Kids can learn a lot from surfing movies. And not just surfer-dude slang. Surf culture on the big screen teaches things like patience: Rather than going for that first wave, wait for the perfect one. And then there's also humility. Failure is inevitable; just get back on your board and try again. And, perhaps most importantly, they can show how to respect Mother Nature. The ocean didn’t bring you here, but it can take you out.
So beat the heat this summer with a fun movie that’s meaningful, rather than mindless.
Soul Surfer (PG, 2011)
The next time you hear “I can’t,” show them this movie. It’s based on teen champion surfer Bethany Hamilton’s true story. After a shark attack leaves her with one arm, she’s forced to make a decision: Give up or make the impossible possible.
Blue Crush (PG-13, 2002)
This one has girl power. If your teens haven’t seen it yet, put it on the itinerary for their next slumber party. About a hard-core surfer girl who lives in a beach shack in Hawaii (the life, right?), Blue Crush proves that in order to be the best you have to compete against the best.
Riding Giants (PG-13, 2004)
Who better to learn about surf culture than from legendary pro surfer Laird Hamilton? In this documentary, he and fellow wave riders defy gravity, turning monster swells into measly ripples, while dishing on the evolution of surfing from its modest beginnings to its now-adrenaline-rush state.
Surf’s Up (PG, 2007)
We all know penguins have happy feet. But here’s a shocking revelation: They also invented surfing. So goes the tale of this mockumentary starring a cowabunga dude who goes by Cody Maverick and learns that friendship is way more important than winning.
North Shore (PG, 1987)
Though its totally ‘80s tone definitely feels dated by today’s standards, it can’t help but win you over. Gather the boys for a saga soaked in comradery, competition, and an “it’s complicated” love story with a girl named Kiani.
DeAnna Janes is the former entertainment editor of DailyCandy and lives in New York City with her husband and two cats -- who still watch Frozen on a loop (yes, the cats). She has been published on a variety of entertainment sites. When she's not screening a film or writing about one, she's running to a film's soundtrack.
