—it's easy to pine for some more beach time when you're no longer on vacation (or if you're landlocked year-round, like I am). But that's what the movies are for—they can be great transporters to some of our favorite stories and locations.
We've pulled together a list of beach movies that has something for everyone. There's something from every genre including horror (Jaws), drama (Where the Crawdads Sing), musicals (South Pacific), and lots and lots of romance (From Here to Eternity, Nights in Rodanthe). Whether it's an underwater shot of a surfer catching a wave, like the ones in View from a Blue Moon, or Diane Keaton's dramatic tears as she walks The Hamptons beaches in Something's Gotta Give, we have suggestions that will transport you. If you find yourself on a beach kick and want some more inspiration, be sure to check out our list of beach quotes and don't miss out on our recommendations for the best beach read.
Something’s Gotta Give
Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson star in this Nancy Meyers classic about a playwright who finds unexpected love in her annoying Hamptons houseguest.
Blue Crush
A surfer and her tight-knit group of friends do what they can to get by on the North Shore and faces her fears when she enters a surfing contest.
The Beach
A young traveler, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, in search of his next adventure in southeast Asia discovers something more than paradise in this thriller by the Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle.
Endless Summer
In this surfing classic, two friends surf their way around the world, meeting other surfers along the way.
Jaws
A coastal town is haunted (and hunted) by a giant great white shark. An eclectic crew of a police chief, a biologist, and a shark hunter join up to capture the beast.
Nights in Rodanthe
A woman (Diane Lane) discovers an unexpected connection with the sole guest (played by Richard Gere) who’s staying in the seaside inn she is running for a friend.
South Pacific
A young nurse and a mysterious Frenchman fall in love in this classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical set during World War II.
View from a Blue Moon
A modern take on the movie Endless Summer by surfing champion John John Florence and his friends as they surf their favorite spots around the world. Incredible cinematography by the team at Brain Farm.
50 First Dates
Starring dynamic duo Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler, a man falls in love with someone who has short term memory loss and hilarity ensues.
Moana
A brave young girl sets sail on a journey to save her people that will bring her face to face with ocean creatures, demigods, and an even deeper connection to what makes her unique.
Point Break
A federal agent (played by Keanu Reeves) poses as a local surfer to investigate a string of robberies that are suspected to have been done by an area surf gang.
Dogtown and Z-Boys
In this documentary by Stacy Peralta, Venice Beach was the breeding ground for many of the early members of the skateboarding crew known as the Z-boys. Finding empty pools in the area, these skateboarding pioneers paved the way for the rise of the sport and the future dominance of people like Tony Hawke.
Castaway
A Fed Ex employee (played by Tom Hanks) gets stranded on a deserted tropical island with only a volleyball named “Wilson” to keep him company. Witness his will to survive and to make it back to the family he loves.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
A struggling musician discovers that his TV-star ex-girlfriend and her new beau are staying at the same hotel when he decides to take a trip to Hawaii to get over the break-up.
Blue Hawaii
Elvis stars in this post-WWII film about a young GI returning home to Hawaii from war and discovering that working for his family’s business is the last thing he wants to do. With rising family pressure, he takes a job as a tour guide.
Blue Lagoon
Young kids are stranded on an island and as they grow up together they learn how to survive as well as everything from love to loneliness in this coming-of-age drama.
Couples Retreat
Four couples embark on a vacation at a tropical resort. While one couple sees this trip as a way to work on their marriage, the rest of the group just wants to have fun. Despite all their hopes, they run into some resort rules that aren’t quite what they expected.
From Here To Eternity
A romantic war drama set in Hawaii during the days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, two people find forbidden love in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Where the Crawdads Sing
A young girl grows up in the marsh, fending for herself, and discovering the beauty of the nature around her. When she grows up, she gets caught up in a love triangle between her best friend and another boy from town who happens to be married. Complications ensue when she is implicated in a local murder.
Aquaman
Hunky Jason Momoa stars as DC Comic hero Aquaman. In this origin story, Arthur (Momoa) discovers he is from the long lost city of Atlantis and the true heir to its throne. To take his rightful place, he will have to find the Trident of Atlan and save his people from his evil half-brother.
Leah Hall is currently a digital producer and writer for Country Living. She is based in Huntsville, Alabama.
Watch Next
How to Watch 'Haunted Mansion' at Home
Is Ryan Gosling Really Singing in 'Barbie'?
How to Watch 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts'
How to Watch 'Oppenheimer' at Home
