The shaka review of North Shore has me in a movie mindset. So here’s another take on surfing and movies. A different take, yet again – here we’re going to look at surfing in non-surfing movies. The criteria is simple – what movies feature a surfing scene or some sort of prominent surfing mention but really have nothing to do with surfing otherwise.
If you’ve got one that’s not featured here, let us know!
Apocalypse Now (1979)
“You either surf or fight.” It’s a shame all the Napalm blew it out though.
Batman TV Series – “Surf’s Up, Joker’s Under!” (1967)
Here’s the IMDB synopsis: ” The Joker plans to become the king of surfing, hoping the fame will give him control over the hearts and minds of Gotham City. He captures top surfer Skip Parker, then uses his “Surfing Experience & Ability Transferometer” to transfer the needed skills and stamina from Skip to himself. When all the other contestants drop out of the upcoming surfing match, Batman steps up to challenge the Joker’s supremacy. “
Die Another Day (2002)
If you ever thought James Bond couldn’t surf big waves, you were wrong. This intro features Larid Hamilton, Dave Kalama, and Darrick Doerner surfing big Jaws.
Escape from L.A. (1996)
Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) rides a surge wave in the canyon with a bum leg after winning and escaping a basketball to the death match.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Maybe one of the most iconic surfing-non-surfing surfing scenes is Jeff Spicoli’s interview dream about surfing the biggest waves to hit the coast in years. Things looked kind of rough out there, but like he told the guy on ABC, “danger is my business!”
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Paul Rudd is an excellent surf instructor.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
It is called Jaws.
Twilight (2008)
Surfing and sparkly vampires. While I don’t think they actually show any surfing here, they certainly talk about it and they’ve got plenty of gear. It makes the cut.
Teen Wolf (1985)
While this surfing scene takes place on top of a moving van – it’s a surfing scene nonetheless. Scott/Teen Wolf (Michael J. Fox) even claims, “These waves are mine.”