Best Surf Movies to Get You Hooked

Costa Rica has played a significant role in the history of surfing and has been widely showcased in some of the best surf movies of all time. But our shores and world-class waves were not always so well known. Costa Rica’s best surfing destinations, like Tamarindo, were insider secrets known and visited by just a few elite international surfers for decades. Nowadays, Costa Rica is known as one of the best surf destinations in the world, and it was the array of notable films that brought the country the prominence it so deserved.

Here are a few of the best surf movies that forever changed surfing and Costa Rica’s surfing scene.

Endless Summer I (1966) & II (1994) 

The original Endless Summer was made by Bruce Brown in 1966 and is widely considered the first and most iconic surf movie/documentary ever made. It followed Mike Hynson and Robert August as they traveled the world in search of the perfect wave. In the original, the pair showcased off-beat locations in Senegal, Tahiti, and South Africa.

The 1994 sequel, also directed by Bruce Brown, has been just as successful. Endless Summer II, echoing the original concept, features two of the world’s epic surfers at the time (Pat O’Connell and Robert Weaver), among many others, as they retrace the steps of the original film, adding even more exciting surfing destinations, including Costa Rica.

Endless Summer II featured the same laid-back and adventurous vibe as the original. However, it introduced a new generation of surfing techniques that hadn’t been seen on a big screen before, highlighting how much the sport had evolved in 30 years. The fact that the film was beautifully shot and visually spectacular meant it also attracted a much wider audience than the original. All of a sudden, it wasn’t just dedicated surfers who tuned in; anyone with a love of the ocean and nature got totally hooked as well. 

The 1994 film was perhaps the first time Costa Rica was introduced to a huge international audience, even though top surfers had been coming here to practice for decades. The film showcased Tamarindo hot spots like Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point and our pristine beaches, uncrowded waves, and natural beauty. In 2024, these are now Costa Rica’s most enticing calling cards.

Fun fact: Seven years after filming Endless Summer II, Robert August moved to Tamarindo, where he remained a fixture in the surf scene and a beloved resident for over a decade.

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The Bruce Movie (2005) 

The Bruce Movie is another surf documentary that made a huge splash in the surfing world, winning two top awards the year it was released. The film is based on Bruce Irons, a renowned professional surfer known for his bold and quite avant-garde surfing style, capturing his journey around the world and through the international surfing scene. Considered one of the best surf movies of all time, The Bruce Movie features stunning footage of iconic surf spots and Iron’s thrilling performances in an array of competitions. Irons was a fearless surfer with enormous respect and an innate connection to the sea. His skills and mastery of colossal waves have been an inspiration to young surfers for two decades. 

Fun fact: Bruce is the younger brother of the late Andy Irons, a three-time world surfing champion. Both were known for their exceptional surfing skills, although Andy primarily concentrated on winning competitions while Bruce made a name for himself with his free-surfing style. 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10K1Fu7pByU[/embedyt]

Andy Irons: Kissed by God (2018)

Andy Irons is one of the most famous surfers in history. His life was cut short by a devastating heart attack in 2010, at the height of his career. He was only 32 years old when he passed away yet had already made a huge impact on the sport. Not only because of the multiple world titles he had won and fierce competitiveness he had shown, but also because he’d often spoken about his battles with mental illness. He was an anomaly in the sport and was beloved because of it.

Andy’s untimely death shocked the surfing community and sparked an open dialogue about the lesser-known pits of competitive surfing. Irons had often said that his struggles were at their worst during high-stakes competitions and his honesty had won him innumerable fans in the sport. The inspiring documentary of Andy’s life, released in 2018, gained a cult following just as soon as it was released. It mainly recounts Andy’s career, but also features stories and touching brotherhood memories from Bruce. 

Fun fact: Kissed by God offers an insightful but quite sobering look at the competitiveness in elite surfing, and highlights the often-overlooked issue of mental health on world-class sportspeople.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJWIPRvtAHk[/embedyt]

Step into Liquid (2003)

It’s hard to believe this beauty is now over two decades old. Step into Liquid is still a visual feast and one of the best surf movies to watch if you’d love to discover the best surfing spots around the world. Director Dana Brown covered a phenomenal collection of surfing destinations, showcasing the mightiest waves on earth and the talented local and international surfers who ride them. From the big waves of Hawaii to the epic Atlantic surf off Easter Island, and the serene lakes of Wisconsin – Step into Liquid celebrates surf culture beyond the most well-known spots. You’ll see many big names in this doc, including Kelly Slater, Robert Weaver, Dale Webster, Bob Beaton, and Robert August.

One of the filming locations is Mal Pais, a small but stunning surfing beach and town on the southwestern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. 

Fun fact: The movie’s director, Dan Brown, is the son of Bruce Brown, who created both Endless Summer films.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl5WC4TBwm4[/embedyt]

Tai Wātea – Waves of Freedom (2020)

At Iguana Surf Camp in Tamarindo, we are huge proponents of surfing as a form of therapy, and we have written at length about surfing as a transformative journey. It is no coincidence that one of our favorite and best surf movies of all time is Tai Wātea: Waves of Freedom. 

This film-documentary is the first that dives into surfing’s therapeutic power, especially for individuals dealing with mental health issues. 

Although we saw the power of the competitiveness of surfing in the Andy Irons film, this was the first time anyone focused on the positive impact of surf therapy – minus the competitiveness. It highlights what we all know here in Tamarindo: surfing is an unrivaled physical outlet promoting emotional and psychological healing. What we love most about this documentary is that it highlights the powerful connection between good mental health and physical activity. 

You can watch the film online right here.

Fun fact: Tai Wātea is a surf therapy program aimed at helping marginalized, unemployed, and at-risk young men improve their mental health and help in their personal development. The program is run from Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The Impact of the best surf movies on the Costa Rica surfing scene

Just a couple of decades ago, Costa Rica’s best surf beaches were known only to locals and just a handful of international surfers. Yet thanks to the best surf movies of all time, our glorious country has become one of the most coveted surfing destinations in the world. Here, you’ll find fantastic waves to suit all skill levels and a welcoming surf culture that is all-inclusive and laid-back.

Costa Rica is also particularly known as the best place to learn how to surf, and it’s largely thanks to the influence of these films and the famous surfers who have been coming here for decades.

To them, we say a heartfelt THANKS!

Want to be a star in your own surfing film?

Then join us at Iguana Surf Camp in Tamarindo! While we might not be able to promise you a Netflix movie deal, we can guarantee you the time of your life.

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