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The Endless Summer

Play trailer Poster for The Endless Summer Released Jun 15, 1966 1h 32m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
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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The Endless Summer

Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 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 Audience Member Do you want to watch 90 minutes of surfing footage with a narrator that is talking like he's showing you his home movies? If so, this is for you! That said, it's a neat time capsule of a lost age and there's some spectacular footage on display, but it is very repetitive. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review s r A fun easygoing surfing documentary capturing the feel of surfing in the height of its glory with a trip around the globe. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Endless Summer

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Endless Summer

The Endless Summer (1966) The Endless Summer (1966) The Endless Summer (1966) The Endless Summer (1966) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Producer
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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