The Endless Summer

Released Jun 15, 1966

1h 32m

Documentary

List

100%

23 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown, himself a competition-level surfer, follows surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August on an around-the-world surfing adventure. With Brown's wry, sardonic narration and a twangy, guitar-driven instrumental soundtrack by The Sandals playing over the silent footage, Mike and Rob leave their California home to visit Hawaii, Australia, South Africa and other secluded surfing spots in a search for the surfer's holy grail that Brown dubs "The Perfect Wave."

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christopher c. m

All I have is one question, HOW THE FUCK IS THIS SO POPULAR? This is not a documentary. A documentary has interviews with legendary surfers. The history of where and how surfing started, maybe footage from a surfing competition. But it has none of that. It's people surfing and surfing and surfing. That's it, just surfing and the way Bruce Broan narrates everything. With no sound from the actual footage. It feels like the audience is trapped in Bruce's den watching his home movies of his summer vacations. This is for two people, people who are really into just watching surfing or people who have insomnia. If you have no interest in surfing this will not give you an interest. You learn nothing on how or why. The title is correct, the endless summer because with the nothing on screen, it feels like it's never going to reach the end credits.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I can put this movie on loop and watch it all day.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I saw this movie as a thirteen year old at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse theater in the early 70's. The movie changed my life! Corporate culture was strong everyone in their cubicle. Endless Summer showed a different lifestyle- Surfing Travel Eating Camping Making new friends Learning about and respecting nature and the weather Happy surfer for 53 years. Teaching surfing for 33 years!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While I personally have zero interest in surfing, The Endless Summer managed to pull me in until the very end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Endless Summer is a very laid back film showing an incredible snippet of the '60s (occasional racism included). I highly recommend watching this gem, which is best enjoyed with some friends and a chilled drink of choice in hand. It starts off very surf focussed but quickly takes you on a fantastic and very humorous journey all around the globe. It's an adventure, that travellers and surfers today can only dream of, visiting untouched lands and beaches that a densely populated today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Literally one of the best movies of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Bruce Brown

Director

Bruce Brown

Narrator

Bruce Brown

Writer

Bruce Brown

Producer

John Blakeley

Original Music

Gaston Georis

Original Music

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William J. Nazzaro

Arizona Republic

The Endless Summer is a film you will enjoy, even if you have no interest in surfing.

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

Ian Buckwalter

NPR

Part surfing film, part travelogue, occasionally even anthropological study and wildlife film, ultimately it visually taps into the wanderlust that sends us to far-flung beaches in search of an escape from life that we can't find at home.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

Linda Stasi

New York Post

Just breathtaking.

Aug 7, 2013

Full Review

Sarah Cartland

Caution Spoilers

A laid-back golden haze, a soundtrack of 60s summer tunes. The jokey racism and leering camera now grate; the surfing is still spectacular as two men, genuinely curious about the places they visit, travel the world in search of a perfect wave.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 19, 2019

Full Review

Thrillist Entertainment Staff

Thrillist

There's living the dream life, and then there's living the effin' dream.

Nov 28, 2018

Full Review

Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

Dated but fascinating surfing documentary still charms.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 25, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Documentary filmmaker Bruce Brown, himself a competition-level surfer, follows surfers Michael Hynson and Robert August on an around-the-world surfing adventure. With Brown's wry, sardonic narration and a twangy, guitar-driven instrumental soundtrack by The Sandals playing over the silent footage, Mike and Rob leave their California home to visit Hawaii, Australia, South Africa and other secluded surfing spots in a search for the surfer's holy grail that Brown dubs "The Perfect Wave."

Director: Bruce Brown
Screenwriter: Bruce Brown
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bruce Brown Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 15, 1966, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 2014
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2015
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo

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